Page 78 of An Inevitable Marriage

“Well, we’ll get out of your hair now.” Tamara’s voice sounded farther away.

I blinked and reluctantly shifted my focus. Tamara and the receptionist were already halfway out the door. A mischievous grin tugged on her lips.

“Enjoy your lunch, Mr. Maxwell. Mrs. Maxwell.”

The sound of the receptionist’s gasp disappeared when my door clicked shut. That was also the exact moment Snow’s gaze landed on mine.

I saw the disbelief on her pretty face before the words left her mouth.

“You’re telling people we’re married?”

Lifting one shoulder, I tried to act like it wasn’t a big deal. “They’re going to find out anyway. Plus, Rafe said we need to make it seem as real as possible.”

“Right. Of course.” She tore her gaze from me and scanned the office. It almost seemed as if she’d look anywhere else except at me.

I didn’t like the feeling.

I pushed to my feet and made my way to where she stood. I hadn’t even reached her when the smell of flowers and strawberries slammed into me. It took every ounce of restraint I possessed to not invade her space, press my nose against her neck, and take a deep breath.

“Does it bother you?” I rasped, stopping in front of her.

Those green eyes snapped to mine. “What? That you told someone?”

I nodded.

She shook her head. “It doesn’t. I just realized that I should probably do the same.”

An uneasy feeling tightened my muscles. “You don’t seem too happy about it.”

“Just thought I had more time.”

That uneasiness grew into a giant, ugly monster that wanted to bare its fangs. “More time for what exactly?” The words came out low and clipped.

Either unaware or unfazed by the sudden shift in my mood, Snow tucked a few strands behind her ear and turned her head toward the conference table. “I haven’t told my mom yet. Things have been…oh my gosh!”

She pinned me with a stare and pointed to the table. “Liam, who’s all that food for?”

The way she said my name. It reached deep inside me and touched a part I never knew existed. Shit, I wanted to hear it again.

Desperately.

Since I couldn’t tell her that, I shrugged. “I wasn’t sure what you liked. I wanted you to have options.” Walking to the table, I pulled out a chair for her. “There’s a shelter not far from here. Whatever we don’t touch, I’ll send to them.”

Snow didn’t move. Eyes wide, she stared at the food then shifted her attention back to me. Her lips parted, and I waited with bated fucking breath for her to say something, anything, but the words never came.

Instead, she pressed her mouth into a thin, tight line and glanced at the closed door over her shoulder.

My heart stopped dead.

What would I do if she turned and left? Give chase? Maybe I wouldn’t?

Thankfully, I didn’t have to find out.

Those gorgeous legs finally moved and carried her straight to where I stood. And when she slowly took a seat, I couldn’t stop my heart from slamming against my ribs like a caged animal begging for an escape.

Trying, and failing spectacularly, to calm the hurricane inside me, I dug my fingers into the back of her chair. With her being so close, my senses went into overdrive. My hands itched to feel the softness of her skin. My tongue begged to learn her taste, and my heart beat to a new strange rhythm that was only for her.

Fuck.