Kiss Me (Townsend Legacy)

Chapter 14

CHAPTER 14

T ania

“No, I can’t just walk around your place naked,” I laugh and say at the same time as I enter the code of the door to my suite.

Taehyun grumbles behind me in displeasure. With a roll of his eyes, he laments, “Fine, then you can just wear my T-shirts. Why the hell do we need to come back here for more clothes?”

It’s my turn to give him an eye roll. After hours at the private cabin, and a wonderful lunch that he had catered, we made our way back to the resort. Taehyun agreed to bring me back to my suite so I could pick up a few of my clothes only after I insisted.

“Because, I miss my favorite Christmas onesie,” I tell him honestly.

He cocks his head to the side, squinting. I doubt he knows how damn sexy he looks with that expression. Or maybe he does, which is why he does it.

“One kind of onesie?” He sidles up to me, wrapping his arms around my waist. Despite the bulky winter coats separating us, a tingle moves up my spine from his embrace.

“The kind that’s safe to wear around family and friends.” I smack his hands away, for my own sake. I’m certain the longer he keeps his hands on me, the greater the likelihood that we’ll end up naked in my living room.

I can’t let that happen given the chance of Liza walking in on us since we share the suite.

Speaking of my assistant.

“What are you looking for?” Taehyun asks as I glance around the living room.

“Liza,” I answer. “It’s been two days since I heard from her.” My assistant isn’t the type to go absent. Even when I tell her to take time for herself. She’ll often still text or call just to check to see if I need anything.

Yes, I told her to take time for herself, but her going silent for more than a day is strange.

“Everything looks the same as I left it almost two days ago,” I say. Even the mug I drank hot chocolate out of a couple of days ago remains in the sink. Liza is a neat freak, so I know she wouldn’t have let that stand if she’d been here.

“I’m sure she’s fine,” Taehyun says. “Is there something you need?” he asks as if he has every intention of getting it for me.

With a shake of my head, I tell him, “No, not anything in particular. I just want to make sure she’s okay and not bored or anything.” I shrug at the same time I unzip and start to pull off my coat and winter hat.

“She came out to California to take care of me during the holidays, and I feel a little guilty given …” I trail off but gesture to my ankle. “There really wasn’t a need for her to.”

For the past three years she’s been my assistant, she rarely takes a day off. Even during the holidays. I’m sure it’s why she and my dad get along so well.

They’re both workaholics.

“I’m familiar with the type,” Taehyun states after I say as much out loud.

“Yeah?” I question, folding my arms and stepping between his legs as he sits at one of the stools at the kitchen’s bar. I run my fingers through his hair before running the tip of my finger along his jawline.

“I haven’t seen you do much work in the past few days,” I tease.

“I’ve definitely been working,” he replies, taking my hand in his and kissing my knuckles. “A different kind of work.”

My heart squeezes in my chest.

“What type of work—” A loud thudding sound surprises me.

I’m the professional athlete but it’s Taehyun whose quick reflexes have me pushed behind him in the blink of an eye.

The strange part is that the noise came from my bedroom, not from Liza’s.

“Liza?” I call out and try to move past Taehyun, but his firm arm around my waist keeps me plastered to his back as he inches toward my door.

“Who’s in here?” he asks in a voice so deep it halfway scares the hell out of me.

“Maybe it’s just the resort staff cleaning,” I guess out loud.

He frowns down at me over his shoulder. “They would’ve answered when asked who was in here, and there’s no reason for hotel staff to keep the bedroom door closed while they’re cleaning.”

He makes total sense.

Taehyun reaches for the doorknob of my bedroom, twisting it and … nothing.

“I didn’t leave my bedroom locked.” There was no reason to since I was here with Liza. I trust her.

“Open the damn door now,” Taehyun orders as he bangs on the door with his fist.

“Maybe it was nothing …” My comment withers away as another noise comes from the room. “Okay, there’s definitely someone in there.”

“Open the fucking door.” He pounds again before glancing down at me. His eyes narrow and his expression shifts as if he’s just made a decision. “You shouldn’t be here. Go call the hotel staff.”

“That won’t be necessary,” Liza’s voice breaks through the tension as she peeks her head out from my bedroom door.

“Liza? Was that you? Are you okay?” I move around Taehyun as his hold on me finally loosens.

“I’m fine. I just … uh …”

“What’s wrong?” I try to push the door open, but she blocks it with her body. “Why aren’t you opening the door? Are you sure you’re okay?”

Her head lowers and her shoulders slump. She widens the door enough for her to step outside.

Taehyun and I both take a step back, giving her space.

“Yes, I’m okay. I just …”

She’s at a loss for words at the same time I look her up and down. My eyes widen in surprise to see her dressed in a long, white button-down top. A man’s long, white button-down.

“What’s going on?”

“It’s my fault,” a surprisingly deep voice says from somewhere behind Liza. A second later, the red-haired waiter from the resort, steps out from the bedroom door.

I don’t miss the way he moves in front of Liza, covering her body with his, as if protecting her.

The same way, Taehyun stood in front of me not even seconds ago.

“She didn’t want you to find out,” he says, looking at me.

“I-I swear, Tania,” Liza rushes to say. “we weren’t doing anything in your bedroom. It’s just that we heard your voices outside of the door and we were closer to your bedroom door than mine.”

She holds up her hands, eyes wide and an earnest expression on her face, as if her life depends on me believing her.

“I would never disrespect you or my position like that.” She then looks down at herself, as if noticing what she’s wearing, or not wearing, and closes her mouth.

“This is all on me,” the red-haired waiter quickly interjects. “If anyone’s to blame, it should be me.”

“Damn straight, it should be you.” All heads turn to Taehyun. “You had nowhere else to take her?” he asks, glaring at the redhead. “You? Of all people.”

“Wait, do you two know each other?” Liza and I ask at the same time.

Taehyun

I hate messy romantic entanglements. I don’t do them because more often than not they blow up in your face.

That said, it’s safe to say I’ve found myself involved in a somewhat messy entanglement. I glare at Keith, the red-haired waiter who’s not really a fucking waiter, as the four of us sit in Tania and Liza’s living room.

I’d much rather be laying on the couch in my living room with my arms wrapped around Tania while we watch one of her holiday movies that’s not really a holiday movie. Yet here I am about to explain to Tania why I paid this guy off to get rid of her assistant for a few days.

Thankfully, he’s now put a damn shirt on, and Liza’s changed into a pair of jeans and one of her own sweaters.

“Tania, truly, I’m so sorry. It’s honestly not what it looks like. We?—”

“It is what it looks like,” Keith says, cutting her off.

I sit up, a little surprised by his boldness. Keith takes Liza’s hand in his. She attempts to pull it back, but he’s not letting go.

“No, we didn’t do anything in your bedroom,” he continues. “Liza would never. But …” He looks at Liza. “Yes, we’re together.”

“We’re …” Liza hesitates. “Um.”

Keith frowns as he looks over at her.

Tania holds up her hands in the midst of Liza stuttering. “I believe you,” she says. “I know you wouldn’t do anything crazy like have sex in my bed or something. And there’s nothing to be embarrassed or ashamed of. I’m glad you’re enjoying the time off.”

She smiles at her assistant, patting her hands. “It’s your holiday season as well.”

Liza shakes her head adamantly, though, pulling her hands away from both Keith and Tania’s. She rises to her feet.

“No, that’s not what I’m here for, though. I’m your assistant and it’s my duty to make sure you’re taken care of,” she says as she starts pacing. “That’s the only reason I’m here.”

Keith rises to his feet. “What are you saying?” He goes to her, trying to take her hands again, but she pushes him away.

“I’m here to work,” Liza insists, looking between Keith and Tania. “Taking care of you and your ankle—” She gasps.

“Oh my gosh.” She runs to Tania, taking a seat in front of her from Tania’s seat on the coffee table across from the couch.

“Your ankle. How is it? You must need to elevate it or something to keep it from swelling.”

Tania peers over at me. The guilt in her eyes is apparent. Everything inside of me wants to protect her from any type of negative emotion. Especially guilt and shame when I know the only reason she’s keeping up this ruse is to not let those around her and those who count on her down.

Still, I want to go back to that moment at the private slopes when it was just the two of us. When the smile on her face rivaled the wattage of the star at the top of the Christmas tree that we decorated together.

“The ankle’s fine,” Tania says as she clears her throat. “It’s on the mend. Don’t worry about me.”

“I have to worry about you. That’s my job.”

“That’s not your job,” I say, rising to my feet.

Three pairs of eyes come to stare at me.

I don’t give a damn if it wasn’t my place to speak up or interrupt Liza and Tania while they were talking. But hearing someone else say it was their job to take care of Tania doesn’t sit right with me. It hasn’t even been a damn week, but I know that I want to be the one to take care of her.

No, not in the way her assistant does, but in every other aspect of her life. Yes, it’s strange and makes no damn sense. But hell, it’s not like I ever understood shit about love before. I’ll be damned if I try to understand it now. I do plan to follow my instincts, though.

And my instincts tell me that Tania is mine.

“What?” Liza asks, looking between me and Tania.

“Right now, it’s my job to take care of Tania,” I tell her, doing my best to soften my voice to not frighten Liza. I know Tania cares for her assistant and wouldn’t like me scaring the hell out of her.

“Your job now is to enjoy your holiday. Just like Tania said.”

Liza begins shaking her head at the same time Tania stands from her seat on the table.

“Speaking of that.” She looks between me and Keith. “How do you two know each other?”

Keith’s eyes balloon.

“I paid him off,” I say, unthinking.

“What?” Liza shifts her gaze over to Keith.

“No, not like that,” he assures Liza, going to her.

“Not exactly like that. It’s not like he needs the money,” I say. “Still, I did give him a little something to occupy your assistant’s time.”

I realize I put my foot in it when Liza and Tania gasp.

“You did what?”

“Shit.” I replay the comment over in my mind and realize how possibly, not good it sounds.

“He didn’t pay me!” Keith says. “I mean … yeah, he did, but I tried to give the money back to him.”

“What was he talking about when he said ‘it’s not like you need the money’?” Liza questions.

“You still haven’t told her who you are?” I look at him with a shake of my head. “Look around you.” I wave my hand around the luxury suite. “The Wilcox Resort.” I jut my head at him. “Ask him what his last name is.”

Her eyes go to Keith. “Wh-What is your last name?”

He visibly swallows, making me wonder what the big damn deal is.

“Wilcox,” Keith finally answers.

Liza’s shoulders shrink. “Unbelievable.” She doesn’t bother excusing herself as she storms out of the room.

“Liza, wait!” Keith calls after her, leaving me and Tania alone.

I shake my head at the door. “Hope he gets it together.”

I sidle up to Tania and attempt to grab her by the waist. She smacks my hands away and not in the playful way either.

“How could you do that?” She points at the door.

“I didn’t do a damn thing.”

Her mouth falls open as she gives me a stunned expression. “You didn’t do anything … Did you not just see my assistant run out of here, visibly upset? Liza doesn’t get upset. She’s the most calm, professional, rational person I know, except for my dad.”

“Everyone has emotions, I suppose.”

“And you just toyed with hers.”

It’s my turn to appear surprised. “I did? No.”

I shake my head adamantly.

“I merely created an opportunity for two people who were obviously eyeing one another to get together. And yes, I did it to have more unencumbered time with you. That’s not something I plan on apologizing for so don’t even think of waiting for it.”

“You son of a bitch.”

I pinch the bridge of my nose, working to calm myself. This evening is not going how I wanted it to. I’d much prefer a night alone watching those holiday movies on her list instead of arguing about her assistant.

“Poor Liza’s been hurt. Did you see her face when she ran out of here?”

“I did.” I nod. “It’s because she obviously likes him. And I saw his face. Keith likes her. A lot. They’ll work it out. The money was just a slight incentive, a little push to get him to act on emotion he very clearly already wanted to act on.

“And, it gave you the breathing room you were looking for,” I remind her.

“You mean it gave you what you wanted,” she says before brushing past me.

I follow her as she storms off to her bedroom.

“Hell no,” I say when she tries to slam the door in my face. “What are you even upset about? Liza got to spend time with someone she already wanted to get to know.

“You saw as well as I did how she kept sneaking looks at him whenever you two went to the dining room.”

“Yes, of course I noticed. What I have a problem with is that you went behind my back to orchestrate they’re getting together. I spend most of the year working with coaches, trainers, my dad, and a slew of people who want to make decisions for me. Often without asking me directly.

“The last thing I want is to be in a relationship with someone who does it. Exactly like you blackmailed me into even being with you in the first place.”

“I told you from the beginning I’m a man who does whatever it takes to get what I want.”

“And that’s supposed to make it okay?” She throws her arms out to her side, exasperated.

“No,” I admit. “It doesn’t make it right, but it’s how I am.” I’m on the verge of telling her that I won’t apologize for it, but I stop myself.

I don’t like this gulf that’s growing between us, and it feels as if I say those words to her, I’ll only widen the distance.

She turns away from me and I can’t stand that. I move in front of her, taking her hands into mine. I’m not about to let her get away.

“I know your assistant’s upset. And yes, I am sorry about that. It was never my intention for her to get hurt. All I wanted was for alone time with you, so yeah, I aided in pushing two people who wanted to be together anyway.

“Did you see the way Keith ran out of here, after her?”

“Yes.”

“He obviously likes her. A lot. Whatever is happening between them is serious.”

“How do you know that?” she questions.

“Because I know what it means when someone looks at her the way he does.”

Her eyes meet mine, finally. The anger burning in them eases. She’s starting to see my reasoning.

“I don’t know all about this Christmas miracle stuff you seem to believe in, but I’m starting to believe there might be some truth to it. And if I, of all people, can start to believe, then I have to also believe there’s hope for your assistant. Whatever her deal is with Keith.

“Let them work it out. Meanwhile, you can bring your ass back to my cabin so we can watch those not-Christmas movies.”

She punches my shoulder. “They are Christmas movies.”

“If you say so.” I snort.

Tania’s gaze moves to the bedroom door before she pushes out a sigh. “I believe you didn’t mean to hurt Liza.”

Her eyes meet mine, and I see the sincerity in them.

It shouldn't mean as much to me that she believes me. But it does. It means a hell of a lot that she takes me at my word.

“One more question, though. And you have to be completely honest.”

I narrow my gaze. “What is it?”

“Aside from literally blackmailing me and paying off a waiter, who’s not really a waiter, to hang out with my assistant, is there anything else you did to keep me all to yourself?”

Yeah, only obsessed over you for weeks after the first time you turned me down.

I don’t tell her that though, because … well, it’s not like I acted on that obsession at the time. I made myself forget about Tania Casey and her rejection, like it never happened.

But when I laid eyes again on her here at the resort, I knew I couldn’t pass up this opportunity to get what I want from her.

“Yes,” I confess.

She raises an eyebrow. “Well?”

“Oh, you want to know what it is?”

She slaps my arm again.

“What? You asked if I did anything. You didn’t ask to know what it was.”

She snatches her hands away and folds them across her chest.

“That day of your photoshoot, when I first noticed that you were faking your ankle injury, I followed you out of the dining area to the ski slopes.”

“And?”

“I paid the lift operator to stop the thing for fifteen minutes so I could have more time with you in a place where you couldn’t escape. Okay?”

She tosses her head back and laughs. “You did not.”

She shakes her head. “No, wait, I can totally believe you would do something like that. How much?”

“I’m sorry, baby.” I shake my head. “A man never reveals the amount of money he makes his deals for. It’s in poor taste—Ouch!” I screech when she pinches the hell out of my arm.

“How much?” She reaches as if she’s about to pinch me again.

“Five hundred,” I yell out, leaping out of the way of her stupidly strong fingers. “Who the hell knew riding a snowboard also gave you the ability to pinch like that.”

She grins.

“You’re going to ice my bruises later.” I sweep her into my arms.

“The pinch wasn’t hard enough to leave a bruise.”

I dip my head into the crook of her neck. “I’m very sensitive.”

“Liar,” she purrs.

“I just told you the truth,” I remind her. “The whole truth and nothing but the truth.”

She sighs when I run my nose against the column of her neck.

“You smell like hot chocolate and gingerbread.” The smell clings to her, making me fucking hungry, and it’s not for cookies.

“Thank you for telling me the truth,” she murmurs.

I cup her face, pulling her in for a kiss. “Can we leave now?”

“I haven’t packed the toiletries I meant to pack and my pajamas.”

“No,” I insist. “I’ve changed my mind. I want you completely naked. I’m not even going to let you wear my clothes.”

“What?” Tania shouts when I lift her over my shoulder and carry her out of the room. I only stop to grab our winter coats.

“It’s time to go home, Ginger.”