Taken (3 page)

             
“Well I gotta go. We're meeting Nick for lunch. He works at the bank now, can you believe it? Super hot in his suit, let me just tell ya.” She says on wave.

             
“It was good seeing you.” I call to her backside. She turns her head before saying back, “You too.” And then makes her way down the sidewalk, a blonde haired angel clinging to her body.

             
I smile inwardly. It's so good to see how happy she is. She deserves it. I regret letting my friendship with Christy fade away. She reached out to me a few times while I was away at college but I never called her back. I was too wrapped up in my life with Grayson and my overloaded schedule to be bothered with things like friends. I see now how wrong I was.

             
It only now just dawns on me that the few times she tried to call me was probably to tell me about the baby. I feel a twinge of guilt as I resume making my way down the sidewalk.

             
I don't have a destination nor do I stop at any of the stores, I just simply walk. I lose myself in memories. Each establishment that I pass holds some glimpse of my past in it. The movie theater where Grayson and I had our first date. The ice cream parlor where my dad would take me every Sunday as a child. There is so much of me here, the me I used to be.

             
Again my mind wanders to Liam. I haven't called him. Honestly, I don't know what I would say to him if I could muster up the courage to call. 'Hey Liam. I have no idea who you are and you totally lied to me but I love you.' I cringe at the thought. How pathetic.

             
I must be glutton for punishment. I knew he would hurt me and yet I let myself get involved with him anyways, not like I ever really had a choice but still. And now, after everything, all I want to do is be in his arms again. Even though I know that is the one place I should never go again.

             
I can't bring myself to let him go just yet. Though I fear that I may no longer have a choice. What if Liam doesn't want me? What if I really was just a quest for him? Take a young girl hell bent on turning you down and make her fall in love with you, that will be fun.

             
No matter how much the thought hurts, the truth is it could be a real possibility. How can I possibly predict a man that I don't know? I know we haven't known each other that long and that this early in a relationship you are constantly learning new things about the other person. But after two months you would think he would mention, let's see I don't know, that he's richer than rich and runs an empire? Seems like crucial information that you would share with someone sooner rather than later.

             
Maybe I'm to blame. I made no secret about not being interested in the rich men of Las Vegas. Maybe he was scared to tell me. He tried to tell me, at least I think he did but I was so caught up in the connection and the chemistry that I was blind to everything going on around me.

             
I should have seen it, the little signs. The fact that he never took me to his house, that he never talked about work, that he always seemed to have people to do outlandish favors for him. He said after his uncle died he left him everything. I never dreamed he meant that he left him one of the hottest establishments in Vegas and millions no doubt to boot. Lost in the cloud that seemed to surround us whenever we were together, I missed the signs that told me something wasn't adding up. I picked up on it the first night we met but once he was in my head, he was all I saw and I lost sight of the things right in front of my face.

             
Before I know it I have circled a good ten blocks and am approaching the parking lot where I parked my dad's car. I rummage through my purse and retrieve the keys before climbing in and heading back in the direction of my parent's house.

             
An hour later, I am showered and feeling refreshed as I head out for dinner with mom and dad. An air of normalcy settles over me as I sit in the backseat of the car listening to my parents commence with their usual banter. It's the little things that get you through the day.

             
I stare out at the sky that is quickly darkening as night falls. I forgot how beautiful it is here, especially at night. You can see stars for miles and miles. That's one thing I miss when I'm in Vegas, the stars, the beauty of nature. But for all the beauty, Las Vegas has one thing that Vermont will never have..... Liam.

Chapter Four

             
After a long evening of listening to my mom hound me about moving home and my dad doing his best to stay out of it, I am glad that I fly out tomorrow afternoon. I love my parents dearly but for whatever reason I feel hindered with them. Like I am still the same young child that would do anything to make them happy, including forgoing my own happiness.             

             
As we pull into the driveway of my parent's home, the headlights flash across the front of the house and I briefly catch a glimpse of a person sitting on the front steps. At first I don't think anything of it, assuming it's someone waiting for my parents. But as I climb from the backseat of my father's car, the figure stands and instantly my heart leaps into my throat.

             
I know that build and what's worse, I know that walk. Liam reaches me before I have completely removed myself from the backseat. He waits for me to straighten myself and step to the side before closing the door for me. I stand there in a haze, my heart hammering holes in my chest.

             
My dad clears his throat from behind me and then deciding that I'm not going to make any introductions, he extends his hand to Liam. “Steven Grant.” My father says, giving Liam's hand a firm shake.

             
“Liam Mason.” He responds. “Sorry to just show up like this. I tried to call you at least a hundred times.” He says, directing his attention back to me. I still have not found the strength to actually speak, so I just stare at him. My throat suddenly very dry.

             
“Addison, is this a friend of yours honey?” My mom finally makes her appearance at my side.

             
Finally I find my voice. “Um, yeah, uh sorry.... Mom, Dad, this is Liam. He's... um... a friend from Las Vegas.” I stammer out a response, not even sure what words I actually managed to get out.

             
“Well hello Liam. What brings you all the way to Vermont?” My mom asks. I watch her eyes trail the length of him, no doubt grasping just how good looking he is, before turning her attention back to his eyes.

             
“I had some business to attend to, not far from here. I just wanted to stop by and make sure Addison made it here safely.” He says, his eyes focused firmly on mine as he speaks.

             
“Well any friend of Addie's is welcome in our home. Please won't you come in?” My mom says, linking arms with dad and leading him towards the house. Leave it to her to just assume it's okay with me that she invite him in.

             
“Give us a minute mom.” I say, the shake in my voice apparent. I swallow hard, the air suddenly feeling like it weighs a thousand pounds and is crushing down on my chest making it impossible to breathe.

             
I hesitantly glance to Liam's face and instantly my body feels warm, the heat from his very presence sending fire through my veins. He looks tired, worn. His chin is covered in a light stubble of dark hair and his eyes are dark. As much as I love the clean cut, bright eyed Liam, seeing him like this does something unexplainable to me. Like I am convinced that I have never looked at something more beautiful in my entire life.

             
“What are you doing here?” I get out breathlessly, breaking eye contact to stare at the ground below me.

             
“Addison, look at me.” He says so gently it comes out just above a whisper. He reaches out, sliding his fingers under my chin to lift my face to his. I jump the moment his flesh makes contact with mine. I take a deep breath and dig down deep to find my courage, to find my strength before finding his eyes.

             
“I'm so sorry.” He says, his eyes burning deeply into mine. “I'm so very sorry.” He says again, his hand reaching out to trail along my cheek before gently brushing his thumb across my lower lip. “I've been going crazy for three days. God, I've missed you.” He says, leaning hesitantly forward. Each inch feels like an eternity. I can't move, can't speak. I'm frozen, my body wanting so desperately to give into him, my mind struggling to resist.

             
“Wait.” I manage to get out just as his lips brush mine. I take a step backwards to put a few inches of distance between us. “I can't do this, you can't do this. You can't just show up here uninvited and seduce me into forgetting that I don't even know you!” I say, taking another step backwards. “What else haven't you told me Christopher.” I over pronounce the name to make my point.

             
“Christopher is my legal first name but I have gone by Liam, my middle name, for years now. Liam is my name. Please don't do this Addison. You know me, you know that you know me.” He pleads, taking a step forward to close the distance between us.

             
I instinctively step backwards again, only to feel the cool metal of the car behind me. “How can you say that?” I throw my hands up defensively. The anger now surging through me.

             
“So I didn't tell you the truth about what I do for a living. But Addison, I promise you I have not lied to you about anything else. I know what it looks like, I do but I tried to tell you a hundred times and I could never seem to get it out. It took me weeks to finally get you to open up to the idea of us. Once you let me in, I knew I needed to tell you the truth but god Addison, I was so afraid that you would leave me the moment you learned the truth. You had your mind made up about me from the very beginning. If you knew about my inheritance, about
Bella Vita
, you never would have spoken to me. I know that as well as you do.” He says, taking another small step forward until a mere six inches separate our bodies. I have no choice but to endure it, my body pinned between him and the car.

             
“That's not true.” I start to argue. “I mean, I get not telling me the first time we hung out but seriously? We're talking WEEKS here! How many times did we see each other? Hell, how many times did I so willingly give myself to you? All the while you were purposely keeping information from me. If it shouldn't matter what you do for a living then why not tell me sooner?” He closes his eyes for a brief second before pinning his hazels back on me.

             
“I was so busy chasing you that once I caught you, I didn't want to do anything to mess it up. Addison, you have me. Completely and totally, I am yours. I know that there's a long road ahead of us and I'm not saying it will be easy but there's nothing more I want in this world. Look at me, I'm here, standing right in front of you. Do you really think I would fly all the way here if I wasn't crazy, out of my fucking mind in love with you right now?” The second the words are off his lips, all the air leaves my body.

             
My heart is hammering against my rib cage so hard I swear it's going to beat out of my chest. My legs go wobbly beneath the weight of my body. I can feel the tears welling in my eyes and  honestly, I'm not really sure why. My emotions are so all over the place. I blink, allowing  my tears to spill over but I still can't find words. My pride wants to put her foot down and say hell no you are not getting off that easy but my heart is literally caving in and every ounce of my body wants to be in his arms right here and now.

             
“Please don't cry.” He says, reaching out to wipe the tears from my cheeks, before holding my face in his hands. “Addison I love you. Please give me a chance to make this right. I will do anything. I will tell you everything. Please just don't tell me that I have lost you.” I reach up to grab both of his wrists and pull down gently. He lets his hands fall from my face but doesn't break eye contact.

              “You need to leave.” My words surprise even me but they are true all the same. I can't think when he's here. When he's standing so close and the temptation of pulling him into my arms is so great. He hurt me, more importantly, he lied to me. I need time to sort through all of this without him here. I know that I need to take this slow. It would be all too easy to just resume where we left off as if nothing ever happened but something did happen.

             
He attempts to pull me into his arms once again and while it takes everything I have not to give in to the pull, I resist. “I really should get inside.” I say. He steps to the side giving me room to pass him. I take a couple of steps before turning back to him. His eyes are locked on me. I can't tell for sure, due to the blackness of the night but he seems uneasy. As if he's unsure if he should be letting me walk away. My chest swells at the thought that I can hold such power over a man like Liam.

             
I turn back towards the house, reaching the front door in the matter of a few seconds. It takes everything I have not to turn around again before pulling the door open and stepping inside. I close the door, glancing out towards the car one last time. Liam is standing in the same spot that I left him in, his eyes still fixed in my direction. It takes everything I have to push the door closed between us.

             
I lean my back against the door and try to regulate my breathing. Out of all the scenarios I played out in my head over the last few days, none of them consisted of him showing up and begging for my forgiveness. I was so sure that this was all a game to him but now I'm not sure anymore.

             
I smile to myself as his words hit me full force. He's in love me. It doesn't matter that I don't trust him or that this is probably never going to work. He loves me and for now at least I have that. “Well someone looks happy.” My mom's voice cuts through my haze. I jump, not realizing she had been watching me.

             
“What?” I look at her like I have no idea what she's talking about. I'm not a good liar and my mother can read me like a book, so I really have no idea why I even bother.

             
“Nice try.” She says, her smile fading a bit. “So that's your reason for Vegas. I can't say I blame you. Honey, he's gorgeous.” She says on a sigh, as if he were standing directly in front of her. “But Addison, I'm not so sure that you are the type of girl that is cut out to be with a man like that.” My mother's voice is apologetic and I can tell by the look on her face that she means no insult by her words.

             
“What type of girl are you referring to mother?” My words come out clipped and a bit of my happiness from earlier takes a nose dive into the hard wood floors.

             
“Men like that, they live a certain way and have certain expectations. You're a good girl dear. You are caring and genuine and honest to a fault. You don't belong in his world.”

             
“There's only one world mom.” I bite at her. Spinning on my heel, I head in the direction of my bedroom. I try to slam the door behind me but her small hand catches it before the door latches. “What now?” I scream, turning to find her standing in my doorway. “You don't think I am good enough for him, thanks mom, I got it. Join the group of probably everyone who agrees with you.”

             
“Addison you misunderstand.” She says, gently taking a couple steps inside the room. “I'm not saying you are not good enough for him, I'm saying that he isn’t good enough for you. I understand dear, I really do. I know what it's like to be seduced by a man that promises you the world on a silver platter. I have experienced it and I know how hard it is to pick up the pieces when it all falls apart.” Her confession catches me off guard and I sink into the arm chair in the corner of the room, all anger leaving my body.

             
She walks the rest of the way into the room and takes a seat on the edge of my bed. She fidgets with her wedding band for a moment before turning her eyes back to me. “When I was nineteen, me and a girlfriend of mine moved to L.A.  for a short period of time. I lived a pretty sheltered life up to that point and  I got caught up in the night life of California almost immediately. That's when I met him. Robert Sullivan. He was everything I had always dreamed of; rich, handsome, the kind of sweet talker that rendered all my defenses useless. Within a month, he had completely consumed my life. He was it for me, my happily ever after.” She trails off, as if losing herself in the memory.

             
“What happened to him?” I ask, knowing that the story does not end happily ever after.

             
“He didn't realize that when we started dating that I expected him to stop sleeping with other women.” She says, a small laugh breaking past her lips. “I tried to walk away several times but I couldn't. That man held a power over me that even to this day I don't understand. I let him hurt me and betray me over and over again until he finally decided to end things. I ended up back here in a state of depression. I was completely heartbroken and honestly at the time, didn't think I would ever love someone that much again in my life. But you see honey, sometimes you find that the most appealing choice, is not always the best. When I met your father, I had very little interest in dating him. Sure he was handsome and full of charm but he wasn't Robert. We became friends and then slowly over time he won my heart. I love him in a way that far surpasses the rush and passion I felt with Robert. With your dad, I found my home.” She pauses, her eyes fixed firmly on mine. “I'm sure Liam has a way of making you believe that you are the girl he's been waiting for and maybe you are. But I know his type, they wear it like clothing. I just want you to be careful.”