I frowned, backing off again. The sharpness had been unexpected, but it was also a clear message. He didn’t want my help. “Sure. Well, if there’s anything I can do...”

  He grabbed my hand, tugging me closer. “You’re already doing it. Besides, I want you to focus on enjoying your time off. You need it.”

  I bristled at that, not even sure why since he was right. Still, I didn’t like hearing it, like someone pointing out my flaws. “Yeah. Of course.”

  I hadn’t heard anything from Evan since that night at the bar and still no word from my father either. With each passing day, I felt freer. But it was a scary sort of freedom; a void I didn’t know yet how to fill except with Liam—and the more I saw of him, the more I wanted this to be something meaningful. And wanting that was far more terrifying than freedom. Something I hadn’t yet admitted out loud.

  Time for a subject change. I pointed at the headboard with intricate leaf carvings done along the rim. “You did all of that too?”

  “My dad had a router lying around that he never used so when I’d come in here to hang with him, he always let me play around with it.” Liam shrugged. “I got good at it, I guess.”

  “You’re amazing at it,” I corrected, wandering closer to study the lines. “I bet your dad is proud.” When he didn’t answer, I straightened and turned back to find Liam standing with one hand pressed against the wall, his face pale.

  “Are you okay?”

  I hurried over, but he took a deep breath and then nodded, his hand dropping away. He smiled tightly. “Fine.”

  “What’s wrong? Are you having a panic attack?”

  He chuckled, but it was strained. “Not exactly. That new cochlear implant you gave me takes some getting used to. Sometimes it likes to remind me of the fact.”

  “What do you mean? Like you can’t hear? I thought the implant fixed everything.”

  “I can hear just fine although some of our louder encounters leave a buzz in the background for a while afterward. My balance isn’t a hundred percent just yet, I’m afraid.”

  “So, you’re...”

  “Dizzy,” he supplied. “Sort of like vertigo.”

  I frowned, my stomach clenching with worry as I noted how pale he still looked. “Maybe we should get you to a hospital or call your doctor—”

  “I’m good,” he assured me and his color did look better now, but I watched him warily.

  “Okay, but please get it checked out sometime soon, all right?”

  “Don’t worry. I’m not going to keel over and give your product any bad press.”

  It was a joke. I knew that. But for some reason, I felt the stab of what he was implying like a direct cut. His smile died away as he took in my expression. “I was just teasing you, Cass.”

  “I know.” I tried to force a smile, but it wouldn’t come, and I knew my sensitivity was just that. The old, easily offended, and way too serious Cassie was hard to let go of. I took a deep breath and let it out again. “I wish I’d had the courage to know you in high school.”

  He blinked. “Really? Why is that?”

  “You’re so...easy.”

  The moment the words were out, I could feel the heat rush to my throat and face. Liam smirked, one brow raised.

  “That’s not what I meant,” I rushed to add.

  “Uh-huh. It’s cool. I know what you really think of me now.” He teased, but I shook my head.

  “I’m serious. You’re just easy to talk to and easy about life. Problems, hard situations, don’t affect you like they do other people.”

  His brow rose even higher. “You do remember the part where I decked a guy for calling me a hooker two nights ago, don’t you?”

  My lips twitched. “Yes. But that’s what I mean. I wouldn’t have had the balls to actually punch him.”

  He cast a look at the ceiling. “Thank God for that. There are enough balls in this relationship already, thank you.”

  “Very funny. I mean it. You could have taught me a lot about rolling with the punches.”

  “Oh, now who’s the comedian?”

  I giggled, and Liam stopped dead in his tracks, staring at me like he’d seen a ghost. “What?” I demanded, looking behind me but the shop was still empty except for us. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

  “You just laughed.”

  I exhaled. “Yeah. So?”

  “So that’s twice in two days, and I was a little too distracted to fully appreciate it before. I want to enjoy it this time.”

  “You’re so ridiculous. I laugh all the time.”

  He folded his arms over his chest. “When was the last time you laughed?”

  “I... It was... Shit, I don’t know, but I must have done it.” Liam didn’t answer, and finally my shoulders sagged. “Wow. It’s true. I am the ice princess.”

  Liam snorted. “Were,” he corrected. “And if anyone doubts it, you just wave your sword at them and they’ll back off, I’m sure.” He tapped my still healing tattoo.

  I pursed my lips. “Maybe next time I can be the one to defend your honor.”

  Liam hooted. “That is a sight I would pay to see.”

  “Ugh.” I groaned. “No more jokes about taking money from each other.”

  But that only made him laugh harder. “Deal,” he said. He stepped closer, his arm coming around my waist as he pressed a kiss to my cheek. “I’m really glad you offered me that job, though. I’m enjoying the position of boyfriend.”

  “Is that the official title?” I asked, my throat strangely tight. The idea of Liam being my boyfriend was thrilling—and terrifying.

  “It is,” he whispered, his breath tickling my ear.

  “Good to know. I’ll have to alert the masses the position’s been filled.” My eyes glazed over and my head fell back as his lips kissed a trail from my jaw to my collarbone.

  “Actions speak louder. Pretty sure my fist made it clear the other night,” he said and I smiled. He continued, his lips making their way lower and lower until I was lost in the feeling of him. Until Liam was right and we no longer needed words anyway.

  By one week into my self-imposed exile, I was bored out of my damned mind. Liam had sequestered himself in his shop in order to finish a dresser he’d promised to a friend on deadline and Jess was away for work until the end of the weekend. I’d finished repainting nearly every room in my house and my fingers were stained with the evidence. My toes were freshly manicured, my whiskey and wine were both gone, and thanks to the rain that hadn’t let up in two days, my entire stack of “I’ll read it when I get time” books were actually finished.

  On top of that, all I could think about were the projects I’d left open and undone at work. I needed to do something constructive. So, wearing my best suit and don’t-fuck-with-me heels, I put on enough lipstick to do battle with my father and drove myself to the office.

  It rained steadily the entire way. By the time I’d parked and made my way upstairs, my hair dripped at the ends, leaving wet marks all over the lapel of my suit jacket. I shrugged it off just outside my father’s door, nodded at his receptionist who whispered back that I could enter, and shoved the door wide as I waltzed inside.

  “Cassandra.” Dad stood abruptly, his paperwork forgotten as he tore off his reading glasses and stared at me across the room.

  His office was large and the furniture was oversized to match. It used to make me feel small. Maybe even insignificant. Today, though, I ignored it all, including his utter surprise at the sight of me. Drowned rat wasn’t my best look. Whatever.

  “Hi, Dad,” I said, sitting in one of the leather chairs across from him without waiting for an invitation. I crossed my legs and folded my hands in my lap. I was in charge here, I reminded myself. In control. I just had to act like it.

  “What are you doing here? And why are you dripping wet?” Dad’s frown wasn’t encouraging, so I ignored that too.

  “I’ve decided to end my vacation early.” I pointed to the window behind him. “And it’s raining outside.”

  He barely glanced at the window, the blinds obscuring the view outside, as usual, before he looked back at me. “I see.” He sat slowly, tossing his glasses onto the pile of folders.

  I raised my chin, refusing to be bowed by his condescending tone. It was meant to make me question myself. It was a trick that used to work. “I wanted to check in with you before heading to my office,” I went on. “To let you know that I’m more than happy to rejoin the negotiation with Nichimoto.”

  “I don’t see how that’s possible now,” he began. “Especially after that stunt at the bar the other night.”

  Damn. Evan was such a fucking tattletale. But it didn’t have to change anything for me. I plowed through, ignoring his words. “I would think it’s more than possible,” I said. “It’s ideal.” His brows crinkled, and he shook his head, clearly ready to argue that point, but I shoved onward. “I don’t like your terms for me in this, but the reality is that I wouldn’t have to lie about my relationship status since I’m seeing someone now. And while I don’t agree with the sexist mentality, I can’t deny Liam’s local celebrity status and his military career would go a long way in impressing someone like—”

  “Cassie, stop,” my father interrupted and something about his tone silenced me. A pit formed in my stomach as I took in the drooping expression he wore. Beaten—that’s what he looked like. And my father never looked beaten.

  “What’s wrong?”

  He sighed. “You can’t help with the deal.”

  His hesitation only made me more nervous. “If this is about our fight last week, I’m sorry,” I said, hating the feeling of the words on my lips. But if that’s what it took—

  “It’s not about the fight.”

  “Then what—?”

  The door opened behind me, and I twisted in my chair as Evan walked in. The pit in my stomach turned to a boulder. Bile rose in my throat at the sight of his placating expression. Even the sight of his still fading bruise that covered the entire center of his face didn’t quite console me. Not with his eyes so coldly calculating.

  He didn’t apologize for the intrusion, either. Instead, he strolled right in and stood behind the empty chair next to me. “Cassie, what a surprise.”

  He didn’t sound nearly as pleased to see me as I’d expected, which was fine by me. The feeling was mutual. I glared up at him so he knew it. “Evan. What the hell are you doing barging in here? This is a private meeting.”

  “Cassandra,” my father admonished. “Don’t be rude.”

  “Sir, it’s fine. I’m sure this transition can’t be easy for her.”

  “What transition?” I blinked at that and turned slowly back to my father, glaring as something unspoken passed between them. “What’s going on?” My heart thudded and my breathing turned shallow. If this was some ambush about Evan and I being a couple again, I was going to start throwing things for sure.

  Evan’s gaze flicked to my father. “You haven’t told her yet?”

  “She just got here.”

  “Tell me what?” I demanded, my voice rising.

  “Cass, when you quit, you left your father in quite the bind,” Evan began.

  “I didn’t quit. I took a vacation,” I said.

  “Of course. But your absence came at a very sensitive time. Without the Nichimoto deal, the company was in a precarious financial position.”

  I spoke through gritted teeth, pushing to my feet so I could properly glare at Evan. “I know what kind of position my company is in.”

  Evan didn’t miss a beat. “Well then you’ll understand why we had to act quickly. We didn’t have time to wait for your tantrum—”

  “I didn’t quit and I wasn’t having a tantrum. Dad, please tell me what the hell is going on.” I rubbed my temples, but I didn’t miss my father’s wince before he finally answered me.

  “The fact of the matter is that Nichimoto left the table and there was no bringing him back. Not after your behavior,” Dad said. I bit my lip to keep from spewing every curse word I could think of. I couldn’t believe they were still acting like this was my fault when my father was the one trying to sell me down the river. First to an investor’s backwoods sense of sexism and then to Evan as some sort of dowry bride.

  My stomach churned as he went on. “Evan’s offer wasn’t one I could refuse considering the extenuating circumstances.”

  “Wait. What offer? What are you saying?” I forced my fury aside and concentrated on reading between the lines.

  I took in Evan’s suit, sans jacket, and the stack of files he carried tucked in one hand. Not to mention how he’d known to show up as soon as I’d walked in. And wasn’t his office two floors down? So how had that happened?

  My dad was still talking in circles trying to cushion the blow. “He’s paying more than a fair price for his shares. Much more than we would have gotten from Nichimoto or anywhere else for that matter.”

  I whirled on Evan. “You’re buying a share of the company?” I asked, knowing damn well there wouldn’t be this much excitement over one measly share.

  “Not just one,” Evan said, looking way too smug.

  “How many?” I demanded, my voice weirdly shrill. Even for me.

  “Fifty-two percent,” Evan said with pride—as if he fully expected me to high-five him for his accomplishment.

  “Well, I object,” I said, and Evan’s expression instantly darkened.

  “Unfortunately for you, it’s a little late for that.”

  “It is not late. I serve on the board, and that gives me—”

  Evan cut me off, clearly reciting from the company handbook as he sang, “If a board member takes an unauthorized absence of any kind, they wave their right to a vote or voice including but not limited to share purchases or sales, mergers, updating bylaws, or invoking—”

  “I’m here, asshole,” I hissed, unable to listen to any more of this. “My vacation is over. And the first thing I’m going to do is stop this insanity.”

  But Evan answered smoothly, “I think you misunderstood. The deal was finalized yesterday.”

  “Holy fucking shit.” My knees buckled, and I slid back into the chair that was still wet from earlier.

  “Cassandra, language,” Dad said again, but it lacked any real bite. It sounded more like a plea than anything. He was begging me to go quietly.

  “What does this mean?” I asked dully, my entire energy focused on my father now—and on not trying to claw Evan’s eyes out.

  My father’s expression tightened. “In light of the new ownership, there are changes being made to personnel including some executive positions.”

  My palms went clammy. “What changes?”

  “Your position is obsolete, Cassie,” Evan put in.

  At his words, everything stopped. My brain, my ability to move, maybe even my heart. I turned slowly to look at Evan, fully expecting fake sympathy or maybe even outright enjoyment, but he seemed to stare right through me now. And I knew: this was what he’d been after the entire time. Not me. Not our relationship. My father’s company. I was just a status symbol for him. A way to get what he really wanted. And now that he had it he no longer needed me.

  “But my projects,” I heard myself saying.

  “Were nearly all philanthropic,” Dad said. “And that’s a luxury we don’t have while we restructure.”

  “Restructure,” I repeated.

  “I assumed you’d be happy about this,” Evan said. “It’ll give you more time to focus on your personal life. After that article, I can only imagine how strained things must be for you.”

  “That article. You were the one who leaked the information?” I couldn’t believe it—mostly because of the negative light it shone on the company. But Evan was far less concerned with this place than I ever thought.

  Still, with my father standing there, he painted on an innocent look and said, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “You little—” I began but he cut me off.

  “If you want a position once we’ve re-stabilized,” Evan said, “I’m sure we could find something for you. I’d be willing to negotiate your hiring package myself to include the full scope of our benefits and retirement plans.”

  I didn’t bother to look at him. Instead, I stared at my father. He didn’t meet my eyes, but he also didn’t contradict Evan’s words. And he clearly still clung to his denial over what a creep Evan really was. My own father had just sold me out. To the only guy in the world who had less integrity than he did.

  I couldn’t believe it, but then I also sort of could believe it.

  My entire life had been a series of obeying my father’s commands and trying to live up to his expectations, always just barely clinging to his approval by a thread. In the back of my mind whispered a voice, a remembered echo of something I’d heard my father say once: but I’d wanted a son.

  I’d ignored it. Tried harder. Buried the pain when nothing I did mattered. Turned cold. And this was where it had gotten me. Thrown out like a minimum wage nobody. Clearly, my father wanted me to go quietly. Evan, on the other hand, wanted me to beg. I could feel it radiating from them both.

  But I was going to do neither.

  I took a deep breath and stood, making sure to use every ounce of ice I could muster as I looked at my father. “You’re going to regret what you’re doing to me,” I said quietly.

  Dad had the decency not to argue.

  “Both of you,” I added, casting a cold glance at Evan.

  He was unmoved, but I wasn’t going to stick around and wait for him to agree. I had a life to live. A new Cassie to meet. Tattoos were just the beginning.

  “Where are you going?” Dad called as I marched out.

  “I don’t know,” I called back without turning. “But wherever it is, it’ll be my choice.” I paused, one hand on the knob and turned back. “Also, I quit.”

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Liam

  I felt like an idiot with my feet dangling where I sat perched on the high table in the exam room. The doc was a decent guy, laid back and not nearly as impressed with “Liam Porter, war hero” as everyone else. Thank God for that. He read my chart and then listened to my heart and lungs. When he was satisfied there, he walked me through a series of balancing exercises and ended by looking into my ears. His frown deepened the longer he looked. That probably wasn’t good, but I waited quietly while he finished his exam. When he was done, he wrapped the stethoscope around his neck and stepped back, leaning on the counter across from me.