Changing Roles

She froze briefly, then continued to smooth and tuck. “He asked me to dinner. I didn’t think you’d mind.”

“Why would I mind? You don’t need my permission.”

She straightened and turned, her eyes suddenly flashing. “I wasn’t asking your permission, Liam.”

Bollocks. Why was everyone saying that today?

“He’s older than you are, you know.”

“He is only thirty-five. Two years. He’s hardly cradle snatching.” Bending over, Shelby grabbed the discarded sheets off the floor. “You always said he treated you as an equal growing up despite your age difference.”

He had, and I knew I was being an arse—yet I couldn’t seem to help myself.

“You’re not the type he usually goes out with.”

From the glare she cast me, I knew that might not have been the best thing to say, but I was suddenly annoyed over the whole going-on-a-date-with-Douglas thing.

“And what is his type?”

I shrugged. “Young, sexy, good-looking actresses.”

Shelby’s eyes widened with shock and hurt, and I knew I had just stepped over the line. Before I could say anything, she smiled grimly and moved past me. “Well, maybe he is merely looking for a new housekeeper, Liam. We all know the Wrights handle job interviews differently from most.”

“Shelby,” I growled. I hadn’t meant it that way.

“It’s fine, Liam. Don’t worry about it. I get it—believe me.”

I huffed and threw my arms up in frustration. “It’s…It’s just you won’t be here for dinner. What am I gonna do?”

She rolled her eyes. “I’ll have dinner ready for you. I’ll make sure my job is completely done for the day before I leave. Excuse me.” She slipped past me and shut the door behind her. I could hear her hurrying down the hall. I sat on the edge of my bed, pulling at my hair in frustration. I had meant I would miss her, not that I wanted her to cook for me.

Fuck. How had that gone so wrong, so quickly?

One minute, we were us, and the next minute, I was being rude and snarky. I had totally cocked that up.

All because she was going out for supper with someone and leaving me alone.

She didn’t deserve that from me. And Douglas didn’t deserve what I said about him either. He didn’t date a lot, and he certainly didn’t go after young starlets the way I made it sound to Shelby. In fact, the women he dated, those whom I had met, always seemed pleasant. He was a good guy, and I knew he would treat Shelby well.

Somehow, though, I didn’t want him dating Shelby.

I sighed. I would have to give her some time to cool down and then apologize.

She’d forgive me.

She always did. She knew I was a stupid git sometimes.

I glanced at the closed door, thinking about the look of hurt that had been on her face.

Hating the fact that I had put it there.

I definitely needed to apologize.

Only, I wasn’t sure where to begin.I walked into the kitchen apprehensively. I wasn’t sure it was the best idea to approach Shelby in a room where she had access to knives, but I’d been hiding in the den long enough, and she had been in the room for a long time, so I gave up waiting.

I could dodge and weave fast if she moved toward the knife rack.

I was like a ninja.

She was sitting at her kitchen desk, tapping away on her laptop. Music was playing quietly through her speakers—country music—which meant she was feeling off-kilter. She always listened to country music when she was feeling reflective. There was a cup of coffee beside her, the steam drifting from the top of the mug.

Bollocks. She could pitch that at me as well.

Except she wouldn’t. I knew she loved my face, and she wouldn’t risk burning it.

Right?

I swallowed nervously and cleared my throat. She glanced at me, her eyes cool as she stared over the rim of her hot-as-hell librarian glasses.

Wait.

Hot-as-hell?

When did I decide that?

When did she get those glasses?

Without a word, I thrust the bouquet of flowers at her I had hidden behind my back. I’d slipped out while she was busy and taken care of two errands. Both were for her, and I managed to accomplish them without drawing any attention to myself.

“I’m an arse, Beaker. You know this.”

She took the flowers silently, bending to smell their fragrance.

Somehow, I knew they wouldn’t smell as good as she had when she’d been pressed against me earlier.

Internally, I kicked myself.

Why the bloody, bleeding hell was I thinking like that?

I cleared my throat again. “I didn’t mean to upset you, Shelby. Honest.”

Her voice was quiet, but at least she spoke. “I know.”

“Douglas is a great guy. I didn’t mean to imply otherwise. I’m sorry I said that.” I paused, waiting for her to look at me before I continued. “You’ll have a great time. He’s the lucky one that you agreed to go out with him. What I said about the women he dates—” I drew in a deep breath "—you outshine them all, Shelby. Without even trying.”