North of Heartbreak (7 page)

He was deliberately goading her. She’d seen that before in other more dangerous circumstances.

“I don’t like you.” She changed her stance so she stood toe-to-toe with Liam’s father, her back straight and chin high.

“Really? You’re a fast judge of character.”

“Yes, I am.” She glanced at Jason. “Ready?”

He took a step back. “Only if you promise to keep your claws sheathed.”

“I’ll take that as a yes.” She led the way to the bedroom. Edward Reynolds’s chuckle echoed in her ears as Jason shut the door. “Your brother’s a jerk.”

“A reaction Edward frequently generates.”

Willa dropped the box on the bed and opened it, taking out the necessary equipment to draw blood. “Let me get at a vein.”

Jason rolled up the sleeve of his sweater, the one she’d made him for Christmas last year, and presented the inside of his arm. “What’s got you so riled up?”

She pulled on a pair of gloves, wrapped a rubber tourniquet tight around Jason’s arm and tied it off then swabbed the skin over a bulging vein and inserted the needle smoothly. Blood spurted into the tube. “Why didn’t you tell me Liam was rich?”

“I didn’t think it was important.”

Willa’s gaze flickered between the needle and Jason’s face. “Of course it’s important.”

“Why?”

“Because I’d never have—” She cut herself off. “I don’t like wealthy people. They’re too stuck up.”

“I’m wealthy. Am I stuck up?”

“No.”

“There goes your theory.”

“You’re nothing like Liam, he—” Again, she closed her mouth before saying too much and concentrated on completing her blood collection.

“What did he do?” Jason asked quietly.

Willa couldn’t look him in the eye. “Nothing.” She used a glucometer to check his glucose level.

“Your blood sugar is fine.”

“I could’ve told you that.”

“You were due for a check.”

“That’s not why you’re here, though, is it.”

Willa closed her mouth. She’d never been able to hide anything from Jason. She met his gaze. “No.”

“Are you two involved?”

She hesitated a moment before nodding.

“He’s a good man.”

Her head came up at that. “Is he?” Did she sound as uncertain as she thought?

“Yes.” Jason leaned forward and put an awkward hand on her shoulder, nothing like the way his brother had touched her. “I wouldn’t steer you wrong. You’re like a daughter to me. You’re not afraid to speak your mind or tell me when I’m being an ass.”

“Don’t be silly.”

Jason snorted. “
Silly
isn’t in my vocabulary.” He squeezed her shoulder then let her go. “Liam’s a good man, but he got burned by a woman not too long ago. Cut him a little slack.”

“What happened?”

“She tried to manipulate him into marrying her. Got pretty underhanded about it. Then my darling brother made it a thousand times worse.” He unrolled his sleeve and stood. “She wanted to get her hands on his money.”

“Oh.
Oh,
that explains…a lot.”

“A lot?”

Willa’s face heated up and she busied herself with putting her equipment away. “Never mind. Just an observation.” She wanted to tell Jason about the disastrous dinner the night before but wasn’t ready to discuss it with anyone.

Jason nodded. “The boy’s got reason to be cautious.” He put his hand on the door.

“Wait, what about your diabetes? We need to talk.”

“What for? It’s under control.”

“You shouldn’t be flying alone.”

“I’m short on pilots. Besides, I’m careful.”

She sighed. “Sometimes careful isn’t enough.”

Jason stared off into space, his expression pensive. “You’re thinking about grounding me.”

“I may not have a choice. You’re a sixty-six-year-old diabetic whose eyesight is—”

“Don’t remind me.” He paced back and forth a few steps then glanced at the closed door. “I have…something in the works. Give me a couple weeks to get it in place.”

She nodded. “All right, but only on the condition that you check your sugar levels before you fly. Every time. I also want you to call me with the results.”

“Yes, dear.”

Willa laughed and closed the lid on her toolbox. God she loved this cantankerous old man. “Some things never change…Dad.”

Jason’s face relaxed and he winked at her. But his mirth didn’t last long. “I’ll tell you what. I’ll come over to your place tomorrow night and fill you in on my plan. Right now I have to deal with that idiot taking up space in my living room.”

“Your brother?”

“He’s a royal pain in the butt.”

“You two don’t get along?”

“We hate each other’s guts.”

“Ouch.” She cocked her head. “You don’t feel that way about Liam.”

“Liam is the only good thing my brother managed to produce. Thank God the boy takes after his mother.”

Willa stood and grabbed her toolbox. “Is there any way I can help?”

“No, honey, but thanks for asking,” Jason said with a slight smile on his otherwise severe face. “This is one fight Edward isn’t going to win.”

She’d seen that expression on Jason’s face before, when he’d argued with the aviation-licensing board about retaining his pilot’s license for another year. They hadn’t wanted to let him fly, not with his diabetes and failing eyesight, but he’d talked them into it.

He could be both convincing and stubborn when the occasion called for it. If his brother had come all this way north looking for a fight, Jason would give him one.

Willa gave him a thumbs-up and preceded him out of the bedroom.

“You two finish your business?” Edward asked, sprawled out comfortably on Jason’s old couch with an oily smile on his face. He looked Willa up and down.

A cold shiver rippled across her body and she shrank back. Her husband had hit her while wearing that same expression. Most of the time he was careful to do it in a place that didn’t show. Her back, her belly, her thighs. He’d left bruises that sometimes took weeks to fade. Sometimes she still felt them.

Jason stepped in front of her. “Shut your trap, Ed.”

“Just asking a question.”

“Any more questions like that and you’ll be flying that Rolls Royce you call a plane home right now.”

“Dad?”

Willa turned her head. Liam stood in the doorway.

A grin blossomed on Edward’s face and he stood immediately. “Son, good to see you.”

Liam didn’t return his smile. “What are you doing here?”

“I came to talk to you, of course.”

Jason snorted.

“And to discuss some business with your uncle,” Edward said with a casual shrug of one shoulder.

“Business?”

“Some issues with the airline. It’s time we settled a few things.”

“Airline? You mean Tundra Air?”

“No,” Jason said before Edward could speak. “He means Eagle International.”

“What about it?” Liam asked.

“Son, it’s time to come home. I need you working with me.”

“I’m not interested in sitting on Eagle Air’s board. I made that clear when I left.”

“You can’t just walk away. The airline needs you,” his father begged. “I need you.”

Liam’s face didn’t soften. “You need Uncle Jason’s shares in the company, not me. Shares he put in a trust for me the day I was born. A trust you never told me about.”

Edward’s congenial expression disappeared as if someone had shut off a light switch. “Damn it, Jason, you couldn’t keep your mouth shut could you?”

“He knew before he got here,” Jason said with a smug smile. “And it seems to me,
little brother,
that you should have told him yourself.”

“I found out when I got a letter from a brokerage firm I’d never heard of,” Liam said. “I want to fly planes not sit at a desk. When will you get that through your head?”

“Your father’s made some stupid choices recently, including some that have brought the airline to the brink of bankruptcy.”

Edward turned on his brother. “I’m warning you…”

“Warning me?” Jason flashed a feral grin and cracked his knuckles. “You want to take this disagreement outside, Eddie?”

Willa stepped forward at that, putting a restraining hand on Jason’s arm and fixing a stern glare on his brother. “You two will do no such thing.”

Edward directed a smirk at her. “Your girlfriend seems quite protective, Jason.”

“She’s the town nurse.” Liam said, frowning. “Don’t be a jerk.”

“You’re defending her?” his father asked, one eyebrow rising.

“Willa,” Liam said, coming across the room, his boots dripping on the carpet. He took her by the arm and turned her toward him. “Are you okay?” He glanced at her medical toolbox. “Is there a problem?”

“I asked a similar question,” Edward said, watching Liam’s hand on her arm. “I was told to mind my own business.”

“Dad.” Liam shot his father a warning glance then pulled her close. “What’s going on?” he asked in a low tone.

She pulled herself loose. “I have no idea. I have a standing appointment with your uncle for a…chronic medical problem. These two have been arguing the whole time I’ve been here.”

Liam put his free hand on her neck. Warmth radiated from where he touched her, hotter than a propane torch. “Maybe you should go,” he said. “I’ll take care of these two old farts.” He smiled. “I’ll stop by your place after. I owe you an apology.”

“I don’t thi—”

“Looks like someone’s been taking care of you, son,” Edward interrupted.

That was it. The last straw.

She shook Liam off and marched up to his father. “Say or insinuate one more slimy word and I will personally wash your mouth out with soap.”

Edward smiled.

Liam grabbed her hand and pulled her away. “He didn’t mean it.” He looked at his father. “Did you?”

Edward just kept on smiling. “Mean what?”

Willa jerked her arm out of Liam’s grasp and glared at all three men. “You’re right, Liam, it is time for me to go. Any more from any of you and I’ll be treating someone for a fat lip.”

She grabbed her toolbox, stuffed her feet into her boots, her arms in her coat and slammed the door on her way out.

Chapter Seven

Willa trudged to the clinic to double-check the sugar level of Jason’s blood sample. Relief wasn’t the only thing she felt when the result turned out to be well within the normal range. He couldn’t afford to miss an appointment. His sugar levels had been too erratic the last couple of months.

She would have to ground him soon.

Irritation, frustration and anger continued to pulse inside her like a tornado about to touch down.

Men. Loud, lazy louts every one. Why on earth did women put up with them? Just when she thought it was safe to trust a little, they went and said or did something hurtful. Something to remind her of her place, her very low place in their lives.

But she knew women who occupied the top slot in their man’s life. Treated like queens.

Why couldn’t she find a man like that? Why did she seem to attract the ones too full of themselves to truly care about anyone else?

She’d thought Liam might be the exception to the rule, but he’d disabused her of that notion yesterday.

Today his father destroyed it.

Liam’s father reminded her of her ex-husband so strongly her stomach rolled with the need to vomit.

She breathed through her mouth until the nausea finally went away. No. No, she wasn’t going to allow herself to feel like a victim again. Never again.

Anger burned itself out, leaving the bitter ash of disappointment and regret in her mouth.
Enough.
Liam and his father weren’t her ex-husband. They owed her nothing, and she owed them nothing.

No harm, no foul.

But harm had been done. She’d been fouled by insinuation and left…dirty.

Willa finished up at the clinic, put Jason’s sample away, recorded his glucose level, shut off the lights and locked up.

There was a pile of work she could do to keep herself busy if she wanted, but a soak in her tiny tub seemed like the best idea she’d ever had. For once she was going to do something to make herself feel better. Put herself first.

Maybe Jason’s nagging was finally taking effect.

At this hour, the apartment building’s hot water tanks were full and so was her tub. Steaming, with a little scented oil. She sank under the soothing heat and let all her cares wash away.

Until someone pounded on her door.

She ignored it.

The pounding continued and a masculine voice called out her name.

Liam.

“I’m not going away,” he yelled.

Of course not. Why would he do anything so selfless as leave her alone for a few hours?

She stood, grabbed a towel and threw it around herself, then shrugged her robe on top. She didn’t bother drying off. What was the point? She was getting right back into the tub as soon as she got rid of him anyway.

That should take, oh, maybe five seconds.

She threw open the door.

Liam stood there, his fist in the air about to knock, his mouth open to yell, she was sure.

She spoke first, though it was more of a snarl. “What?”

His eyes grew wide and his gaze drifted south, while his mouth continued to hang open.

Willa glanced down. She wasn’t showing more than a little leg, the towel and robe covering all the important bits.

“Liam?”

He jerked his gaze back to her face and managed to close his mouth. “Uh, sorry. Can I come in?”

“Why?”

Her question seemed to faze him. It took a couple of tries before he managed to say, “I’d like to apologize.”

“This isn’t a good time. I’m having a bath.”

“That explains why you’re all…” His gaze went on another journey to points south. “Wet.”

“Great, talk to you tomorrow then.” She grabbed the edge of the door and moved to close it.

He put a hand out to stop it. “
Apologize
is the wrong word.”

She frowned. “Excuse me?”

“Grovel,” he said with a weak smile. “Grovel is what I really want to do.”

The opening of a door down the hall made up her mind. She stepped to the side. “Come in.”

He walked in and shut the door. She didn’t invite him to sit.

Liam cleared his throat. “I wanted to apologize for myself and my father.”

Willa didn’t move.

“I’m a jackass.”

His admission didn’t make her feel any better. “I find it ironic that your father verbally attacked me only a day after you did,” Willa said in a voice that shook.

“I’m sorry. Neither of us had a right to talk to you like that.”

“Why did you?” Willa paced away and back. The robe and towel fluttered. Usually men with money seemed to think they had a leg up on everyone else. Unless… “What did I ever do to either of you?”

“It wasn’t you.” He released a long deep breath. “I had a short-term relationship with a woman over a year ago. Six months after I broke things off she tried to blackmail me to the altar. Claimed I fathered her baby. Wanted money. A lot. It took a court order, but I finally got DNA testing done on the baby. The child wasn’t mine.”

All the heat drained out of Willa’s face and she sat on her couch. “Oh. So you
and
your father thought I was after the same thing?”

Liam sat next to her and braced his elbows on his knees. He stared at a spot midair between Willa and the floor. “Maureen didn’t wait to make demands. She got right in my face and told me to give her ten grand a month ‘play’ money or she’d make sure I’d have difficulties seeing my child. Then made the same threat to my father.”

“That’s awful.” Willa couldn’t imagine using a child as a bargaining chip.

“Do you know what the worst part was? I loved the baby. I only saw him a few times, but he had me wrapped around his littlest finger. Then I found out he wasn’t mine.”

“Oh my God, no wonder you…”

“Don’t excuse me or my father.”

“But—”

“You’re not her. You’re nothing like her. I
know
that and my father is an idiot for not seeing it within ten seconds of meeting you. I reacted yesterday when I should have been using my brain and there’s no excuse for it. I’m sorry.”

Willa stared at Liam, her eyes wide. “I—”

“You bend over backward to help people, and not just the ones you know, everyone. You work when you don’t have to. You give a hundred and twenty percent all the time. I’ve never met anyone more generous. I was an idiot yesterday.”

He turned his head and met her wide-eyed gaze with a directness that told her he was telling the truth. “You have every right to be angry.”

A long, awkward silence followed. Did he really mean it? She should have guessed he had his own set of problems, but never thought any woman would go to such lengths to secure cash.

She slid her hand across his palm, wrapped it around his and squeezed gently. “Thank you.”

He stared at her as if he’d never seen her before. “I didn’t say that to get you in the sack,” he blurted.

Willa’s brows vaulted. “I didn’t think you did.”

Liam’s gaze wandered.

The robe had fallen open, the belt hanging useless at the sides, and the towel clung to her body precariously. The slightest tug would pull it free.

“Not that the idea doesn’t have merit.”

She cocked her head and tried to control her breathing. She wasn’t successful. “Is that what you really want from me? Sex?”

“No.” Liam shook his head and ran a hand through his hair. “I came up north to get away, to give myself a break from…” He spread his hands out. “Everything.”

“I don’t think there’s anywhere on earth you could go to completely get away.”

“I know. But, this place, the people here…bear no resemblance to the life I had before.” He looked at her. “Take you for example. You stood up to my dad. Not many people have the guts to do that.”

“After what he said, I had no other choice.”

“You could have walked away without saying anything. You could’ve done a lot of things besides getting in his face and telling him flat out he was wrong.”

“I wasn’t thinking about it that way. I just couldn’t take that kind of insinuation from a total stranger.” She took a deep breath and thought about saying more, but closed her mouth and just looked at Liam.

What did he really want from her?

“It’s late.” He stood, hesitated, then strode toward the door. “I’ll get out of your hair.”

Willa jumped up. “Liam, about Jason—”

“Don’t worry about it.”

“There’s no
it
to worry about.”

“Yeah, I had that figured.”

“It’s just that your father jumped to conclusions and—”

“Willa, it’s okay. I know you and Jason have nothing going on.”

“You do?”

Liam smiled. “Yep. I’d have known that even if Jason hadn’t told me how fond he was of you. Acted like a father grilling his daughter’s date with me the other day. Speaking of which, I’m sure I’m going to get another earful from him. Between him and my dad, I’m in for an interesting night.”

“But—”

He glanced at her and his eyes seemed to snag on her open robe. “Thanks for not tearing my face off.” He shifted his weight.

He was going to leave.

“Wait.”

Liam shook his head and opened the door. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

She put her palm on the door and pushed it closed. “We need to talk about…this
fun
thing.”

He opened it again. “We won’t be
talking
about anything if I don’t get out of here.”

She needed him to stay, to talk, to help her figure out if what she was feeling was real or not. “Maybe we should keep things strictly business from now on.”

He froze, as if every muscle in his body shut down all at once.

He shut the door and faced her. “Why?” He stepped forward. She stepped back. She didn’t know where she was leading him, but anywhere was better than the door.

He followed for several steps then took her gently by the shoulders. Oh so carefully.

She looked him in the face. “Tonight’s confrontation drove home the fact that we shouldn’t be engaged in nonwork-related—” Her gaze darted around the room as she searched for a word. “Interactions.”

“Interactions,” he repeated, his hands flexing on her shoulders. “I’m six milliseconds away from ripping that useless robe and towel off and gorging myself on you until I wear the taste buds off my tongue, and you call it an interaction?”

“Well, what would you call it?” She should be worried, even angry, at his offended attitude. Instead, she wanted to dance in victory.

“Fun. Consensual, noncommittal fun.”

“That’s hardly a descriptive statement.” Not very romantic either, but she’d take it.

He dipped his head. “Who needs description when I can demonstrate.”

Eyes wide, she gasped, “Wait—”

Liam covered her mouth with his own, silencing her protest. She went slack in his grip, her body molding to his, her lips following his lead in a sensuous dance. He increased the tempo, pushing the boundaries of their rules of engagement, his hands roaming her back.

The robe hung from her elbows, no longer covering anything, and he eased it over her arms and let it fall to the floor. His hands went around her to stroke her skin.

What happened to the towel?

He lifted his head and glanced down. His hands moved to explore her behind.

His touch left her shaking with need. “Liam?”

He pulled his hands up to less sensitive territory. “Don’t put the brakes on us yet.” His hand landed on her bare hip then skimmed around to her front, catching the cloth trapped between them. He wrapped it around her. “I know what I said hurt you. I was wrong.”

He was apologizing, really and truly apologizing? Stopping when she hadn’t said no.

“My father is wrong and a jerk, but he’ll leave as soon as I tell him there’s no chance in hell he’s going to get what he wants.”

She held the towel against her and retreated one step. Only one, but she felt chilled in a way hot water couldn’t warm.

Willa regarded him steadily. “What does he want?”

“Me.”

Why did that one word sound so sad?

“I’ve got to go. I need to talk with my dad before I lose the ability to think straight.”

She held his gaze. “Are you still angry with him?” Her breathing hadn’t yet returned to normal after the toe-curling kiss, yet she needed to know if he was one of those men whose anger demanded they punish others.

“Yeah. My dad always could push my buttons.”

“You fight often?”

“No. Argue, yes, but fight…” Liam shook his head. “Dad picks his battles carefully and saves his ammo for them. There was a time when I appreciated that, but he doesn’t know when to quit. It’s time I explained a few things to him.”

“Like what?”

“Like, it’s time to butt out of my love life.” He stepped toward her, looking her up and down. “What’s wrong?”

He didn’t seem angry, only confused. And alone, like her.

“I’m cold.” She put her hand out and took one of his. “I’m tired of being cold.”

He dipped his head and settled his mouth over hers.

She moaned, and he slipped his hands behind her, pulling her close. His erection pressed hard against her belly.

Her fingers tangled in his hair and she pulled away. “Liam, I want to have fun. Lots of fun.”

“Me too,” he said, trying to kiss her again.

“I trust you.”

He paused and looked at her intently. “I trust you too.”

“Good.” Willa pulled out of his arms then took one of his hands, tugging him down the hall.

“Where are we going?”

“My bedroom.”

“Bedroom?” His voice broke. “Bedrooms are for serious fun.”

She glanced at him over her shoulder. “Yes, they are.”

“Are you sure about this? There’s no pressure to do…” Liam seemed to lose his voice as she stopped in front of the bed, “…anything.”

She dropped the towel.

He stared, his breathing heavy. “You’re perfect,” he said reaching out, cupping both breasts, lightly teasing the nipples with his thumbs.

Willa moaned and her head fell back, her eyes closed. Liam leaned down and covered her with his mouth, rolling and sucking at the nipple.

Her hand found the front of his pants, her fingers outlining the shape of him, and he jerked. He pulled away, one hand circling her wrist to hold her still. “I don’t have any condoms.”