Forever My Girl (The Beaumont Series)

mouth.
     

CHAPTER 33
    LIAM
     
    This has been the best morning I’ve had in a long time, from the moment when Noah and I woke up Josie with her gift to the unwrapping of mine. I can’t wait to spend hours combing through every photo Josie gave me. Even though I’m not in them, having pictures of Noah when he was a baby, toddler and his first Halloween costume means everything to me.
    I know I told Josie I can be patient, but I’m not sure I can. Seeing her in my bed, with her long dark hair spread across the pillow makes me want to claim her as mine. I knew I was a goner when I walked upstairs complaining about being hungry and she offered to make Harrison and I lunch.
    Seeing her move around my kitchen like she owns it makes me want have her here every day, but I’m afraid. She was with Nick for a long time and you just can’t turn off your emotions.
    I should know.
    I tried.
    The sound of the doorbell saves me from making an error in judgment. Swinging the door open, her back is facing me but I’d know that head of blonde hair anywhere. She turns and smiles as she steps in.
    “Hey, baby,” she coos. I swat at her hand when she tries to touch my face with her fake fingernails.
    She just shrugs and opens her coat; she’s clad in a barely-there bra and panties. Her stockings are held up by garters. At one time I found them sexy, but not so much anymore.
    “Sam, what the—”
    “Oh my god!”
    I turn at Josie’s gasp. The look on her face isn’t anger, but hurt. She runs up the stairs, and the slamming of my bedroom door makes me jump.
    “Cover yourself up. There are children in the house.”
    I walk away from her toward the dining room. I don’t want her anywhere near the living room with Katelyn and the girls. Katelyn comes around the corner and motions that she’s going upstairs. I nod and prepare for what I’m about to do.
    “Sit down, Sam, we need to talk. And keep yourself covered.”
    I sit across from her. It’s a safe distance so I won’t hit her and she won’t try and touch me. “I spoke to Brandon the other day.”
    “Me too,” she says happily.
    “This would be the day the mother of my son showed up demanding that I return her son to her.”
    “I took care of all that, baby.”
    “Sam, I’m not your baby and I’m never going to be. What you did was wrong on so many levels. I never doubted that Noah's mine. I also don’t want custody. Josie wasn’t some girl I met backstage; she was my girlfriend. How did you even know about Noah?”
    She shrugs and starts looking at her fingernail. I know her game, this is the ‘I have the answer but I’m not giving it’ game. I slam my hand on the table to get her attention.
    “I’ve been with your dad’s agency since I started and never once have I questioned the integrity of his firm, but right now your job depends on it. I suggest you answer me.”
    “I didn’t know you wanted him,” she mumbles.
    “What did you say?”
    Sam rolls her eyes and sighs heavily. She’s acting bored. “Someone claiming to know you called the agency when you first started. I put the messages in your file.”
    I bite the inside of my cheek, my hands clenching. “You knew I had a son and didn’t tell me?”
    “My dad said it was bad for your image.”
    “HE’S MY GOD DAMN SON!”
    I get up and pace, my hands pulling at my hair. “She said she called and left messages. You took her calls and listened to her beg. Are you that much of a bitch, Sam? That woman calling you was my girlfriend and she was pregnant and scared and you ignored her. You kept my son from me. My god, how fucking heartless can you be?”
    “Daddy did what was best.”
    “You’re fired. I’m done with you. Get out of my house.”
    “Liam—”
    “Don’t,” I hold up my hand for her to shut the hell up. “I said I’m done. I don’t want you here.”
    “You need me.”
    “No, I don’t. Get. Out.”
    “You heard him.” I turn to find Josie leaning against the entry way. Her arms are crossed and she’s been crying. “This is our house and you need to leave. You’re not welcome here.”
    “Is this what you want Liam?”
    I can’t help it. I smile at Josie and wink. “Yeah, she’s the boss. If she says go, you go. Brandon will send you the separation agreement by the time you reach your car.” I pull out my phone and text my lawyer to finalize the paperwork he started yesterday.
    “You’ll be sorry.”
    I step closer to her. “I’m already regretting