Page 44 of It's Not All Fake

But I don’t see Liam anywhere.

The driver hops out, rounds the car, and pulls my door open. I step out, smoothing down my lace skirt, and guess that Liam is taking me to some party on a yacht. But everything is quiet. I hear seagulls in the distance, but no music, no chatter of people.

“Ma’am, head past this yacht, then turn at the first dock on your right,” he instructs me.

“Thank you,” I manage to say, still thoroughly confused. I start following his directions, clutching my purse tightly out of sheer nerves, as I walk past the towering superyacht.

As I pass the rear of the yacht, I see the dock on my right. When I reach it, I turn and finally see him.

Liam.

He’s halfway down the dock, and he smiles brightly when he sees me.

I stop in my tracks, my breath catching.

Tulips. He’s holding a bouquet of red tulips. He remembered I told him about planting tulips with my mother. My hand shoots to my mouth, and I drop my purse but barely register it.

I feel tears well in my eyes.

I glance around, but I don’t see another soul in sight. There’s nowhere for the paparazzi to hide. It appears that we’re actually alone.

Liam looks effortlessly stylish in a dark navy button-up, the first couple of buttons undone, paired with light blue shorts cinched with a black belt. He’s boat-ready and so fucking hot.

I want to believe in this.

I want to buy into the fantasy.

I want Liam.

I catch his smile, forgetting all my doubts, and hurry toward him.

As I close the distance, his smile broadens, genuine and warm, and I know it can’t be a show.

He opens his arms to me, and I slip right inside as our lips lock. He kisses me fervently and I match his passion. I can’t get enough of him.

All my plans to set boundaries, be professional, stick to the script… they’ve gone out the window. The practical part of me completely evaporates. Right now, the only thing that matters is this moment. And it’s exhilarating.

When we break the kiss, he still holds me close, his arms wrapped around me. I admire his gorgeous features I gaze up into his soft brown eyes.

“Hi,” he breathes.

“Hi,” I reply, feeling a rush of nerves and excitement.

Liam’s smile deepens. “If you don’t have other plans, how about a weekend cruise after dinner?”

“What?” I pull back, surprised by the sudden escalation from dinner to a weekend getaway. “I, um… don’t have anything packed.”

“Well, we have new toothbrushes and other essentials onboard.” He smooths a strand of hair behind my ear. He leans in, his voice a whisper, “I don’t think we’ll need pajamas.”

I feel a rush in my body at his suggestion.

Pretty confident in himself. But he has this power over me—maybe he knows it too—because I’m flushed and eager at the mere thought of a pajama-less night with him.

He grins, clearly amused by my reaction, as he hands me a bouquet of tulips.

“Thank you, these are beautiful.”

“You’re beautiful,” he replies with a soft smile, giving me a quick peck on the lips. “Stay here,” he instructs, before dashing over to retrieve my abandoned purse from the dock. I would have completely forgotten it; I’m so wrapped up in him.

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