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She had been drinking coffee from a vending machine all day, had had absolutely nothing to eat, so Amy’s coffee and sandwiches tasted like nectar to her. They also, thankfully, helped to eliminate her tearfulness. Having even slightly battered defences when around Liam was not a good idea!
‘Now.’ Laura sat back after eating the sandwich and drinking half a cup of coffee. ‘You were saying?’ She eyed Liam challengingly.
He gave an inclination of his head. ‘I was about to ask you why you bother with a man who can reduce you to this state?’ His eyes swept over her tear-stained dishevelled appearance.
She looked back at him unflinchingly, refreshed, her self-confidence back in place. ‘That’s easy to explain, Liam.’ She smiled as she thought of her beloved son. ‘I love him.’
A nerve pulsed in the hard column of his throat, the blue gaze suddenly icy. ‘You thought you loved me once,’ he reminded her harshly.
Her smile widened. ‘As I’ve already told you—’
‘That was before you learnt to tell the gold from the dross,’ Liam finished grimly.
Her brows rose mockingly. ‘My, my, you do have a good memory,’ she drawled, picking up another sandwich and biting into it hungrily.
‘Where you’re concerned, yes!’ he barked.
Laura shook her head ruefully. ‘I somehow find that difficult to believe, Liam. In fact, until our encounter in the hotel a couple of days ago, I doubt you had even given me a thought for the last eight years!’
His mouth tightened at her deliberate taunt. ‘You—’
‘How did you conclude your meeting with Perry this morning?’ she interrupted in a brisk businesslike tone; she didn’t want to know whether or not Liam had ever thought of her in those eight intervening years!
His lips twisted. ‘You mean, is he my editor or not?’ Liam paused. ‘Not,’ he replied tightly at her confirming nod.
Laura gave a heavy sigh. ‘I’m sorry about that,’ she said with genuine regret; Josie’s World was a wonderful book. ‘But I’m sure you will have no problem finding yourself another publisher.’
‘Not so fast, Laura,’ Liam cut in. ‘I don’t want another publisher.’
‘You aren’t still determined to have me as your editor?’ she demanded, no longer relaxed in her chair as she sat forward tensely.
“‘Determined” isn’t quite the word I would use,’ he replied. ‘It’s more a case of who I feel I can work with. The relationship between an author and an editor is a very delicate one. It requires—’
‘I know what it requires, Liam,’ she put in. ‘And we simply do not have that sort of relationship.’
‘We could have.’
‘No,’ she bit out decisively, ‘We could not. Now, if you wouldn’t mind, Liam?’ She gave a hurried glance at her wristwatch. ‘I have to go out again.’ She had told Bobby she would only be an hour or so, and it was approaching that time already.
Liam’s eyes narrowed to icy slits. ‘To see the same man?’
Bobby, she knew, would absolutely love that description!
‘To see the same man,’ she confirmed, standing up. She probably just had enough time left to freshen up and change, collect their nightclothes, before driving herself back to the hospital.
Liam’s hand reaching out to grasp her arm took her totally by surprise. ‘Didn’t you learn your lesson with me?’ he rasped.
The more Laura tried to twist her arm out of his grasp, the tighter his hold became. She was breathing hard with agitation when she finally looked up at him. ‘Which lesson would that be, Liam?’ she challenged, head thrown back as she looked at him contemptuously. ‘How to tell the bastards from the good guys?’
Blue eyes seemed to catch fire as he glared down at her, the fierceness of that gaze finally settling on her slightly parted lips. ‘You’ll never know how hard I tried to be a good guy with you, Laura,’ he muttered.
Her mouth turned down scornfully. ‘You didn’t try hard enough! Now, let me go!’ Once again she tired to wrench her arm out of his grasp.
‘I let you go once before, and lived to regret it,’ he murmured grimly, shaking his head. ‘If you think I’m going to do it now, when there’s nothing and no one standing between us, then you’re out of your mind!’
Laura stopped struggling to stare up at him, hardly breathing, very aware of the close proximity of their two bodies, suddenly feeling incredibly hot.
He was so close now she could see every pore of his skin, the dark shadow of stubble on his chin that indicated he was in need of his second shave of the day, the grim lines beside his mouth and eyes, those eyes so deeply blue it was impossible to see where the iris ended and the pupil began.
She felt the wanton weakness of her body as Liam slowly, determinedly, began to draw her up against him, those firmly sculptured lips almost touching hers now, their breath intermingled.
‘No!’ She pulled back so sharply she took Liam completely by surprise, releasing herself from his grasp but knowing she would have bruises on her wrist later because of her abrupt action.
Bruises? They were nothing compared to the other damage Liam could wreak in her life if he got too close!
Because Liam was wrong when he said no one stood between them. Bobby stood between them. And he always would.
But she acknowledged it wasn’t only Bobby that had prevented her from giving in to that momentary weakness she had felt towards Liam. Her own pride wouldn’t allow him to see that he could still affect her in this way!
Her eyes sparkled with anger as she glared across at him. ‘I would like you to leave, Liam,’ she bit out tautly. ‘Now!’ she added viciously, as he would have spoken. ‘You weren’t invited here, have no right to be here.’ She shook her head. ‘And now I would like you to leave!’
A nerve pulsed in his tightly clenched jaw as he continued to look at her for long, breathless seconds. Finally, he gave a harshly controlled sigh. ‘All right, Laura, I’ll go,’ he told her. ‘But I’m not leaving London.’
She drew in a sharp breath, reaction starting to set in as she began to tremble. ‘That is completely—’
‘Or you,’ Liam added huskily.
Her head went back proudly, her smile scornful. ‘That presupposes I want you to stay, Liam—and I’m sure I’ve made it more than obvious that’s the last thing I want!’
His mouth twisted into a rueful smile. ‘What you want and what you get are often two completely different things.’
‘You already taught me that particular lesson eight years ago,’ she flew back at him.
His expression softened. ‘I never meant to hurt you, Laura—’
‘Who knows—or cares—what you meant to do, Liam?’ she cut in hotly. ‘The result was the same! Now, will you please go?’
‘I will.’ He nodded. ‘But you haven’t seen the last of me,’ he promised, his Irish brogue very much in evidence.
And he let himself out of the sitting-room and then out of the house…!
Laura sat down—before her legs gave way beneath her. She was shaking so badly by this time that it was a distinct possibility that was what would happen!
What was she going to do?
She knew from what he had said that Liam had no intention of disappearing from her life in the near future, obviously finding this more mature and self-confident Laura much more interesting than he had found the totally besotted Laura eight years ago.
Well, she had no intention of letting him anywhere near the life she had now. She would instruct Amy never to let him in the house again, would leave the same instructions with the reception at Shipley Publishing. The way her life was now, with very little other than Bobby and the office to occupy her time, that should at least make things a little more difficult for him to get to her again.
Although, knowing Liam as she did, she had a feeling he would find a way round that if he felt determined enough…
CHAPTER SEVEN
SHE spent a very restless night at the hospital with Bobby. The unfamiliar surroundings meant he didn’t sleep very well and, consequently, neither did she. Hospitals were amazingly noisy places, she decided, and with the nurse checking Bobby’s observations every two hours they weren’t exactly restful either!
The two of them were rather relieved the following morning when the consultant decided Bobby could go home, that his bruised head and knee could be better dealt with there.
In fact, Bobby went straight back to bed for a long sleep as soon as they reached the house, leaving Laura, with Amy to keep an eye on the sleeping Bobby, to check in at the office.
‘Oh, and a Janey Wilson from the National Daily has rung three times already this morning,’ Ruth informed her, once the immediate mail had been dealt with. ‘She wouldn’t say what it was about, but asked if you could call her back if you came in to the office today.’ She handed Laura a slip of paper with the reporter’s telephone number on before returning to her own adjoining office.
Laura looked down at the telephone number. She wasn’t familiar with the reporter, although the newspaper she worked for was known for its sensationalism. What on earth could Janey Wilson want to talk to her about?
‘I’m interested to know if you have any comment to make about the rumour that you’re going to publish the new, long-awaited Liam O’Reilly novel?’ The female reporter came straight to the point when Laura returned her calls.
Laura’s hands began to shake. Rumour? Started by whom?
‘Mrs Shipley?’ Janey Wilson prompted sharply at her continued silence.
She had been completely thrown by this woman’s opening question, and her stunned silence would not have helped the situation!
‘I have no idea where you came by such information, Miss Wilson,’ she finally came back smoothly, ‘but—’
‘My source is extremely reliable, I can assure you,’ the other woman put in determinedly.
How reliable? Who could it be? More to the point, what was Liam going to say, after his forceful comments concerning no publicity, about this breach of confidence?
‘I’m sure you believe that it is,’ Laura dismissed lightly. ‘But I have to inform you that we have no plans—immediate or otherwise—to publish a Liam O’Reilly novel. Always supposing he’s actually written one,’ she added brightly.
All the time her thoughts were racing! Liam was going to be absolutely furious if it became public knowledge that he had written a new novel. It didn’t take too much intelligence to know who he was going to blame for this security breach.
Ruth, as her secretary, knew that Liam had been to her office, but would have had no idea why. Which left only Perry and herself aware that the manuscript they had received almost a month ago was in reality a Liam O’Reilly novel.
Well, she knew for certain that she wasn’t this woman’s extremely reliable, source, which only left Perry. Could Perry have—? She knew he was ambitious, that he wanted this Liam O’Reilly novel badly, but there was no way Laura could believe her senior editor would have stooped to such a level to achieve it. Besides, making the novel public was likely to have the opposite effect; Liam would simply take his manuscript and disappear back to Ireland with it!
‘My source also tells me that you are actually going to be Mr O’Reilly’s editor.’ Janey Wilson softly interrupted her thoughts.
Laura drew in a sharp breath. ‘That is a very definite lie,’ she refuted.
‘Do I have your permission to quote you on both those comments?’ the reporter came back eagerly.
Did she? At the moment, not having had time to speak to Perry yet today, Laura had no idea whether or not they even still had Liam’s manuscript on the premises!
‘You have my permission to quote me as saying no comment to both those questions,’ Laura came back cagily. The newspaper this woman worked for might deal in sensationalism, but there was no way Laura was actually going to contribute to it!
‘Interesting,’ the reporter drawled thoughtfully, in a way that Laura definitely wasn’t happy with! But what else could she have said? She really didn’t have any idea whether or not they still had Liam’s manuscript.
“‘No comment” will do just fine,’ Janey Wilson told her politely. ‘And thanks for taking the time to return my calls.’ The reporter rang off.
If Laura had known what those calls were about—!
She slowly replaced her own receiver, wondering what she should do next. Much as she didn’t relish the idea, she knew she would have to warn Liam of the reporter’s interest. Because if Janey Wilson managed to track him down to the hotel, bombarding him with questions about his new novel, Laura had no doubt whose blood Liam would be after!
But before she committed herself to talking to Liam again she decided to check with Perry. The completely blank look on her senior editor’s face when she told him of the reporter’s interest was answer enough; Perry wasn’t Janey Wilson’s source either.
Laura frowned. ‘Do we still have the manuscript of Josie’s World?’
Perry gave a smile. ‘Well, O’Reilly hasn’t demanded it back yet, if that’s what you mean.’
That was exactly what she meant. Although after Liam’s statement yesterday—that he hadn’t given up on the idea of having her as his editor—amongst other things!—she had somehow thought Shipley Publishing would still be in possession of the manuscript.
Her mouth quirked without humour. ‘After that telephone call from Janey Wilson it can only be a matter of time, I’m afraid.’ She grimaced, standing up to leave. ‘I’m sorry, Perry. I know how much you wanted that manuscript.’
Even if she hadn’t.
And still didn’t.
But neither did she relish the idea of telling Liam of a reporter’s interest in the novel he was ambiguous about—to say the least!
However, as there was no one else who could tell him, she had little choice in the matter!
Not that that made her feel any better as she waited in the lounge of his hotel for Liam to come down from his suite and join her.
She’d had Paul drive her here on her way home. She’d arrived a few minutes ago, ordering a pot of coffee for two to steady her nerves before asking the receptionist to call Liam’s suite and tell him she was waiting downstairs to see him. She had no doubt that it would be far from a pleasant meeting.
If any meeting with Liam could be called pleasant nowadays!
‘Well, this is a surprise!’ Liam drawled as he appeared in front of her.
Laura hadn’t even bothered to look at the lift or the stairs as she waited for him this time; this man’s appearances were just mysterious!
She swallowed hard as she looked up at him. ‘Would you like to join me for coffee?’ She indicated the second cup on the tray.
Dark brows rose over those mocking blue eyes. ‘An even nicer surprise,’ Liam murmured as he sat down in the chair next to hers, not having bothered to put on a jacket, today wearing black denims and a black shirt.
Appropriate colours? Laura grimaced inwardly.
‘You remembered,’ he said appreciatively. ‘How I like my coffee,’ he explained at her questioning glance, taking the cup of coffee she had just poured for him.
Black, with no sugar. Not such a big thing for her to have remembered. And yet she was irritated with herself for having done so; she had tried so hard the last eight years to forget everything about him!
She shrugged. ‘I thought you could add your own cream and sugar if you wanted them.’
Amusement darkened his eyes now. ‘Did you?’ he said, sipping the black unsweetened brew. ‘It’s good to see you, Laura, but I had the distinct impression, when we parted yesterday, that you had no wish to ever see me again,’ he remarked conversationally.
Laura felt her stomach perform a distinct somersault and wished herself far away from here. And Liam!
She moistened dry lips. ‘Circumstances change.’
‘They certainly do.’ He nodded with a grin, obviously enjoying himself.
At her expense! Oh, how she wished she could wipe that self-satisfied smile off his face. Well…she could. But the method of achieving it wasn’t guaranteed to let her escape without feeling the razor-edge of Liam’s anger.
‘There’s something I need to discuss with you, Liam,’ she began determinedly.
He relaxed back in his chair, feet crossed at his ankles. ‘Discuss away,’ he invited.
‘I—it’s a little difficult to know where to start,’ she said awkwardly, not relishing the anger that she knew was to come.
‘The beginning is always a good place,’ he observed.
Her eyes flashed with sparkling colour as she glared at him. ‘Very funny,’ she snapped. ‘In this case I have no idea where the beginning is. You see—’
‘Did you have a good time last night?’ Liam cut in abruptly, eyes suddenly narrowed with speculation.
‘A good—? Liam, I didn’t come here to discuss my private life,’ she stated irritatedly, all the more impatient because she felt at a disadvantage in this particular situation.
‘A few of the social niceties between us might not come amiss.’ He shrugged broad shoulders.
‘I don’t have the time for social niceties—’
‘In a hurry again, are you?’ he asked speculatively, blue gaze narrowed. ‘Your relationship might benefit from keeping him waiting once in a while.’
So they were back to that imaginary man in her life. ‘Liam, I’ve come here to discuss business—’
‘I thought you had decided not to publish my book?’ He raised dark brows.
‘I have never said that,’ she replied tersely. ‘Only that your choice of editor is unacceptable.’
‘Still feel the same way?’
After she had finished telling him about the reporter’s interest in his novel Laura didn’t think it would matter much to Liam how she felt!
‘I’m sure we could work something out…’ she began cautiously.
‘You have changed your mind,’ he pounced triumphantly. ‘I—’
‘Liam, you’re going way too fast,’ Laura interrupted him. ‘I said we could have worked something out, not that we are! You see…’ She moistened dry lips, not quite able to meet his eyes now. ‘There’s been a development—and I want you to be aware from the onset that I do not hold any employee of Shipley Publishing responsible—’
‘Liam! What luck! Sorry for interrupting.’ The young woman who had arrived unexpectedly beside them turned to give Laura an apologetic smile. ‘I just need a few words with Liam, and then I’ll leave the two of you in peace.’ She turned back to Liam. ‘I thought you would like to know that—’
‘Would you excuse us for a few minutes, Laura?’ Liam stood up, his expression grim as he took a firm hold of the other woman’s arm. ‘This is private, I’m afraid.’
It always had been when a pretty woman was involved. And the newcomer was definitely that: tall and long-legged, in denims and a sweatshirt, a mane of curling blonde hair cascading down her back, beautiful face bare of make-up. Liam obviously hadn’t lost his touch where beautiful women were concerned!
‘Please, go ahead,’ Laura invited, turning her interest to pouring herself another cup of coffee.
But that didn’t mean she wasn’t completely aware of Liam and the beautiful blonde as they moved out into the reception area, their conversation quietly intense. Although the other woman—probably aged in her late twenties, like Laura—didn’t look particularly concerned at having found Liam drinking coffee with another woman.
Probably because she knew she didn’t have anything to fear from her, Laura acknowledged heavily. If things had been different, if she hadn’t so much to lose by letting Liam too close to her now, she might possibly have allowed herself the indulgence of the brief relationship with him that he seemed to want—if only to finally rid herself of the ghost of the past!
But, as it was, there were too many things about her that Liam didn’t know—must never know. So, even to a complete stranger, like the beautiful blonde Liam was talking to, it must be obvious that Laura’s body language was all wrong for there to be any intimacy between herself and Liam.
Laura was unable to resist looking across at the other couple from beneath lowered dark lashes, analysing their own body language. Friendly, she would guess, but not intimate. Not yet, anyway!
The beautiful blonde was glancing across at Laura too now, as she continued to talk to Liam. Laura instantly turned away. But that didn’t stop her wondering exactly what explanation Liam was giving the other woman for finding him here with her. Knowing Liam, it would sound plausible, whatever it was!
Laura turned back just in time to see the blonde woman reach up to kiss one of Liam’s cheeks, then raising a hand in parting to Laura as she turned and hurried towards the hotel exit.
‘Sorry about that,’ Liam said as he rejoined Laura in the lounge. ‘An old friend just wanting to say hello,’ he added as he dropped back into the chair beside hers.
A ‘hello’ he definitely hadn’t wanted Laura to witness too closely!
‘Really?’ Laura murmured dryly.
‘Really,’ he echoed. ‘I was at university with her brother.’
How nice for him that his university friends had such beautiful sisters!
Bitch, bitchy, Laura instantly rebuked herself. Liam had always liked beautiful women. Besides, it was none of her business.
‘You were saying…?’ Liam prompted, obviously also of the opinion that the sister of his old university friend was not Laura’s business.
And compared with what Laura had to tell him now—albeit reluctantly—he was right!
‘I may just as well come straight out with it,’ she said flatly. ‘You’re going to be furious no matter how nicely I try to break the news to you!’
Dark brows rose over mocking blue eyes. ‘I am?’
‘Undoubtedly,’ Laura sighed. ‘Although I do reiterate, none of my employees is responsible for what I’m about to tell you.’ She looked at him challengingly.
‘I believe you,’ Liam replied, holding up defensive hands. ‘If I’m ever in a fight, Laura, I hope I have you on my side; at the moment you look like a lioness defending her cubs!’
Probably because she felt like one! She was also using the tactic, she acknowledged ruefully, that attack was better than defence!
‘Very well.’ She nodded. ‘I received a telephone call from a reporter earlier today. She wanted confirmation that Shipley Publishing is to print the next Liam O’Reilly novel, with me as your editor!’ There, she had said it!
Light the blue touch-paper and stand well back. She inwardly grimaced.
Except nothing happened!
The blue touch-paper had definitely been lit, was probably still smouldering inside, but outwardly there was no sign of it…!
Liam continued to look at her with narrowed eyes, a nerve pulsing in his cheek, his mouth grim, his eyes unfathomable.
As with a smouldering but unexploded firework, Laura was left with a question: did she go and check that it was alight, or did she continue to stand well back in case the explosion was only delayed?
She didn’t know!
Her nervousness only increased as the seconds ticked by with no reaction from Liam. Why didn’t he say something? Anything!
Finally she could stand the suspense no longer. ‘Liam—’
‘And what—’ Liam’s voice was icily controlled ‘—did you reply to such an enquiry?’
She gritted her teeth. ‘No comment.’
That silence again. She couldn’t bear it. Why didn’t he just scream and shout, demand an explanation? Which she didn’t have!
‘Well, that’s…unoriginal, if nothing else,’ he finally drawled sarcastically.
‘What would you have had me say?’ Laura countered, stung into being defensive after all. ‘You have to agree this situation is unusual—to say the least. Subterfuge just isn’t my style!’
‘Implying that it’s mine?’ Liam prompted mildly.
Angry colour darkened her cheeks. ‘You’re the one insisting on secrecy!’
‘Then it appears I’ve been wasting my time, doesn’t it?’ he replied. ‘What are you going to do about it?’
‘Me?’ she responded. ‘What can I do about it?’
‘Well, for one thing, you could stop being so stubborn about agreeing to publish my book!’