Page 19 of The Temptation (Executive Suite Secrets #4)

SIMON MILLER

“What the hell is this for?” Liam asked with a laugh as I pulled a bottle of Pinot Noir with a red bow on it out from under the table as he sat down.

“This is a thank-you gift for what you did to help me.”

Liam had agreed to meet me at the same coffee shop where we’d first chatted not that long ago. This was becoming a key spot for me. The owner needed to consider giving me a discount card with the frequency that I was bringing business in for him.

But that wasn’t important. What mattered was Liam’s unexpected help with Pierce.

My friend shrugged, pausing as he slipped out of his winter coat and stuffed it into the empty seat next to him. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Pierce found himself in a bit of a pickle, and I made an innocent suggestion.”

I laughed so hard I choked on it. “Innocent?”

Liam rolled his eyes, his cheeks turning almost as red as his hair. “Okay, not innocent at all, but even if I didn’t know about your feelings for Pierce, my suggestion for you to help him still would have made the most sense.”

“Regardless, thanks. I really appreciate you having my back.”

Liam made a noncommittal movement with his head as he lifted his green-and-white ceramic mug to his lips and took a sip of his coffee.

He looked rather dashing today in a cream-colored sweater and slacks.

His dark-red hair was a bit disheveled after he pulled off his knit hat.

There was something sweet and boy-next-door about him.

It was sometimes a little hard to believe that he actually had a PhD in paleontology and that he gave lectures at the Cincinnati Natural History Museum when I also had clear memories of him swearing like a sailor while playing Mario Kart with Rome.

“You’d have a lot more people willing to give you a hand if you told them what’s going on,” he reminded me.

“I can’t. They were all close friends of Sawyer. Way closer to him, and I’m afraid they wouldn’t approve. You’ve given me plenty of help. Pierce needs to keep me close if he’s going to convince his parents that we’re dating. The more I see him, the more chances I have to win his heart.”

Liam set his mug down with a soft thunk and leaned closer. “How are things going on that front? Making progress? Is he putty in your hands? Swooning at your feet?”

A snort broke from me. “Yeah, because that’s totally how it worked out for you and Rome.”

“Hey!” Liam snapped, holding up one finger at me. “There is nothing normal about how Rome and I date. Do not take lessons from us. We’re probably a better cautionary tale of why friends shouldn’t date.”

“Whatever. You and Rome are as disgusting as Sebastian and Byron now. The only thing that is worse is when you have Declan, Parker, and Joy together in a room. The sweetness overload sends my body into shock every time.”

“Fine. Rome and I are doing great. I was asking about your progress with Pierce. Spill it.”

His choice of words made me smirk because I happened to be cradling a cup of hot herbal tea in my hands.

Around us, the sounds of the coffee grinder and the chatter of other customers faded into the background.

The rich scent of coffee and pastries drifted through the air.

Outside the large picture window, the city was gray and dreary as either rain or snow promised to fall on our heads.

A hot cup of tea, a cranberry scone, and a friendly chat were the perfect way to fill the day.

“Pierce and I…are okay,” I stated haltingly. “If you compare it to where we were a month ago, it’s loads better. Sort of like he reached this mental agreement with himself that we’re going to be friends, and it doesn’t conflict with whatever nonsense has been haunting him for so long.”

“And you still don’t know what his hang-up was?”

A frown erased the smile that had graced my lips since Liam had joined me. “Nope, but I know it has something to do with my brother. Asshole is still making my life hell from the grave. That is so like him.”

Liam gave an awkward laugh, and I grunted.

“Don’t get me wrong, I love my brother and miss him every day. It’s just…” My voice trailed off, not sure how to explain it. Sawyer had been loving and protective, but he’d also been a self-centered, bossy know-it-all.

“Family is complicated,” Liam finished for me, and I nodded, relieved that he got it. But of course, I’d forgotten that Liam had a complicated family situation too.

“Aside from Pierce’s issue with my brother, I feel like we’re making some progress.

We’ve hung out several times now. He talks to me.

Really talks. About work and what he’s thinking.

He listens to me and worries about whether I’m taking proper care of myself.

” I sucked in a breath and held it, practically bubbling over with excitement. “We’ve kissed.”

“What?” Liam gasped. “Really? Kissed?”

“Well, technically it has been me kissing him each time, but he doesn’t explode with disgust or immediately leap away from me. In fact, I can tell he wants to kiss me. I can feel it.”

Liam sat back and stared at his mug for a couple of seconds as if contemplating what I’d told him. I froze, waiting to hear him say that it was probably wishful thinking on my part.

“That is some damn good progress,” Liam suddenly agreed, and I exhaled in relief, practically melting into a pool of goo in my seat. Maybe I had been afraid that some of this was a daydream on my part, but if Liam agreed with me, I was moving in the right direction.

“I wish you would let me tell the others. At least Rome. Do you have any idea how hard it is to keep this secret from him? When we were kids, we told each other everything, and now that we’re together again, we’re sharing everything.

Besides, Rome actually has some damn good ideas for romance. He might be able to help you.”

I immediately shook my head. “No, not yet. Soon, hopefully, but not yet. I don’t feel like I’ve truly snared him. Pierce is skittish. Very cautious. If he realized he was in a trap and falling for me, he’d freak out and run.”

“Okay.” Liam nodded. “But he’d better get his shit together soon. This is stressing me out.”

“Sorry.”

Liam waved off my apology and took another drink of his coffee. “Don’t. I’m being a grump. I also want to share it because I think Rome would love the idea of you and Pierce together. He’d want to help. But I totally get your hesitation to tell anyone.”

“Thanks. I want to tell everyone, but not yet. All my focus needs to be on winning Pierce.”

To my surprise, Liam frowned as he glared at his coffee, seeming unwilling to lift his eyes to look at me.

“What are you thinking?”

Liam jerked his head up and opened his mouth, but nothing came out before he closed it again. He swore softly under his breath. “I…I can’t…”

“Come on. What are you thinking?”

“I’m a little worried about you,” he admitted.

I blinked. That was definitely not what I was expecting him to say. “What do you mean?”

“Are you happy? With Pierce, I mean.”

“Yes. Of course. He drives me crazy and frustrates me, but he also makes me very happy.”

“No, I…” He broke off. His arms rested on the table in front of him, and his hands curled briefly into fists in his obvious frustration. “I mean, are you happy with who he is right now? Not the fantasy you have in your mind of him.”

I jerked backward. It was like he’d hit me in the chest with his question.

“Wait! Don’t block me out. Trust me, of anyone, I’m most likely to understand.

You told me you had a crush on Pierce when you were a tween, and you’ve been chasing Pierce forever.

But are you chasing the person Pierce was in college or are you chasing the adult he’s become?

You’ve admitted to me you haven’t seen or spoken to him much over the years. He’s changed. So have you.”

Now I got it. Rome and Liam knew each other as kids, but they’d had a huge falling out. Liam didn’t see Rome for nearly twenty years. It had to have been a wake-up call the first time they met in Cincinnati. “Is that what happened with you and Rome?”

“Sort of. I didn’t have a crush on Rome during childhood, but after we began hanging out in Cincinnati, there was this crazy disconnect in my brain between the person I remembered and the person he’d become.

As kids, he was a restless ball of chaotic energy and devilry.

Now, he’s some chaos but a lot of hot, sexy, responsible adult.

There are days I miss the ball of chaos, but I love hot, sexy, responsible Rome so much. ”

“Ah. That makes sense,” I murmured.

“So?” he prodded.

“As a kid, I think what struck me was his kindness. Let’s be serious; the man has always been devastatingly handsome.

I had a hell of a lot of lust as a teenager, but he was always so kind and patient with me, even though I was Sawyer’s annoying, dorky little brother.

Anyone his age would have been frustrated and irritated with me, but he was never cold toward me, never said a single mean word. ”

Some of the worry slipped from Liam’s features, and he appeared to relax. “And now?”

“He’s still stupid hot. That didn’t change.

Yes, he’s become a lot less patient with me and he’s said some not-so-nice things, but I’m also an adult and I’ve pushed him into some uncomfortable corners.

However, that core of kindness is still there, even when he’s incredibly frustrated with me.

And while we’ve spent some time together, I’ve discovered that he’s got this irrepressible caretaker side.

He’s always checking to make sure I’m warm enough and worrying about whether I’m taking care of myself.

I love it. That’s proof that he cares about me!

It makes me want to spend more time with him.

He’s smiling more with me now. Cracking jokes. It’s addicting.”

“You want to see if you can make him smile all the time now,” Liam finished for me. There was the softest look on his face, and I was sure his brain had slipped away to think of him and Rome.

“Definitely.”

“Okay. I’ll back off. I apologize for being skeptical.”

“No, don’t. You’re being a good friend, and I do appreciate your concern. It would be horrible for Pierce and me if you were right, and I was still chasing someone who technically didn’t exist any longer.”

We finished our coffee and tea, chatting about silly things for a while. Mostly Rome’s strange antics. I looked at the time on my phone.

“You know, it’s not too late. Do you want to grab something to eat? I’ve still got several hours before I have to get ready for tonight’s performance.”

Liam glanced at his phone and swore softly.

“I’m sorry, but I’ve got to run. Rome is flying in from Providence today.

He popped up to visit his parents and deal with some random business stuff.

I promised I’d go pick him up at the airport, and I wanted to grab some flowers on the way.

” He flashed me a crooked grin, his pale face flushing.

I got it. Liam wanted to do the classic “meet the significant other at the airport with flowers.” They were a new couple, and who didn’t want to have that feeling of having someone who missed them so much that they had to be there the second they touched down?

“Besides, I wanted to surprise him with the T-Rex costume.”

That made even more sense. An inflatable T-Rex holding flowers. That was so Rome and Liam.

“Go!” I laughed, waving him away from me.

Liam slid to his feet and pointed at me even as he tugged on his winter coat and grabbed the bottle of wine I’d gifted him. “Promise to call me if you need anything at all.”

“Deal. Now go. Surprise the crap out of Rome!”

I watched as Liam jogged out of the coffeehouse. It felt like my happiness followed him, draining out of me bit by bit so that I was alone with my empty mug. Nowhere to be and no one to be with until it was time to perform. Yet again.