Page 50 of Forbidden Mistress

He opts for a garden salad and turns his head to me once more. “A male or female friend?”

I throw him some serious side-eye while grabbing an iced coffee. “A none-of-your-business friend.”

“Obviously more than a friend or you wouldn’t be so defensive.”

I turn toward him, folding my arms across my chest. “How’s your runway model, by the way? The one you were pictured with in Italy?”

“No idea. Haven’t talked to her in almost two months.”

I arch a brow. “Another one bites the dust, huh? That’s too bad.” But I make it clear in my voice that the words are completely void of any real sympathy. I turn back, grab the rest of my food and hurry to the cashier.

Frustratingly, Liam is right behind me and insists on covering both our meals, pulling out his triple-diamond platinum rich-man club card or whatever it is. I watch the transaction balefully, seething with renewed resentment over his easy wealth.

I may have come into a nice bundle with this cozy arrangement I have with Hart, but it’s with no thanks to my own stepbrother, that’s for sure.

“So you’re blissfully single these days?” I ask almost nonchalantly once we’re sitting at a booth. I pull off the wrapping on my sandwich and pull it apart. I don’t know why I care really, but I’m deeply curious about Liam’s private life and Google-stalking him isn’t as satisfying when I have him here in the flesh. Might as well grill him.

“I never said that.” He spears his fork into his salad with a little more force than is needed and it clinks loudly.

My eyes widen. He seems weirdly tense.

“So you aren’t single?” I ask.

His dark eyes come up to lock with mine, oddly intense. “I’m seeing someone.”

I blink, stung by that information for some reason. Whoever this someone is must mean something to have him acting so on edge. And that makes me feel…weird. I take a breath. Should I keep needling?

My curiosity, as always, gets the best of me. “Someone out here? Are hearts breaking all over the West Coast now that William Force is off the market?” I’m out for blood when I pull out his full name. He hates being called William.

Instead of answering right away, he tears his eyes away and returns his attention to his salad. “Why do you want to know? Didn’t you just tell me it was none of my business who you were texting?”

I narrow my eyes a little as he avoids my gaze. “Just a little harmless sisterly curiosity. But I guess, if she means that much to you, no harm done. Be sure to invite me to the wedding—and here I always thought I’d be the one to get married first.”

A strange look crosses his face, almost a bitterness. He shakes his head. “I’m not–”

Just then, his phone chimes with a text message. He picks up the phone to look at the screen, and as he does, I wonder what he would have said because he looks so…almost sad, defeated. I frown. He never lets his emotions show like that. And who is this woman, anyway? It seems serious. Those are some real emotions he’s fighting—and failing—to keep hidden.

He sets aside his plate and slides out of the booth. “Mom’s awake.”

I push my food aside but grab my drink and follow him out of the cafeteria. He’s walking so fast that it’s hard to catch up with his long strides. Clearly, he’s pissed at whatever I said.

He halts at the elevator bank and punches the button. I catch up to him then. Just before the doors open, I reach out and put my hand on his solid upper arm. Under his golf shirt, his bicep bulges, and it’s all I can do to keep from squeezing it. Fuck, he’s too hot for his own good.

“Hey, I didn’t mean to upset you. I was just joking around.”

Liam keeps his eyes on the elevator door and subtly but deliberately shrugs off my hand. “Well, don’t. It’s not a subject I want to get into.” I open my mouth to say more when he adds, almost under his breath. “With you, least of all.”

I hold my hands up in surrender. “Fair enough.”

The elevator arrives, and it’s a tense ride back up to Lori’s floor. When the doors open, he lets out a long breath as if he’s been holding it. “Let’s just get through this and get along for Mom’s sake. Can you do that, Cass? Please? We can be grownups, right?”

He says it with such intensity that I’m taken aback. I blink, staring. “Yeah, sure. I can do that.”

When we step over the threshold, one nurse is standing at Lori’s bedside, taking close note of the monitors. She turns to Liam, smiling. Lori’s eyes are cracked open. She looks pale and weak but most definitely awake. Liam instantly moves to her bedside and takes her hand. “Hey, Mom. We’re here…”

She licks her lips and says she’s thirsty. The nurse informs us that she can only have ice chips, but if she continues to do as well as she’s doing now, she’ll be moved out of ICU and into a regular hospital room this time tomorrow.

I can see the relief on Liam’s face as he patiently answers her questions, and he asks his own to find out what exactly happened to put her in the hospital. She tells us she was in the kitchen when she felt faint and collapsed. She doesn’t remember calling the ambulance, but thank goodness she did.

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