Begin Again novel Chapter 52

Isaac was as gorgeous—in real life— as his Hot Connexions profile photo.

He had smooth russet skin, deep-set hazel eyes and a strong aquiline nose and square jaw, his hair was cropped short in a fade haircut. But it's the dimples that almost made Eden want to change his application from handyman to boyfriend.

As a former college fly-half for Rock Union University, he also had the body and the height of a Rugby player.

It helped that he was clean shave as well.

Eden liked them clean-shaven.

Like Liam.

Isaac was the perfect gentleman, too; he held the door and chair for her and was attentive to her every need. The more time Eden spent with him, the more convinced she was that something was wrong with him. But thirty minutes in she still hadn't found any serious flaws other than being a once divorced single parent to a three-year-old baby girl.

"So did you handle your divorce?" Eden was curious to know when she learned he's a divorce attorney and has handled a few high profile celebrity divorces. She knew from past chats he's a lawyer; she just didn't know he specialised in divorces and custody battles.

"If only," he laughed, blinding her with his megawatt smile and dimples. "But they don't advise it, you know objectivity and all."

"Right," Eden nodded.

"What about you, Eden, is Aiden's dad still in the picture?"

Before she could reply, her phone vibrated on the table. She had to take it; it was Clara.

"Excuse me," she smiled at Isaac and moved to the corner of the room to take the call.

"Eden, where are you?" Clara sounded frantic.

"I'm at Rise Coffee Shop, meeting a friend. What's going on?"

"Well the Dragon's breathing fire here, looking for you," Clara explained.

"I'm not sure why. I don't report to him anymore. Matthew knows where I am, and in any case, I'm on my lunch break."

"Oh, Eden, you have to come up. You don't want to mess with—"

Eden stopped her before she could go far, "Clara, the only reason Liam gets away his shit is because everyone keeps tiptoeing around him. I'm on my lunch break. He can wait."

She didn't give Clara a chance to respond. She hung up and returned to Isaac.

"Everything okay?" Her potential handyman asked, and Eden gave him a wan smile. Nothing was okay, and she knew she'd pay dearly for her little act of rebellion. But she didn't expect it to be so soon.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Liam make his way inside the coffee shop while his security detail waited at the entrance.

He moved through the room like he owned the damn place, confident and composed as he made his way to her table.

"Ms McBride, I believe when the CEO has to run around looking for you, there's a huge problem," he gritted his teeth, shooting daggers at her with his eyes.

Isaac stood up and extended his hand. "Isaac Jones; it's a pleasure to meet you finally, Mr Anderson. Our law firm, Hayes and Jones, has done business with Anderson Logistics in the past. But I'm such a huge fan of yours, and I was deeply disappointed when you retired from professional racing."

His face a cold mask, his voice low and measured, Liam gave Isaac a hard handshake, almost crushing his fingers, "And how do you know Ms McBride?"

"Oh," Isaac chuckled and withdrew his hand. "This is our first date."

And Eden wanted to shoot both of them; if she had a gun, she would have. She would hardly call their coffee chat a 'first date'; it was a handyman interview at best. And Liam had no right to ask about her personal life.

"Well I'm sorry to cut your first date short," Liam said, putting special emphasis on 'date'.

He didn't sound or look sorry at all, Eden thought as she played with her cup. He looked properly pissed off, clenching his jaw the longer he stared at Isaac.

Eden finished off her tea and cleared her throat, breaking the painful tension between the two men.

"We have to be somewhere right now," Liam carried on, his eyes still glued to Isaac as he held out his hand to her.

Eden ignored it and picked up her cellphone.

"Can I take a rain-check?" She asked, and Isaac nodded, a baffled frown creasing his brows.

Eden shrugged apologetically, and silently mouthed she'll text him later. She was just as dumbfounded by Liam's hostility.

"You would have said so if you do," Liam smirked and looked through his phone.

"Well, I don't like you!" She snapped and crossed her arms.

But it was a lie, of course.

She liked him so much it hurt. Even when he was an asshole half the time, even when he was a mean jerk, she still liked him. She still wished he could like her back even just a little bit. Never mind that he's married with kids of his own.

"I don't like you," she repeated, more to convince herself.

"That's okay, Princess," Liam nodded slowly. "I don't need you to like me. I just need you to fix me."

Before she could ask him what he meant, they stopped in front of Medical Mews. His security hurried ahead to sweep the building while they remained in the car until his driver received word through his comms piece and gave them an all-clear.

Liam pushed her out of the door and led her inside the building into a service elevator, his hand resting lightly on the small of her back, sending her heart rate skyrocketing.

"Why are we using a service elevator?" Eden asked.

"You ask too many questions," Liam murmured. "One more question, one more word from you I'll kiss you."

His threat set off a kaleidoscope of butterflies swirling in her tummy, and her pulse soaring, but she had to have the last word.

"You won't—"

Her words were barely out when she felt Liam's hot, soft lips on hers, crushing her mouth into submission as his tongue demanded entry. She sighed as she kissed him back, matching his rhythm, her arms encircling his waist as his fingers glided through her hair.

The elevator stopped on the fifth floor, and they pulled apart with Eden blushing furiously, disappointed with herself for behaving like a horny teenager and giving in to him.

"Be good," Liam murmured in her hair as he pushed her out of the lift and into an unusually quiet reception area where a heavyset, dark-haired woman was waiting for them.

"I'm Dr Linda Swartz; you must be Eden McBride. I've heard so much about you. I'm Liam's therapist."

Eden gawked at her and then at Liam, certain she's losing her mind.