Tall, Dark... Collection

And Liam had left her life before she had even had a chance to share that knowledge with him…

‘Obviously you’d had what you wanted, found it unsatisfactory, and simply moved on,’ she bit out caustically, the words cutting into her like knives.

Liam’s expression was dark with anger. ‘Obviously you don’t know a thing about how I felt after that night!’ he shot back.

She eyed him scathingly. ‘Triumphant, I expect.’

Liam stepped forward, grasping the tops of her arms. ‘You were a virgin until that night, Laura. And I—I had taken that precious gift from you. Triumph didn’t even enter into how I felt the next morning when I woke to find you beside me in my bed!’

Laura closed her eyes against the fury of Liam’s face.

They had been out to celebrate that evening, Liam having signed the contract that day to go to Los Angeles and write the screenplay of his book. They had drunk too much champagne, already high enough on Liam’s success. It had seemed the most natural thing in the world that the two of them should make love with each other when they returned to Liam’s apartment. At least, it had seemed natural to Laura…

‘I should never have drunk as much champagne as I did.’ He scowled.

She opened her eyes to look up at him frowningly. ‘What happened between us had nothing to do with the champagne.’ She shook her head protestingly. ‘It was always going to happen. I’m just surprised it took as long as it did,’ she added, knowing she had fallen in love with Liam, had wanted him physically, from their second time of meeting. Liam had always been the one who held back.

Was this way? Had he really believed her too young and vulnerable to know what she was doing?

Liam’s expression was grim as he thrust her away from him. ‘It wasn’t supposed to happen. I had told myself it wasn’t going to. I was too old for you—’

‘You’re only ten years older than me, Liam, not Methuselah,’ she said, her arms tingling where he had held her so tightly.

‘In terms of experience I was totally out of line continuing my friendship with you at all!’ he told her grimly. ‘And I don’t just mean physical experience,’ he added at her derisive expression. ‘I left Ireland when I was nineteen, came to live in London, found success with my writing. Those years before I met you I lived my life to the full. In every way.’

‘And then stupidly naı¨ve me came into your life,’ Laura realised. ‘Following you everywhere. Worming my way into every part of your life.’

‘It wasn’t like that at all, and you know it.’ His eyes glittered dangerously. ‘I liked having you there, came to look forward to the time we spent together. Too much! Because I was aware that you already had a blinkered adoration for your guardian, the man who had come to your rescue when you were left alone in the world. I also knew that I was rapidly taking on that same untouchable role in your eyes, of someone you thought could do no wrong—’

‘Liam, that is utter nonsense,’ Laura cut in incredulously.

‘I was far from perfect,’ he said.

Laura frowned. ‘How I felt about you bore no relation to how I felt about—my guardian,’ she said awkwardly. ‘Yes, I adored him. How could I not? I had known him all my life; he was a friend of my parents. I told you he had always been an honorary uncle,’ she added exasperatedly as Liam continued to look unconvinced.

‘I know I learnt to be jealous of the man; you talked about him incessantly,’ Liam said. ‘Uncle Rob this and Uncle Rob that.’

‘I loved him!’ she cried exasperately. ‘He was the kindest, most wonderful man I’ve…’ Her voice trailed off as she saw Liam look at her sharply, a dawning recognition appearing in those intelligent blue eyes.

Liam swallowed hard. ‘I seem to have heard that description somewhere before…’ he said slowly.

Laura was flustered now, remembering all too well where he had heard it before! The question was, was Liam remembering it too…?

He was breathing shallowly, his searching gaze never leaving the paleness of her face as he obviously tried to come to grips with a realisation that just seemed too incredible to take in.

‘I’ve been a fool, haven’t I?’ He finally spoke slowly. ‘A complete and utter damned fool.’ His voice hardened angrily.

She hadn’t meant him to find out like this, had wanted to explain the situation to him quietly and calmly. Unfortunately, those two things had never been too near the surface in her dealings with Liam!

‘I can’t believe how stupid I’ve been,’ he continued self-disgustedly. ‘I was just so bowled over when I met you again. I didn’t connect—Guardian Uncle Rob. Husband Robert. They’re one and the same person, aren’t they?’ he breathed incredulously.

Laura stared at him wordlessly, feeling the colour slowly drain from her face.

‘Aren’t they?’ He moved swiftly, grasping her arms again. ‘Answer me!’

His face was only inches away from her own, bombarding her with the full force of his anger.

She shook her head. ‘You don’t understand, Liam—’

‘Robert Shipley was your guardian, wasn’t he?’ he ground out fiercely. ‘The adored Uncle Rob you talked about all the time?’

‘Yes!’ she burst out forcefully, the tears beginning to fall hotly down her cheeks now.

Liam thrust her away from him, staring at her disbelievingly. ‘I thought—believed—I’ve been making an idiot of myself, haven’t I?’ he exclaimed impatiently as he moved away.

‘Where are you going?’ she choked as he strode over to the door.

He looked back at her with glacial eyes. ‘As far away from here as possible!’

‘But—’

‘Don’t say another word, Laura,’ Liam bit out in a dangerously controlled voice. ‘Not another word. I won’t be held responsible for the consequences if you do!’

She watched mutely as he swung the sitting room door back with a bang. The slam of the front door seconds later told her that he had gone. Never to return, probably.

And with that realisation came the knowledge that she still hadn’t told him about Bobby, his son…!

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

SHE hadn’t told him anything that mattered!

That, much as she had loved Robert, it hadn’t been in the way she loved Liam. That Robert hadn’t loved her in a romantic way either. That, as well as trying to help her once she had told him she was expecting Liam’s baby, Robert had seen their marriage as a way of having the family he would never have had otherwise.

Liam had left before she could tell him any of that. Before she could explain.

She sat down, wondering what to do next. That Liam would never willingly come near her again she was certain. And he had to know the truth. No matter what the consequences, he had to finally know that. After the last few days she knew she owed that to Bobby as much as anyone else…

It didn’t take long to organise herself—to check with the hotel Liam had stayed at previously and find that he had booked in there again earlier today, to knock on the door to Amy’s flat and ask her to mind Bobby while she just popped out for a short time, to get her car out of the garage and drive to Liam’s hotel. Before she lost her nerve!

That Liam would be reluctant to see her she didn’t doubt. But he had to hear what she wanted to say. Not because she thought there was any chance left between the two of them, but because Bobby, without even knowing who Liam really was, had grown to love him. Her marriage seven and a half years ago had been to give Bobby a father, and, no matter what it cost her, she couldn’t do less for him now.

‘I believe I saw Mr O’Reilly go through to the bar a short time ago.’ The pretty hotel receptionist answered her query brightly.

Laura was sure that if that was what this young lady believed, then it was true; Liam’s attractiveness certainly hadn’t dimmed over the years!

‘Thank you.’ She smiled distractedly, her steps reluctant as she walked towards the hotel bar. If Liam was drinking again…!

Do it, Laura, she told herself firmly. You came here to talk to him, and that’s what you’re going to do.