Page 97 of Love to Loathe Him

“Okay.” Liam nods. Damn that poker face of his. “I can’t say I’m not disappointed, but I respect your decision.” He eyes my empty wineglass, and I feel a pang of something that might be regret. “Shall I get the bill?”

Wait, what? I say no to his indecent proposal, and suddenly he’s in a rush to leave?

I feel a flare of annoyance. “I say no to your arrangement, and you’re just like, ‘check, please’?”

“No, Gemma. It’s getting late, that’s all.”

I glance at my phone, my eyes widening when I see the time. Shit. It’s nearly midnight, and we have work tomorrow. Time flies when you’re turning down sexy propositions from your boss, apparently.

“Fair point,” I concede grudgingly.

Liam signals for the waiter. “Come on, I’ll take you home.”

“I can get the underground. I’m a big girl, I can make my own way home.”

He gives me a look. “I’m taking you home. End of discussion.”

I open my mouth to argue, but something stops me. Maybe it’s the wine. Maybe it’s the late hour. Or maybe it’s the tiny, treacherous part of me that doesn’t want this night to end just yet.

“You really don’t need to walk me right to my front door,” I say. “Is this your standard business meeting protocol? Because if so, I think HR might have something to say about that.”

He sighs. “This new honest Gemma sure is lippy.” But there’s a glint in his eye that suggests he enjoys my sass.

I hover awkwardly at the door. Obviously, I’m not inviting him in. “Well, good night. Thanks for dinner.”

“Meow.” Winnie announces her displeasure from behind the door.

Liam smirks. “Ah, the little voyeur.”

Winnie meows louder, like she’s agreeing with him.

“Oh god,” I groan, hiding behind my hands. “Can we please forget you know that?”

A crash sounds that makes me think she’s taken a running jump and slammed herself against the door. Lord, that cat is dramatic.

I quickly turn my key in the lock before she scratches the door down. She bursts out like she’s been shot from a cannon. But does she come to me, her loving owner who feeds her gourmet cat food? Oh no. She makes a beeline straight for Liam’s legs.

“Winnie,” I hiss, trying to grab her.

But Liam just chuckles, slowly bending down so as not to startle her. Then, with a gentleness that takes my breath away, he scoops her up into his arms, cradling her against his broad chest.

“Hey, baby,” he murmurs, his voice turning my insides to jelly. He strokes her fur, and she melts into him like a purring puddle of goo. Ugh, Winnie. Have some self-respect.

She blinks slowly at me, her eyes narrowed in feline smugness, then nuzzles her face into Liam’s chest, purring louder.

The little man stealer.

Thank goodness Lizzie’s out, or she’d be rubbing herself all over him too.

“Beautiful girl. You’re a feisty one, aren’t you? Just like your mum,” Liam says to Winnie, his voice low, like he’s sharing a secret with her.

Then he winks at me.

I blink. I’m kind of shocked to see Liam expressing so much affection for a living creature. Maybe he’s not a complete sociopath after all; they usually start by killing small animals before moving on to become CEOs.

“She’s very well-behaved,” he says, smile lines crinkling his face.

I narrow my eyes at Winnie, silently calling bullshit. “I caught her having sex the night I came home from sailing. Bold as brass, right on the front lawn.”