Page 48 of An Inevitable Marriage

Especially since the thought of her in her underwear sent a big rush of fire through my veins.

“Okay, this has been…weird.” She maneuvered her way around me and hurried toward the exit. A few steps into her retreat, though, she stopped. Unmoving, she stood with her back to me for a moment before finally spinning around to face me.

And this time, when those green eyes found mine, there was a vulnerability in her gaze I hadn’t seen. For reasons I couldn’t fathom, it wrapped around my heart and squeezed tight.

“Thank you,” she whispered. “I wanted to say something yesterday, but…” Taking a deep breath, she tucked her hair behind her ear. “You didn’t have to pay my father’s hospital bill but I’m grateful that you did.”

From the moment I’d heard her on the phone with her mother, I’d had this urge, this need, to take the burden away.

I’d held out as long as I could, but after my contact informed me her father had to go for more tests, I’d finally said screw it and did the only thing I could think of.

“It’s nothing,” I said, scratching the spot where my skin stretched too tight over my breastbone.

Snow shook her head. “It’s not nothing, and”—she rolled her lips over her teeth a few times before she spoke again—“I’ll pay you back. Every penny.”

My feet carried me to where she stood before my brain could issue the command. “It’s not a loan, Snow.” I reached for her and curled my fingers around her wrist. “I don’t expect anything from you.”

Her eyes darted to where I was holding on to her. Beneath my fingertips, her pulse ticked faster and faster.

Mine did something similar.

One beat, two, five, six.

Seven beats passed before those gorgeous lips parted and she spoke. “Thank you,” she said again.

She tried to pull away, and yet again, I was reminded I wasn’t in control where this woman was concerned. Instead of letting her go, my hold on her tightened. “Don’t run away.”

The look in her eyes turned murderous.

What the hell? One second, it seemed like we were sharing a moment, and then in the next breath, this beautiful creature in front of me seemed ready to cut my balls off…with a dull knife.

“Wha—” I started, but she was faster than me.

“I’m not running,” she said, gritting her teeth. “Since I no longer have a job, I’m going out to search for one.” One hard yank, and her arm slipped from my grasp. Lips pursed; Snow narrowed her eyes. “Thanks for that, by the way.”

I was so confused. Scratching my brow, I gaped at her. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“Oh, like you don’t know.” With a sharp shake of her head, she turned around and walked again. Without stopping, she threw a, “For your sake, I really hope Fiona’s skills aren’t just limited to the bedroom,” over her shoulder.

Then, just like that, she was gone.

Chapter twelve

Liam

WhenIexitedtheelevator on my office floor later that morning, Snow was still firmly inside my brain. Her words bothered me. I didn’t like the idea of her believing no one wanted to see her body.

Someone must have said or done something to cause her to think that about herself.

It didn’t sit well with me.

In the last hour alone, I’d had multiple visions of finding that person and making them hurt.

“I think this is a new level of broodiness for you, boss-man.”

I blinked, and my assistant stood in front of me.

“What?”