Page 94 of Begin Again, Part 1

"I like your dress. Where did you get it?" Willow asked, her voice dripping with saccharine sweetness she was incapable of feeling.

"I can't remember," Eden said, scratching her hands. She looked like she was ready to bolt from their table. Not hard to figure out why. She was still upset with him, and he was instantly pissed off at her again, irritated out of his head with her mood swings. He still couldn't understand why she put up her walls again, especially after they'd kissed and made up.

He was so tempted to grab her hand and whisk her off somewhere private and demand to know what the hell was going on in that pretty head of hers, and why she was determined to keep pushing him away when all he wanted was to get close to her, and maybe in her pants.

"It looks like a sales-rack job," Holly commented.

Liam shot her a death glare, ready to bite her head off. But he didn't need to jump in and rescue Eden. She was more than capable of fighting her own battles, simply killing his sisters with kindness and grace.

"You could be right. I'm a sucker for good bargains." She laughed and tilted her head slightly, a small dimple appearing briefly on her chin, just below the corner of her mouth.

Something inside Liam's chest exploded then. He touched his heart, making sure it was still intact. It was. Barely though.

Why had he never noticed it before? Dimples were a crime on any woman. But good Lord, that solitary one, tiny as it was, was deadly on Eden.

"Mr and Mrs Anderson," she addressed his parents. "I'm sorry to interrupt, but we should get going."

"Of course, dear," Lois clasped her hands, her eyes shining with joy as she looked at Eden. "Please come home soon, Erica. You too, Eden. And bring your son. Your mom's told me so much about him. He must be so lovely."

"You are too kind," Eden said graciously, almost curtsying at his mom, and Liam hid a smile. She was cute, prim, and graceful. All the things he never thought she was until now.

"It's a date!" Erica blew her a kiss before they vanished beyond the screen door of one of the private rooms.

"Small world," Lois said when they were alone. "Who knew the daughter of two of the city's revered professors is your assistant?"

Who knew, indeed? Liam downed his third whiskey in one go. Would Eden ever cease to amaze him?

"You'd better treat her right," Lois warned him. "And hurry up with that apology."

"Mom!" Liam buried his face in his hands. "I never mentioned any names. Who said she's the assistant I told you about?"

Lois winked and gave him a knowing smile. "If you need more money and gift ideas to make things right with Eden, let me know."

"I like her," Clarke said. Turning to his daughters, he added. "You two could learn a thing or two from her. She's humble and down to earth."

Willow rolled her eyes. "Well, being humble has never made anyone shine or stand out."

"And humility is for poor people, Daddy." Holly retorted. "I'm not poor; I don't need to be humble."

"The McBrides are hardly poor," Clarke snorted.

"Well, she admitted she buys sales-rack dresses—" Holly was about to throw a fit, but Liam couldn't hold back.

His voice as cold as the glass he held in his hands, he warned her, "shut your mouth! And if you are ever rude to Eden again or dare to disrespect her, I'll sell your penthouse and auction off all your shoes. And if you keep pushing, your dance studio will be next. You'll treat her with respect at all times."

"You are sleeping with her!" Willow retorted.

"What the hell do you take her for?" Liam demanded. "Do you think she's that easy?"

"You wouldn't defend her honour if she didn't mean shit to you," Willow shrugged.

Holly jumped to her defence. "We didn't like Laura, but don't you think Eden is a downgrade from her?"

Before Liam could have a go at her, Clarke barked and slammed his fists on the table, upending the cutlery and rattling the plates. This time, the anger in his voice was enough to shut everyone up. "Are you even my children? You are both selfish and spoilt, and an embarrassment to this family. I am sick of your rudeness and arrogance. Your brother was right to cut off your allowance. Keep testing me, and I'll leave you both out of my will, and you will learn first-hand what it means to be poor!"

"Darling," Lois touched his arm, trying to appease him while Liam finished off her glass of champagne, thrilled that somebody could finally see through his sisters.

"I'm sorry, Daddy," Willow said.

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