Page 57 of Power Play

“Don’t get ahead of yourself.”

“Calico Cove. Sleepy seaside town and we have a great house to stay in. It’s all taken care of.”

“I have other jobs,” I said. Though I didn’t have a birthday party booked until August –but I wasn’t going to tell him that.

“The End Zone? Forget it. You’re not putting on that uniform again.”

I took a sip of coffee, stalling for time.

“I do feel bad about the seniors at the community center, so I’ve asked my accountant to send someone next Sunday to cover for you.”

I gaped at Liam. Blinked.

“I know,” he said, pressing a hand to his chest. “I’m a really nice guy. Sometimes, I surprise even myself.” He took a gigantic bite of pancakes.

“So we all stay in this house you’ve got lined up…together?” I asked.

“It’s big. There’s lots of room. But if you want your own place, I can get one for you.” He looked over at Ms. Rene’s plate. “We can bring Ms. Rene if you want to.”

Oh God. He meant it. He really was that kind of guy. The more the merrier. It made my heart uncomfortable.

He leaned forward again so fast it made me lean back. Away from him, his sweetness and ice blue eyes. “I don’t know why you’re pretending you’re not going to do this,” he said.

“It’s called pride, Liam.”

“Well, swallow it.”

I all but snarled at him.

“Let me ask, the money you earn with these jobs. You don’t give it all to me?”

“I pay rent.”

“Hmm. And you take the damn bus.”

“Saving the planet, baby.”

“I get that I can’t take away all your income…”

“A girl’s got to eat,” I reminded him.

“So here’s my final offer,” Liam said, pinching his chin between his fingers like he was deep in thought, when something told me he’d already worked all this out already. “You come with me and Tess to the beach for the next week and a half. I’ll pay you for your time-”

“I’m not one of your charity cases, Liam.” I took another sip of my coffee, giving him the finger.

“Hold on,” he said. “I’ll pay you a reasonable amount for your time watching Tess. That’s not charity, that’s just a regular old job. But I have one more stipulation.” he said, getting to his feet.

He towered over me this way and I had to tilt my head way back to look into his face. He leaned over the table, his hand braced by my coffee. From this distance, if I moved just a bit closer, I could kiss his neck. Those tight tendons. His salty skin.

Or maybe bite down. Hard.

“What are you thinking, Kit Barrington?” Liam asked with a voice that was soft and rough at the same time. His fingers touched my chin, tilting my head up so I had to look into his face. His eyes were bright. Knowing. I licked my lips and pulled my sweatshirt tight to my body, uncomfortable with how well he saw me.

“So?” I said, looking up at him, trying to mask all my desire with indifference. “What’s your stipulation?”

“I want a kiss.”

I stared at him, waiting for the punchline. But he just stared back. Smug and beautiful in my landlady’s kitchen.

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