Loving Liam (Cloverleaf #1) (21 page)

“Uh, like, if you have a car question, unless you need help deciding what color you look good in, I have no mechanical skills. Maybe go to the nearest Beamer dealership.”

“No, it isn’t anything like that. I’m in my car and going to drive over to Liam’s. We need to have a serious talk.”

“Oh, so you are headed over there. Finally going to get with him?” She could almost hear Chelsea smiling.

“God, no! He’s still refusing to turn in those progress reports or do any of the testing curriculum I’m having the teachers do. Besides, nothing has changed,” Rachel said sourly. “I don’t want to get involved with him.”

A nagging feeling tugged at her as she waited for her friend’s response.

“Wait, so you are headed to his house right now?”

“Yeah, I figured we need to settle this.”

“Oh Rachel, do you really think it’s fair to be going to his home to have a fight about something work-related? I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

Rachel considered her words for a moment. “What else should I do? I can’t keep having him not comply. Besides, whose side are you on here?”

“Well, of course I’m always on your side. It’s just that going to his house to reprimand him doesn’t seem right. Imagine if your boss just showed up at your door and started giving you hell. Not cool, Rachel.”

“Oh good grief, I’m not going over there to yell at him or anything.”

Granted, anything was possible when the two of them were together.

“Well, you asked for my opinion, and there it is. I don’t think you should go to his house unless you are finally coming to your senses about dating him. If that’s the case, then I say get your ass over there!”

Rolling her eyes, Rachel muttered that she’d call Chelsea later before she hung up. She then steered her car out of the empty parking lot and weaved her way through the quiet neighborhoods of Birch Valley until she got onto the highway that led her out of the heart of town.

***

Doubt crept into the car with her and was her only companion as she drove along the dark highway. The moon sat bright and high in the early evening sky, and the trees cast thin shadows on the desolate road. Rachel kept her eyes focused tightly on the asphalt ahead. The faded yellow lines that divided the single lanes were her only guide in the dark wilderness that surrounded her. The highway had no streetlamps or any other source of illumination besides her headlights. Even switching to her high beams didn’t seem to pierce the darkness.

Sure feels like a lot more than five miles.

Her GPS beeped loudly and informed her to take a sharp turn ahead, and Rachel slowed her car to ease onto to the street. She drove slowly until she came to a marker with bronze numbers that confirmed the address. Rachel drove up a gravel driveway, listening as her tires crunched over the pebbles and hardened snow until she arrived at a cabin with several windows that emitted a soft glow in the murky blackness.

As she parked next to Liam’s truck, she considered what she wanted to tell him. After completing some deep breathing exercises and trying to calm the wild adrenaline coursing through her veins, she unbuckled her seat belt. She needed to be concise and keep her cool. She didn’t want to appear rattled or give Liam the upper hand. It was best to have a game plan when going into battle, and Rachel was sure this was only the beginning of a much larger war.

Chapter Sixteen

Wood smoke blended with the crispness of the harsh air in a dance of scents Rachel still was not quite used to. Inhaling deeply, she trudged through the compacted snow on the walkway, trying to reassure herself that this was the best way to handle the problem with Liam. Reaching deep inside and searching for some kind of inner strength, she knocked, almost too hard, on the heavy wooden door. She heard movement, and then Liam’s tall figure filled the doorway.

His hair was wet from showering, and he wore comfortable jeans, a sweatshirt with a sports logo on it, and thick socks. The lingering scents of soap and shampoo wafted from him, exciting her. He smelled amazing.

Focus, Rachel.

“To what do I owe this unexpected visit?” Liam smirked.

Rachel rolled her eyes. He knew full well why she was here. “Do you mind inviting me in? It’s freezing out here,” she snapped as her teeth chattered. She wrapped her arms tighter around her thin frame, desperately attempting to keep any more body heat from escaping.

Without speaking, he moved aside to let her in. As she entered, Rachel scanned the inside of Liam’s home. A remarkable fireplace framed by river rocks proudly stood front and center in the living room with a crackling fire that was burning slowly inside it. Exposed wooden beams supported the vaulted ceilings. His leather recliners and large, plaid couch were masculine but cozy and inviting. The lighting from several side-table lamps was soft, almost romantic. This home oozed Liam, and Rachel was worried she’d made a huge error in judgment coming here.

“You want some coffee or something to drink?” Liam asked as he brushed past her, heading away from the living room.

“Sure, coffee would be great,” she replied, taking her coat off and draping it carefully over the oversized plaid couch in front of the fireplace.

Rachel followed the sounds Liam made as he roughly opened and shut cupboards. The kitchen she entered was large and bright. A breakfast nook was tucked in the corner, and the walls had several windows. She could imagine how lovely it must be to enjoy a cup of coffee as the early-morning sunlight filled the room.

Liam’s back was to her, and he ignored Rachel as he prepared the coffee. The coffee grinder loudly churned the raw gourmet beans, creating a delightfully pungent aroma.
If anything, at least the man had great taste in coffee
, she thought.

Rachel swallowed. “Liam.”

As he turned to face her, she felt drawn to him, which only upset her more. Being here, in his home, perhaps wasn’t the smartest idea, and regret for having intruded on him gnawed harder at her.

“I guess I just want us to resolve this issue,” she continued.

Liam slouched casually against the counter, which only made Rachel even more frustrated. She wanted to catch him off guard and make him feel nervous in the same way he constantly had her in knots.

“Okay, and which issue is that?” His eyes scanned her body, causing Rachel to shift her weight nervously.

“Liam, I’m talking about the reports. There aren’t any other issues to discuss,” Rachel answered firmly. “I propose you start turning them in.”

Liam rolled his eyes. “There are no reports to turn in.”

The bitter smell of the coffee filled the room, and Liam turned away, grabbed two generous-sized mugs, and started to fill them. “You take anything in your coffee?” he asked as though an argument wasn’t brewing.

“Wait, what do you mean there are no reports to turn in? You haven’t even given them to the parents?” Rachel’s voice turned pitchy with anger.

“So nothing in your coffee? Just black, then?”

“Screw the coffee. I want to know why you haven’t even sent the progress reports out. I figured you just were refusing to turn them in to me.”

Liam turned back to face her, clenching his jaw and biting his lip in an attempt to stifle a laugh from escaping his sexy mouth. This only aggravated her even more.

“I guess I don’t see what’s so funny,” Rachel said.

Liam only nodded, covering his smile with a hand.

“You have nothing to say?” Rachel raised her voice as she planted her hands on her hips. “So basically, you think what I’m telling the staff to do is some kind of joke? That the rules don’t apply to you?”

“I’m not saying that.”

“Well, you seem to find all of this pretty damn comical, Mr. Liam O’Brien. But I don’t see this as a joke. I take what I do very seriously, and I won’t tolerate this kind of insubordination.” Rachel moved in closer, eliminating the space between them. She moved her finger to his chest and began to poke him.

“Ouch,” Liam said as he grabbed her hands. His own were so much wider and larger than hers.

Thick tension hung in the air between them. She tilted her face toward his, and Liam looked down at her. For a moment, she thought he was struggling not to kiss her, then he released her hands slowly.

Rachel pulled his face down to hers and kissed him hard. She didn’t understand what had possessed her but decided not to fight it. Instead, she allowed her free-flowing emotions and desire to burn through her as she continued to kiss him deeper.

The radiant current that surged through her whenever they touched returned stronger than ever and seemed to be capturing them both. Liam circled his long arms around her body and brought her closer. The softness of his lips now smashed hard against hers, demanding more of her. As their tongues probed wildly, Rachel nipped at his lower lip.

She wasn’t sure quite what was happening, but her feet were no longer planted on the ground. Her mind was swirling, and heat blazed through her body. Rachel felt herself being lowered and placed on a plush surface, and she tightened her arms around Liam and pulled him to her. She wasn’t certain if the room was dark, and she was too frightened to open her eyes in case this was a dream. She tangled her legs with his as he roamed his hands over her body, discovering her soft flesh. Her anger had dissolved into a raging passion, a fire fueled from weeks of smoldering desire and frustration.

Her moaning only seemed to encourage him further to seek her hidden treasures. Sparks burst behind her eyes as lust pulsated hard and quick between their bodies. Pent-up want and need drove them as they each searched for release together.

Rachel welcomed Liam’s weight on her body. They were equally desperate for closeness as they rid themselves of any space between them. She had never felt anything like this before. Her mind raced as it struggled to keep up with her body, and she ignored its attempts to make her see reason. Passion vibrated through her, leaving her entire body humming.

Likewise, Liam also seemed to be reacting instead of thinking. Each of his movements was in sync with hers, perfecting a rhythm that caused her mind to blur. Their lips fused again as each demanded more until their need was spinning out of control. They gripped each other tight, consuming each other with an animalistic hunger.

He found her burning fire and buried himself deep, carrying them to a higher plane of physical awareness. Exhaustion enveloped them as they crashed over the peak, leaving them in the wake of rippling waves of pleasure.

As they lay together in the dark room, Rachel’s eyelids grew heavy and her body drifted far away into a heavy slumber. Other than their soft breathing, the room was quiet.

Liam wrapped an arm gingerly over her and whispered in her ear, “This feels so right, Rachel. It’s too perfect to be wrong.”

***

As gray morning light filtered through the room, the smell of coffee and bacon startled Rachel awake. Her brain was foggy, and as she tried coming to her senses, she looked around the room and realized she wasn’t in her own bed or even at home. A pleasant ache filled her body, and she recalled the incredible sensations of last evening right before panic flooded her.

Rachel mentally slapped herself. What had she been thinking? She threw back the heavy comforter and hopped out of bed. She found her clothes and shoved her limbs through them rapidly. She was so furious with herself and her lack of control the night before. She definitely wasn’t prepared to face Liam this morning.

After walking down the dark hallway that led to the kitchen, she eyed Liam. Dressed only in dark green plaid pajama bottoms with his naked chest facing the stove, he was busy frying bacon and didn’t seem to notice her. Feeling pangs of regret, Rachel took the chance to sneak through the front door.

A few minutes later, she was speeding down the highway on autopilot while her mind replayed their encounter. Tears stung her cheeks, and the confusing mix of emotions shook her to her core.

As soon as she parked in her driveway, Rachel rushed inside the safety of her home and headed straight for the shower. As she welcomed the hot water cascading over her, her thoughts floated back to Liam. Guilt plagued her for leaving him as she had. It wasn’t fair to him, and she felt like a coward, but she didn’t have it in her to deal with the consequences of her out-of-control behavior.

Rachel lathered a loofa with lavender-scented body wash and scrubbed at the shame that crawled on her skin. Still in awe at what she had allowed herself to do, Rachel stood under the water and cried some more.

***

Liam

Liam sat in his kitchen with a plate of cold food before him as the cold morning sun spewed rays of light across the wood floor. He had lost his appetite after Rachel had left without as much as a word. He knew they had gotten carried away last night, but that passion and desire had been lying right below the surface for a while now, so he wasn’t surprised it had finally broken through. Still, he regretted and blamed himself for not slowing things down and making certain Rachel really wanted what had transpired. Liam knew now more than ever that he wanted her, and being able to touch her last night made him want to feel her even more now. His house was too quiet without her, his loneliness more potent. His heart was missing, and he knew Rachel now held it.

Maybe he could reason with her, show her what they had done was only the beginning of something wonderful. He grabbed his cell phone, dialed her number, and waited for her to pick up.

Last night had been amazing. Surely she could see how perfectly they fit together.

***

Rachel

Rachel had just wrapped her head in a towel and was drying off when she heard the familiar chirp of her cell phone. It was probably Chelsea bugging her.

As she picked up the phone, she noticed the number was not her friend’s, so she hit the Ignore button and sent the call straight to voice mail. She knew who was calling, and right now she couldn’t muster up the courage to speak with him.

Rachel then curled up on her couch, attempting to distract herself with a new romance novel she had picked up at the grocery store. When her phone rang again, she looked at it to see who was calling and was happy to see Chelsea’s number this time. While she had been reading, Liam had tried several more times to call her, but she wasn’t ready to face him. Instead, she was already trying to come up with possible ways to avoid him at work.

“Hello?” she answered.

“Rachel, I never heard back from you last night. Wanted to see if you had tried calling. My phone was having some issues. Plus, I went on a little impromptu date with my yoga instructor,” Chelsea rambled.

“Yeah, I’m sorry.” Rachel paused. She didn’t even know where to begin this conversation. Did she really want to rehash the whole event and relieve all the details? “So what’s up with this instructor?” Rachel tried to sound interested, but she felt as if she were miles away.

“Nothing.” Chelsea sounded bored. “He might be in super-great shape, but honestly, he’s just a yoga instructor, so, like, how far can it really go, you know?”

“Too bad,” Rachel said.

“Well, how’d it go with Liam? You tell him off?”

“God, Chelsea, I don’t even know where to start.” Her voice grew shaky as uneven waves rocked her stomach.

Chelsea sighed. “Oooh, so it went pretty bad?”

“Let’s just say it didn’t go as planned. Like at all.”

“Start from the beginning. After we hung up, you were pretty determined to read him the riot act and let him have it. So did you?” Chelsea’s tone was direct and calm.

Rachel swallowed. “Yes, I drove over there. I thought about what I wanted to say. I had a game plan, Chelsea.”

“I take it things didn’t quite pan out the way you had hoped.”

“You know, the thing with Liam is he gets me all tied up in knots, and I get so frustrated with him. I thought he would have had a different reaction to me coming over. But he didn’t. Instead, he stood there, all sexy and gorgeous like usual, making me feel like a puddle of jelly. Ugh!”

Chelsea laughed her sweet laugh. “Well, at least now you admit he’s hot.”

“It’s just that I don’t want to get involved. But, well, I kind of got a little too involved.” Rachel grimaced.