Harlequin Desire January 2016, Box Set 2 of 2 by Olivia Gates

Author:Olivia Gates
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781459294394
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2016-02-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINE

Liam wasn’t sure how he was going to make it through the grand opening, when all he could think about was what he had to look forward to afterward. He pulled his truck into a visitor space at Hadley’s apartment building and stepped out. For tonight’s event he’d exchanged denim and plaid in favor of a custom-tailored charcoal suit.

Anticipation zipped along his nerve endings as he pushed the button in the entry vestibule that would let Hadley know he’d arrived. Her voice sounded distorted as she told him to come up. Her apartment was on the second floor. He stepped into the elevator, feeling the give of the cables as it adjusted to his weight. The building had obviously seen a lot of tenants, because it showed wear and tear in the carpets, layers of paint and light fixtures.

Standing before Hadley’s door, Liam paused to assess his state of agitation. Had he ever been nervous going to pick up a woman for a date? Yet here he stood, palms sweating, heart thundering, mouth dry.

The door opened before he lifted his hand to knock. Hadley looked surprised to see him standing in the hallway. Waldo rushed forward to wind himself around Liam’s legs.

“Hi.” She gestured him in. “I thought maybe the elevator had decided to be fussy again.”

He picked up the cat without taking his eyes from Hadley and stepped into her apartment. “You look beautiful.”

She wore a figure-skimming sleeveless black dress with a round neckline and a half-circle cutout that bared her cleavage. Despite there being nothing overtly provocative about the style, Liam thought she looked incredibly sexy. She’d pinned her blond waves up in a complicated hairstyle that looked as if it could tumble onto her shoulders at any second. And he badly wanted to make that happen. Body alive with cravings better reserved for later that evening, he shifted his gaze to her only jewelry, a pair of long crystal earrings that swung in sassy rhythm as she tipped her head and regarded him curiously.

“Thank you.” Her half smile captivated him. “You look nice, as well. I’ll grab my purse and we can get going.” She picked up a small black clutch and a sheer red scarf sparkling with clusters of sequins that she draped over her shoulders. It added a flamboyant touch to her otherwise monochrome black ensemble.

Realizing he was staring at her like a smitten teenager, Liam cleared his throat. His brain was having trouble summoning words. “All set?”

“Are you expecting a large crowd tonight?” she asked as she fit her key into the lock and set the dead bolt.

“About a hundred. Those responsible for coordinating the fund-raising efforts and the largest contributors.”

“What a wonderful thing you’ve done.”

Her glowing praise lightened his step. He laced his fingers through hers and lifted her hand to brush a kiss across her knuckles. “It was a group effort,” he said, feeling unusually humble. “But thank you.”

In truth, he was proud of the work he and the other members of the Texas Cattleman’s Club had done in the aftermath of the tornado.

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