76

NORA

The entire ride back to the office was quiet, but it wasn't an uncomfortable silence. Liam switched between holding my hand and gently kneading my thigh all through, constantly glancing over at me to see if I was alright.

As for me, I spent the entirety giggling to myself like a schoolgirl who just said hello to her crush for the first time.

Right now, we were in his office, hoping to heaven that no one smelled the sex reeking off of us. I’d tried to smoothen out my hair as best as I could, but could you ever really smoothen out sex hair?

The answer was no. However, Liam seemed to think I looked great. Although I had a feeling he would’ve liked everyone to know, he’d just railed at me.

I stifled the oncoming smile I felt stretching my lips.

We’d planned to stop at his penthouse for a quick shower and change of clothes, but Anna had called, saying that Liam's attention was needed pronto.

We were worried it was something serious considering it was way past working hours. But when we showed up—hand in hand—Emily was waiting for us. Her eyes had zoned in on our intertwined hands, and I’d quickly dropped it like her gaze was laced with lasers.

Anna acted like she didn’t notice, but a part of me knew she did. She’d been eyeing me ever since we all settled down to discuss.

Emily was sitting opposite Liam, her blonde hair packed tightly in a neat ponytail. Her brown eyes bounced around the room, red lips pursed, before she finally parted them to speak. “Anna mentioned you went to assess the buildings?”

My heart pounded behind my rib cage, anxiety simmering in my belly. Did someone see us? Was that why she was here? Because surely whatever else she had to say could wait until tomorrow, right?

I narrowed my eyes at Emily, but if Liam was panicked, his voice was no indication of it. That's right. Needed to assess the location and determine its market potential,”

“And was it to your liking?” Emily quirked a brow, her eyes darting between Liam and me.

I cleared my throat softly, keeping my eyes trained on the documents in my grip.

“It was perfect,” Liam said. And when I lifted my head and spotted the small smile toying on his lips, I knew he was alluding to our very recent endeavors.

Fuck you, Liam. I tried to keep my own smile hidden, especially because Anna was sitting right next to me.

Emily either knew something had happened between us or she was just pissed Liam had taken me with him. Either way, she was clearly irritated about something and when she spared me a glance, I saw anger simmering in her eyes.

I felt my heart plummet to my feet. I’d just slept with another woman’s boyfriend, and I didn’t even feel bad about it. What did that say about me?

The excitement I felt from the sex with Liam and the aftermath dissipated into thin air.

Anna, the only other person in this room, observed the rest of us quietly, her eyes narrowed into slits.

Uh oh.

Anna mostly pretended to be oblivious to a lot of things, but I knew how perceptive she was. And from the look in her gaze, I knew she was onto something.

“Wonderful. "So are we all set to move on to the next stage?” Emily’s smile was right, but at least she seemed excited about her business.

Liam’s gaze darted towards me, a small smile playing on his lips before he averted his attention back to his expectant girlfriend. “We’re all set." See you tomorrow at eight,”

They rose to shake hands and even though it was merely business-related, and I just had Liam to myself for the better half of the day, their proximity still tugged at my heart.

Emily squeezed Liam's hand, offering him a soft smile. “Walk me out?” she asked.

His gaze darted towards mine, but I immediately looked away, instead meeting Anna’s curious brown eyes. Shit.

“Uhm, sure,” I heard Liam agree and the sound of feet against the floor as they both walked out.

When they were gone, I let out the breath I hadn't realized I was holding, immediately averting my gaze from Anna’s before she got any ideas.

“I want to hear your thoughts," she said. What did you think about the buildings? Anything exciting?” one of her brows shot up.

I fidgeted a little, hoping to heaven that Liam would return as quickly as possible. “Nope. "Just regular houses,” I shrugged, looking to appear as nonchalant as possible.

“Mmhm,” Anna drawled, eyeing me like she knew something I didn’t.

Goodness, was that perspiration building on my forehead? Shit. Anna was way too perceptive for this.

I found a bunch of files on Liam's desk, and went through them like I had been tasked to find something—

“You're practically reeking of it,”

“Hm?”

“Liam left here with a full-on suit and came back in a shirt with half the buttons undone and sleeves rolled to his elbows,” her eyes narrowed. “And let’s not even talk about that hair of yours. Couldn’t even make an effort to tame it?”

I blanched but still kept my cool. Deny deny deny.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,”

I made the mistake of glancing up at her and something in my eyes must’ve confirmed it to her because her face morphed into one of shock.

“You and Liam are sleeping together, aren't you?”