Chapter 64
“You-“Izzy’s words faltered as her gaze betrayed her, dropping to Liam’s lips. The faint sheen from his earlier drink caught the Night, drawing her attention despite her efforts to look away. Her stomach twisted, an unsettling mix of frustration and something else she refused to name.
He was too close. The subsile scent of him–warm, clean, with a hint of spice–wrapped around her, invading her senses. She hated how much she noticed it. Worse, she hated how much she liked it.
Her grip on the counter tightened, her knuckles turning white as if the cold surface could anchor her. Her pulse quickened, the memory of their past kisses flashing in her mind, uninvited and far too vivid. She swallowed hard, willing the thoughts away, but the harder she tried, the more persistent they became
Izzy straightened, trying to regain her composure, but every nerve in her body was acutely aware of his nearness. She could feel the warmth radiating from him, see the faint curve of his smirk in her peripheral vision. It wasn’t fair how easily he unsettled her–how effortlessly he seemed to take control of the space between them.
“Say it again.” Liam said, his words hanging between them like a challenge.
Izzy’s lips parted as if to protest, but she stopped herself. Her chest tightened as she looked at him, his expression unreadable but entirely focused on her. She shifted her weight, feeling her heart race.
“You’re full of surprises,” she finally said, her voice steadier than she expected.
Hearing this, Liam’s smirk deepened. He closed the remaining distance between them. His hand came to rest lightly on the counter beside her, effectively caging her in. Izzy’s pulse hammered in her ears. She forced herself to hold his gaze, refusing to back down despite the way her body reacted to his nearness.
“I like hearing you admit that,” he said, his eyes locking onto hers with an intensity that made it impossible to look away.
Izzy inhaled sharply, her composure slipping for a fraction of a second. “Don’t let it go to your head.”
He leaned in slightly, his breath warm against her cheek. She stiffened, the space between them now nonexistent. “Too late.”
Her fingers twitched against the counter, and she silently cursed her body’s betrayal. This was too close–too much. Izzy turned her head to the side, breaking the moment as she muttered, “We should check on the ratatouille.”
Liam didn’t move immediately, his presence still heavy next to her. Then, with an almost imperceptible sigh, he stepped back, giving her room to breathe. “You’re right. Wouldn’t want to ruin it.”
Izzy busied herself with the timer, not trusting herself to look at him again. She could still feel the heat of his proximity, the weight of his gaze lingering long after he moved. Her hand trembled slightly as she adjusted the settings, but she ignored it, focusing on the dish instead of the man standing behind her.
“Ah… I forgot,” Liam said, stepping closer. Izzy could sense him behind her, the warmth of his presence unsettlingly near. She bit her lower lip, pretending to focus intently on the oven.
“You don’t need to check it constantly,” he continued, his voice calm as he gestured toward the sleek appliance. “This oven’s new. It’ll alert you when it’s done or if something is wrong. Technology these days can do that.”
Izzy straightened, clearing her throat as she willed her composure to return. Turning to face him, she leveled a glare his way. “I’m aware,” she said sharply, though the tension in her voice betrayed her unease.
Liam’s lips curved into a teasing smile. “Is this your first time baking, Mrs. Horvath?” he asked, his gaze unwavering as it met
hers.
The use of the title sent a jolt through her, and for a split second she faltered. But she quickly masked it with an indignant
scoff.
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“I’m going to bed,” Izzy–announced, brushing her hands against her skirt. “I need to change. I didn’t get the chance earlier.” She turned toward the stairs, ready to escape the charged atmosphere lingering between them.
Liam leaned casually against the counter, his gaze following her Do you need help with that?” he asked, the corners of his lips tugging upward in a smirk.
Izzy froze mid–step, her head whipping around to glare at him. “Liam!” she exclaimed, her eyes widening as a wave of heat rushed to her cheeks.
“What?” he said with a chuckle, holding his hands up in mock innocence. “I was just asking.”
“Pervert!” she hissed, her voice sharper than she intended. Without waiting for his reply, she spun on her heel and marched toward the staircase. Her steps were brisk, each one an attempt to quell the blush spreading across her face.
As she reached the top of the stairs, she dared a glance over her shoulder. Liam was still standing there, his smirk firmly in place, his eyes following her. She turned away quickly, muttering under her breath as she disappeared into their room, slamming the door shut behind her.
Izzy stormed into the bathroom, shutting the door behind her with more force than necessary. She leaned against it for a moment, her heart still racing. She shook her head, muttering curses under her breath. “This is all his fault,” she hissed.
She stepped into the shower, letting the hot water cascade over her. The tension in her shoulders began to ease, but her mind refused to follow suit. Instead, it replayed the memory of their kiss, unbidden and vivid. Her hand clenched into a fist against the tiled wall. She hadn’t had a good night’s sleep in days, and it was entirely because of him.
“Why does he have to make everything so complicated?” she muttered, scrubbing at her skin as though she could erase the lingering heat from earlier.
Once she finished her shower, she quickly dried off and brushed her teeth, trying to push her thoughts aside. It didn’t help. Even as she dried her hair, her mind kept circling back to Liam–his infuriating smirk, the way he moved closer without hesitation as if daring her to react.
She wrapped her robe tightly around herself before stepping out of the bathroom. Her damp hair clung to her neck as she walked into the bedroom, her bare feet sinking into the plush carpet. She froze mid–step when she saw Liam sitting at the edge of the bed, leaning forward and looking at something on his phone.
His eyes lifted, immediately locking onto hers. Izzy tensed, gripping the edge of her robe instinctively. “What are you doing here?” she asked, taking a cautious step toward her dresser.
Liam didn’t move, but his gaze swept over her, lingering just long enough to make her skin prickle with awareness. “I live here, remember?” he said, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.
Izzy rolled her eyes and turned toward the dresser, pulling out a pair of shorts and a loose shirt. “That doesn’t explain why you’re sitting here like you’re waiting for something.”
“Maybe I am,” he said simply, standing up and walking toward her.
Izzy turned sharply, clutching her clothes to her chest. “Don’t you have anything better to do? Aren’t you managing a company or something?”
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Liam stopped a few steps away, his hands slipping casually into his pockets. “Not really.” His eyes dropped briefly to her robe before returning to her face. “Unless you need help changing.”
Her cheeks flared with heat, and she tightened her grip on the clothes. “Get out, Liam.”
His smirk widened, but he didn’t argue. He got up from the bed and said, “Right, I just remembered why I came here.” His eyes
traveled from her face down to her robe. Then he added, “The food’s ready and it smells divine.”
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Chapter 65
