Wild Texas Rose (15 page)

“Darlin’, I am always interested in a proposal from you.”

“Your charm is overrated. But not your greed.” She dangled the bait. “It involves a lot of money.”

Liam did skepticism very well. “You don’t have any money. You and Sophia were barely making it with your nursing job.”

It gave her a great deal of satisfaction to retort, “You’re right, I don’t have money. But Irving Shea has tons of it.”

His eyebrows went up. “I didn’t think you’d get to the point of killing the old man and stealing his money.”

“Be serious, would you?” Amanda was already getting exasperated. So much hung on Liam agreeing to the plan. And Liam Gallagher had always had the ability to get her riled up.

“I’m completely serious. How else are you going to get money to pay me for” — he waved him hand in a noncommittal manner — “whatever it is I’m supposed to do?”

“You’ve been with the Others for too long.” Amanda said bitterly. “You’ve forgotten the idea of simple human kindness and decency.”

“No, darlin’, I haven’t forgotten about them. I just don’t see much evidence of them in my daily life.”

“Cut it out with the endearments!”

“I can’t, darlin’. I’m Irish. ‘Tis in our blood.” At Amanda’s warning glance, Liam held up his hands in a gesture of mock surrender. “Don’t worry … you’re not the sort of woman that invites endearments. Now, tell me, why is Irving Shea willing to hand you money?”

“Because I asked for it. Because I need it to get Sophia back.”

Liam stiffened. “Getting Sophia back is the plan? Good luck with that. The last time I stood against the Sculptor, I got a sound beating. I’ll not volunteer for that again.”

“When have you ever stood against the Others?”

Piercing Amanda with his deep blue gaze, he replied, “When I came to warn you. When I told you to get out of town. Remember?”

“I remember. I remember you waited until the last second.” Liam had led the Others to her. When the Others broke into the apartment, Eric had thanked Liam. Liam was responsible for Sophia’s captivity, for the Sculptor’s ability to blackmail Amanda. Liam worked for the Sculptor, for Osgood, and ultimately for the devil. No matter how cute Liam was, no matter how the dark hair fell over his forehead, no matter how his blue eyes gazed at her in pleading and love like a man who desperately wanted her to believe … she had to remember the truth, to hold it close, and never let Liam back into her heart.

He must have seen her eyes harden, for his shoulders sagged. “Anyway, I can’t help you save Sophia, not if it means going against the Sculptor. He’s one of Osgood’s favorites, and he has been given great power.” He shuddered. “Just get Irving to come out of the house, let the Others have him, and you might be able to wrest Sophia from the Sculptor’s grasp.” He glanced around at the colorful placemats and bins of serving spoons. “Unless you’re planning on offering me a new identity and enough money to blow this joint and get as far away from Osgood as possible, I can’t help you.”

Amanda had him. She could tell. Maybe his employee benefits weren’t what they used to be. Maybe somewhere in his evil mind, there was enough goodness that he wanted to leave the Others and their devilish organization behind.

Maybe he merely needed to be enticed.

She was the woman who knew how to do it.

“Liam,” Amanda purred. “Irving is a millionaire. A billionaire. He worked as the CEO of the Gypsy Travel Agency for years and years, amassing stock options and savings. With no family to spend it on, he is an incredibly wealthy man.”

Liam was taken aback, she could see. Her change from strict nurse and wounded woman to sexy lady-in-need-of-rescue must be astounding to him.

He had no illusions that she had forgiven him. But possibly … this change he could get used to.

Cautiously he asked, “Amanda, what are you saying?”

She could speak the language of a mercenary. A man out for nothing but his own gain. A man like Liam.

She stepped closer, her gray eyes heavy with sultry thoughts. Leaning in until he could smell her perfume, a heady combination of white jasmine and mint, she whispered, “Oh, Liam. I’m not just talking about money. I’m talking about a mountain of money.”

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