This Is Where I Sleep by Tiffany Patterson Page A

books. She then told me where she was stuck in the current book she was writing. The heroine was in a pretty precarious situation, and Tasha had no idea how to get her out of it. I did more listening than talking. I knew Tasha didn’t need my input. She was a phenomenal writer who just sometimes needed to hear things out loud to work through them. Sure enough, by the end of our conversation, Tasha worked out how to get her heroine out of her sticky situation and on to saving the world. As we hang up, I smiled knowing two of the most important women in my life were doing well. Given where we all came from, we shouldn’t have made it this far, but we did. I wasn’t one for religion, but as I stared out of my hotel window, I closed my eyes thanking God and asked Him to continue keeping my family safe.
     

 
    Chapter Seven
    Liam
     
    “And you’ve rescheduled my afternoon meeting for next week, right?” I asked my assistant, Darlene. I came into the office early to get a phone meeting and some paperwork out of the way. I wanted this day cleared out. There was a part of my business that I did not show Coral yesterday that I was looking forward to showing her later on in the day.  I knew she was going to spend the first part of the day going over camera footage with Ron and our security team. After that, I wanted to show her a little surprise.
    “Yes, sir,” Darlene answered. “Your three o’clock has been rescheduled for the same time next Tuesday, and I’ve ordered your lunch to be delivered at 1pm.”
    I nodded in approval. “Thank you, Darlene. Just make sure the car is ready to pick us up at two.”
    Darlene nodded in agreement and left me to my work. I began filling out some forms that needed to be completed and scanning some documents to make sure I had them on file. Before I knew it, I heard a knock on my door.
    “Good morning,” Coral uttered in a voice that although was not meant to be seductive, still caused goosebumps to rise on my skin.
    I pivoted around in my chair and gave her a smile. Just twenty-four hours ago I was in this very same spot demanding Jeremy tell her we no longer needed her services. Now, I contemplated sending Jere a damn thank you letter. I couldn’t believe how having her this close had brightened my mood.
    I stood from my chair. “Good morning, Coral,” I greeted, as I unbuttoned my Armani suit jacket. Although she tried not to, I saw her eyes trail up and down my body; her gaze softening as she realized I was once again wearing the cufflinks she gifted me.  Unbeknownst to her, I wore these cufflinks to work at least three times a week. It was my way of keeping her close.
    “I had my assistant go out and get some green tea from Starbucks. Seems we ran out in the office kitchen,” I said holding up the grande cup of hot tea.
    She half smiled up at me as she took the cup from my hand. “You didn’t have to do that. Thank you.” Her fingers grazed mine, and the pulse of awareness that shot through both of us had us staring into each other's eyes; causing her to be the first to take a step back.
    As I watched her take a sip of her tea I nearly groaned at the sight of her full, gloss coated lips wrapped around the edge of the cup. I imagined her lips wrapped around something else…
    “I’m heading to Ron’s office to organize and to analyze some of the video interview footage,” she stated, her words break into my train of thought.
    “Right. Ron told me about that. I also arranged for us to see another part of my business this afternoon after lunch.”
    Her eyebrows rose as she gave me a questioning look. “I thought we saw everything, except the hotel side of your business yesterday. I doubt this has anything to do with the hotels and spas segment of the company.”
    “I agree. Jeremy has his own separate accounting team and employees. Our companies are housed under Bennett Industries but run as separate companies. Whatever this danger is, it likely has to do with the