Begin Again novel Chapter 79

Liam was in his living room, destroying his cousins in a heated round of F1 2020 when his head of security called.

He paused the game and grabbed his phone from the coffee table.

"Dude, that's such a pussy-ass move!" Matthew barked from behind him.

"It would be if I was losing," Liam smirked over his shoulder. "I have to take this."

"Anderson," he breathed into the phone as he stepped onto the patio.

"Sir, Paradise is home," James said on his end.

"I'm sorry, paradise what?" Liam asked, puzzled by the other man's announcement.

"Paradise," James murmured. "That's the code name for the Missus. Since her name's Eden, which means paradise, the guys thought it's a great code name for her. What do you think?"

After the long evening he's had, Liam wasn't in the mood for the other man's theatrics. He gripped the phone tightly in his hand and breathed in slowly as he mentally counted to ten.

Confident that he can speak without blowing his top off, he addressed his head of security again. "James, we've talked about this. This isn't a spy movie, and there's no need for code names."

"I know you don't want a code name, but can't we just keep the Missus' at least—"

"No, James, we can't. No code names!" Liam groaned in his hands. "And she is not the Missus!"

"Alright, alright. You are no fun!" James grumbled on his end. "Anyway, Para-I mean, Ms McBride is safe and sound at home now. Her friends showed up fifteen minutes after you left, spent half an hour on the rooftop, and then drove her to her place."

"Was she still crying?" Liam hoped not. All that sugar should have at least calmed her down.

"She seemed happy, Sir. She was laughing and chatting when her friends took her to the car."

Good. That's a relief. "Thank you, James."

"Should we stay on her permanently, Sir?"

"Why?"

"I thought she's important to you?"

Liam fell silent for a while, irritated by the implication of the other man's words. But he was more annoyed with himself and the realisation that his growing feelings for Eden, however confusing they were, were so obvious for everyone to see even his head of security had picked up on them.

He will not allow this thing, whatever it is, to spin out of control.

He had to shut it down quickly, and it would serve him well to remember Eden has one job and one job only—To fix him.

He could not—should not—allow his heart to sway him.

Liam took several shuddering breaths before he spoke again. "There's no need to stay on her, James. She works for Anderson Logistics, and I was worried about her. Don't read too much into it!"

"Yes, Sir!"

"And James, stop thinking. I don't pay you to think!" He barked and hung up.

Still annoyed, Liam returned to his living room and paced in front of the TV. "Can you believe him? He's becoming very bold!"

"Who?"

"James, of course!" Liam growled at the brothers.

Fucking hell, he seethed anew when he remembered how she'd pushed him away in his office.

He will not kiss her, or touch her, or hold her ever again like she damn wants, he vowed as he railroaded Julian off the track on the screen.

"That's not nice!" Julian groaned. "I don't like you."

"Get off the track if you're going to be a pussy about everything!"

Before his cousin could say anything, the doorbell rang. Dave and the housekeepers had retired for the night. Matthew went to get it.

He was back minutes later with a huge delivery crate in his arms. "What the fuck is in here? It weighs a ton!" He moaned as he dumped the box on the coffee table.

"Careful with that!" Liam jumped to his feet and pushed him aside. "Can you not read? It says fragile right there!"

"Okay, Mr Grumpy McPants!" Matthew stepped into the kitchen to grab more beers. He snatched one from the pack and dumped the rest on the floor beside Julian.

"You want one?" Matthew waved the can at Liam, but he shook his head. He was already preoccupied with the crate from Fugue. Willow must have been desperate for the sale to send through the painting and vase so quickly. He ordered the items over their dessert, and in less than—he checked his Rolex—five hours she'd delivered his stuff. If she wasn't his sister, he would have been super impressed with her efficient service.

"Whoa, dude!" Julian whistled as he gawked at the delicate, oriental vase in Liam's hands. "I didn't know you collect these. I have tons at home. Every time Mom stops by, she leaves a bunch of flowers."

"No offence to Aunt Liz, but this is not your garden variety vase!" Liam said, shaking his head. "All that money you're swimming in, and you still don't have class! This, my dear brother, is an imperial Ming dynasty vase. The only one of its kind in the world."

"And you know this how?" Matthew asked with a hint of amusement in his voice. He knew him too well.

Liam shot him a wry grin. "Well, I read it on the gallery's website."

"And here I thought you are so cultured!" Julian smirked and reached for a beer.