Tanya gave a dismissive wave before marching across the open-plan space into the kitchen area. She grabbed the kettle from the counter. It trembled as she held it under the faucet.
“You’re in trouble, Tanya. It’s written all over your face. You need my help, and you expected me to fling my arms open in welcome, didn’t you?”
Her cheeks burned as his accusation struck like a knife blade across her heart. She slammed the kettle on the counter and flicked it on to boil. Inhaling a shaky breath, she faced him. “Fine. You’ve moved on, I have, too. I’m not back expecting anything from you or anyone else. There are things I want to do, have to do, and Templeton is the right place for them to happen. That’s it. I’m here because this is where I need to be.”
He studied her a moment longer before his eyes narrowed with distrust. “So nothing’s changed. Same Tanya. Same agenda.”
“Goddamn it, Liam.” She stepped forward and slapped her hands on the breakfast counter separating them, her temper snapping. “I am not the same Tanya, and believe me, my agenda is far from what it was when I was here before.”
“Then tell me about it.”
“No.”
He glared. “Then what choice do I have but to assume you’re going to barrel through everyone here, looking for money, ambition and every other damn thing regardless of who you knock over along the way?”
Anger rushed through her, making her want to slap him, damn well kick him straight between the legs. She pushed away from the counter and, rounding it, she charged him. “Don’t talk to me that way.”
Surprise flashed through his eyes. “What the hell are you doing?” He braced himself and raised his hands. When she was less than a foot away, he lunged forward and lifted her off her feet before tossing her like a bag of potatoes onto the sofa.
The air left her lungs and she dug her nails into the cushions. “You bastard.”
“What the hell’s the matter with you?” He glared. “You’re like a damn cat who’s caught his tail in an electric socket.”
Angry and humiliated, Tanya snatched up a cushion. “Just get out.”
She put the cushion to her face and waited. But there were no footsteps across the carpet.
Silence filled the room and split the space between them like a guillotine.
Tanya slumped in defeat. Liam Browne never walked away from any situation, no matter how difficult. He was stoic, strong, calm and precise. The complete opposite of her. Now he’d seen her, she would have to answer every question he asked, or risk losing the chance for at least renewed friendship with one of the best men she had ever known—ever had the pleasure of making love with.
But God knew, she would not let him into her heart again. Never, ever again, because Templeton was barely big enough for them apart...together, it was like housing two tigers in a cage. One of them would eat the other alive or die trying to escape.
* * *
LIAM CONTINUED TO look at Tanya’s covered face, visualizing every dip, line, curve and furrow he knew so well. He pictured her wide brown eyes, full, pink lips and slender nose. He imagined the minuscule mole at her temple and the tiny scar on her chin from a childhood fight with Sasha.
He stepped toward her and she stiffened. He sat beside her. “Let me see you.”
She shook her head.
He ran his gaze over her hair, lower to the revealed side of her neck and shoulder. “I’m sorry, okay?”
She snatched the cushion into her lap, her eyes stormed with hurt. “Fine, I am, too. Now you’ve seen me, get out. Clearly, we’ve nothing else to say to one another.”
Her eyes gleamed with unshed tears, her lips quivered and her skin was more ashen than it was while they had been arguing, when it had shone with angry color. He exhaled as the remainder of any animosity he might have felt disappeared. “Why did you run at me like that?”
Her shoulders slumped. “I don’t know.”
Liam ran his gaze over her face. “When you just walked straight into the restaurant as though it was the most natural thing in the world, I didn’t know how to handle it. I should’ve got my crap together before I came here. I’m sorry.”
She shook her head. “My God, if you thought I was calm when I walked in there, I must be one hell of an actress. Do you have any idea what it took for me to do that?” She swiped her fingers under her eyes. “And that was without even thinking whether or not I might see you.”
Liam smiled. His gaze fell to her mouth. “Well, you looked completely sure of yourself to me.”
“I wasn’t. I’m not sure of anything.”
The intensity in her eyes tugged at his chest. He looked away before the hook could take hold and make him bleed. “Look, I came here because I needed to see you alone. You don’t have to tell me anything, but there’s something...” He faced her. “You look unhappy.”
“I am.”
Her simple and easy admission caught him by surprise, and Liam struggled not to flee the apartment. He’d expected denial, anger, accusation and insult. He hadn’t expected those two simple words. He couldn’t do this. He couldn’t open up to her pain and expect to walk away from their reunion unscathed when she walked out of his life again.
This sudden softness and vulnerability was the only aspect missing that would have made her perfect for him all those years ago. Where was her hardness? Her strength and independence? He swallowed and blew out a breath. “You’re right. You have changed.”
“I’m sorry I hurt you. I’m sorry I mistreated people by brushing their needs and concerns aside. I have a lot of making up to do, but I will do it, Liam.”
Determination shone in her eyes and he nodded. “Okay.”
She smiled softly. “I have an office in town that I will be turning into a showroom. I plan to have the grand opening next week. I’m a...” She rolled her eyes. “Don’t laugh.”
His gut knotted as the sadness in her eyes changed to sparkling excitement. “I won’t.”
“You promise?”
He raised his hand. “As God is my witness.”
“Okay.” She inhaled a shaky breath and released it on a rush of words. “I’m a party planner.”
He froze, laughter clenching his gut. “A party planner? You?”
She grabbed the cushion and swatted him. “Yes, me.”
“But how—”
“Stop grinning. I get to do all my usual bossing around without people objecting to it. It sure beats the hell out of telling people what they can and can’t do with investments, pensions and everything else. This is way more fun.”
“Fun?” He stared at her, shock reverberating through his diaphragm. “You have fun without being held under duress, too?”
She went for a head shot this time, and laughing, Liam ducked out of the cushion’s reach, raising his hands in mock surrender. “Okay, okay. Then I guess I’ve nothing to worry about.”
Her smile dissolved and she stood. “Of course you don’t. I’ll be fine. Just like I always was. I’m trying something different, that’s all.”
Liam