Page 47 of Booked for Summer

Easy to make decisions based on numbers on a spreadsheet, but when the consequence of one of those decisions was looking at him as if he held the power to her happiness in his hand? Yet if he gave in to her, he’d be putting a halt on his own goal, his own ambition. And the likes of Adam would believe they’d been successful in stopping him.

Exhaling sharply, he nodded down to the computer. ‘You’re not going to be able to see the screen from over there.’

ChapterSeventeen

He hadn’t said yes. But he hadn’t said no. Jade gave Liam another furtive glance as he continued to talk in his deep, low drawl, explaining how the spreadsheet he’d taken the last hour going through, was supposed to be kept updated on a daily basis.

Oops.

The fact she’d taken anything in at all was a miracle considering her mind kept jumping back to what he’d said about how not looking at the bed wasn’tgoing to stop me from wanting to fuck you in it.

She snuck another peek at him and felt a hard flip in her lower belly. She’d dated some good-looking guys– Rob, before he’d called her his dumb-blonde phase, had all her girlfriends swooning over him– so she knew looks were overrated. Still, it was hard not to be sucked into Liam’s powerful aura. It wasn’t just his almost brutally handsome face, or the mesmerising eyes, the assuredI don’t care what you think of meswagger. It was the rough, unvarnished edge beneath the smooth surface that tugged at her.

A pair of light grey eyes locked onto hers. ‘I seem to have lost your interest.’

She shook herself. ‘Nope, definitely not. Expenses are… fascinating. They should make a film about them. Maybe put Ryan Gosling in the lead role, though.’

‘You’d pay more attention to him?’

He looked insulted, which made her want to laugh. ‘Probably, but it wouldn’t change the outcome. I’m hopeless when it comes to numbers.’

He shrugged. ‘You’re people, not numbers.’ He said it so easily, like it was obvious. As she tried to work out how to reply without flinging her arms around him and sobbing out her thanks, he peered at her curiously. ‘You’re looking at me like I just said something right.’

‘I liked the way you put it, that’s all.’ Damn, her voice was scratchy. ‘You know, that being crap at maths is okay, because I’m good at other things.’

He leant back, eyes still on her, and still curious. ‘Does this come back to what you were saying, about being underestimated?’

It was both unnerving and flattering to be the focus of his intense gaze. ‘I told you about my sister being a doctor. My parents used to joke she was the brainy one and I was the pretty one.’ She dragged her eyes away from his, unable to hold his stare. ‘When I was a kid, I didn’t mind it. In fact, I was happy to be the one the boys were after. Go me, I was in demand, the girl the others envied. But then I grew up, and I realised being popular just because I looked good actually sucked. My sister, my friends, they were liked because they had something interesting to say. Me? I was dated because I had blonde hair and big tits.’

‘Sorry?’ His voice sounded strangled, like he was trying not to laugh.

‘It’s not funny,’ she said crossly. ‘How would you like to be arm candy?’

‘You’re saying I’m not?’ he murmured before crossing one leg over the other and giving her a long, measured look. ‘Do you think I have these conversations with everyone?’

She blinked. ‘What do you mean?’

‘Jade.’ He ran a hand through his hair, a hint of exasperation in his voice. ‘The only person I talk to, outside business talk, is my grandma.’ He let out a low laugh. ‘And now you, apparently.’ A dozen questions tripped onto her tongue but he held up a hand. ‘I’m only telling you this because you thinking you have nothing interesting to say is frankly ridiculous.’

She searched his handsome face. ‘Aw, Liam Haven. Are you saying youlikeme?’

He shut his eyes briefly before staring straight back at her. ‘Yes, Jade. I like you.’

It was impossible not to smile. Not to feel the warmth that seeped through her chest, or the excited flutter of her heart.

Not to be aware of the sparks that fizzed in the ensuing silence.

He gave a small shake of his head. ‘I refuse to ask the question.’

She had to fight not to smile. ‘What question?’

He huffed. ‘I feel like a fucking teenager.’

‘I can’t believe teenage you ever asked anyone their opinion of you.’

A shadow passed over his face. ‘I didn’t need to.’

She wanted to stay angry at him, stay hating him because then she didn’t have to worry where this humming attraction might lead. But he kept giving her glimpses of the man she’d first been attracted to. ‘Well, I’ll answer the question anyway. Despite the fact you’re planning to put an end to my adventure andknock down this shop, I’m beginning to not hate you.’

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