Page 117 of Begin Again, Part 2

"Where your safety is concerned, yes," Liam replied, sensing an argument in the works. But it never came.

Instead, Eden sighed and draped her leg over his. "Why didn't you ask me?"

"I knew you'd tell me if it was important."

She nodded, her soft hair brushing his chin, "he's leaving town."

"Good riddance!" he said.

"Liam!" Eden's eyes flew open, and she frowned at him.

"What?" he asked innocently as he stared at her. "You want me to pretend I'm not thrilled my competition has decided to quit the race?"

"He was never your competition!" she told him.

"Fine. But, I'm still glad Jones is leaving," Liam admitted, refusing to feel bad for the end of her friendship with the lawyer. "And while we're on the subject of exes—"

"Isaac is not an ex," Eden sat up, mild anger burning in her eyes. "I told you he's a good friend."

"Who wanted to sleep with you, Princess," he reminded her.

"You know what, I'm not having this conversation with you again," she retorted and scrammed from him. But he pulled her back and tightened his grip around her.

"Look, I'm sorry. I know he's your friend and has helped you at times. But I'm not happy he was in your life. I should have been in your life and helped you with stuff, especially stuff that concerned Aiden," he whispered in her hair.

"But you're here now. We're both here now. We can't keep looking in the rear-view mirror. We have to look forward." She inhaled sharply and tried to wiggle away again. But Liam locked her firmly in his embrace.

"You're right," he agreed. "We have to look forward."

"I'm always right, and you'd better get used to it."

"In your dreams, Princess!" Liam pulled her on top of him and brought her face down to his in a long kiss, adding when they drew apart. "As I was saying, I went to see Laura today to get to the bottom of the shit with that article in Dirt magazine. She denied knowing anything. But she won't bother us anymore. And you don't have to worry about Mrs Stone, either. I've let her go."

He thought Eden would try and change his mind about firing his housekeeper, like she'd done when he wanted to get rid of Lucy. But she looked visibly relieved, and for the first time that day, he saw a glimmer of happiness in her eyes.

"She made me uncomfortable," she admitted as she fell back on the bed and rolled onto her side.

Liam snuggled close to her and spooned her, his hand resting loosely on her tummy. "Let's get some sleep. My folks want to meet Aiden tomorrow."

Chapter

Thirty-Seven

EVERY SECOND COUNTS

Eden woke up feeling rejuvenated and ready to spend the day doing absolutely nothing. Well, maybe not nothing. But binge-watching true crime shows with Brenda while they helped Aiden build stuff with his toys sounded like a solid plan. Yes, serial killer shows, popcorn and a cosy blanket—in that order—made a perfect Sunday for her.

But a clean-shaven Liam in nothing but a white towel wrapped around his waist had to put the brakes on her plans and remind her now that she was cohabiting—a reality she hadn't fully processed—there were things she couldn't do anymore. Like sitting in comfy pyjama pants the whole day and gorging herself on potato chips until she slipped into a TV induced coma.

"Morning, Princess." Liam smiled as he leaned over and kissed her on the lips. "You slept okay?"

"Like the dead," Eden replied, kissing him back.

To show him how refreshed she felt, she sprung out of bed, yawned and stretched. "I can even run a marathon the way I feel right now."

Liam laughed. "That's good. You'll need all that energy."

Eden paused and narrowed her eyes at him. "Why? Today looks like a couch and potato chips kind of day."

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