Page 56 of Power Play

I wokeup and knew something was wrong. That there was a disturbance in the force. The house of female energy was…sullied.

I climbed out of bed and pulled a sweatshirt on over my sleep shorts and my favorite Shrek t-shirt. I was halfway down the stairs when I heard the rumble of a man’s voice, the dark velvet of his chuckle.

My nipples immediately recognized the sound of his voice.

“Down girls,” I whispered.

I turned the corner at the bottom of the stairs and there he was with Ms. Rene and Tess. Eating what looked like a breakfast big enough for ten people. Liam’s plate was full of pancakes and bacon. Tess had her own pancakes and a pile of strawberries.

Ms. Rene looked like a woman who’d never been so happy.

“Honey!” Ms. Rene said when she caught sight of me. Liam turned to smile and Tess waved her hand, her cheeks full of food.

It’s not real, I told myself when my heart wanted to leap from my chest. This is not for you. You had your family and you lost it.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, like they were here to rob the place.

“That’s no way to greet your new employer,” Liam said, waggling his eyebrows at me.

“I haven’t agreed,” I said. I was going to agree. The offer was simply too good to pass up. All debts forgiven.

“Coffee?” Ms. Rene asked.

“I’ll get it,” I said and pulled out my favorite mug that had a giant cartoon middle finger on the side. I sat down next to Tess and turned the mug so I was giving Liam the finger. He smirked at me and I smiled as I took a sip.

It really was the little things.

“We’re going on a trip,” Tess said.

“Really? Where are you going?” I asked Tess, ruffling her hair and then stealing a strawberry off her plate. She turned her plate so the strawberries were close to me because she was just that kind of kid.

“A town that is filled with cats,” she said. “Also, there’s a stuffed lobster and a summer festival. An ice cream shop and lots of beaches. There’s also a bookstore and a library.”

“Sounds like a really nice little town,” I said and took another sip of coffee.

“Good,” Liam said, shoving the last bit of bacon in his mouth. “Because you are coming with us.”

Tess looked so happy and I was enraged that Liam would put me in this situation. I didn’t like not having choices. I’d made my decision, but he didn’t know that.

Thank goodness for Ms. Rene, who showed some mind-reading tendencies and read the room enough to stand up. “Tess, darling,” she said. “I could use some help in my fairy garden.”

Tess blinked her big blue eyes at Ms. Rene. “Did you say…fairy garden?” she whispered, practically vibrating.

“Indeed, bring those strawberries, would you? The fairies love them.”

Tess grabbed a handful of strawberries and flew from her chair, following Ms. Rene to the side door that lead out to the garden.

“Ms. Rene,” I said and she looked back at me over her shoulder. “Thank you.”

She cast an extremely meaningful glance at Liam, that either meantget him honeyorwatch out for that oneand then she was gone.

“Low blow,” I said to Liam, glaring at him. My arms crossed over my chest.

“My house was surrounded by paps this morning. Between this insanity with my brother and Tess, it’s… it’s too much. We can’t stay locked in my house all day, every day.”

“What is this magical town you’re taking her to?”

“We’retaking her to-”

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