Page 85 of Icebound Attraction

When the door closes, the atmosphere becomes a little more tense.

“Liam...”

“No, wait a minute. I'd like to speak first.”

I nod.

“I'm sorry my ex said all those horrible things at the Spring Gala. She was wrong about everything. Because with you, it's different. Very different. I'm not the guy she knew. And no, despite what you wrote, I wanted to tell you in person: I've never had anything to do with drugs. That was her problem, her addictions, and I left her partly because of that. And also because, at the time, I wasn't seriously considering a relationship.

I swallow, digesting all this information.

“I didn't write this article.”

His eyes widen in surprise.

“I knew it!” he exclaims.

“But the look on your face makes me think I've just told you I'm the Queen of England.”

“Rho, Em! It's not that! It's just that, deep down, I couldn't convince myself that you'd written that load of crap. It's a relief to know.”

“How could you think for a moment that I could write that?”

I'm a little offended to hear it in person.

“Don't blame me! I mean when your girlfriend, with whom you've finally decided to have a serious relationship and whom you love, ends up with her name at the end of something despicable…”

It's my turn to round my mouth and widen my eyes.

“And you were so angry after the altercation with Sara, so disappointed...” he continues.

Seeing that I'm still not saying anything, he continues.

“What's up? Why the long face? This time, it looks like I'm the one who just told you I'm the Pope.”

“No, but you just said you loved me...”

“Oh... I...”

I approach him to end the distance between us. My hands rest on his forearms, and I find his strength, and his warmth.

What I missed... More than I could admit to myself...

“Well, yes, I love you, Emily. It's out of control. Scary, too. But so good and amazing. You knock me down with a bat of the eye and pick me up with a smile. You consume me with a kiss, or with a particularly sexy evening gown...”

He smirks at the memory of our torrid embrace before the end-of-spring, Gala. I laugh softly.

“I love you, Liam. It's just as uncontrollable and unbelievable. And it scares me too. But what I do know, and at least what these last few days have proven to me, is that I can't imagine my life without you.”

I feel his breath quicken against my mouth, and my heart starts to race.

“And the article, it was David the editor who took the liberty of taking it back from me before it was published. I hadn't written that at all! So yes, he had asked me to find some gossip, and I should have told you about it beforehand, but I thought I could avoid writing it and move on. Except he threatened to tell the New York Post that I was being picky and all...”

“What an asshole!”

“As a result, when I read what he'd published, I wanted to report him. Maddie talked me out of it, though she was as disgusted by his behavior as I was. The guy's got a stranglehold on the campus newspaper and a lot of connections. If I said anything, denial or otherwise, he'd blow me up with a snap of his fingers, and word would get out. Everything gets out in this business, not to mention the fact that the guy will do anything to protect himself by ruining others.”

“I can understand that. Your career was also at stake...”

---