Page 67 of Desperate Measures
My cousins all started talking over each other, spouting one preposterous story after the next regarding the reasons behind Liam marrying me.
“Maybe he tricked you because he’s got some sort of heiress fetish or he just wanted to prove he could nail a Volkov,” Aella offered.
“Interesting! I remember he worked with our dads at Volkov Industries. He probably wants to do business with them and needed the leverage,” Clem said.
“I see, I’m leverage now?” I asked, balking at the suggestion.
“Yeah! Like, he could just be trying to get his hands on your money. Unless you’re pregnant. Oh my God! Are you pregnant?” Lucy asked.
“Wow. Okay, no! Not pregnant! Sheesh. And Liam has his own money, guys,” I replied, finding myself in the awkward position of defending Liam’s honor while knowing damn well he hadn’t married me for love.
“Fine, then it’s Uncle Ad’s connections. He must need something?—”
I slammed my hands on the table and stood up, interrupting Aella and the rest of them.
“You know what? You guys suck!” I snarled, disgusted with how they immediately went to money and connections as being the only reason Liam would want me.
Maybe it hurts because it’s true.
But I pushed away my inner voice and held on to my ire instead.
“Maybe he just likes me! You ever think of that? Why does it have to be about money or power?”
“Shit, cuz. We’re sorry. We’re just worried about you! I remember how you had a crush on him back when you were interning, and the timing just seems weird. We just don’t want you hurt,” Clementine said, her big eyes round with concern.
“Weird why? Because he’s so hot and I’m just me? He should be with someone else, right? Someone skinnier, better looking?” I asked, revealing some of my own shallow doubts in the process.
“What? No! Cousin, you know you’re beautiful, right?” Lucy asked, tears welling in her big blue eyes, making her even prettier than normal.
“Yeah, but Liam is hot, right? Hotter than I deserve? You’re right, it makes no sense he would pick me,” I said, hating the truth.
“No. That’s not what we’re saying. Everyone is just trying to understand, Micky,” Andrea tried, but I was so done with this conversation.
“Yeah? Why do you all assume I’m being tricked just cause he’s better looking than me? How come none of you came to the conclusion that maybe I’m just good in bed and he’s in it for the sex? Could be I give excellent head, and he’s addicted to my blow jobs,” I shouted, which was probably why I missed the part where the man in question walked into our condo.
Then I felt his arms wrap around my waist and his lips nuzzle my neck, and judging from the wide-eyed stares of my family members, I knew he’d witnessed at least half of my outrageous response to their concerns.
“I can confirm the last two parts,” Liam said, nodding his head in greeting, while I took in his too handsome profile.
He looked rumpled and jet-lagged, but still gorgeous as fuck.
“You’re back,” I whispered, my pulse racing.
“I am. I missed you,” he replied and dropped a hard kiss on my mouth.
“So, what’s, uh, going on here, ladies?” he asked.
The evidence of my husband’s attraction to me pressed against my ass and he hugged me tighter to him.
“Um, we had dinner and dropped off some cookies,” Lucy murmured, her cheeks burning bright red.
“Cookies? What kind?”
“Anisette,” Aella answered, and she was blushing too.
“We were accusing you of marrying our cousin for money, but she said you’re in it for the sex,” Andrea said blankly.
Liam’s eyebrows went sky high, and he barked out a laugh that was almost too loud for my proximity.