Summer Cursed

I didn’t respond. I just looked at him. His words seemed genuine. But someone I’d grown up with had tricked me. Someone I had sleepovers with, ran away with, shared clothes with, and told my deepest secrets to. She was the sweetest, kindest person I’d ever known. If she could deceive me, why not someone I barely knew?

Was it fair to judge him by Stella’s actions? No. Was I going to do it anyway? Probably.

“I don’t think you’re a bad guy. Not anymore. But after last night…”

His features relaxed, and it surprised me how much my opinion of him mattered. “You had an enormous shock last night. I can only imagine what you must be feeling.”

“I’m not even sure what I’m feeling. I’m a little numb right now.”

He moved his thumb over my hand. “I don’t want to sound heartless, but we need to decide our next move.”

“I think I should talk to Isaac. He should know what’s going on.” Liam stiffened and pulled his hand away. He busied himself with folding his napkin and brushing imaginary crumbs off his shirt. “What? Just say it.”

His eyes met mine. He pressed his lips into a tight line. Whatever he wanted to say was clearly something I didn’t want to hear.

“What if Isaac is working with Stella?”

The thought of that took my breath away. It felt like he’d punched me in the gut. “No. What are the odds that both of my childhood best friends turned on me? Remember there have been three attacks on me personally by Stella’s thugs, and they burned my house down. How could both of them have pretended to love me all this time just to turn around and kill me?”

“It’s a valid point. And I’m leaning toward Isaac not knowing anything, but we should look at everything. Question everything. I also don’t think the plan is to kill you.”

“Yeah, I think I figured that out. They were trying to incapacitate me. I assume to bring me somewhere.” I realized our next step was to find out where the hell they had wanted to take me. “Maybe I should talk to Isaac. See his reaction. He’s not as skilled as you are at hiding his emotions. No one is.” I smiled at him. Call me crazy, but something told me I could trust him. Even as tightlipped as he was.

I liked Liam Fraser. Henry liked him. And my wolf loved him. She stirred a little as if to confirm that statement. All three of us couldn’t be wrong about him. Right?

I rose and moved to sit in his lap, one arm around his neck. “All right, Mr. Fraser, I’ll stay here until I have a house again, and I’ll trust you until you prove otherwise.” I leaned down to kiss him. “Don’t make me regret this.”

He kissed me again as he moved his hands up and around my leg to squeeze my ass. “On my honor,” he whispered against my lips.

I laughed and shook my head. “You’re a dork, you know that?”

He shrugged and gave me another squeeze. “As long as I can make you laugh like that, I don’t care what you call me.”

“To be fair, I think you should tell me at least one thing about yourself that I don’t know.”

“Okay, start slow, I can do that. But I reserve the right to not reveal anything I am not ready to.” I nodded. “What would you like to know?”

I nibbled my lip as I thought it over. “Aside from your wolf?” He nodded telling me that was off limits for now. “Fine. What businesses do you have? That building with the lab, what goes on in there?”

“I run a pharmaceutical company. We are working on various medications to help humans overcome chronic illnesses. Our biggest project is working on a cure for juvenile diabetes.”

“Really? Humans? Why?” I couldn’t believe it. Most shifters put up with humans because we have no choice. I had never expected one to help them. It fascinated me that he cared so much.

“Don’t start revering me as some saint. I can assure you I am not. There is a lot of money in pharmaceuticals,” he said, but something made me think there was more in it than money for him. “I also own a children’s hospital, a technology company, an architectural firm, and a construction company. I have branches of each business scattered throughout the world.”

“Wow. Okay, I guess that explains why you’re so busy all the time. Not to mention this house,” I said before I realized something. “Construction company?”

“This house was my family’s. And yes, construction.”

“Are you in competition with Isaac?” I asked wondering if that could be why Isaac hated him so much.

“No. LBF handles commercial and industrial. Isaac handles residential.”

“LBF?”

“My initials: Liam Bertram Fraser.”

“Ah… Uncle Bertram,” I said remembering the portrait. He nodded. “You will tell me about him next time. We should do this once a week until I know all about you. You know, ease you into it.” I leaned in to give him another quick kiss before standing again.