Page 28 of Adoration: Isn't What It Seems (Love Isn't What It Seems 2)

I walked to his office door, took a deep breath, then knocked.

“Come in,” Alexander’s voice reached me.

I opened the door, poking my head in as I hoped he’d be alone, but no such luck. Maxim was there too.

“Oh, sorry,” I muttered quickly. “I’ll come back.”

“That’s ok,” Alexander’s eyes watched me. “Come on in, Miss Smith. Did you want something?”

I felt a tiny regret that he didn’t call me Livy.

Damn it, Liberty! Get yourself together.

I quickly shook my head. “No, no, not at all,” I spoke quickly. “I...I was just…”

What could I say? I was sorry for dancing on top of your car. Sorry, that we acted like idiots on Saturday. I couldn’t remember every single detail but we said and did plenty.

“C’mon, Livy,” Maxim teased. “It can’t be that bad. I never saw you stumble over your words like this before. Come over here and sit down.”

He patted the empty chair next to him, across the executive desk from Alexander.

I shot him an annoyed look. He probably knew what happened and couldn’t wait to give me a hard time about it.

I shut the door behind me, walked over, and sat on the edge of the empty seat.

I cleared my throat, once, twice, trying to figure out the best way to start. I glanced between two brothers, cursing my poor judgement.

“So what’s up?” Maxim asked.

I turned my eyes to his brother and cleared my throat one more time.

“I… I wanted to apologize for Saturday,” I started, fidgeting nervously with the button on my blouse sleeve. “We were way out of line.”

“What happened Saturday?” Maxim asked curiously, glancing between us. “And who iswe?”

I shot a surprised look to Alexander. He didn’t tell his brother? Glancing between the two brothers, I nibbled on my lower lip.

“Nothing happened,” Alexander answered.

“Oh, something happened,” Maxim chuckled, watching me carefully. “Something big if Livy is acting so tame. What happened?”

I looked at him annoyed and shrugged my shoulder. If his brother wasn’t going to spill, neither was I.

“You can tell me, Livy,” Maxim pressed.

“No, and I’m not acting tame,” I snapped, my nerves on the edge.

Maxim laughed. “Ok, you two. Keep your secrets. Glad to see you coming to better terms.”

Ignoring him, I quickly asked them, trying to hinder my snapping. “What do you need me to work on today?”

Alexander gave me an assignment, and I quickly took it, leaving the two brothers to whatever they were doing.

For the entire week, Maxim kept trying to find out what happened. I kept my lips sealed, and so did his brother. Just with that little gesture, Alexander Caldwell had made me like him just a little bit. Although he still tested my patience every single day. When my blood boiled, I tried to remember that I owed him, but some days, I was ready to just murder him. Especially since he kept calling me Miss Smith after showing me how amazing it felt hearing him call me Livy. And my sexual frustration was making me snap faster.

With Maxim’s constant teasing and Alexander’s ordering me around, I prayed every day for my sanity. Unfortunately, experiencing Alexander Caldwell’s body close to mine during my drunk stupor raised some of my sexual tensions too. To whole new levels! After all, I hadn’t been intimate with a man in a long time. It wasn't like I could go have a one night stand. I had never had sex with someone before six months. I gave every man who entered my life a six month trial period, and if things went smoothly, I could take that next step.

Thinking about how things went with Callen, I wasn't sure that decision about relationships got me anywhere, though. Memory flashed in my mind, remembering him.

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