Whitney didn’t know what to say or think about that statement. But she didn’t have to respond. Fury ignited in Liam’s eyes, making Whitney wish she was anywhere but where she was right at that moment.
“You will leave now, Alexandra,” Liam told her in a voice Whitney had never heard him use before. It made her decide, right then and there, that she never wanted to be on his bad side. Did she want to be on any of his sides?
With a final outraged glance sent Whitney’s way, Alexandria turned and swept from the room, grace in every step she took. Sophisticated women like her never did any stomping.
“I apologize for that,” Liam said to Whitney. “I allowed the time to get away from me.” He left the gigantic ballroom and followed Alexandra.
For just a small moment in time Whitney had forgotten that she had decisions to make, forgotten that she shouldn’t flirt with this man — particularly this man — and that she shouldn’t enjoy his company, that it was selfish to feel anything other than concern for her sister’s children.
She couldn’t allow such a memory lapse again — after all, she was nothing more than a commoner.
Chapter Fourteen
Whitney was engrossed in a book when Liam interrupted her later that afternoon.
“Let’s go for another walk,” he said. When she looked up, her cheeks were flushed and she seemed … embarrassed.
“What did you say, Liam?”
“I’m feeling cooped up. I want to get out of the house for a while.”
“I thought you had plans with Alexandra.”
Liam studied her as she said that, and it was apparent that his ex-girlfriend had embarrassed Whitney. That’s not what he wanted.
“That was all in her head. She and I broke up over six months ago. Apparently she’s having a difficult time accepting that fact.” He didn’t need to add anything more to that statement. Women he’d dated in the past were none of anyone’s business.
As Whitney slammed her book shut and tucked it beside her in the chair, he decided he’d really like to know what had her so hot and bothered. Or at least bothered. Hot wasn’t in his usual vocabulary, though it was starting to show up.
“I guess I could stretch my muscles. It seems I’ve lost track of time,” she said. “But let me run upstairs first. I’m not dressed for this chilly weather.” She almost scampered from the room.
Liam walked over and picked up her forgotten book. He opened the pages to the one she had marked and began reading. He felt his body tighten at the words on the page and suddenly understood her flushed cheeks.
He closed the book and put it back down. It wouldn’t do him any good to read about throbbing arousals and swollen buds in some cheesy paperback right before spending time alone with this compelling woman. He already wanted Whitney far too much, even though he knew the situation was impossible.
He couldn’t be with a woman like her, not for long, at least. She was too naïve, too innocent, not to mention the aunt of the children that he and his father had decided would be much better off raised here, by their father’s relatives. With them, the kids would have unlimited opportunities for advancement. For him to even consider a fling with a woman of her sort was ridiculous. And yet he still found himself wanting her with a passion that bordered on obsession.
He flicked the book away and, after striding purposefully over to the drinks cabinet, poured himself a shot of scotch. That was better. The liquid made a fiery path down his throat and helped ease the tension in his stomach. At least it softened the longing until Whitney came back into the room.
“Sorry I took so long,” she said as she came to stand beside him. “I had a hard time finding my boots.”
“You took hardly any time at all,” he told her. If she’d taken longer, he might have gotten his libido under control, dammit.
“So what is this all about, Liam? Is it about the children?” she asked as they stepped through the doors into the cold late afternoon air. A few snow flurries were falling around them, but not enough to force them back inside.
He didn’t answer. He’d never felt so terrible before about doing what he knew to be right. It was the best for everyone concerned. So why in the world was he feeling any guilt at all? Was a woman like this going to make him a better person somehow?
No. That was ridiculous. What was wrong with who he was? He was powerful, determined, and successful in all he attempted. Should he change who he was or what he was about? Absurd. Absurd in the extreme.
Whitney seemed to stiffen as she walked beside him. Perhaps she knew what was to come. But instead of pressing him, she backed away and changed the subject. “It’s so beautiful today. Every time I look out the windows here or step through the front doors, I’m reminded of a ‘Winter Wonderland.’ We get snow in Oregon, but not much at all where I live.”