Liam's Bride: BBW Werebear Romance (Clan Conroy Brides Book 1) (4 page)

CHAPTER

4

Meredith wasn’t sure if Liam’s call was a good sign, or an ominous one.

Granted, she didn’t really know him… but he had sounded strange. Brusque and strained at the same time. She wondered if it was safe to meet him alone at night, and debated leaving a message for her mother.

But despite her unease over the apparent quickness of his decision- she assumed that’s why he wanted to meet- she didn’t feel as if Liam were dangerous. At least, not
dangerous
dangerous
.
Whether or not he threatened her as a woman remained to be seen. She would have to be on her guard, hide her reluctant attraction and remain focused on business. Make sure her heart and body stayed out of his reach.

Her yellow Dotson coughed into the parking lot five minutes before their meeting time. The only other vehicle present was the slick SUV she’d noticed the other day.

After unlocking the building’s side door and walking through the halls, she stuffed her hands into her jeans to hide the slight tremble in her fingers. She supposed she could blame it on her morning coffee. Being caffeine sensitive, if she drank more than a cup her body would go haywire. But she’d poured more milk into the mug than coffee, so knew she couldn’t make that excuse.

Shouldering the double doors of the commercial kitchen open, Meredith stopped short. The sizzle and scent of meat and spices seduced her nose. She inhaled, stomach rising to attention and wagging its tail. Food. Real food, not the single gal meals she threw together when fresh produce was scarce. Liam turned slightly, intense eyes spearing her with a brief look.

“Sit down,” he said, indicating a table with his chin. She followed the motion, noticing he’d taken a table from the attached break room and placed it along a wall, covered in a white cloth and set with fresh wildflowers.

“Chef’s table,” she said without thinking, staring. Bear and whimsical didn’t seem to go together. It put her at ease- a little.

A rumble of agreement came from his chest. “Go. Sit.”

She obeyed automatically, caught by the authority in his tone, walking towards the table and taking a seat before she remembered she had promised to remain… professional.

Surveying the table, eyebrows knit, she wondered if
he
was trying to keep it professional. It didn’t look like it. Maybe she hadn’t imagined the zing of something between them. Though she was inexperienced with men- by choice her relationships remained few- she wasn’t stupid. She could read basic body language.

And a man who wasn’t interested in a woman didn’t cook her dinner. Not when he already had the upper hand.

Meredith decided bluntness to be the best weapon. “I’m a little confused.”

Dishes clinked. A moment later he approached with white restaurant plates, sliced meat delicately arranged over creamy potatoes, topped with a bed of fluffy fresh micro-greens. A red sauce swirled around the entire dish. He placed the plates on the table, disappeared into the walk-in and returned a moment later with chilled glasses and wine.

He sat, pouring ruby liquid into glasses. She couldn't read his expression so instead watched fingers graceful despite their size move with a chef's deftness. He placed the glass in front of her, waited until she took a sip.

"Do you like it?"

"I’m not much of a wine person, but it has a bit of sweetness to it."

He nodded, gesturing at her plate. "I thought a talk over a meal would be enjoyable and I wanted to get the lay of the kitchen before I finalize designs for the remodel. Seemed a shame to waste the food."

"You have to cook in it first to get a feel for it?" Meredith asked, taking a guess. Relaxing now that she knew the setup wasn’t
about
her, but more a gracious inclusion
of
her. She sliced into the meat, the knife moving through with such ease she set it aside. Beef melting in her mouth, her eyelids drooped. "Oooooh. This is good."

"Hmm. It's not too bland?"

Eyes reopening, she felt another blasted blush. "I’m sorry. The food at your restaurant really was very good. I was just trying to get your attention."

"You got it," he replied, voice dry, dark eyes glinting. They caught her for a moment, capturing her attention to the point she realized the purity of black surrounding his pupils was absolute. Not a fleck of brown, striation of russet. No lessening of the bottomless coal darkness.  

"These potatoes taste different,” she said, voice pitched high.

"Not potatoes. Cauliflower and leek."

"Much healthier," she said, managing to level her tone. Heat faded to friendly warmth under her nervous regard, his lashes suddenly lowering to allow her to break the stare. She cleared her throat. "You know my teens grow both of those in the garden. We had plans next season to become certified as organic. I had them studying natural pest prevention methods this year, and we sourced our seeds from local organic farmers."

He took a sip of his wine. She watched his throat move, helpless to look away even when a small smile curve his lips.

"I thought about what you said.” He reached across the table, a finger trailing along the bone of her cheek. She didn’t move, the skin under his touch hyper aware. “A garden attached to the school that produces for the restaurant
is
a smart business move. I hadn't really considered it because I don't have time to manage it."

"Now you do." She smiled brightly, sitting back in her chair. "We'll do it for you and think of all the new customers you'll get. The students' families would be happy to go to the restaurant that features produce they've grown."

"Yes.” His hand lowered to the table, fingers curling, expression impassive. “I can see the benefits on several angles. So I'm going to renew your lease at the same rate."

Her breath caught. She opened her mouth to thank him, but he shook his head, forestalling her. "Don’t thank me yet. I want something more."

Liam’s voice caressed the word more. She suppressed a shiver. He didn’t say anything for several moments, watching her face. Meredith’s eyes narrowed with impatience. "Yes?"

"I know you have an M.Ed."

What she had was an M.Ed’s worth of student loan debt the government considered her too poor to pay. She could always move to a bigger city and get a teaching job, but she didn't want to leave her teenagers.
They
were her students, even if the classroom wasn’t a recognized one.

"I’d like you to co-teach a class with me. Arrange the curriculum."

"What?" Meredith stared at him, beyond surprised. They'd gone from her possibly facilitating some informal instruction in sustainable gardening, to teaching an actual class.

"That's possible, of course," she began. "But I have to work-"

He waved a hand. "I'd pay you. I’m not trying to get anything for free." His expression darkened, stare intensifying, seizing her lungs and limbs in momentary stasis. "Women are
never
free. Especially the ones worth... buying."

There was something inherently insulting about that statement, but she was having trouble thinking past his focused regard. Meredith forked food into her mouth in an attempt to put some distance between them.

"It occurred to me that any chef worth his or her salt should know how to grow their own food," he continued softly. "I have a small kitchen garden at my home. I think it best if we meet there to arrange how the lessons will go. And I'd like some... privacy... to see what you know."

"I prefer to work here," she replied, setting the fork down. "The garden is much more extensive and it's the environment the students will be learning in, after all."

Liam smiled. It wasn't anywhere near friendly, but it
was
predatory. "No. My building, my school, my students- my way."

Meredith's lips pursed. "I'll
think
about it." She stood, stiffly. She couldn’t take it anymore, her body’s relentless clamoring. Her thighs clenched. "Thank you for the meal."

Liam rose after her, slowly, drawing up to his full height. He lifted a hand, fingertip outlining the shape of her lips, a feather light touch that shouldn’t have felt erotic, but interrupted her breathing. The brush of his finger seared her face. She took a small step back, a tiny flinch she immediately regretted.

"You don't have much choice, Meredith. None, in fact."

"What is it you really want?" she asked. He wasn’t acting like a business owner speaking to a potential employee. Tension arched between them. He stepped forward, his body not quite touching hers.

"I think you have an idea, Meredith." He paused. "I'm willing to give you time to get used to it."

Of all the arrogant, vague, tantalizing, unromantic but intriguing... offers. Meredith couldn’t deny her own attraction, the spark between them.

"You're a Bear. I'm not."

"I don't care. Besides, my Bear wanted you first. I'm... following along."

Her eyes narrowed. "Is this where you tell me you're attracted to me in spite of yourself, Mr. Conroy?"

He laughed. "Houston, right? That man was a moron."

She crossed her arms over her full chest. "Austen, not Houston, was a woman, and the
author
."

Liam shrugged. "Whatever. Human books." His dark brow rose, eyes glimmering, steady on hers. "Are you going to cooperate, Meredith? Or do we do this dance the difficult way?"

She inhaled, let her breath out in a rush. "I- we can't. I'm not looking for a relationship right now." Especially not with a Conroy.
Especially
not with her father coming out of jail soon. Meredith paled, thoughts jarring her back into the reality of her situation with Liam. He could
never
find out who she was. He would tear the lease up instantly, leaving her teenagers in the lurch. Not to mention the threat to her heart if her emotions followed where her body was leading.

"What’s wrong?" he asked softly. "You look like you're in pain."

"I- thank you for dinner. I have to go."

"Meredith-"

She whirled, agitated, heading towards the double doors. "I have to go!"

It took three steps before he lifted her off her feet, halting her rush to get away. Meredith felt the heat of his torso against her back as he hauled her against him, arms wrapped around her. He bent slightly, so much taller than her.

"Don't run from me, Meredith," he snapped, voice edged. "It... activates certain responses you aren't ready to deal with."

"You don't know me," she said, forcing the tremble out of her voice. She'd embarrassed herself with a mildly hysterical retreat, she wouldn’t compound it by saying or acting in any other way that was less than dignified. Damnit. "And physical attraction isn’t enough for a relationship."

He laughed silently. She felt the movement of his chest, an unvoiced rumbled. "I think it’s interesting we went from co-teachers to being in a relationship."

Meredith cringed in embarrassment, before anger took over. He was playing games. Meredith twisted in his arms, hands pushing against the rock wall of his chest. He looked at her, a small grin on his mouth. Teasing, for the most part, but with an edge.

"Sweetheart, you aren’t going anywhere unless I let you, so you might as well talk."

"You're playing games, not talking," she said hotly, forgetting shyness, forgetting he was a big man and it was probably safer not to challenge his temper. "You know damn well you've implied you want more than a professional interaction from me. I’m not misreading signals."

The grin softened into a smile. "Don't be mad, I’m teasing you, Meredith." He hesitated. "The truth is, I didn't expect what I'm feeling. When the Bear shows such interest, it’s hard to resist. We've learned, over the years, not to."

"I thought werebears mated for life? I didn’t know they did short term, casual things."

His lips quirked again. Meredith held his eyes a long moment, waiting for a response, before it dawned on her the silence
was
his response.

"You mean..." she knew something about werebears. She'd made it her business to know at least something. But Liam couldn’t mean what he was allowing her, by his silence, to think. His head dipped.

"Yes, I’m thinking things are heading somewhere more permanent than 'casual,' sweetheart. But I’m willing to take it slow."

He released her then, almost reluctantly. "But, just so you don’t get any ideas about
how
slow..."

Meredith braced herself, feeling his intent before his head and shoulders swooped down, lips capturing hers in a deceptively soft kiss. He didn't touch her except for his mouth on hers, giving her the choice of whether to accept or pull away.