Loving The Temperamental Adonis
Chapter 322 - 60

Chapter 322: Chapter 60

The next day, Rayne was in her apartment, packing more clothes for Ethan into a suitcase while holding a phone between her shoulder and cheek as she spoke to Lauren about Liam’s statement to the media last night.

"He knows how to dominate a place. And I liked the statement he gave," Lauren said.

"I’ll take a little credit for the last part," Rayne chuckled, walking into the living room with the suitcase filled with additional things for Ethan and a few for herself.

Lauren had called a few minutes after Liam had left the night before, but exhaustion had overcome Rayne, and she fell asleep before they could talk much about Liam. However, Lauren had called again a few minutes ago, hoping to have some time to talk. But it was almost sunset, and Rayne was anxious to get back to the hotel Liam had checked them into and find out how Ethan and Liam had fared together.

"Rayne, I’m worried about you," Lauren added quietly.

"Why?" she asked.

"Have you forgotten already? If you have, I haven’t. I can’t forget how vicious he was to you the last time you saw him at the banquet. I can’t forget how broken you were until you found a photograph of him at his sister’s place and were able to fantasize that he cared about you at least a little. However, right now, there are a few things that worry me more than all that. Can I tell you what they are?"

Lauren had supported Rayne through the awful aftermath with Liam three years before, and Rayne knew Lauren wanted only the best for her. She also knew Lauren meant well, even though Mia had told her not to take every piece of advice Lauren gave her.

To Rayne, both her friends meant well but wanted different things for her. Mia wanted things to work out between her and Liam, while Lauren wanted the opposite.

"All right, tell me," Rayne said.

"I’m worried because he put himself in the same hotel he checked you and Ethan into."

Rayne nodded and tucked two of Ethan’s toys into the suitcase.

This morning, Liam had arranged for a limousine to pick up Rayne, Ethan, and Dante at the apartment and bring them to a luxurious high-rise hotel in uptown Zen City.

The hotel manager had greeted them in the lobby and escorted them to the elevators, with Dante carrying Ethan, who was napping on his shoulder.

"No one can get up to the penthouse floor without first inserting this card into the elevator panel," he’d assured Rayne, demonstrating how to use the card.

"Our staff has been given Milo Thompson’s photograph, and we will be on the lookout. However, I’m sure he’d never be able to get past the security personnel that Mr. Thompson has stationed in the lobby."

He ushered her off the elevator into an elegant foyer with wide hallways leading in four directions, each one terminating with a set of double doors bearing the name of the suite.

"If there’s anything at all you need," the manager continued as he slid a keycard into the slot on the door of the Seaview Suite, "our staff is entirely at your service. We’re honored that Mr. Thompson is entrusting us with your comfort and safety during this difficult transitional time."

He swung open the door with a flourish and stepped aside, allowing Rayne the full impact of a huge living room with a wall of glass that offered a gorgeous view of the Sea and an unnerving view of Liam, standing with his back to her, his hands in his pockets, contemplating the waves far below.

He turned at the sound of their arrival and strode forward, looking amused and pleased. "It just occurred to me," he said, lifting his sleeping son out of Dante’s arms, "that you and I have spent most of our acquaintance in hotel suites."

Rayne rolled her eyes in exasperation. "Oh please, don’t say that in front of our son,"she whispered.

"I’m sorry," Liam lied, grinning, and lowering his voice very slightly. "I forgot how prim you are when we’re in hotels together."

Biting back a smile, Rayne said sternly, "Stop talking about hotel rooms."

Another concern struck her then, dislodging that one she narrowed her eyes at him. "You aren’t thinking about staying in this suite with me, are you?"

"I’ve thought of doing that earlier," Liam replied meaningfully, and Rayne felt her face heat. "However, to put your mind at rest, I’m staying in the suite at the end of this hall."

"Good," Rayne said, glancing quickly around just in time to see Dante, who from what she’d heard doesn’t understand any language but Mandarin, grinning at his own reflection in a mirror over the sofa like he found amusement in watching himself.

Not thinking too much about the bodyguard, she turned to Liam.

"I have to go to work," she said regretfully, glancing at her watch.

"What time will you be back?"

"I’ll be back by seven in the evening," Rayne replied.

Eager to see Ethan and to find out how Liam and he had gotten along all day, Rayne had decided to leave work early and come into the apartment to pack a few things, but now Lauren was on the phone, and she owed it to Lauren to listen to her fears, just like she’d listened to Mia’s about giving her heart a second chance with Liam.

"I’m worried that he’s going to creep into your life and then take it over before you’ve had time to keep him at a distance and see what kind of man he really is."

"I’m not going to let that happen," Rayne sighed.

"Good, because I was worried that you planned to break your date with Dr. Jacob again."

"Oh, my!" Rayne said. "I forgot about that."

Dr. Jacob was Lauren’s colleague at the city hospital who had bumped into Rayne there a few months ago and asked Lauren to introduce them. He was a nice young man, who Rayne realized was shy and couldn’t ask her out until he asked Lauren.

"How could you forget? He’s been trying to take you out for a month, and you’ve canceled on him twice—all with good reasons," Lauren put in before Rayne needed to.

"He’s my partner, and my friend, and if you break your date with him tonight I’m going to be really embarrassed. I work with him—"

"I know. I understand," Rayne said miserably, wishing she could cancel it but for her friend’s sake she had to keep her promise this time.

"Good. I’ll call him and tell him to pick you up at the hotel instead of your apartment, so you don’t have to bother making the call. Look at you," Lauren said gently. "You’re overwhelmed at the prospect of dating a handsome doctor who thinks you are very, very beautiful. Liam Thompson—"

"Lauren, Liam didn’t spoil dating for me three years ago, if that’s what you’re getting at. I was pregnant, and then I had a little baby and a restaurant to run, but I’ve gone out with several men in the last year."

"You’ve had several first blind dates with men whose numbers you either delete immediately after the date or never answer their calls again," Lauren pointed out.

"Point taken," Rayne said, shoving her hair back off her forehead, feeling thoroughly harassed. "I have to leave. Call Dr. Jacob for me."

She zipped the suitcase closed, looked around the room to see if she’d forgotten anything, and Lauren continued on the phone.

"Do you know what I’m thinking right now?" Lauren said as Rayne headed down to the elevator.

"I don’t think I want to know that," Rayne said with a quick smile.

After a moment’s thought, Lauren told her anyway, "I’ve just realized there is a cheering possibility that, after spending an entire day taking care of Ethan, Liam will look ten years older and be too exhausted to look at you with bloodshot eyes and fall back asleep."