Where the Lotus Flowers Grow Read Free Page B

sacked.”
    My eyes popped open. “No?”
    “I believe you.”
    Why did he believe me? I wondered if I muttered that aloud as well because he answered the question.
    “Of all the things on the bureau, the book is the least valuable. You skipped over a Cartier watch, gold cufflinks, and several hundred dollars in favor of a novel.”
    “You’re wrong again. It is the most valuable.”
    “Perhaps.”
    He held out his hand for a handshake, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. Most people in a prestigious hotel as this believed I was contaminated. They avoided touching me.
    “Now then, my name is Liam Montgomery.”
    I backed away.
    “I know.”
    He smirked, taking a step forward, but stopped, his foot hovering in midair before he stepped down. “Ah yes, I introduced myself already.” He dropped his hand.
    I swallowed, realizing I’d rebuked him on some level, but instead of being angry, he seemed concerned, unsure, and cautious.
    “In seven languages no less. Impressive,” I said, hoping my pathetic stab at humor had made a mark.
    His grin returned, and I let out a breath so long, my diaphragm sighed with relief.
    “And what is your name?”
    “Mary. Mary Costa.”
    “That’s not a very fitting name, is it?’
    I straightened, exposing my stubborn, sardonic side I’d done so well in hiding from the world. “It’s a Catholic name. There are many Christians in India, sir.”
    He arched a brow. “Of course.” His eyes wandered to the skin below my neck.
    I covered it with my hand, feeling the cool glint of the cross that hung there, trying and failing to ignore the way my toes curled under his intense gaze.
    “You misunderstand me, Mrs. Costa. I only meant that it’s a very simple name for an exceedingly complicated girl.”
    A nervous giggle escaped me. The sound was so foreign I was sure it had come from someone else. “I’m not complicated, sir.”
    “Liam. Call me Liam.”
    “That’s not proper, Mr. Montgomery…sir.” With that, I relinquished the book.
    He clasped it in his large hands, appearing slightly amused before his expression sobered. “As you wish, Mrs. Costa.”
    “Miss. It’s Miss.” Had he called me by my surname? Did he not know I was a maid? I’d gotten used to being referred to as “maid,” or my first name, and sometimes just “girl,” but no one…no one ever called me by my last name.
    “Miss Costa, would you care to borrow the novel?” He held it out to me.
    I shook my head, backing into the dresser once more. The very thing that had rooted me in this room now acted as a deterrent. I held out a hand in protest. “I couldn’t.”
    “Please, it would be my honor to lend it to you. I’m here for a week. You can return it anytime before then.”
    I wondered if this might be a test on his part. “No, Mr. Montgomery, sir. Thank you for the generous offer, but hotel staff cannot accept gifts from guests.”
    His smile tightened. “I’m very aware of the rules. We both work for the same company, after all. But this is not a gift. It’s a loan.”
    “No, please.” No please? Did that even make sense?
    He frowned. “Understood.”
    “Have a good day, sir.” I said, doing some ridiculous curtsy as if he was a king. He did look regal, and at least the gesture caused the amused smile to come back. A deep line imbedded into his right cheek when he smiled just wide enough. I would call it a dimple, but it didn’t indent in a pucker, but creased the defined angle of his face in a solid line. For a moment, I wondered what it might be like to touch it, trace it with my finger, my lips.
    As the thought appeared, I brandished it, mentally whipping my own dirty mind. I backed out through the door, stumbling once as my foot caught on the hem of the sari.
    “Have a good day yourself, Miss Costa.”
     
     

Chapter 3
    Liam
     
    Mary Costa. Her name repeated in my head, a blasted record that skipped with irritating regularity. She was pretty…not breathtaking. Okay,