Kate picked up her glass, watching Liam walk away and marveling at how quickly her upside-down life had turned right-side up. Who knew that when Ansley had told her to get her ex out of her system that Kate would find someone new—someone better?
Liam’s phone vibrated, lighting up on the far side of the table. Kate’s eyes drifted toward it. Whoever it was had been persistent. She loved that Liam wasn’t the kind of guy who was glued to his phone. It had been sweet of him to decline the calls or messages he was getting while they were on their date.
However, when someone was as insistent as this person was, then it had to be important. She looked over her shoulder where Liam had left. When he got back, she’d tell him to just go ahead and get back to his friend.
She waited for another minute or two when a woman seated in a table nearby leaned over. “I’m so sorry, but do you have the time?”
Reflexively, Kate reached for her purse then remembered she’d left it in her hotel room. Without thinking, she reached over the table and picked up Liam’s phone. “Six forty-three.”
The woman smiled with appreciation and resituated herself in her seat. At that very moment, another message popped up on the screen.
Rebecca: I can’t wait for our date when you get back in town.
Kate nearly dropped the phone as her fingers grew weak. Her heart hammered, and she fumbled with the phone to return it to its place near Liam’s seat. Her hands trembled under the table, and she swallowed hard. Who was Rebecca? Rebecca who had added several heart emojis to her message. Rebecca who was probably tall and thin and prettier than Kate.
Kate’s blood ran cold. There had to be a reasonable explanation. Or this could be exactly what it looked like. Liam was seeing someone. It might not be serious. For all she knew, he was seeing several women. She sucked in a shuddering breath, her thoughts immediately drifting to when she’d found out that there was another woman in her fiancé’s life.
This couldn’t be happening. Not again. Not to her. She fidgeted in her seat, her eyes darting toward the exit of the restaurant and back to the food on the table. She’d been a complete fool to think this was more than it was. Liam hadn’t defined what this relationship was, and neither had she.
Relationship. Ha. That’s rich. This isn’t a relationship. This is one of those flings people have on vacation when they know they won’t have to see the person again.
Her face burned with the acknowledgement that this was exactly that. Footsteps approached, along with the burning sensation right behind her eyes. What a darn fool she’d been.
Liam pulled out his chair and lowered himself into it. He flashed her that smile. The smile that was so good at making her legs go weak. That smile that made her want to give him the world.
And her heart shattered.
His brow creased. “Is everything okay?”
“Hmm? What?” She cleared her throat of all the emotion that had built up. “Of course. I’m fine.” She forced a smile, but it only made the tightness in her chest worse. She lifted her glass to her lips and took another small sip.
Escape—that was what she needed to do. She had to get out of there before she crumpled into a heap on the floor. Her heart hadn’t been strong enough to fall for another guy so soon, and now she hated herself for it.
Worse, Ansley would tell her, “I told you so” before the night was up if she’d known how dangerously fast this had all progressed.
Kate swallowed hard against the lump in her throat and placed two fingers at her temple.
Liam leaned forward. “Are you sure you’re okay? You look sick.” He reached for her hand, and she jerked it away from him. His features tightened; a flicker of pain or something deeper flashed behind his eyes.
Good. He should be upset. Knowing she’d caused it only made her stomach churn harder, though. She nodded and pushed out her chair. “Maybe you’re right. I need some fresh air.”
He rose from his seat. “I’ll come with you.”
“No!”
His head reared back. “Kate?”
She held up a hand to interrupt him, then closed it to hold up a single finger. “I’ll only be a few minutes.” Her eyes pleaded with him. “Just a few minutes.”
Liam’s jaw tightened. He didn’t return to his seat. Nor did he move a muscle.
“Please,” she murmured.
Slowly, he dropped back into his chair and nodded. “If you’re not back in five minutes, I’m coming to look for you.”
That was fine, because in five minutes, she’d probably be in her room, hiding from him. This whole situation was mortifying. She couldn’t believe she’d allowed herself to fall so hard for a stranger. A stranger! Because that was really all he was. Yes, she knew about his past with the woman he’d loved. She’d grown closer to him with each thing he shared about himself.
But how much could she really trust him? For all she knew, he had been lying the whole time. He’d never mentioned a Rebecca. He’d never mentioned that he had a girl back home.
She scurried from the restaurant, ignoring the double doors that would have led her out onto the balcony to the fresh air she so desperately needed. Instead, she kicked off her heels and sprinted toward the elevator.
Her heart pounded with each step she took. There were still a few days left for this retreat. They were in the lead for that grand prize, and if she left now, she’d forfeit everything. Right now, the important thing would be to figure out how to keep her distance from Liam even though she’d have to spend two more days with him. She’d have to teach herself not to get goosebumps when he brushed against her. She’d have to force herself not to lean toward him when he was close enough to kiss her.
She’d have to construct a wall and fast, because if she didn’t, her heart wouldn’t only be shattered. It would be utterly destroyed. And she’d have to do all of this without him knowing. If he found out that she’d fallen for him, he’d probably just laugh at her.
Kate made it up to her hotel room and hurried inside. She stripped out of her dress and made a beeline for the shower. She stood beneath the showerhead, letting the tears mix with the drizzling hot water that poured over her in the dark. Legs giving out beneath her, she sunk to the floor. Her knees were brought up to her chest, and she buried her face into them. For now, she’d allow herself to be vulnerable—away from prying, beautiful green eyes. Then tomorrow, she’d pretend like nothing had happened.