I half chuckled. “Don’t I know it.” As much as I wanted to get through to Adam, he’d built an impenetrable fortress around his heart, and it made me feel like a failure.
Liam’s laughter drew our attention.
“What?” Adam asked, glaring at his grandfather.
“Oh, nothing,” he replied, but his eyes sparkled. “Just old memories of Betty slipping through. I’ve been having many lately…especially when you two are around.”
My eyes struck Adam’s, then quickly diverted to my breakfast. “This is really delicious.”
Liam chortled again. “Yes. Yes, it is.”
After we finished our meals, I wheeled Liam toward the elevator, eager to get him back to bed.
“I can do that,” Adam said, appearing behind me.
“It’s fine. Really.” I made every effort not to groan as I turned Liam’s chair into the elevator.
“Here.” Adam moved my hands out of the way as his grasped the handles, then pushed Liam into the elevator with ease.
I stood there, frozen, suddenly out of place. “I’ll take the stairs…”
Adam reached out and pulled me through the doors seconds before they shut. “There’s room for one more.” He ran his thumb over my hand as he stared down at me.
His sensual touch and intoxicating aroma flooded my senses, arousing every fiber.
“It’s hot in here today,” Liam announced with his back to us.
With Adam’s soft chuckle, I tugged my hand from his to loosen the high neck of my dress.
“Lucky it’s a short trip,” I said, ignoring Adam’s darkening eyes.
As the doors slid open, I stumbled out, gasping for air as I continued down the hallway. “Enjoy the rest of your game!” I called out, needing a little time to gather my senses and settle my awakened libido before returning to Liam’s room.
“So…who won?” I asked as I stepped into Liam’s bedroom a half hour later. To my relief, Adam had gone, and I could finally persuade my heart to slow.
“Victory was mine today, but I think he went easy on me.”
“I can’t imagine Adam going easy on anyone.” I puffed up Liam’s pillow before easing him back down.
“My grandson doesn’t let many people into his heart, but when he does, he’s a big softy.”
“Well, he must love you very much.”
“I have no doubt who he loves,” he murmured as his eyelids began to droop. His meds were clearly kicking in.
“Rest up, Liam,” I said, packing up the discarded chess game. “I’ll clean up a little before the doc gets here.”
“Leave that, Cassidy.” Liam’s sleepy voice was barely audible. “Adam said he’ll put it away.”
“It’s fine.” I didn’t fancy waiting an entire week for Adam to return from LA, so I continued placing the chess pieces into the antique wooden box.
Once Liam was sleeping soundly, I picked up the box and took it back to the library where it belonged.
Without thinking, I tucked the game under my arm and precariously climbed the ladder to find a gap amongst the crowded shelves.
“What the hell are you doing?!”
Adam’s voice threw me off balance, but he launched forward to grab the ladder before I lost my footing.