Unchosen Ruler by Maggie Cole

2

Hailee

Liam disappearswith Adrian in the back alley. After more teasing from my friends, I excuse myself to the restroom. My reflection displays my flushed cheeks, and the more I think about Liam, the redder they turn.

I need to get a grip.

He's a bad boy. Stay away.

His expression, which morphed from cocky playboyish to brooding, fills my mind. Every inch of him is sculpted. He has arm sleeves of tattoos. His greenish-blue eyes are stunning against his chestnut hair and short beard. And his large hands...

I take a deep breath, reapply my lip gloss, and put a cold, wet paper towel over my cheeks. When I'm finally looking my normal color again, I step out of the bathroom and run into Liam's chest.

He slides his hand on my back, and tingles run down my spine. His deep voice matches every part of him that's so fiercely male, I can't help but think about how it's not fair to the rest of the population. He admits, "Just who I was coming to find."

My insides do a happy dance.

Pull it together. It's just another hot guy.

There's nothing that makes him anything like another ordinary guy.

Jesus, he smells good.I inhale the woody scent and tilt my head up, feeling my cheeks burn all over again.

His intensely focused expression reappears, and it's on no one but me. "Do you come here a lot?"

"No. This is my first time."

"I guess we'll have to change that, then."

My insides quiver. He's perfectly wrong for me. Every part of him screams danger.

And hot sex for hours full of stops on the O train.

As if I know what that's like.

Ugh. These thoughts aren't helping.

I force a smile. "Nora and Anna did a great job with it. It's beautiful."

"Yeah. I remember what it used to look like before the remodel." He glances around, and a hint of sadness passes over his face, but it's gone as quickly as it appeared. He turns back to me.

I hold my breath, unable to move out of his grasp. "You've been gone for a few years?" I ask. Anna told me he just returned home recently.

He hesitates. "Yes. Hey, have you had enough of the party yet?"

"Ummm..."

"You want to get out of here?"

I swallow hard. I should say no and end this conversation, but I ask, "Where do you want to go?" Several women come into the hallway. I step against the wall to give them room. Liam protectively keeps his arm around me and steps closer so his body presses against mine. My pulse beats hard in my neck.

His jaw clenches. His eyes dart between my eyes and mouth. "Anywhere with fewer people."

"Are you not a people person?" I nervously tease.

He shrugs. His eyes burn into mine. "Hard to talk in this environment, isn't it? Besides, it looks like Kora is the only friend of yours left."

I glance toward the table. She and Sergey are the only two sitting there. Skylar's pink hair peeks through the window next to the back of Adrian's head. Aspen might well have vanished.

"I'm supposed to ride home with my friends."

Did I seriously say that? How lame am I?

His lips twitch. "Text your friends you left. I have a driver and will give you a ride home."

My heart races, and I'm close to breaking out in a sweat. More people come into the hallway. He steps as close as possible and leans into my ear. "We can stay here if you prefer."

The most intoxicating scent on earth flares in my nostrils. His hot breath on my neck is a blowtorch igniting every ounce of my blood. Not once in my life has my body ever reacted so strongly to a guy.

He's not a guy. He's a man.

Stay away. He's trouble.

Against my goody-two-shoes self, who's screaming at me to run and hide, I blurt out, "We can go."

His eyes light up. "Yeah?"

"Sure." What am I doing?

He says nothing more, grabs my hand, and leads me down the hall and out into the alley. As soon as we step outside, he texts his driver and instructs me, "Tell your friends you don't need a ride."

More nervous flutters take off in my belly. I flirt by saying, "Are you always this bossy?" and immediately reprimand myself.

"Only when I want something or, in this case, someone." He's so confident and honest, I'm not sure how to reply. Most of the guys I've been with play games. That doesn't seem to be Liam's approach, which I like, but it also scares the crap out of me. Regardless, my face is once again on fire.

I must look like a stupid high school girl.

His car pulls up, giving me a brief break from his sexy, smoldering stare down. He opens the door and motions for me to get in. I slide across the seat, and he follows me, then shuts the door.

"A lot's changed since I got back in town. Where can we go?" he asks.

My place?

Hell no. Somewhere safe.

His place?

Jeez. No. No. No.

"There's a cafe called Late Nights that has live music near my apartment. It's nothing too loud. Does that work?" I ask.

"Perfect." He rolls the divider window down and instructs his driver then closes it. He turns to me. "What do you do for a living, Hailee?"

"I'm a teacher."

His expression morphs into approval. "What grade do you teach?"

"Kindergarten."

He grins. "That was my favorite grade. No homework, lots of games and art projects."

I laugh. "You didn't like school, did you?"

"I loved school until about third grade. Then it stopped being fun and became all about the work."

I tilt my head. "Well, that makes me sad to hear."

"Sorry. Just being honest."

I nod. "It's okay. I wish I could create a school where kids had different options to learn the same material. Then it would be fun. So many children I know would like to learn instead of dreading it. Every year, it seems as if the state rules get harder for us to teach effectively."

"What do you mean?" he asks.

"It's all about how many kids pass the standardized tests. It isn't as bad for me as some of my teacher friends who have older grades, but everything has become about the state exams. There are a lot of things kids aren't learning. If a child doesn't learn a certain way, it's hard for them. It can affect their self-esteem and create a lot of anxiety for them, too."

"That sounds like a big headache for your profession."

I can't deny it. "It can be. But I adore my students."

"I can tell you care about them. I bet your kids love you, don't they?"

I snort. "That would depend on the day."

"Oh, come on now."

"Most of the time they do," I admit.

The car stops. Liam gets out and reaches into the car to help me out. When I'm on the sidewalk, he doesn't let go of my hand. His body is a warm pillow of hard flesh, and I sink into it. He guides me inside. There are two musicians set up in the corner, singing indie music. The lights are dim compared to the daytime. He leads me to the back corner and pulls out a chair then motions for me to sit.

The server comes over. He puts two drink menus down. "Welcome. I'm Timothy, and I'll be your server. Are we looking for something alcoholic or nonalcoholic?"

"I've already had my limit tonight. Can I have an iced tea?" I reply.

"Sure. And you, sir?"

Liam hands the server the menus. "Same. Thanks."

The server leaves, and Liam refocuses on me. "Have you lived on this side of town a long time?"

"For a few years. Where do you live?"

He taps his fingers on the table. "I'm going to sound like a total loser right now."

I lean closer and tease, "Are you one of those guys who live in their parents' basement, watching porn all day and trolling social media?"

He bursts out laughing. "Not the basement. I don't know what trolling is, and I haven't seen porn in years. But I'm living with my parents until I find a new place."

"You just got back in town?"

He shifts in his seat. "Yeah. I've been gone awhile."

"Where?"

Once again, he hesitates, as if he's not sure how to answer my question. "Down south near the state border."

"What made you come back to Chicago?"

He ponders my question again. I'm not sure if Liam is an over-analyzer or uncomfortable with my questions about himself. He finally replies, "It was time. My father is teaching me everything I need to run his business. Is your family in Chicago?"

"Yes. My mom and three sisters."

"Three?"

"Yep."

"Are you close?"

"Fairly."

"Do you look alike?"

I shrug. "You can tell we're sisters."

"And your father? Is he in town, too?" he asks.

The pitch in my stomach I always get whenever I think of my father perks up. "No. I haven't seen him since I was a child. None of us have a relationship with him, and we don't want one."

Liam studies me. "His loss."

"Yep," I curtly agree.

He puts his hand on top of mine and traces my fingers. "Sorry for bringing him up, then."

Zings race up my arm. "It's all right. So you live with your mom and dad. Any siblings?"

"Nope. Just me. And I'm only at my parents' temporarily," he quickly reminds me.

I laugh. "Don't worry. I'm not judging you."

"I'm judging me," he states.

The server sets our drinks down. "Do you need anything else?"

"No, thank you," Liam says.

"Okay, great. I'll check on you later." The server leaves.

"So you're Nora and Killian's cousin?" I ask.

"Yeah. You know Killian, too?"

My cheeks heat, and I cover my face. Why did I bring his name up? "We've met. Nora keeps trying to play matchmaker with Killian and me."

Liam freezes. He slowly removes his hand off mine. "Have you gone out with Killian?"

"No! I don't even have his number. She keeps trying to push him on me," I blurt out.

"Well, that's going to stop," he confidently says, then sits back in his chair. He takes a sip of his iced tea.

My stomach flutters increase tenfold. He stares at me, as if I'm the only person in all of Chicago. His gaze is so piercing, I have to tear my eyes away to breathe.

"What school do you work at?" he asks.

I take a sip of the cold drink. "Freedom Elementary."

He raises his eyebrows and whistles. "That's a rough area."

I shrug. "It's the kids who need the strongest foundation. They have everything working against them. On average, less than half the kids I've taught make it past their sophomore year."

"You have kids you taught old enough to be in high school?"

I laugh. "Sure. My first few classes I taught. I'm old."

His expression fills with doubt. "How old are you?"

"Thirty-seven."

He snorts. "That isn't old."

"What about you?"

"Turned forty a few months ago."

"Ohhh. What's it feel like to be over-the-hill?"

Why am I flirting?

I need to stop and not lead him on.

Why am I even here?

Liam replies, "Freeing."

"What do you mean?"

He pinches his eyebrows together. "Nothing. So what do you do for fun?"

"Hang out with my friends. We practice yoga together on the weekends. I also like to hunt for deals and refurbish things or redecorate for next to nothing."

He leans closer. "Sounds interesting. Where do you do this 'hunting?''" He puts his fingers in quotes and wiggles his eyebrows.

"It depends on the time of the year. I shop in secondhand stores in the winter. When it warms up, I'll go to garage sales or outdoor flea markets."

"What do you do with all these things you find?"

I take another sip. The song ends, and the cafe erupts in clapping. I add my applause to be polite but have hardly listened to anything they sang. Liam is the only person I can focus on. "I resell most of the things. I have a little slush fund building."

"Wow. That's impressive."

"Not really. It's just a hobby."

He leans forward again. "Sounds to me like you're resourceful, creative, and have an entrepreneurial streak in you."

"It's just for fun."

"Still impressive."

I drink more iced tea. "So, what kind of business does your father have?"

Liam nervously shifts in his seat. His elbows are on the table. He crosses his arms and taps his biceps. The piercing looks he gave me previously are nothing compared to how he stares at me now. He lowers his voice. "Before you met Nora, did you ever hear of my family, Hailee?"

My chest tightens. All the reasons I already know I shouldn't be sitting here with him surface. I choose my words carefully so I don't insult him or say something that isn't true. "I've heard of the O'Malleys, yes."

"And what did you hear?"

Heat rises for the hundredth time tonight in my cheeks. I glance past Liam, but no one is near us. "My understanding is that the O'Malleys are a crime family."

He licks his lips and studies me. "And what do you think about that?"

"Is it true?"

He slowly nods. "Yes. But I'm working with my father and Nora's brothers to change things."

"What does that mean?"

"I'm sorry, but I can't go into details."

My heart races. I don't like what this means. If he's trying to change things, I can appreciate his effort, but it's a strong enough reason to get up and leave right now. Liam confirmed that he represents danger, and it's a risk I shouldn't take. If only I could get my feet to move.

He traces my fingers, which does nothing to motivate my body to do what I rationally should do. "Why aren't you married, Hailee?"

I sit up straighter. "Sorry?"

"You seem like a woman who would be married with ten children and a few furry animals."

I laugh. "So stereotypical."

He raises his eyebrows. "Am I wrong? Or do you have a bunch of kids and pets you aren't telling me about?"

I turn his question on him. "Why aren't you married with ten children and a few furry animals?"

He once again pauses, gathering his thoughts and making me wonder if he's an analyzer or doesn't like answering my questions. "I would have if my life had gone differently."

"Yeah, well, me, too."

He opens his mouth then shuts it.

"I should go. I have to prepare for my lessons tomorrow."

"Did I offend you?" he asks.

I shake my head. "No. I'm behind. This week has been super crazy, and I've gotten barely anything done."

"Do you need help?"

"Help?" I ask.

"Yeah. Is there anything I can do?"

I'm taken aback by his offer. "That's sweet of you, but it's all stuff I need to deal with on my own."

He rises and tosses cash on the table. "All right. I'll take you home."

"I can walk. It isn't that far."

He scrunches his face, as if I'm crazy. "No."

I roll my eyes. "Are you going to be like Adrian now?"

His face falls, and his eyes turn to slits. In a low voice, he asks, "Adrian?"

"Yeah. He wouldn't stop telling me how unsafe my neighborhood is."

His jaw clenches. "I guess I'm confused since I saw him leave with Skylar, and maybe you are all cool with that or something, but did you date Adrian?"

My head jerks back in shock. "Eww. No. He gave me a ride home from the hospital when Aspen got bit by a snake. And Skylar was with him."

Liam releases a big breath. "Good to know."

I'm not sure how to respond. I rise, and Liam puts his hand on my back and guides me out of the cafe. We get in his car, and I tell the driver my address. He drives two blocks and pulls up to my building. Liam steps out.

I get out and look up. "Thanks for the drink."

"I'll walk you inside."

I should argue. I've already spent more time with him than I should have. It's pretty clear he's interested in me, and I shouldn't give him hope. He's way outside of my comfort zone. Anything with him would be a huge risk. He even admitted his family is into bad things, yet I say nothing and let him lead me inside. Neither of us speak. The elevator opens, and the silence continues. Blood pounds between my ears. I'm more nervous than I've been in a long time. His woodsy scent fills the small area. I avoid looking at him, and I'm relieved when the door opens.

He leads me to my unit. Against the warning in my head, I consider inviting him in but find the determination not to. I unlock my door, spin, and smile. "Thanks again. It was nice meeting you."

He doesn't hesitate. "It was. Can I have your phone number?"

I bite on my lip. He cocks an eyebrow, giving me a set of puppy dog eyes. I cave. "Okay. Give me your phone."

A smile erupts on his lips. My insides quiver harder. I've never met a man who looks sexy no matter what his facial expression.

I shouldn't give it to him, but I text myself from his phone and hand it back to him.

"Thanks, Hales. I'll see you soon," he says, as if there's no way it's not happening.

"Hales?"

"No one calls you Hales?"

"No."

"Good. I will. Have a good night." He winks, turns, and I watch him stroll to the elevator and step inside. I shut my door and lock it.

What did I just do?

This is a recipe for trouble.

My phone vibrates. I remove it from my purse and look at the screen. My heart skips a beat.

Liam: Thanks for hanging out with me tonight. It's been a long time since I met a nice woman.

I should ignore his text and get my schoolwork done. Instead, I reply.

Me: I haven't met anyone nice in a long time, either. Thanks.

Liam: Don't work too hard.

Me: I won't.

Liam: Night.

Me: Goodnight.

I attempt to turn the voice in my head off; the one telling me to send him a text we can't see each other anymore. I spend the next few hours getting my work done then put on my pajamas and crawl into bed. I stare at the text conversation, and dots appear as if he's texting me. I bite on my smile, waiting to get a message, but the screen turns blank and nothing comes across.

Disappointment fills me. I shouldn't encourage him or want him to give me any attention. I toss and turn for hours. I finally fall asleep. When I wake up the next morning, I get ready and go to school.

Around noon, when my students are at recess, one of the employees who works in the office knocks on my door. I open it, and she holds out a huge bouquet of roses. She smirks. "Someone loves you."

I gape at the dozens of long-stemmed red roses.

She laughs. "Are you going to take them?"

"Oh. Sorry. Thanks."

"Sure." She hands them to me and leaves.

I go to my desk and open the small envelope. It's handwritten, and my guess is Liam personally signed it. The card reads:

Hales,

I hope you're having a great day.

Liam

My heart stammers.I gaze back at the bouquet and count seventy-seven flowers. I glance at the time and pull my phone out of my purse.

Me: Thank you for the flowers. They're gorgeous.

Liam: Not as much as you.

My heart beats faster.

Me: Seventy-seven?

Liam: Yep. Your age and my age combined. I think we can be good together.

We.

Together.

I rock in my chair, trying to think of how to reply. I avoid responding to his comment again.

Me: Are you having a good day?

Liam: I am now.

My butterflies go crazy. The bell rings, and I reply.

Me: I have to go. The kids are coming back from recess. Thanks again.

Liam: Have a great rest of your day.

I spend the rest of the day attempting to concentrate on my students, but all I can think of is Liam and wonder when I'm going to see him again. And I can't get out of my head the thought of what the seventy-seven roses represent.