The CEO’s Masked Secret Wife novel Chapter 34

34 An Irresistible Proposition

Liam’s POV

The office had gone quiet as night descended over Haven Harbor. Only the occasional clicking of Hazel’s keyboard broke the silence as we worked through the mountain of financial records. I couldn’t help stealing glances at her concentrated face, the way she bit her lower lip when focusing on a particularly complex spreadsheet.

“You’re staring again,” she said without looking up from her laptop.

I didn’t bother denying it. “Can you blame me?”

A small smile played on her lips. “We should take a break. I’m going cross-eyed looking at these numbers.”

“I was just thinking the same thing,” I said, stretching my arms above my head. “Hungry?”

“Starving, actually.”

I stood from my chair and walked to the phone. “Chinese or Thai?”

“Surprise me,” she replied, pushing her hair back from her face in a gesture that was becoming dangerously distracting.

After placing our order, I watched as Hazel pulled out her phone and stepped away from the desk. Her voice softened as she spoke.

“Hey, Chloe. How’s Leo doing? Is his fever down?” Concern lined her face as she listened to her friend. “That’s good. Did he eat anything? Great. Can I talk to him?” Her entire expression changed, lighting up. “Hi, sweetie! Are you feeling better? Mommy misses you.”

Something tugged at my chest watching her speak to her son. The tenderness in her voice, the genuine worry in her eyes-it was a side of Hazel I was rapidly becoming addicted to.

“I’ll try not to be too late, okay? Be good for Aunt Chloe. I love you too, baby. So much.” She made a kissing sound before hanging up.

As she turned back toward me, she caught me watching her. “Sorry about that.”

“Don’t apologize,” I said. “How’s he feeling?”

“Better. His fever broke.” Relief softened her features. “You know what? I should probably head home. I hate leaving him when he’s sick.”

“Hazel,” I interrupted gently. “Go home to your son.”

She shook her head stubbornly. “We’re so close to figuring this out. I can’t just-”

“Your son needs you more than I need these reports tonight.” I gestured to the chaos of papers spread across my desk.

Before she could respond, her phone buzzed again. She glanced down at the screen and rolled her eyes before answering.

“Yes, Chloe?” She listened for a moment before her cheeks flushed crimson. “I am not!

Stop it!” Another pause. “He can hear you!”

My curiosity was thoroughly piqued. “What’s she saying?”

Hazel’s eyes widened as she placed her hand over the phone. “Nothing important,” she hissed before returning to her call. “Chloe, I swear if you don’t- No, we’re working. Just working!” She ended the call abruptly, her face still flushed.

“What exactly does Chloe think we’re doing?” I asked, unable to keep the amusement

from my voice.

“She’s convinced I’m…” Hazel trailed off, gesturing vaguely with her hands. “You know.”

“Seducing me?” I supplied helpfully.

Her blush deepened. “Something like that.”

“And why would she think that?” I stepped closer, enjoying the way her breath caught.

“Because she’s Chloe,” Hazel muttered. “And she’s been pushing me to…”

“To what?”

She met my eyes directly. “To stop fighting whatever this is between us.”

The air in the office suddenly felt charged with electricity.

“Food’s here,” I said abruptly as the receptionist buzzed my office. “Let’s eat while it’s

hot.”

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34 An Irresistible Proposition

I retrieved our dinner and set it on the coffee table in the corner of my office. We sat

side by side on the couch, close enough that I could smell her perfume-something light and floral that made me want to bury my face in her neck.

“Leo’s father,” I said quietly as we ate. “Are you still in contact with him?”

Hazel nearly choked on her lo mein. “That’s… complicated.”

“I’m sorry. Too personal?”

She set down her chopsticks. “No, it’s okay. He doesn’t know about Leo.”

I raised an eyebrow. “He doesn’t know he has a son?”

“It was a one-night thing,” she explained, not meeting my eyes. “I never saw him again.”

“I see.” I processed this information carefully. “And you’ve raised Leo all on your own?”

“With Chloe’s help,” she clarified. “But yes.”

The admiration I already felt for this woman doubled. “You’re remarkable, Hazel.”

Her eyes finally met mine, vulnerable and uncertain. “Most men don’t find single motherhood particularly appealing.”

“I’m not most men.” I set my food down and turned to face her fully. “And I find everything about you appealing.”

Her lips parted slightly. “Liam—”

“We’ve been dancing around this for weeks,” I interrupted. “The stolen glances, the tension every time we’re alone. I can’t focus on anything but you.”

“This is a bad idea,” she whispered, yet she made no move to increase the distance

between us.

“Probably,” I agreed, reaching out to brush a strand of hair from her face. “But tell me you don’t want this too.”

“I…” She swallowed hard. “I can’t.”

“Can’t what?” I leaned closer, my hand cupping her cheek.

“Can’t tell you I don’t want this,” she admitted, her voice barely audible. “Because I do. So much it terrifies me.”

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34 An Irresistible Proposition

That was all I needed to hear. My control, already hanging by a thread, snapped completely.

“Stop fighting it, Hazel,” I murmured, my lips inches from hers. “Stop fighting us.”

“We work together,” she protested weakly.

“I don’t care.”

“There are a thousand reasons why we shouldn’t.”

“Give me one reason why we should,” I challenged.

Her eyes darkened. “Because I haven’t been able to think straight since the moment I met you.”

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I closed the final distance between us, capturing her lips with mine. The kiss was different from our previous ones-less frantic, more deliberate. I savored her, memorizing the taste of her mouth, the small sounds she made when I deepened the

kiss.

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