“When you say casual relationships...”
“Ones that are primarily sexual in nature.” His head bobbed in a decisive nod.
“So you’re not...”
“Having sex? No.” He gave her a rueful grin. “I haven’t been with anyone in a year.”
That wasn’t possible. “But Maggie...”
“Isn’t mine. She’s my brother’s daughter.”
Hadley stared at him, saw that this wasn’t a come-on or a ploy. He was completely serious. And she wanted to believe him. Because if he hadn’t been with anyone in a year, that meant he might not be the player she’d taken him for. Suddenly, the speed at which she was falling for him was a little less scary than it had been five minutes ago.
“Why haven’t you...?”
He took pity on her and answered her half-asked question. “When Grandfather died and I inherited half of Wade Ranch, it suddenly became apparent that the women I’d been involved with saw me as a good time and nothing more.”
“And you wanted to be more?” She couldn’t imagine Liam being anything less than completely satisfied with who he was, and this glimpse into his doubts made him more interesting than ever.
“Not to be taken seriously bothered me a great deal.”
Hadley was starting to see his problem. “Maybe it was just the women in your sphere who felt that way. If you found some serious women, maybe then you’d be taken seriously.”
“You’re a serious woman.” His green eyes hardened. “And you’ve been giving me back-off vibes from the moment we met.”
“But that’s because I work for you and what sort of professional would I be if I let myself get involved with my employer?” Again. She clung to the final thought. This conversation had strayed too deep into personal territory.
“You won’t be working for me forever. What happens then? Does a serious girl like you give me a chance?”
Liam watched Hadley’s face for some sign of her thoughts. Sharing the details of his recent personal crisis had been a risk. She could decide he was playing her. Building up sympathy to wear down her defenses. Or she might write him off as a sentimental fool in desperate need of a strong woman. The thought of that amused him.
“I...don’t know.”
He refused to be disappointed by her answer. “Then obviously I have my work cut out for me.”
“What does that mean?”
“You need to be convinced I’m sincere. I’m up for the challenge.”
“Is that what you think? That I need to be convinced I’m wrong about you?” She shook her head in disgust. “I can make up my own mind, thank you.”
Torn between admiration and frustration, Liam debated his next words. “I seem to be saying everything wrong today.” To his amazement, she smiled.
“I might be harder on you than you deserve. It’s really not for me to offer an opinion on your past behavior or judge the decisions you’ve made.” She glanced at Maggie and then fastened serious blue eyes on him. “You’re wonderful with Maggie, and that’s the man I’d like to get to know better.”
In business and horses, this would be the sort of breakthrough he’d capitalize on. But her next words deflated his optimism.
“Unfortunately, you are also my boss, and that’s a line I can’t cross.”
But she wanted to. He recognized regret in her downcast eyes and the tight line of her lips. With the snow still falling, he would have plenty of time to turn her to his way of thinking. The chemistry between them was worth exploring. As were the emotions she roused in him. She wouldn’t react well to being rushed, but it appeared he’d have several days with which to nudge her along.
“Any idea how you’d like to spend the day?” he asked. “It’s unlikely we’ll be dug out any time soon,”
She gestured to the mountain. “I thought you’d be dying to go skiing. Isn’t all this new powder a skier’s dream?”
How to explain his reluctance to leave her behind? “It’s not as much fun alone.”
“That makes sense.” But her expression didn’t match her words.
“You don’t look convinced.”
“You’ve never struck me as a man who sits still for long. I can’t imagine you’ll be happier here than out on the slopes.”
“Are you trying to get rid of me for some reason?”
“No. Nothing like that.”
“I don’t want to leave you and Maggie alone.”
“We’d have been alone if your guests showed up. No reason anything has to be different.”