Because of His Heart (For His Pleasure, Book 27) Read Free Page A

Kennedy with her newborn baby in her arms, her face glowing, and then at Easton, who was so protective and loving with his little family. “I promise I’ll think about it. Can I have a day?”
    “As long as you need,” Easton said.
    “Thanks,” she told him. She wanted to say yes, but she needed to be sure. Working with Easton again would bring back so many memories, and Easton was still friends with Liam.
    She needed time.
    She needed to think everything through.
    But still, it was a real, genuine offer of employment.
    After saying her goodbyes and congratulations once again, Grace took her leave.
    She went to the elevator in a daze and took it down to the first floor and then began walking out of the hospital. When she left through the main entrance, the sky had become overcast and the wind had picked up.
    It was suddenly cooler and she shivered a little, hunching her shoulders.
    A moment later, someone had put a warm coat over her shoulders, causing her to startle and give a strangled yelp. “What the—“
    “Calm down, it’s just me,” came the oh so familiar voice.
    She turned around and saw Liam’s face staring at her from mere inches away.
    Liam had somehow found her and now his blazer was over her shoulders, warming her. She threw it off and it fell to the ground.
    “Please go away,” she said, turning her head so as not to see his face again and those eyes.
    Those eyes she knew would haunt her forever.
    “Grace,” he began.
    “No,” she said. She stared down at the ground now. Her heart was racing. Her legs and hands were trembling.
    “I can’t leave you like this,” he told her. “I just can’t.”
    “Fine, then I’ll leave you.” She began walking, not even really knowing where she was going. Just so long as it was away from him.
    She was afraid and hurt and it seemed as though he’d mortally wounded her heart. Why did he have to keep coming around like this?
    How could she ever get past him?
    Even now, she knew he was following. Sure enough, Grace turned and found him just a few feet behind her, with his pale skin and his beautiful features. His perfect handsome face and that body she knew like her own, every contour of his body was home.
    Only he’d taken that home away from her.
    “Why are you still here?” she demanded, feeling the heat of rage as it welled inside her chest.
    Liam stood there, mute at first, holding the blazer she’d tossed onto the ground in his hand.
    And then his mouth worked. “I saw you going inside the hospital as I was leaving,” he said. “And I just…I told myself to stay away from you. Told myself to leave and not look back. But I couldn’t seem to leave. I just stood outside and waited. I had to see you again, Grace. Even if it was just to watch you from afar.”
    “Then that’s what you should have done. Watched me and stayed the hell away.” She glared at him. “How dare you even speak to me after what you did?”
    Liam’s eyes registered deep pain. “I had to speak to you, Grace.”
    “You have impulse control issues, Liam. You should see someone about that.”
    “I have Grace Knowles problems, is what I have.”
    She shook her head. “Not anymore.”
    “I do,” he said insistently.
    “Well it’s not my problem. Now leave. Me. Alone.”
    He stared at her, his cheeks flushing. “I can’t stop thinking about you, Grace. Every second we’ve been apart has killed me.”
    “Don’t lie. I saw pictures of you with your sister and brother—and you were smiling and happy.”
    He shook his head and laughed. “I can act when I need to.”
    “Maybe you’re acting now,” she said.
    “No,” he replied, the laughter abruptly halting. “I love you, Grace.”
    She looked up at the sky and screamed. When she looked back at him, her rage was unabated. “Get the fuck out of my life, Liam!”
    As she yelled those words, the clouds suddenly opened, as though the sky itself was expressing the anger she felt, and rain began spattering the