Page 10 of Adoration: Isn't What It Seems (Love Isn't What It Seems 2)

“How come they are old and have a grandpa, Livy?” Brandon wondered out loud.

I cringed at his calling Alexander and Maxim Caldwell old.

Maxim chuckled, retorting, “Are you sure he is not your son?”

I rolled my eyes at him. I was off the clock, and I did not have to put a professional front for the Caldwells.

“Is this your favorite place too?” Brandon asked innocently, unaware of the battle going on inside me.

I wanted to turn away from them. I had enough of Alexander Caldwell’s glares on me to last me a lifetime. His stare was enough to send shivers down my body, although I wasn’t sure whether it was caused by his icy chill demeanor or the desire I didn’t want to feel.

“Liberty, you love Thai food?” Maxim asked teasingly. “I took you more for all American food.”

“Yes, this is my favorite restaurant,” Maxim’s grandfather answered Brandon. “When I come to the city, my grandsons always bring me here.”

“Livy says this is the only place in all of England that is not stuffy,” Brandon confided in them.

“Okay, that’s enough,” I hurriedly cut him off. “Nice meeting you, Mr. Caldwell.”

“You too, my dear. Hope we see each other again soon.”

Not likely.

I gave him a tight smile and glanced at his grandsons, just slightly tilting my head in goodbye and gently pulling Brandon away while he waved at them enthusiastically. Then, as we sat down, the strangers were forgotten and Brandon gave all his attention to his coloring book.

“Who are those guys?” Lena asked.

It was on the tip of my tongue to tell her they were nobody, but I changed my mind. “Caldwells,” I mumbled and both Larry and Lena exclaimed.

“Seriously?” Larry asked, glancing at them. “And they eat here?”

I shrugged my shoulders, while picking up one of Brandon’s crayons and helping him with coloring.

“I should go say hi,” Lena suggested, getting up.

My head snapped up and I reached out with my hand to her.

“No.” My hand reached out to stop her too fast, and she looked at me with a raised eyebrow. “Please, don’t,” I added.

She glanced over at the table where the Caldwells were seated, and I followed it, noting Alexander Caldwell watching us. Lena’s eyes came back to me and she slowly sat down.

“What are you not telling me, Livy?” she asked quietly.

I glanced over to Larry, hoping for some help, but instead, he smiled encouragingly, in his gentle way. I swear, Larry and Lena were an ideal couple and best people ever.

“Today wasn’t that great,” I mumbled.

“Did they cancel the contract?” she asked, her voice had a sharp edge the way only a mothers could muster, and all of a sudden, I felt the age of Brandon. He must have heard her tone too, because he looked at his mom making sure it wasn’t him who was in trouble.

No, buddy. This time it is me that’s in trouble,I groaned inwardly.

“No,” I shook my head quickly. “I just got Alexander Caldwell slightly annoyed at me. But it is all good now.”

“What happened?” she asked.

“When I was talking to you in French, while in the elevator,” I revealed miserably. “They were in it, but I didn’t know who they were.”

There was a slight pause and then she started laughing, actually laughing. My eyes traveled between her and Larry, who had a wide smile on his face.

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