A lot had changed in this past month. Adrian had changed. How many times had he imagined finding her, explaining himself to her, asking for forgiveness? But not here, not like this...He needed to do it properly to show her how he’d turned his life around. This was the chance he’d been waiting for to get her back. And he wasn’t about to blow it. If only he could work his tongue loose to say a damned word. “I heard you’ve been awarded with the Forbes under 30 as one of the top innovative leaders,” Liz blurted out, clearly unable to stand the silence any longer. “I was doing my job.” He simply said with an indifferent shrug. “The newspapers don’t seem to think so,” she babbled on but, irrationally, he was more fascinated by the way her pulse was leaping erratically at her throat. “They said you’re impressive for having achieved this award in such a short time.” He’d hated the publicity for that. Impressive, nonsense! The public had lauded him for that award, yet all he could thin
Adrian Moore gripped the edge of the table. He had a bunch of questions running through his mind, questions to which he needed answers. “What did you decide?” The question was out of his mouth before he could stop himself. He needed to know. “Isn’t it obvious already? I want to stay here. I need to take care of my grandparents, my company and –” She stopped abruptly as though she was about to say something she shouldn’t have said and he had no idea how he resisted the impulse to go to her. He felt a bit weird knowing that she’d chosen to stay here, that she hadn’t thought about him at least once. “What about me?” Adrian couldn’t stop himself. Although he might have sounded childish, he was genuinely curious.She couldn’t have possibly just decided to stay here when he had to stay in New York City…? How would they live so far away from one another? But why she would think about me, he then thought. If she’d moved on, she would not be thinking about him and his feelings. That would
Liz Walters watched as Adrian moved quickly to her side, snaking an arm around her shoulders before introducing himself, “I’m Adrian Moore, Liz’s husband.” Her head whipped around. She stared at him, horrified that he’d openly announced that he was her husband when they’d only been together through a contract marriage. In other words, he wasn’t her real husband. They met each others’ gaze for a few moments – maybe an eternity – neither of them wanting to be the first one to break the pin-dropped silence. But one of them was going to have to, and, after everything, Liz knew it had to be her. She was the only one who knew Adrian was lying and also, she was the only one who could reduce this tension arising between these two men. Liz turned to look at Xander. He seemed like a deer caught in headlights. His eyes kept switching back and forth between me and Adrian. “Can you give us a minute, please?” She politely asked the man. Hearing Liz’s voice, Xander snapped out of his state of sh
Adrian Moore squinted at her as he tried to figure out what she meant by that.“Well, let’s see.” Liz lifted her hand as though to tick off her point one at a time.“First you say I’m in Stratford because I thought it was far enough from New York City for you not to know I was here but you still found me and wants me to go back with you. Then you declare that you have the right to order me around because as per the contract, I’m still your wife so you’ll always be by my side. So which is what, Adrian because you can’t have it both ways?”It was that flash of temper, her refusal to cower, which he just adored and loved about her. And this feeling clawed its way inside him right now. It made him want to pull her to him when he knew he should be taking things slowly…until she would forgive him.But it was proving impossible to hold back when he’d essentially met her after a month of absence. Especially when she looked at him the way she was doing right now, even if he doubted she realize
“My body clearly doesn’t know when to shut up, then,” Liz snapped.But her tone was a little bit more fragile than he might have expected it to be. As though there was something he was missing. Was she hiding something from me? Liz raked her hands through her hair in a gesture he recognized only too easily as a sign of just how wound up she was. “I can’t just fall back into your arms, Adrian. I won’t. You don’t understand. I…there are certain things that I need to consider first.” She stopped for a brief second before adding, “I need some time.”“You can take however much of time you’d like but I only want to know one thing, will you give a second chance?” he countered.Moreover, he couldn’t possibly pretend like her being so closed off around him like that didn’t bother him…at all. He wanted to make sure their misunderstandings would be cleared and she would agree to give their relationship a second chance and probably take it a step further.He needed some kind of reassurance from
“Who did you think she was?” Adrian arched an eyebrow at her. A knowing smirk tugged at his lips. Had she been defensive because she’d thought that there was something between him and Anna?Shit! He was such a fool. He should have told her earlier that Anna was his sister.He watched as she opened her mouth as though to say something before deciding against it.A short laugh escaped his mouth.She gave him a pointed look and that shut him up. “I need to head back home.”The little happiness he’d felt died down. “Home…?” He stupidly asked.“Yes, home…” She said. Her voice was barely above a whisper but since he was standing so close to her, he heard her pretty loud and clear.“Please,” he implored, blocking her from walking away when she proceeded to head out. “I need to speak with you.”“I think we’ve spoken enough already, Adrian.” She shook her head, refusing to listen to him.“Please, Liz.” He begged.She seemed to consider it before she hesitantly agreed. “We can go back to my off
Lifting her arms, Liz wrapped them around the back of his neck; shuddering when he let his hands trail down her body with such control that she was certain he was only trying to torment her.He started with her back, the backs of his fingers skimming a line down from her jaw to her chest and tracing the edge of her crisp white shirt right down to the first – perhaps prudishly high – button, then back up the other side, pressing one kiss, then another, and finally a third.She opened her mouth to say something, anything, but found she couldn’t. Her mind was too foggy. And there was the haunting fear that if she said the wrong thing she might break this unexpected magical spell they were both under.And yet…somewhere…something needled her, niggling at her.What was she forgetting? But then he let his hands wander down her back, dancing over her spine, her hips, until they were cupping her backside and she could do nothing but move with him and press tighter against him – heat against s
Liz Walters rushed to the conference room with her laptop in one hand and with her files in the other. It was a hassle opening and closing the door that one of the files almost slipped out of her hand when a pair of arms swiftly yet smoothly caught it midway, stopping it from meeting the ground.“Thank you –” She looked up at the person who’d helped her only to freeze on the spot.It was Adrian Moore.Before she could glance away, their gazes locked.When she finally snapped out of her momentarily shock, she breathed out, “What are you –”“What am I doing here?” Adrian interrupted, one of his perfect eyebrows arching inquisitively.She could only nod, deep in thought.Why was he here? What was he doing here? What was he up to? Is he up to something?A bunch of questions crossed her mind one after the other, puzzling her.It was only for a brief second though.She didn’t let her bewilderment control her mind and body. She stood upright and kept her face void of any emotions as she remi