Chapter 37

Maggie and Liam settled into a nice routine as the week went on.

Liam got up and did thirty minutes on the rowing machine, getting ready for the rowing club in the fall. Maggie ran on the treadmill and lifted some hand weights.

They ate breakfast together and then left for work, kissing as they left. Maggie arrived home first and would either cook or help Joan with dinner as they talked until Liam came home.

Their evenings were varied but always ended up with Maggie falling asleep in Liam’s arms.

Liam convinced Maggie to use part of her spa gift card on Saturday before the awards banquet to relax her. She got a facial, massage, manicure, and pedicure.

She felt great when she arrived home to get ready for the night. She wasn’t as nervous as she thought she would be as she got out of the shower and dried her hair.

She curled her hair and then put it up in a knot on the back of her head, leaving a few wisps around her face. She applied a smokey eye and kept the rest of her makeup natural.

Some light pink lipstick finished up the look.

Liam was downstairs, waiting for her, dressed and ready to go. She took off her robe and put on a black lace thong, stepping into her dress and zipping the side up.

After smoothing out the dress, she twirled in front of the mirror, loving the way the dress flowed around her.

She put on the sexy heels and the diamond studs that had been her mother’s, wishing she had a necklace to wear to set off the top of the dress.

She sprayed perfume on, put her phone and lipstick in her clutch, and went down the stairs. Liam was talking with Niall as he waited, and both men turned when they heard Maggie come down the stairs.

Niall smiled, and Liam’s jaw dropped. He wasn’t prepared to see her all dressed up with her hair and makeup done. She looked like she belonged in a movie, not on his arm.

“Lass, you are smashing! Let me take your pictures! Joan won’t believe this when she gets home!” Niall gushed at them.

Maggie looked at Liam and licked her lips at seeing him in the dark navy tuxedo to match her outfit.

The pants looked like they were painted on him and accented his muscular legs, and the coat was fitted perfectly. She couldn’t wait to peel that off of him later and lick what was underneath.

Liam went up and took her hands in his. “Maggie, you will be the most beautiful woman there tonight, and I am bloody lucky to have you on my arm! I love you!”

He leaned in so only she could hear and said, “I can’t wait to fuck you with those sparkly heels on later!”

She blushed and thanked them both as Liam pulled her close and kissed her nose. Niall smiled as he snapped pictures on his phone.

“I think you are missing your necklace, darling,” Liam commented as they pulled apart.

“No, I don’t have one to match. I only have my Gram’s pearls and they won’t look right with this dress.”

Liam smiled and then patted his suit pocket. “Well look what I have here!” He pulled out a black velvet box, opening it to reveal a diamond pendant on a thin white gold chain

She looked at him in awe, not sure what to say. She touched it and felt the cool stone beneath her fingers.

“Shall I put it on?” Liam asked.

Maggie nodded, still not able to form words. He took it out of the box, put it around her neck, and secured the clasp.

She turned to look in the hall mirror and saw the large diamond sitting like a loose choker on her collarbone.

“It’s gorgeous, Liam! But it’s too much! I can’t take it! This must have cost—”

“Remember our deal!”

She stopped, looked at him, and took a deep breath, “Thank you, babe. I love it!”

He kissed her lips, took her hand, and led them out the front door as Niall waved at them.

Liam drove the Corvette to the five-star hotel where the banquet was held.

The huge, impeccably decorated ballroom screamed high class and big money. She was starting to feel a little nervous as she saw the women wearing big, extravagant jewelry.

She felt way out of her league until Nick and Hannah came over to meet them.

They all hugged as Maggie whispered, “Thanks for being here so I am not alone in a shark tank!”

Hannah giggled. “Looking the way you do, I think you can hold your own, Mags!”

They laughed as several people came by and greeted the men. Liam introduced Maggie to anyone who asked as he showed her off. Maggie did her best to keep up with the whirlwind of faces.

After a few minutes, Liam and Nick went to get drinks and left them for a few minutes.

Hannah was discreetly pointing out people as they waited and spilling the gossip. A sneer crossed her face as two blonde women walked over to them.

“Hello, Hannah. So good to see you again!” the taller blonde said in a fake sugary voice.

“Hi, Cindy, Veronica…nice to see you too.” Hannah replied with the same fake voice.

Maggie raised an eyebrow.

“And you must be Liam’s newest flavor that everyone is going on about,” Veronica sneered.

Maggie looked at the women, who were both blonde, blue-eyed beauties in expensive dresses and jewelry. But their attitude made them appear nasty and conceited.

“I don’t know about that, but I am with Liam. My name is Maggie Sloan,” Maggie said, trying to laugh and offering her hand.

Both women looked at it and Veronica gave a half-hearted shake. Maggie was trying very hard not to roll her eyes at the childish behavior in front of her.

“Well, I guess it is my duty to inform you of a few things when it comes to Liam Olsen,” Veronica said as Cindy smirked.

“Oh, I am all ears,” Maggie said with a smile on her face, thinking that it would be amusing, at least.

“Well, first you should know that Liam is taken. He and I are an item but working at different firms was just too hard and a conflict of interest. We agreed on a break until I can move to his firm.

“So don’t get too comfortable being on his arm, because I will be taking my place back,” she said triumphantly.

“Second, here are some pointers on what to expect from Liam. He doesn’t use the word ‘date’, he uses the word outings. He won’t take you back to his place; he will only stay at your place.

“He thinks pet names are childish and he doesn’t buy gifts. You can expect a flower delivery or two, but that’s it. Oh, and he doesn’t dance in public or do PDA.

“So don’t get your heart broken when that doesn’t happen. He is a very traditional Englishman, so he keeps everything low-key. Except when he is with me,” she finished, looking proud of herself.

Hannah was in shock at the words that she was hearing. She looked at Maggie to see what she was thinking.

Maggie was trying so hard not to laugh at the spiteful woman’s words. She knew that what she had with Liam was real because they had done everything this bitch said he didn’t do.

“Is that a fact? Wow…I guess maybe I should rethink this evening. What do you think, Hannah?” Maggie said.

Just then, Liam came back with their drinks. Nick was standing back, waiting for any fallout after seeing who was there.

Veronica was a pain in the ass, and the whole law office knew that she was after Liam and his money.

And while Liam had given in and gone out with her a few times several months back, he had made it plain to her that it was over. She just didn’t listen.

“Ladies, how are you this evening?” Liam asked as he handed Maggie her rum and cranberry juice.

“Oh, hi, Liam! We were just introducing ourselves to your companion for the evening and making her feel welcome,” Veronica said, trying to slip an arm around Liam’s waist.

Liam unwound himself from her grip and put his arm around Maggie.

“That’s right, Liam. Veronica was giving me some pointers on how to handle being with you. Did you know that you aren’t going to take me on a date? Only an outing.

“Oh, and you don’t have pet names for people, dance in public, or do PDA. Wasn’t I so lucky to run into her and get the low down on you?” Maggie said to him.

Liam noticed that Maggie was trying hard not to laugh and decided to put Veronica in her place once and for all.

“That is so nice of her darling! When we went out with Nick and Hannah, I didn’t know that I wasn’t supposed to call it a date! I hope you won’t be too embarrassed when we dance later!”

Veronica’s face fell, and Maggie felt a little bad for her until she said, “Well you have loosened up a little, Liam! I guess that last round of mind-blowing sex we had did the trick!”

Now Maggie was starting to get pissed and looked at Liam, ready to put the final nail in the skanks’ coffin.

“Oh, and when we get home Liam, I should give you your key back, since you don’t bring anyone back to your house. Should I move out?”

Veronica was clenching her teeth at Maggie’s final words as Cindy visibly paled at the exchange.

“No, darling, I don’t want you to move out. I rather like having you in my bed every morning!” he said as he kissed her gently.

Veronica hissed and stomped off as Hannah broke out into a fit of giggles. “That was priceless! I wish I had recorded it! That was one of the greatest things I have ever witnessed!”

Nick agreed as Maggie and Liam laughed with them. “I don’t know what I was thinking when I took her to dinner! What a nightmare!”

“Damn! I didn’t get a chance to show her the necklace you got me, babe!”