Deceiving The Groom by Lisa Shadow Page B

shopping bag to his side and stepping closer. His large frame monopolized her doorway, monopolized her breathing space. “I’m not leaving until you speak to me.”
    His expression took a decade off his face. Made him look like a young guy who’d been dumped—hurt. She owed him a break didn’t she? After everything she’d done. Let him off by telling him that it wasn’t his fault she’d gone cold on him. Well, not entirely his fault, but she’d reached her life time quota for guilt.
    Liam gestured to the large paper bag in his hands. “Besides, I brought ice cream, champagne, and chocolate. I thought it might give me a better chance of getting you to let me in so we can talk…” He glanced over her shoulder to the tiny table in her room still holding the evidence of her binge. “I guess I’m a little late for ice cream?”
    Yeah, today’s self-abuse had been death-by-frozen-dairy. She would, however, be all over champagne like Real Housewives on a scalpel.
    “Come in.”
    Liam stepped inside and moved to the chair. Claire sat crossed legged on the bed.
    “Champagne?”
    Claire nodded and Liam pulled out a plastic cup and popped the bottle. He filled the cup, handed it to her, then sat back unwrapping a bar of chocolate.
    “You’re not having any?” Claire held up her cup.
    Liam stared at the chocolate in his hands and snapped it. “I should probably not.” He popped a square in his mouth.
    She sipped the fizzy champagne but said nothing.
    “So exactly how did I screw things up?”
    “You didn’t screw up.” Claire glanced up from her plastic cup.
    Liam chewed another bit of chocolate and swallowed. “Well, going by the gaping hole in my memory where our night should have been, the bruise on my head, the bitch of hangover I had for two days, and the fact that you’ve refused to speak to me at all since we got back, I’m assuming I definitely screwed up somewhere.”
    His gaze flickered to hers. Claire’s chest closed. She could tell him the truth now, lose all chance with Penny. Make him hate her. Maybe even go to jail. At least she wouldn’t have to feel like this. She tossed back the champagne and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, then held out the cup.
    Liam’s brow rose slightly but he poured her another. “So what did I do? What happened?”
    Claire tipped back the cup and drained the contents, then crushed it and tossed it on top of the paper pile. “I happened.”
    Liam leaned forward, his elbows on his knees. “What are you talking about?”
    “I mean, I’m a bad influence, that’s what happened. That’s why you got insanely smashed and fell over and hit your head. It was my fault.”
    Liam glanced at the cup. “Are you telling me you have a drinking problem?”
    Claire laughed dryly, her lips a little numb from sculling the champagne. “No. Not a drinking problem. It’s me in general that’s the problem, and I seem to have a way of dragging people down with me.”
    Liam frowned and stood, stalking to the bed and sitting down beside her. His hand raised and brushed back the hair that fell over her face as she stared into her crossed lap.
    “You know, when I first saw you I thought you seemed so delicate. Now I see it’s just your broken edges. You’re not really delicate at all are you, Claire?”
    Her tongue felt like a petrified lump in her mouth.  He couldn’t talk to her about these things. She wouldn’t talk about these things. She smashed her lips together and peered up at him. “Really, I thought you just thought I was sexy that day.”
    Liam slid his hand to the back of her neck and tugged her forward. “Oh, believe me I thought you were sexy.” His fingers brushed the hair on her scalp and Claire leaned into his touch.
    “When are you going to tell me who you really are?”
    Claire’s held her breath and her lashes blinked long and slow. How was it Liam could see right through her? Her heart ached with the need to purge everything. Her cheeks burned