Page 69 of Fighting With Light

27

Aelia

Liam was up withthe sun this morning and I stayed in bed. I thought I’d roll over and go back to sleep, but I can’t, especially when a shirtless Liam is doing yoga on the back patio. It’s already in the seventies and he’s glistening with sweat. I’d rather watch this than sleep, anyway.

Portugal was a whirlwind. I’m happy that we got the gun shipment evidence. That can go a long way, but only if we are able to connect to my father in the States, otherwise it doesn’t really do much for us. I’m no lawyer, but I’m pretty sure if guns in Portugal can’t connect to someone receiving them in America, then it makes the information and photographic evidence useless. Sure, it’s still a crime, but it’s a crime that isn’t tied to my father or Liam’s.

Liam stands, going into tree pose and I lean against the headboard to watch. I can only see his profile as his chest inhales deeply and then releases slowly. Reaching for the room service phone, I order everything I’ve seen Liam eat and extra coffee.

The ocean crashes subtly in the background of the villa. I can barely hear it over the AC kicking on every so often. Liam looks like he’s at the end of his yoga session, so I decide to get out of bed and change before food gets here.

I’m not sure what our plan is today, so I grab one of my simpler two pieces out of my suitcase. It’s a pair of high-cut lavender bottoms that half cover my butt and a matching underwire top. I pull my silky tank off and grab the swim top.

“Where do I get tickets to the show?” Liam asks, stepping through the door.

I turn with my hands behind my back, latching the hook into the hole. He stares at me for a moment, then there’s a knock at the door.

“Breakfast,” I tell him. He runs his hand through his hair and goes to answer the door. I finish changing and run into the bathroom to brush my teeth and get my messy hair out of my face.

I stare at myself in the mirror as I pull my hair up into a low ponytail, and my cheeks are flush. I’m tan, so my brown skin is even more bronzed, and I look…happy. I have my moments, but generally, I try to be a happy person. But right now, I feel like it’s the kind of happiness I’ve wanted all my life, but knew I would likely never get it. Smiling at myself in the mirror, I refuse to think about anything else in the future. I’m here now, with a man that has grown on me. Sure, he’s hot, but he’s so thoughtful, he’s protective, and he cares for me more than any other before. That speaks volumes to me, despite what he thinks about himself.

“Princess!” Liam calls.

I check myself in the mirror one more time and meet him out on the patio. “I hope outside is okay. It’s nice out. I thought we could enjoy it.”

“Sure,” I say, reaching for the coffee.

“Allow me,” he says and grabs the carafe, pouring it into one of the cups.

“Thank you,” I murmur, taking a light sip.

“No problem, thanks for ordering. I’m starving. I was trying to let you sleep, but I suppose you’re on my schedule now.”

I chuckle and watch him shovel large spoonfuls of the eggs onto his plate and reach for the empanadas and stuffed bread. I thought it sounded good, so I told them to put it in there. “Did you have a good yoga session?” I ask him.

He nods and takes a sip of his coffee.

“Did you enjoy the show?” he asks with a knowing look in his eyes. “Eyes of an eagle, baby. The moment you moved, I knew you were up.”

“I’ll have to be sneakier then,” I quip.

He laughs. “Or you could join me.”

My stomach flips. “I didn’t want to bother you. I know you have a whole regimen.”

He shrugs. “I do, but I don’t. I know I’m a professional athlete and blah blah blah, but I just do what I think I need to and eat a ton of protein. It’s worked this long. Why wouldn’t I add you to it?”

“I don’t know. What else do you need to do?” I ask him.

He takes another bite and I grab one of the stuffed breads called Bollos. It’s warm with strawberry compote and has a slight consistency of cornbread.

“So I need to get a surf in and wax my board, but we also need to look into Colombia.”

I sigh, still nervous about that one. “I don’t know a lot about it. I think my father is merely a purchaser. I don’t know if he is the Marín cartel’s only client. I don’t know the other players and I don’t know where they cook it, so I’m not entirely sure how it’s going to help us.”

Liam grins and chews. “Ye of little faith, princess.”

I roll my eyes and put my foot up on the edge of the chair. “What are you going to do? Play Seal Team Six and infiltrate the cartel? The coke he gets iscoveted.People are disturbingly obsessed with it. They say it’s the best high they’ve ever had.”