Escaping Reality

rather Liam’s phone, rings.
    Steeling myself for the impact of his voice, I answer. “Liam?”
    “Damn, woman, I like how you say my name.”
    My cheeks heat with the gruffness of his tone that tells me that he
    means his words. The knowledge that I affect him reaches inside me and
    tightens my belly. I barely feel like I exist in this world and this rich, famous,
    and impossibly delicious man makes me feel as if I do. I don’t want to let
    him go. I don’t want to lie to him.
    “I’ll be there in a couple of minutes to pick you up.”
    The announcement jerks me back into the moment. “I’m at the store.
    I’ll drop off my stuff and meet you at the hotel bar.”
    “I’ll pick you up.”
    “No. No. I want to change clothes anyway.” It’s my turn in line, and I
    put my items on the belt. “I have to check out. I’ll see you soon.”
    “Amy—”
    I hang up and cringe. Did I really just hang up on him? I expect him to
    call back but he doesn’t. Maybe I should call him back but the less I say
    before “goodbye” the better. I can’t call him back. I’m still telling myself
    that five minutes later when I walk out of the store with a bag that includes
    popcorn I cannot even pop. Another brilliant move considering my limited
    funds.
    I’m just full of them. I am less worried about who might be following
    me than I am who might be waiting at my door when I arrive. Crossing the
    parking lot, my gaze skitters here and there, watching for the stranger.
    Watching for him.
    I am about to cross the grass to the stoplight when a fancy black
    sedan pulls up beside me and stops. My heart lurches and I whirl around as
    the passenger window rolls down, but I cannot see the driver. Holding my
    breath, I lean down to discover Liam occupies the driver’s seat, and the
    man is power and sex in a black suit and a royal blue shirt that brightens his
    already too blue eyes. He reaches across the car and opens the door. “Hop
    in, baby.”
    My stomach flutters at the endearment that he might use on all
    women, but it doesn’t seem to matter. Right now, he’s using it on me. Right
    now, his eyes are on me and even in the playfulness I sense in him, they are
    as intense as the man. And Liam Stone is as intense as they come.
    “Is this your car?” I ask, trying to decide what to do. Certain that
    getting in the car with him is my ticket to being mindlessly lost in the
    temptation that is Liam.
    “Rental.” He arches a brow at my stillness. “If you’re worried I’ll bite,
    I promise to tell you first.”
    My eyes go wide before I can stop them and he laughs, a sexy, rough
    sound deep from his chest. The same chest I have touched and want to
    touch again. I glower at him. “I won’t.” The smart reply earns me another of
    his sexy laughs, and he’s successfully seduced me right here in the spot I
    stand.
    Caving to the inevitable, I step forward and settle my bags on the
    floorboard of the obviously expensive car. Discreetly inhaling, I steel myself
    for the impact of being in a small space with him where I both long to be,
    but see it for what it is. A mistake. Being near this man is not going to help
    me say goodbye.
    The instant I slide inside the car, expensive leather hugs my bare legs,
    and Liam’s earthy scent tickles my nostrils, teasing me senseless. It’s
    official. This was a mistake. A wonderful mistake. I tug the door shut,
    rotating toward Liam and I am pulled into his arms, one strong hand sliding
    into my hair. “Miss me?” he asks, and his breath is a hot tease on my lips.
    My fingers curl on his jaw, the soft rasp of newly forming whiskers
    teasing my fingers. I remember that rasp on my skin. Everything fades but
    the moment and the man. No one has ever done that to me. “Did you miss
    me ?”
    “I’ll let you decide.” His mouth slants over mine, his tongue parting
    my lips, caressing against mine in one lush stroke. “Do I taste like I missed
    you?”
    I am melting like chocolate in the hot sun, and he has barely touched
    me. But I want him to. Oh yes. I want him to. “I’m still not convinced.”
    His lips curve a moment before he answers me by licking wickedly
    into my mouth, teasing me with two deep strokes of his tongue that leave
    me darn near panting. “Any doubt I missed you now?” he challenges.
    My chest burns with his reply. Liam missed me. I have been missed.
    This is unfamiliar territory and I like it. And I am so not ready to let go of
    this man. “If I say