A smile broke over Adam’s face. “You’re going to be so much better at this than my wife. She would be trying to listen in right now.”
Avery didn’t want to listen in. This was Liam’s expertise. After this was over, she would find a new job and that would be her thing. Loving Liam was going to be her expertise and part of that meant trusting him. He’d walked away because he either didn’t want to scare her or he was worried that what he had to say would hurt her. He was talking about Thomas. He would try to protect her. She might never get the full story out of him.
And that was okay because she knew what Thomas was now. He was creepy and criminal and very likely wanted to hurt her. She’d made her bet. She was with Liam, and she would trust him to the end.
She just hoped the end didn’t come any time soon.
“He’s going to take care of you,” Adam promised.
“I know.” She heard the expectation in his voice. “And I’ll take care of him, too.”
“You’re going to get along with my Serena, you know. She’s going to like the hell out of you. When we finally get back to Dallas, you can meet Serena and our friend Grace. You’re going to fit right into the family.”
It sounded lovely, a group of friends. A family. She couldn’t ask for more than that. “I would love to meet them.”
She would be starting over—again. She’d done it so many times, but this time it felt right. She wasn’t alone. Liam was with her.
Jake walked back, his eyes stony. He looked to his partner. Damn but Avery wanted to know how that worked. “How are we handling the clean up?”
Adam slammed the case shut and picked up a small messenger bag on the floor. “I’ve got what Serena and I need. I think we’ll head to Paris tonight and fly out from there tomorrow. I’m going to clear off the computers and leave them behind. Everything else we leave as it is.”
Liam stepped up. “Go on. Serena’s alone. I can wipe the computers and lock up.”
Jake nodded Liam’s way. “Thanks, man. We’ll see you back at home. Avery, it’s been a pleasure, and I look forward to showing you around Dallas.” He turned to Adam. “Time to go, brother. Take care of our girl, and I’ll take care of our friends.”
Adam held out a hand, but Jake pulled him in for a hug, both men giving each other manly smacks, and Avery could see a little bit of how it worked. Jake could handle the rough stuff because he knew Adam would take care of their wife.
Liam shook hands with each as they headed out the door. Liam didn’t have a partner. He’d been forced to choose, and he’d chosen her.
“I could go with Adam. Liam, I know you have a big stake in this somehow.”
He passed a magnet over the computers and closed the tops. “I had an operation go south a few years back. Nelson was involved. I lost my brother, and I’ve been looking for answers ever since.”
Her stomach knotted. The last thing she wanted to do was be parted from Liam, but she couldn’t let him miss this opportunity. “Then let me go with Adam, and you can go meet this Nelson guy. Liam, I want you to find the answers you need. I promise I’ll do everything Adam tells me to. I won’t put myself in any kind of trouble.”
He set the magnet down and turned to her. “You’re more important.”
“But I’ll be okay.”
His gorgeous face turned serious as he walked toward her. He stopped in front of her, close so their bodies brushed. His hand came out, tilting her face up to his. “I won’t be okay, Avery. I can’t walk out without you, and while I love Adam like a brother, I won’t leave your safety to anyone but me in this case. Blame yourself, love.”
“Why?” She whispered the question because his lips were closing in on hers. She would never get used to the butterflies she felt the minute he came close, his eyes pinning her and letting her know how much he wanted her.
He kissed her, a gentle melding of lips. “You taught me that revenge ain’t going to do a thing for me, not really. What we got right here is worth walking away from everything for. I might be a dumb man, but I ain’t stupid. I want to know what happened, but I won’t let the past wreck my future. Not when I just found out I have one.”
She leaned into him, so grateful for his strength. “You always had a future, Liam.”
“Yeah, but it involved hot wings and beer. I gotta be honest, love, I was getting a little sick of that.” He kissed her again. “Do you have everything? Did you get your pictures? I don’t want you to leave them behind.”
“I have them.” She moved toward him, wanting the comfort of his closeness. He pulled her into his arms. “I only have a little book here. I have a whole storage unit back in the States. It’s a small one, but it’s got all my keepsakes. Are we going to live in Dallas?”
His face softened. “If Ian don’t fire me at the end of all of this.” He laughed a little. “He won’t, love. If he was going to fire me, I would be dead in a ditch somewhere. Ian’s that kind of boss.”