Well, holy fuck, now I was the one who was surprised. And not only at what he’d said but also at the shot of desire that coursed through me. But I stood my ground; this man would not get to me. “The only enthusiasm I’m feeling is for you to go back to your boss and tell him that I’ve got this situation under control.”
“It looks like we’ve got some work to do on your enthusiasm levels then, sweetheart, because this situation is not under control and I’m not leaving.”
His tone was commanding; the kind you didn’t dare mess with, but I wasn’t one to be messed with either. I was just about to tell him exactly where to go when Bobby interrupted.
“Oh my, I do love a bossy man,” he sighed, while taking a break from sweeping. He ogled Liam instead. “I, for one, am glad you’re not leaving, Mr. Bend-Me-Over-And-F -”
“Bobby!” I hissed, “For once in your life, zip that mouth.” Bobby and I commenced non-verbal communication; the type where we said what had to be said with our eyes and flicks of our head. After two years of working together, we had this down pat and knew exactly what the other was saying.
After our quick dialogue, Bobby turned in a huff and stomped out to the back room. I gave my attention back to Liam who was now casually leaning against the front counter, feet crossed at the ankles and chin in hand. His amused eyes were focused solely on me.
“What?” I snapped. I didn’t like the fact that he found this funny because I sure as hell didn’t.
He lifted his chin in Bobby’s direction. “You should go easy on him; he’s just looking out for your best interests.”
“Some part of that statement might be true but mostly, Bobby just wants you to stick around because you’re hot.” My mouth opened before my mind had a chance to even think about what I was saying. Story of my life. I mentally berated myself for my honesty.
Liam chuckled. “So you do have some enthusiasm for me?” His eyes twinkled with mischief and it had to be said, when Liam stopped being so serious, his hotness rating went through the roof.
His new playful mood flustered me and I dealt with it the only way I knew how; cranky Roxie took over. “Just because I think you’re hot doesn't mean I’m enthusiastic about you sticking around. Tell me what you need from me and then we can all get on with our work.”
He assessed me for another moment or so and then pushed off from the counter where he was resting. His serious face was back on. “I need to know if you’re aware of anyone who may have been following you or if you’ve been harassed by anyone lately.”
“Why?”
“Because if you have been followed or harassed, they might be the ones doing this.”
“No.”
His forehead creased. “What do you mean, no?”
“No, I haven’t been followed or harassed.”
He thought about that for another moment before asking, “Are you seeing anyone?”
“What does that have to do with this?” He was really starting to irritate me with all these personal questions.
“I’m just trying to get the background here, Roxie. I believe these break-ins have to do with either you or one of your staff so I need to know who is in your lives who might be responsible for them.”
As much as it irked me to admit it, he did have a point. I had my own suspicions but after this last break-in, I was beginning to doubt myself. “When you say, am I seeing anyone, what exactly does that mean?”
He looked puzzled. “Last I knew, it meant are you dating anyone.”
“No.”
He opened his mouth but quickly shut it again and paused before continuing, “Okay, you’re not dating anyone but are you involved with anyone in another capacity?”
“Do you mean, am I fucking anyone?”
His eyebrows arched. “Yes, are you fucking anyone or are you spending time in any way with anyone,” he said with a slight shake of his head. I was pretty sure from the look on his face that I’d managed to frustrate him. Score one to me.
“Why yes, Liam, I am. I fucked a guy three nights ago and I also fucked him early last week,” I informed him in my sugar sweet voice I reserved for when people really pissed me off.
The fucker didn’t even blink. “I’m going to need a name.”
“Well, I don’t have a name. I never stopped to ask him.”
He blinked.