Free Vice by Rosanna Leo

feel more…whatever that turmoil in her stomach was. It was bad enough she’d seen him at such a private moment, she didn’t need to make things more complicated. She pressed the button to summon the elevator.
    In the uncomfortable seconds that followed, Liam walked over to the kitchen counter and fingered the little girl’s coloring book. He began to tear the pages out of the book, one by one. Each rip made him look darker, more despondent, more desperate. By the time he’d torn ten pages out, his lips had pressed so tight they were almost blue.
    She wanted to hate him, but right now she couldn’t.
    The elevator door opened.
    Kate froze. Get in. Get in. Don’t come back.
    The door closed again.
    All of a sudden, Liam Doyle wasn’t a big, bad casino owner. He was just a man who hurt. And it was in her nature to try and take the hurt away.
    Moving quietly, she made her way over to the counter and stood next to him. His cologne wafted over her again, making her want to close her eyes and dream. She touched a hand to his sleeve and then pried the desecrated book out of his hands. He started, as if shocked she was still there.
    “Do you want to talk?”
    He frowned, his mouth opened once or twice, but no words came out. She knew how she must appear. A few minutes ago, she’d been the harridan he’d been trying to bribe away from his property. Now, she probably sounded like bloody Mary Poppins. She should offer up a goddamn spoonful of sugar while she was at it.
    When he didn’t answer, she pointed to the strawberry pastries. “Are those from the restaurant downstairs?”
    A fraction of his professionalism returned. “Chef Jean-Claude made them special for me.”
    “They’re beautiful. I bet a box of six costs as much as my rent.”
    He looked at her for a tense moment and then cracked a sad smile. “Would you like one?”
    “No. I mean, I’d love one. I could probably swallow them all whole, but I’m gluten-free and trying hard to be sugar-free.”
    One side of his mouth twitched, and a dimple showed under his stubble. Those husky dog eyes still seemed so sad, though. “Why am I not surprised? Well, does your gluten-free, sugar-free diet mean you can’t have coffee?”
    “Probably, but a girl’s gotta have some pleasure.”
    “Have a seat, then. I’ll make some.” Once again, he gestured to the cushy couches, but this time added, “Please.”
    She could have made a crack about how his servants should be making his coffee, but she didn’t. This time, she just offered him a smile, and sat down.

Chapter Four
    Liam glanced a couple of times at Kate as he prepared the coffee. She ran her fingers over the couch’s leather upholstery as if she’d never sat on Italian leather before. Maybe she hadn’t. It would explain why she was perched at the edge of the couch, as if afraid to mar it with her presence.
    “How do you take it?” he asked, pouring a black one for himself.
    “Fully loaded, please.”
    He cocked an eyebrow. “What was that about sugar-free?”
    “What? I’m not a martyr. Besides, coffee with no sugar is a deal breaker. Of course, if you have any Stevia root in those cupboards, I’d take that instead.” She raised her head and watched him work. “So, I take it Bridget’s your ex?”
    He brought the two mugs over, setting them on the pastry tray. “Yeah. We were together for a couple of years.”
    “Married?”
    “No. Thank God for small mercies.”
    She picked up her mug and took a demure sip. He imagined the hot, sweet liquid warming a path down her throat. Despite the emotional upheaval of the past ten minutes, he imagined dragging his tongue over her. Jesus Christ. Get your shit together. She licked her lips, snapping him out of his funk.
    Her staring at him made him feel uncomfortable but consoled at the same time. He didn’t think anyone had ever inspired that feeling before. She seemed to consider her next words carefully. “Tell me about her. Were you happy