Escaping Reality

again.”
    It’s not a question. Embarrassed, I look down. His finger slides under
    my chin, lifting my gaze to his. “Don’t be shy. It’s just you and me, baby.
    Nothing we do goes beyond us. Nothing you tell me goes beyond me.”
    I wish that were true, but the more I know him, the more I know he
    will go after whoever is after me. And they will go after him. “Yesterday you
    were…different when we, ah…”
    “Yesterday you didn’t need me to force you to let go. You were
    already relaxed. Today, you’re on edge. Why?”
    I shut my eyes a moment. “I don’t know.”
    “You don’t want to be alone.”
    “I’m good at being alone, Liam.”
    “I don’t want you to be good at being alone. You aren’t alone
    anymore.”
    “It’s too early for you to make promises like that.”
    “No. It’s not. This thing between us isn’t going away, but I’ve had
    more time in life to figure that out and you’re afraid to count on me and us.
    We’ll get by those things.”
    “You’re so confident.”
    “About what I feel for you, yes.”
    “About everything.”
    “Not everything,” he assures me. “You have this deer-in-headlights
    look sometimes that I’m sure means you’re going to run. Run to me, Amy,
    not from me.”
    I wish I could promise him I would. Instead, I glower. “You are going
    to be late.”
    He doesn’t budge, and the look on his face tells me he notices how
    I’ve avoided a promise I might not be able to keep. “Come with me to my
    meetings. There’s a restaurant and shopping strip nearby you can hang out
    at, or I’ll get you an office to work in.”
    My heart squeezes at his protectiveness. “I have a doctor’s
    appointment you insisted on, and yes, I have work I’ve neglected that I’ll
    end up not doing. Stop worrying about me. Your new design has you talking
    about this project all the time. You’re passionate about it now. Go make it
    happen. Then you can stay here with me for a while.”
    “I keep telling you. I’m not going anywhere.”
    “Yes, you are. To your meeting so I can make my doctor’s
    appointment.”
    “I’ll drive you.”
    “It’s two blocks. I’ll walk. Go to your meetings, Liam.”
    “I’ll be back as soon as possible.” He runs his hand down the lavender
    silk blouse that matches my new lavender shorts, and I feel his touch in
    every part of me. I do not want him to go.
    “Just seal the deal.” I kiss him.
    His hand goes to the back of my head and he slants his mouth over
    mine, deepening the kiss and leaving me breathless. “I plan to, baby,” he
    assures me and sets me free, grabbing his briefcase and heading to the
    door. And I know he’s not talking about the building. He’s talking about me
    and him, and that sets me in action. I need a plan. A way out of this mess
    once and for all. No more waiting on someone else to make it go away.
    That hasn’t worked.
    Today I have a mission. Answers.

Chapter Seventeen

    I’ve barely stepped out of the doctor’s office when Liam sends me a
    text. How did the doctor go?
    As well as any appointment that requires you stick your legs in
    stirrups.
    And? he replies.
    And yes, I got a sample package of pills. It is 7 days before I’m
    protected.
    I can have a lot of fantasies in 7 days. What are you doing now?
    Headed to walk by those properties and then do some research at the
    library.
    What research?
    Don’t you have a meeting?
    Yes dear, he jokes. I have a meeting. I’m actually being called back in
    now. I’ll be tied up for a few hours but call me if you need me. I’ll answer.
    He’ll answer, I type.
    I stick my phone back in my purse and head for the bank. My stop is
    disappointing. There has been no further deposit and I worry now, though
    it hadn’t crossed my mind while Liam and I were together, that I might have
    missed a message at the apartment. I find the door free of any plain white
    envelopes and consider knocking on Jared’s door, but decide the mailbox is
    a better option. A private note would not be left in a public place. Not one
    that I wouldn’t find before anyone else. I don’t think I was given a key to
    the mailbox. I’ll have to stop by to get one from Meg.
    I’m about to turn back to the elevator when my door opens and a
    big, burly man exits. I scream and I am pretty sure my heart ceases to beat
    for a good sixty seconds. The door behind me opens and I whirl around and
    run straight at Jared, who grabs my arms.
    “Whoa. Sweetheart. Easy. What’s