Page 2 of Four Weddings and a Baby Shower

I stood up, pressing my hands against my knees to make sure I didn’t fall over. I’d been down there for quite some time. And I wasn’t exactly what you’d call in shape. I absolutely loathed the gym.

I turned around. Feigned shock was plastered across my lying face. “Oh hi, Liam!” I exclaimed with fake surprise. “How are you?”

Liam looked me over, my ratty clothes registering on his face. He’d only ever seen me dressed for success... or in nothing at all. “I just came from the gym,” I said, daring a blush to even think of visiting my cheeks.

“You? At the gym? You’ve got to be kidding,” Liam said.

“No, I’m loving the gym. I’ve got to get in shape for Ray’s wedding. It’s going to be on an island.”

“I heard about her engagement. Marrying a rock star, huh?”

“That’s right.” I smiled, searching for something to make small talk about while trying not to notice those familiar green eyes and luscious lips that were like sin stamped across Liam’s face. “Yeah, Tyler Wolfe. He’s a great guy. And he really lucked out with Ray.”

Liam’s face lit up. He was always so damn happy. The man was the epitome of optimism. “That’s great. I’m happy for them. So, how have you been?”

“Great,” I said, glancing over at the cat lady to see how much longer she’d be. The cashier was still waiting for the price check from the teenage bag boy. No doubt he was taking his sweet time flirting with the cheerleaders I’d seen earlier.

“I heard about what happened. Tough break. I’m really sorry.” He frowned as his smile slid into the appropriate solemn face.

I could feel flames rising up my cheeks. I was ready to dash out of there and leave the pizza behind. But damn it, I needed that bottle of wine. Especially after seeing Liam. “Yeah, well, I have lots of plans. I’ve got so many interviews, I can hardly keep track,” I said.

I lied, of course. I had not had a single interview. I was blacklisted in Vegas. And being in the business of supplying hotels with everything they needed to keep their guests happy and their hotels spic and span, being blacklisted in Vegas was a career killer. Mrs. I’m-Not-Pregnant CEO had seen to that.

The way Liam looked at me sent chills down my back, both good and bad ones. I knew that face. I was not fooling him for one second. He’d given me that look when I walked out on him after telling him I didn’t love him. Which was a big fat lie at the time. But I’d been so angry at his betrayal. Our healthy competition had been amusing until it wasn’t. I could not forgive him backstabbing me for an account, even one as big as Magnum. I had to ignore that pang in my heart and push those memories away. I tried my best to give him a friendly but not too friendly, I’m-doing-just-fine smile.

“That’s good news,” he said in a tone that told me he thought it was not believable at all. He reached into his back pocket and...

“Next!” the cashier yelled.

I nearly threw myself on the conveyor belt along with my cheap wine and now thawed pizza. “I better go before the people in the back of the line start to riot. Nice seeing you, Liam,” I said over my shoulder. Maybe he would get the message.

He came up next to me, undeterred by my abrupt dismissal. “Have dinner with me,” he said in a low, impossibly sexy voice.

I shuttered my eyes for a split second. I could not have dinner with him. Certainly not the way my life was right now. And besides, temptation would be off the charts. I was still on my pledge of celibacy. It had been months since I’d even sniffed a man’s cologne. Nope, way too much temptation with Liam. He may be the enemy, but he was also damn near irresistible. “I can’t,” I said. “I’ve got to prepare for an interview.”

He slipped his credit card through the scanner before I could catch him. “Allow me,” he said.

“Liam, don’t,” I protested, but it was too late. My cheap wine and pizza were now free. Whoopie. Had I known he’d pay for my groceries, I would have got a better wine. Two bottles. And a nice, thick steak. Oh well.

“It’s the least I can do,” he said. “For an old friend.” Distaste curled his mouth around the word friend like it was full of raw garlic.

I’d told him we could never even be friends the last time I’d talked to him. He’d said it was impossible, anyway. I was pretty sure he was correct on that front. “Thanks, Liam,” I murmured.

“How about a rain check on dinner? Maybe this weekend, then?” he asked.

Always so persistent. “I’ll see,” I said. Yeah, not happening, Mr. Hot and Sexy Liam Cameron. I knew where dinner would lead and as much fun as I knew it would be, that was something I could not handle now. I couldn’t deal with hating him and lusting for him at the same time.

He put his credit card back in his wallet and pulled out another card and handed it to me. This one was a business card of some sorts. “What’s this?” I asked.

“A new business in town. I heard they were hiring. It’s right up your ally. Why don’t you give them a call? Might be a good opportunity.” He spoke carefully, choosing his words with care. My paranoia radar went off full blast. Or maybe it was the glossy dark hair and the off the scale pheromones that were making something else heat up my radar.

“Chase Enterprises? Never heard of them.”

“They’re new. They’re hiring. You need a job. Give them a call.” He could be so bossy too.

I stared at the card after grabbing my measly bag of groceries. If you could call frozen pizza and cheap wine groceries. “I know the guy behind the start up. He’s a good guy,” Liam assured me.

“Okay. Thanks,” I said. I was still suspicious, but I needed a job like a fish needed water, so I tucked the card into my purse and made a mental note to apply tonight. Before the wine.

“Are you sure you don’t want to grab a bite to eat?” he asked.

Liam wasn’t one to give up so easily. “Not tonight,” I said politely, while I was actually thinking- not on your life, buddy.

“You got it. Maybe some other time,” he said, flashing me the most perfect set of pearly whites I’d ever seen on a guy. Why did he have to be so hot?

As soon as I got home, I put the pizza in the oven and applied to the company online. Maybe I’d be able to keep my car after all. And my apartment. And especially my dignity. I hoped so. If this job panned out, I may even celebrate with Liam. Just one last night with him would be okay, right? Some angry, mad sex with the enemy?

Celibacy was so overrated, anyway.

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