Page 89 of Pleasure Island

“Hmmm. Maybe I’m not the one pushing you so hard.” She laughed lightly. “Although I doubt you’re too concerned about it. Are things fixed between you two now?”

I hesitated, uncertain what to say here.

Millie came to a stop and touched my arm. “For a few weeks, you were happier than I’d ever seen you. Then something happened between you and Liam – you don’t have to tell me what it was, but I know something happened. You’ve put on a brave face while you’re here, but I could see that you were unhappy. Now…you’re not.”

“Dad found out about us – hell, he walked in on us,” I confessed. “He wasn’t happy. He railed at Liam, and Liam lost his job.”

“Oh.” Millie nodded. “I imagine that stung Liam’s pride something awful.”

“Yes, I guess so.” I pushed my hair back, my gaze straying to the path where I’d last seen Liam. He’d left with Jake and Michelle, but they’d split up shortly after leaving the meeting area. Where was he now? What was he doing? “I told him I’d see if I could get him the job back, but he said no. Told me he’d screwed up when…well…” I shrugged.

“He’s a man who owns up to his responsibilities,” Millie said softly.

“I don’t like to think that he considers sleeping with me ascrew-up,” I told her.

Millie gave me a level look. “I know you’ll understand where I’m coming from when I say this…but thereisa time and a place for sex, darling. When he was being paid to protect you wasn’t the ideal time.” She shrugged delicately. “I realize that there hasn’t been anything that’s happened, and it’s likely your father’s paranoia got the better of him. But if there had come a time when you were in danger–”

“That’s basically what Liam says.” I sighed and shook my head. “I still don’t like to think that I’m responsible for him losing his job.”

“You’re not. He made the decision to get involved with you,” Millie said, pointing at me. “I like him. I like the two of you together. That doesn’t mean what he did wasn’t irresponsible.”

I pressed my lips together against my objection because Ididunderstand. I got it. Mostly. My head just wasn’t exactly clear when it came to Liam.

“I’ve offered him a job on the security team here,” I told Millie.

She inclined her head, clearly considering this bit of news. “Has he accepted?”

“I think he’s still thinking it through,” I said, looking away from her to stare out over the resort property. “I want him to take the job. There’s something between us, and I…I want to see where it’s going.”

“As long as the two of you can keep your minds focused on your jobs when the need arises, it could be a workable solution.” Millie shrugged and turned to go to the resort. “Come along, darling. We need to get you fed. Clearly, you need to keep your strength up.”

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