“I was hoping that’s what you wanted to hear.” Her fingers twist in front of her as she sways side to side. For a second, I feel bad for her, but I never led her to believe it was anything more than sex.
“You were hoping you could change my mind? Or that since we were working together it would just end up happening over and over again? That’s not how I work. I don’t commit, and I don’t hide the fact either.”
I’m pretty sure everyone in Tallahassee knows that Liam Morgan doesn’t settle down.
“Is that what all women are to you? Disposable?”
“No,” I say sharply. “I don't think women are disposable. I just have zero interest in any type of commitment, and fucking two times can lead to a third, and after that, they start hearing wedding bells.”
Angela’s hazel eyes darken as her top lip turns up. “Oh, for fuck sakes, who hurt you?”
“No one.” I shrug. “It’s just who I am.”
“Well, fine.” She pushes back her shoulders and tries to make herself look taller. “I quit.”
I shrug. “Good thing your job is disposable.” I don’t know why she thinks I would beg for her to stay, and that would make me want to be with her. Is that her angle? I never had any intentions of getting rid of her, but if she’s going to play games, I’m not playing along.
Her body instantly deflates, and she bares her teeth. “Asshole.” She screams before she goes charging for the door.
“So I’m told. Have a good night Ms. Parsons.”
“You suck.” She flings open the door and then slams it behind her.
Finally, peace and quiet.
I make my way back to the party after another twenty minutes of isolation. I knew if I didn't come back out, I would be hunted down.
Landon is first to spot me, and he puts his arm around my shoulder.
“Hey, there you are. I was wondering how long you were going to hide for.” I smell the bourbon on his breath and cup my mouth to keep myself from gagging.
Thanks for the support, Bro.
My brother and I might be identical in every way physically, besides the length of our beards; mine is coming in a bit heavier while he keeps his clean. It’s our personalities that are night and day.
“How are you holding up?” He slurs slightly and pulls me in tighter. He’s an annoying drunk. Or I’m finding it annoying because I’m not.
“Oh, you know how much I love these things,” I bite out sarcastically.
Landon and I were raised on black-tie affairs. I've always hated them and the attention they bring. Landon, on the other hand, relishes in them. Then again, he is the golden boy.
“Where’s Maria?” Maria is his wife of two years, but they’ve been together since high school, and they are always attached at the hip.
“She's back home. She's not feeling good.” He clears his throat roughly and looks out to the mass of people in the garden. Knowing my twin well enough, I know he’s hiding something, but I’m not in the mood to press him.
“Sorry. It would have been good to see her.”
“She sends her love though.” He pats me on the back. “Hey, isn't that your new designer over there?" He points across the way to where Angela is standing at the bar sipping on some fruity cocktail.
"Yep."
"Why is she giving you such a stink eye?" He chuckles.
I cringe, causing him to frown.
"Fuck, man, you didn’t."
"I did. Only once."
"Yeah, I know how you operate man."
"Sorry, we all can't find Ms. Perfect in high school," I snap bitterly and stare out into the gold and silver strands of twinkling lights hanging from the trees. Mom always overdoes it on the tacky.
"Stop man," Landon growls and shoves my shoulder.
"What?"
"I'm only in town for two weeks, and I'd like to spend the time with you without arguing."
"Who's arguing? Just saying how it is."
Landon pinches his brow. "I thought you said you wouldn't sleep with employees?"
"Oops?" I shrug, not giving a shit at this point.
"Oops?" My father's voice booms from behind me, and I curse under my breath. "You two. In my office. Now."
Both of us march to his office like scolded teenagers. I sink into one of the leatherback chairs, making myself comfortable, or trying to, for the verbal lashing my father is going to try to pass off.
"Jesus, Liam." My father slams his fist into the desk, and his brown eyes blaze into me with nothing more than disappointment. It’s a look I know all too well and have seen more than enough over the last seven years. “When are you going to get your act together?”
“I did nothing wrong,” I say, drawing my finger along the arm of the leather chair.
“Nothing? You think you did nothing wrong? Her father, who as you know I'm really good friends with, is talking about suing you. I'm going to try to talk him down, but she was a hysterical mess when she came to us. She told us you forced her to quit."
"Oh, please.” I scoff. I know this intrusion is more about his image than about his concern for me. “I didn't force her to do anything. She only quit because she was hoping she'd change my mind about wanting more. It was a very mutual agreement, and I didn’t take advantage of her if that's what she's trying to claim.” I have a feeling Angela and her daddy are both looking for an easy payday.
Wouldn't be the first time somebody tried to take advantage of the broken, dysfunctional Morgan.
“Cut the crap, Liam. You know that’s not how that shit works,” my father seethes, and I lean back in my chair.
"No, but come on, I told Angela firsthand what she was getting into. You know me and how I work. Was it a mistake to hook up with her? Yes, but I didn’t lead her on. I wasn’t going to fire her or force her to do anything she didn’t want."
My father huffs and rubs his wrinkled forehead. He’s been trying to understand my commitment issues for years. I've always tended to be a free spirit, but it only took me one time being burned in one of the most unexpected ways to figure out it was better to continue to spread my wings than to settle and trust one person forever. It's easier this way. There are no emotions involved.
Also, I’ve seen what drunk love looks like because of Landon, who sits over in the corner watching me and my father volley against each other. He’s had his balls on permanent lockdown since high school. If I need the loved up emotions, I can live vicariously through him if I want.
“Listen, my intentions weren't to hurt her. I think even she knows that, and honestly, she can do better than me, so I did her a fucking favor. If you want, I can send her flowers and tell her I'm sorry. Though, it would definitely send the wrong message."
“You don’t get it, Liam. This is my business.” He stabs his finger at me. His whole face turning red, making his hair appear whiter than it already is.
“No, this is mine and Landon's company now. You retired so you could work on your damn golf score.”
“It still has my name on it!” he shouts. "I gave it to you expecting you to run it with honor and respect. Not use it as a conquest place for your one night stands. You're twenty-eight years old. Your brother has his whole life in order. He’s married and not running his company like a fucking playground where I have to come in and babysit. Grow the fuck up.”