Page 14 of Accidental Attraction

The longer I stared at my mother, the angrier I became. Here she was standing in front of me, not even recognizing her own daughter! She was staring at me like the other women I had met that night, like I was beneath her. There was nothing in her face that showed she knew who I was or that she cared. Biting my tongue, I fought the urge to yell and cry at the same time.

“I am sorry, but my fiancé and I have to get going. It was nice seeing you again,” Liam said, giving them a polite smile and nod. Thank God. Without waiting for their response, he was pulling me away from my mother and her husband.

I was in a daze the entire walk to the car and the drive home. I could hear and feel Liam talking to me and trying to get me to say something, but I couldn’t. My body was here, but my mind wasn’t. I used to think when I was younger, hell even just a few years ago, that whenever I would see my mom again—if she was even alive—I’d be happy, and she would recognize me. That dream went down the drain the moment I saw her. Never in a million years did I think I would see that woman at an event with only rich people. And I never thought she would have another family. She had two kids! Two kids that I learned about before coming here.

Why would she do this? Why would she leave me when I was only five and start an entire new life? Why disappear and not take me with her? She left me on my own, left me to take care of myself. Left me to work two shitty jobs just to make ends meet. She even left me to make this decision to be with Liam. If it wasn’t for her leaving me, I wouldn’t have had to take this deal. I would be living a normal life: going to school, making friends, having someone to love me, and having someone to tell everything to.

The only reason I knew we were back home was when a pair of arms slid around me and lifted me out of the car. Being held bridal style, I laid my head against Liam’s chest. For some reason, being held by Liam and knowing we were home, away from people’s stares, made the tears I was holding back come rushing to the surface. Before I knew it, my body was wracked with sobs. My throat and chest tightened, my body almost folding in on itself. All of my repressed emotions were now coming out.

I was oblivious to Liam carrying me inside and up to his room. My tears were soaking Liam’s suit jacket and shirt, but I couldn’t stop the sobs. I didn’t care if my makeup was running down my face or if I was ruining my hair or dress. All I could think about was my mother standing in front of me. The soft creak of the bed let me know Liam was now sitting down with me in his lap. Somehow I had turned myself around and was now straddling his lap with my arms wrapped tightly around his neck.

“Jenna, baby, it’s okay,” Liam said soothingly into my ear. I felt his hand softly move down my hair. I continued to cry as Liam whispered into my ear and rubbed my hair and back soothingly.

I was never really a crier. The most I ever cried was the day after my mother left me and I had to go to the orphanage. I must have cried myself out, because after that moment, I never once shed a tear. I didn’t cry when I graduated high school and left my two “friends.” I didn’t cry when Carrie and Lea got adopted. I certainly didn’t cry until I met Liam.

I didn’t know how long I cried on him, but I finally calmed down, hiccupping silently. Liam stopped rubbing my back some time ago and was now just holding me against him. My eyes felt swollen, my throat raw. My body was slightly shaking but less than it had been before.

“Let’s get you out of your clothes,” he whispered, lifting me up. I was wrapped around his body like a koala bear, with my legs around his waist and arms around his neck. There was something about Liam that calmed me down.

The feeling of the counter against the back of my thighs made me unlock my legs from around Liam and sit on the countertop. I wanted to feel embarrassed as I sat there with tear-stained cheeks and red, swollen eyes, but I couldn’t feel anything. I was completely numb. I was all cried out, and all I could do was sit there, watching Liam move around the bathroom.

“Do you want to take a bath?” Liam asked, looking over at me. His face was filled with compassion and what seemed like sadness. I almost nodded, but then I realized Liam would have to see me naked, so I shook my head. He nodded and headed for the sink. I watched as he grabbed a wash cloth and wetted it.

He came to a stop in front of me, spreading my legs so he could stand in between them. With softness I didn’t think he possessed, he cupped my jaw in one hand and gently wiped my makeup off my cheek with the other. I didn’t have it in me to tell him that that was not how you get makeup off, so I let him wash my face clean. He washed my face so softly I almost didn’t feel it. Closing my eyes, I sighed as I felt my makeup slowly coming off, leaving me fresh-faced. A few minutes later, he went and washed the cloth before coming back with it clean to wipe my face once more. I couldn’t help but open my eyes and look at him as he worked.

His expression was soft and concentrated as he wiped my face. I wanted to laugh at his intense focus, but it seemed my body didn’t want me to. Our gaze suddenly locked, making him stop and stare at me. The urge to kiss him came over me once again. Liam lowered his head and laid his forehead against mine, his minty breath fanning across my face.

“I am sorry about your mother. I did not know she was Martin Brotherson’s wife,” he murmured softly. His tone was sincere as he looked at me.

“It is okay,” I croaked. Clearing my throat, I spoke again. “I just…I can’t believe she is here. After all this time, she was still in New York, making a new life.” I thought I was done crying but apparently not. My eyes flooded with tears once more. Saying it out loud made it more real, that I had seen her and that she wasn’t a figment of my imagination. I looked away from Liam, willing my tears away.

“Jenna, look at me.” With one finger, he lifted my chin until I was looking back at him. “I will not let that woman near you, okay? I will make sure she doesn’t hurt you again,” he said almost forcefully. He looked at me, waiting for my answer. The way he said it made my heart warm up. For some reason, I knew Liam meant what he said. He meant he would keep me safe.

“I…thank you,” I whispered, nodding at him. Happy with my answer, he placed a gentle kiss on my forehead before stepping back.

“Let’s get you changed.” He held his hand out, waiting for mine. Without hesitation, I slid off the counter and put my hand in his. He led me out of the bathroom and toward his closet. I stared at his back. Liam was just confusing my feelings even more. “Here, you can put these on,” he said, dropping my hand and reaching for something. Turning around, he handed me a big grey t-shirt and a pair of boxers.

“I can just go to my room,” I said but silently hoped he would say no.

“No, you are staying in here tonight.” His voice was firm. Inside I jumped with glee and nodded at him, taking the clothes. “I won’t look.” Turning his back to me, he looked in the other direction. The brief question of why couldn’t he go back in the room for me to change crossed my mind, but I squashed it. Same with the question of me going to my room. If Liam wanted me here, then I was going to stay. Plus I didn’t want to be alone, not right now.

I struggled with zipper on my dress and huffed, bending my arm at an awkward angle to unzip it. At the sound of my huff, Liam turned around. He saw my problem and moved behind me and laid his warm hands on my bare shoulders. Suppressing a shiver, I stood still as he slowly unzipped my dress. When I thought he was done, I moved forward but stopped when I felt his fingertip grazing up my spine and to my neck. My body felt like it was on fire as he softly ran his fingertips across my shoulders and neck, unclasping the necklace I had completely forgotten I was wearing. I felt his warm breath get heavy on my neck, and I bit my bottom lip. With a quiet groan I almost didn’t hear, Liam pulled himself away from me and moved to stand in front of me with his back turned once more.

I shook my head at my hormones and quickly slipped out of my dress and heels into his big shirt and boxers. The shirt hung off of me but thankfully hid the fact I wasn’t wearing a bra. Grabbing my dress, I held it in my arms.

“I am done.” For some reason I felt like I had to whisper. Facing me, he grabbed my dress and heels in one hand. He grabbed my hand and tugged me after him. I didn’t resist. Setting my clothes on a chair by the window in his room, he led me to his king-sized bed. As I swung my legs up on the bed, I glanced at the alarm clock on Liam’s bedside table and saw it was only nine, but my body was exhausted. I almost moaned out loud when I lay back on the bed. It was so comfortable, way more than mine. “I am going to go change. Just lay down and relax.”

Turning onto my side, I watched as Liam walked back to the bathroom. I looked up at the ceiling and tried to get my mind off of my mother. Liam’s face popped into my mind, and I smiled softly. Him being so sweet and caring in the last hour just proved that he was different than when I first met him. I was thankful in this moment that Liam was here with me. If not, I would be home alone at my apartment crying myself to sleep. If it wasn’t for this deal with Liam, I wouldn’t have seen my mother, but I was kind of glad I did.

I was glad I saw that she was alive at least, even if she didn’t recognize me. If you would have asked me two weeks ago, hell, even a week ago, I would say I regret taking this deal with Liam, but now it was different. I was glad I did it. This last week had been a great one, and being around Liam made me feel better. Yes, we got off on the wrong foot, but now we were getting along. Everything was slowly falling into place. Even though I did see my mother after fourteen years, I wouldn’t change meeting Liam. I shouldn’t even be thinking like that, but I was. Tonight just confirmed my thoughts.

When I heard the bed creaking and shifting, I looked over and was met with the sight of a beautiful tan muscular chest. Liam was shirtless and crawling into bed beside me. I gulped, staring at his toned stomach and forgetting about everything else. “What were you thinking about?” Liam asked, drawing my attention back to his face. Forcing a blush away from my cheeks, I swallowed.

“Just about my mother, that’s all,” I lied. Well, it was partly the truth.

“Don’t think about her, Jenna. She doesn’t deserve you.” I smiled softly at him.

“Thank you, Liam. I am sorry we had to leave the Benefit. And that I cried all over your shirt,” I mumbled.

“Don’t worry about it. The Benefit is fine without me, and that shirt was old anyways,” he said, waving it away and sending me a smile. The smile made me feel better. Just then, I yawned. After everything today, I was beyond exhausted. Stressing all day about the Benefit and then seeing my mother was very taxing. “Just go to sleep. I got you,” Liam said, bringing his arms around me and drawing me toward him. I folded my body against his, putting my head on his chest. It felt nice, being held.

Letting out a sigh, I closed my eyes and breathed in the smell of Liam. I felt his hand rubbing my back and his head lying on top of mine. Glad that my face was hidden from him, I smiled and snuggled deeper against him. Before I knew it, I was drifting off to sleep. I barely heard Liam tell me goodnight.

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