Caught in the Act (Independence Falls 2)

“No. At the end of the day, family is more important. And who knows, in a few years, I’ll probably be glad I’m not living in some unfamiliar town, responsible for hundreds of animals no one wants to adopt.” She offered a forced smile. “Not all dreams come true.”

“No, Katie,” he murmured lacing his fingers through her hair, running his thumb down her cheek. “Don’t say that.”

He wanted her to live her life unguarded, going after what she wanted, finding happiness, one lonely and abandoned animal at a time. She wasn’t his to keep. He knew that now. He’d betrayed her trust twice, and still she continued to believe in him. She’d blown him away last night when she’d taken him at his word, trusting that he hadn’t tried to set her up. But that didn’t mean he couldn’t put her first.

A plan formed in his mind. It might backfire or fall apart. Hell, maybe he was crazy. But he had to try. For too long, he’d been so afraid of failing—Eric, the company, his sister, Katie—that he hadn’t stopped to think that letting this deal crash and burn might be part of loving Katie.

“I’m not going to let you give up,” he said. “I love you, Katie. I want to be the guy who makes your dreams come true, not the one who shuts them down.”

He lowered his lips to hers, kissing her, quickly deepening the connection. She moaned against his mouth and he drew her flush up against his body. He knew what she liked; the places to touch that would leave her screaming his name. With one palm pressed against her back, he ran his free hand down her neck. With his fingertips, he gently traced the V-shaped neckline of her button-down shirt.

He wanted to dip low between her breasts and undo the buttons. But that wasn’t part of his plan. And he didn’t have much time. Leah, their receptionist, would only entertain Chad Summers for so long.

Moving his hand over her shirt, he held on to her hip as his mouth kissed a path over her jaw, down her neck. Her moans grew louder without his lips covering hers. Katie pulled at his flannel shirt, freeing it from his jeans. But when her fingers began to toy with the buttons, he stepped back, capturing her wrists in his hands.

“You’re so damn beautiful. I want you so fucking much.” He looked into her green eyes, burning bright with desire as her lips formed a sweet smile. One look and he knew this was worth a shot.

Holding her wrists with one hand, he touched her cheek with the other. He drank in the sight, memorizing it, knowing that in a moment, it would break apart.

Liam claimed her mouth, his kiss hard and demanding. His free hand roamed over her curves. She struggled against his hold, but he held tight. He deepened the kiss, savoring the taste and feel of her, the way her body pressed up against him.

Katie moaned as he trailed kisses over her jaw, down her neck.

“More, Liam,” she begged. “Please.”

Using his body, he guided her back until her thighs pressed against the edge of his desk. “I wish I could bend you over my desk and lift your skirts.”

“Liam.” She arched, trying to press up against him even though he still held her wrists tightly between them. “Please. Don’t hold back.”

“Katie?” Brody’s voice echoed in the hall. A second later, the door to Liam’s office swung opened.

“Let her go,” Brody demanded.

Liam stepped away, releasing Katie’s wrists as her brothers filled the cramped office space, confirming two things. Liam’s office walls were way too thin.

And those contracts? In a few minutes, they’d be history.

Chapter 19

KATIE FELL BACK against the desk. She’d been so lost in Liam’s kiss, in the way he’d held her as if he never wanted to let go, that she’d forgotten for one brief moment that her brothers were nearby. She steadied herself just in time to see Chad grab a fistful of Liam’s shirt with one hand, drawing his other back to take a swing.

Scrambling, and nearly falling over thanks to her stupid heels, she grabbed on to her brother’s arm. “You promised, Chad.”

Katie turned her attention to Brody. “You too.”

“We did.” Her oldest brother nodded to Chad. “Let him go.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me!” But Chad did as he was told, releasing Liam. Katie exhaled, feeling a rush of relief.

“You have every right to take a swing,” Liam said.

“Don’t goad them,” she hissed, looking at him.

“Oh, I want to,” Brody said, his tone leaving no room for debate—he meant what he said. “Still, we did promise Katie. If she wants to do whatever you two were doing, we won’t stop her.”

“It won’t happen again,” Liam said. “You have my word. It’s over.”

“What?” Panic rose as she turned to Liam. He didn’t mean those words. He wouldn’t walk away from her. Not again.