Page 101 of Begin Again, Part 1

But even when his anger burned bright and hot, Liam still wanted her to be okay. He hated to see her cry, especially when he had no clue how to help her.

"I just want something to be real so much!"

He pulled her closer and held her while she wailed her heart out, massaging her back to soothe her gut-wrenching sobs.

"I've got you! I'm here," he said in her hair, his arms tightening around her.

"Liam," Eden said his name so softly, the same way she'd done every time they'd kissed since she came back to him, the same way she had when they made love, and he desperately wanted her then.

If he didn't push her away, if he didn't let her go, he'd have more than Linda's judgy look to deal with.

"Wait here," he told her as he wiped her tears with his thumb and draped his jacket over her shoulders. "I'll be back. Just stay put. But maybe not so close to the edge. You are too important to me, Princess. I don't want any mistakes."

He didn't know what possessed him, but the ten flights of stairs didn't seem like a nightmare as he raced down and out of the restaurant.

Ten stories below, he looked up and smiled with relief when he saw Eden's graceful silhouette illuminated by the moonlight and the thousands of stars dotting the clear night sky.

The bakery on 5th Street was about to close when Liam's driver and security drooped him off.

All the croissants were sold out. But he took all the cupcakes they didn't sell throughout the day.

"Are they fresh?" he asked the cashier, almost as an afterthought and after paying.

Leaning casually on the counter behind her, she popped her chewing gum and frowned at him. "They were all made today, if that's what you're asking."

If he didn't have bigger problems tonight, he would have asked her to fix her attitude. If there was anything he hated, it was appalling customer service. Debbie—not her name, of course—but she looked like a Debbie, and he couldn't see a name tag anywhere on her candy-striped uniform, had it in spades.

"She likes croissants. Do you think she'll like these?" Liam asked. He was starting to doubt his decision to come here.

Debbie shrugged and blew another bubble with her chewing gum. "There are ten different cupcakes; there must be something she'll like."

Liam smiled begrudgingly, happy to follow her logic. "Okay. One last thing, where's the nearest ice cream place?"

"They all close at 8:00 PM." Debbie twirled the bubblegum in her finger and popped it back in her mouth.

"What about cotton candy?"

The last time he made Eden cry outside Linda's office, she went on what he assumed was her version of a bender and bought the stuff, along with croissants and ice cream, and from the air-conditioned comfort of his car, he'd watched her gobble it all up like it was a piece of heaven. Surely it would make her happy, and maybe she'd stop crying.

"The candy store is closed," Debbie informed him with a huge smile, happy to dash all his hopes and dreams. "And I need to close."

"Right!" Liam nodded, disgusted with her lack of professionalism.

He didn't like to leave reviews, but the bakery owner would hear from him soon. Debbie needed to be sent on an intense customer service training ASAP.

Disappointed he didn't find all the things Eden liked, Liam headed back to the restaurant, praying she wasn't gone, and he hadn't used up all his energy running up and down for nothing.

She was still there, gazing at the view, almost drowning in his blazer, when he crawled back on the rooftop, his legs and chest on fire.

This was the last time he did anything so insane for Eden McBride. He hoped the cupcakes were enough to get her to stop crying.

"You're back." She turned and smiled when she heard him behind her.

His heart exploded in his chest again, beating louder than ever, and he prayed she couldn't hear it.

"Here!" He placed the box in her hands. "Ice cream places are closed, and they didn't have cotton candy."

Her eyes lit up like fireworks on New Year's Eve when she took the box. "How do you know I like cotton candy and ice cream?"

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