and 30s.” He wasn’t sure how that helped them.
She went back to her searches.
“How did you become a private investigator?” Liam asked.
“It started after my dad was arrested and went to jail. I got a part time job.”
“You said you’re still in contact with your father?”
“Sporadic. He moves around a lot. He’s in Arizona at the moment, I think. He calls occasionally. Anyway, my mom divorced him. She had no useful skills, and she was having trouble coping. She’s an artist, so she painted, but it wasn’t enough to pay the rent and feed all four of us, so I got a job after school.”
Liam stilled. “Wait. You were fourteen, adjusting to a new school, helping with young twins, and you got a job?”
She shrugged a shoulder. “I did what I had to do.”
It sounded like Aspen Chandler didn’t take after her mother or father. She didn’t look for an easy way out or check out of a tough situation. No, she rolled up her sleeves and dived into hard work.
“I got a job filing for this crusty PI. Jack is a loner, grumpy, and difficult with a capital D.” She smiled. “I loved it. I tidied and reorganized his office. It was a disaster. He lost his mind.” She shook her head. “He didn’t treat me with pity, or look at me with that ugly curiosity like others did who knew about my father. I learned everything I could in the office, then slowly, he started taking me on surveillance jobs, and sent me to do small tasks.” She grinned. “I loved it. I’m good at it. He taught me everything I know. When I finished high school, there was no money for college, and I couldn’t leave the twins.”
He understood the words she’d had inked on her skin better now. “So you set up your own business.”
“Not at first. I worked with Jack for a bit until I got my license. I have no regrets.” She looked back at the papers and laptop. “Although I like it better when investigations go more smoothly than this.”
“Where’s Jack now?”
“He did the one thing I never expected, and retired.” A sad look crossed her face. “He moved to Florida, and spends his days fishing. Sends me postcards, and calls, occasionally.”
Her phone rang and she huffed out a breath. “Those girls are going to drive me crazy.” She snatched up the phone, and paused. “It’s my burner phone.” Her face hardened. “Doyle.”
Liam tensed and watched her rise. She thumbed a button.
“Doyle.”
“How’s it progressing with Kensington?”
Liam stiffened at the deep voice. It was accent-less, educated.
Who was this asshole?
“You gave me three days,” Aspen said.
“And now you have two.”
She met Liam’s gaze. “I’ll get what you want.”
“Where are you now?”
She frowned. “At Kensington’s. He cooked me a very nice dinner. Salmon with lemon-butter sauce. I’ve just finished fucking him and he’s in the shower. He likes it when I’m on top, and has a very energetic cock. Anything else you’d like to know?”
Despite the seriousness, Liam felt a spurt of amusement. He grinned, and her lips twitched.
He also felt a shot of gut-deep desire.
He wanted Aspen riding him, or under him, he didn’t care what position, as long as his cock was lodged deep inside her.
“Get me that deed, Penn.” Doyle ended the call.
Aspen blew out a breath. “He’s losing patience.”
“I don’t give a fuck.”
“It makes him even more dangerous.” She closed her laptop. “I’d better get home.”
He strode to her. “You should stay.”
“The twins. And I told you, we can’t afford the distraction. If I stay, we both know we won’t be sleeping.”
Anger and frustration swirled in Liam. “Is it so easy for you to turn off? Are you so used to being undercover that pretending is easy for you?”
He saw the flash of hurt before she hid it.
Liam mentally cursed himself.
“I need to go.” She stuffed her things in her bag.
“I’ll drive you.”
She looked up. “It’s not easy. You’re not a man who’s easy to ignore.”
“Aspen—”
“Liam, I’m trying to be realistic here. You’re a billionaire, from a wealthy family. I’m a PI, and not from a wealthy anything. We are nothing alike.”
“Bollocks,” he snapped.
“You’re out of my league.”
“There are no leagues, Aspen. I’m a man, you’re a woman. How much money we have doesn’t dictate who we are.” He leaned closer. “Or how we’d be together.”
Surprising him, she grabbed him, and then her mouth was on his.
The kiss was hot, a little frantic. She slid a hand into his hair, he cupped