The idea of actually liking Liam was crazy. How could I like a guy who was severely rude to me in the beginning of our deal and who came up with the deal in the first place? Seriously, how could I like someone like that? I had no answer for it. My nineteen-year-old self had fallen for a guy a few years older than me. But you know the saying, “The heart wants what the heart wants.”

I was so busy inside of my head that I didn’t hear Liam come home, until a hand on my shoulder scared the living daylights out of me. Holding back a scream, I jumped and turned around on the couch only to find Liam standing there with a smirk on his face.

“Scared ya?”

“You can’t do that!” I said, standing up and clenching a hand to my heart.

“Sorry. I thought you would have heard me,” he said, his face ridden with guilt.

“You’re okay. Just blanked out there for a minute.” My heart was still beating fast but not because I was scared. Liam standing in front of me dressed in a suit and tie was making my knees weak. The man could definitely work a suit.

“Ready to go?” He interrupted my gawking.

“Uh, yeah,” I answered, clearing my mind. Being around Liam made my mind think of filthy things that I really should not be thinking about.

“Good. The flight doesn’t leave for forty minutes, so let me grab my stuff really quick and we can get going.” He started to turn away, but I stopped him.

“Wait, we are flying?”

“Yeah, is that okay?”

“Yeah, totally.” I pushed down my nervousness and brushed past him to get my luggage from my room.

I quickly looked around my room to make sure I had everything. Reaching for my suitcase handle, I froze when I saw my ring box. Damn it! I went over to my side table and opened the box, sliding my engagement ring on. You would think by now I’d be used to wearing this and not forgetting to put it on, but nope. Doing another check around my room and bathroom, I nodded. I had everything. I put my small duffle bag around the handle to the suitcase and put my purse on my shoulder and wheeled out of my room. Liam was already coming toward me, empty-handed.

“Where’s your stuff?”

“In the car already,” he answered, reaching for my bags. How long was I in my room? I let him take my things and head to the front door. Checking over everything once more, I too headed to the front door.

“Have everything you need?” Liam asked, leaning against the door frame.

“I think so. Where are we going again?” I asked, hoping he’d answer this time.

“Nope, not telling you just yet.” He tapped the tip of my nose with his finger before moving out of the way for me. Huffing in annoyance, I headed to the car, leaving him to lock the house up. How hard was it to say where we were going? Jenna, we are going to California. See? Not hard.

“So why can’t you tell me where we are going?” I asked as we both got buckled in and Mathew the driver started the car.

“Because it is a surprise,” Liam said. I could tell he was starting to get a little annoyed at my constant questions.

“I hate surprises,” I muttered, crossing my arms.

“You hate surprises? Does that mean you hate Christmas?” he asked in shock. It wasn’t that weird to not like surprises.

“I don’t celebrate Christmas, remember?”

“Oh.” The mood dropped a little at the mention of me not celebrating every holiday. Because I had no one, I never celebrated any holiday since I was little. The only time I ever really celebrated it was when Carrie, Thomas, and Lea from the home were around. I didn’t want to squash their love for Christmas, so we always did something on that day, until they were adopted. I forced the two older boys, Matt and Ryan, to get presents for them for Christmas day. After the three little ones were adopted and I left, I stopped celebrating it. “Well, I am going to get you to like surprises,” Liam said, conviction clear in his voice.

“You got yourself a challenge there, Mr. Stanford.” My voice sounded weird to me as I said that. I found myself leaning in toward Liam.

“Don’t worry, Ms. Howard, I love a challenge. And,” Liam leaned closer to me as well, his voice dropping a few octaves lower, “I always win.” I shivered as his breath tickled across my skin, the meaning in his words not lost on me. His voice low like that made my toes curl in my flip-flops.

“Well, you have never played with me before,” I whispered huskily back at him. I was surprising myself by flirting back. I’d only ever stupidly flirted with a few guys at the club, but that was only to get a good tip. Flirting with Liam was better. His promises didn’t sound empty.

“Then I can’t wait to play with you.” I watched as his blue eyes flashed with his words. A wave of heat flashed over me as my mind filled with those naughty thoughts once again. I hadn’t realized how close we had gotten until I barely felt a touch of his soft lips grazing mine. I couldn’t stop myself from breathing heavily as I continued to look in his eyes.

“Um excuse me, sir, but we are here,” the driver, Mathew, said as all the heat between Liam and me slowly went away. I felt a little pissed at Mathew for ruining our moment. I watched as Liam pursed his lips, but I told him to thank him. Maybe he didn’t want to be interrupted either. Sighing, Liam moved away from me and opened the door. I stepped out behind him and looked around and saw we were in front of a huge private plane.

“Woah, is this yours?” I said breathlessly.