"I feel like I slept forever," Steffy yawned as she rose from Bill's comfortable silk sheets. What time is it? She ruffled her messy hair and he just grinned at her. "What?"

"Do you alway wake up this sexy? I mean, is it a thing you do every day or is it just for show? Are you trying to keep me interested or what?"

Steffy chuckled and pushed him down on the bed, this was new to her. She wasn't used to waking up to such a warm greeting.

"I do this thing in my sleep that helps me out," she joked.

"Keep doing it. I want to wake up to this daily."

"Daily, huh? Well I have my own place, I don't know how that would work."

Bill shivered at her words, and it wasn't lost on Steffy. So he was one of those? He wanted the sex and the fun but none of the real stuff. She wasn't sure what to do with that.

"You know what? I think I need to get dressed. I'm sure there is a PR nightmare waiting for me at the office, and I'm already going to have to explain my whereabouts." Steffy rolled off of Bill, and he caught her waist.

"Don't go. I'm not ready for you to leave."

"I don't want to overstay my welcome." She kissed him gently and leaned back. "It's okay. I understand."

"I don't get it. What are you understanding?"

"Bill, you don't do serious. You've probably never even told a woman you love her outside of your family, and that's okay. On the list of things I have to do, making you tell me anything resembling that isn't on it. You have feelings for me, I get that, I have them for you, but I won't invest in something that's going to hurt in the end. I've already done that before. I'm walking away from exactly that."

"Steffy," Bill sat up, grabbing her hand. She could tell they were about to have a real moment. "I've never said I loved a woman outside of my family because I never have. I'm not experienced with that kind of emotion for a woman. All I know is that I enjoy my time with you. When you're not around I think about you. When I thought you were going to marry him I wanted to forget you, but I realized I can't. I couldn't and I didn't want to. I've never felt that."

Steffy held his hand tighter. "You don't have the best history with love, me either. The only men I thought I loved were using me. Rick to get back at my dad, Liam—maybe he just loves the thought of me and the power I could give him, but I'm not unscathed. I've been through a lot, I'm not even sure if my dad loves me anymore, but I'm not shutting myself off to it. I deserve love, I've come to terms with that. I won't settle for less."

"I want to be with you. I'd treat you—"

"Like the most important person in your world," Steffy cut him off. "I know that, I can look at you and see that, but I'd always wonder if I made you become something you're not or if you opened yourself up to everything we had become. I'm so scared, Bill."

"Don't be afraid of me. I don't want you to think that you're forcing something; you're not. I wanted you, I pursued you. I'm willing to try anything for you."

Steffy smiles and he touched her cheek. "Your dad loves you, he just has a messed up way of showing it. I didn't use to think mine did, but we're in a good place now. It took a while."

"He made you so hard and angry about life."

"You remember that?"

"I remember everything you say, Bill. I listened to you that night. I never forgot all the things you said to me. It made me feel closer to you. I opened up to you more than I ever have with anyone."

"It's why I had to find you," Bill admitted. "Every woman I was involved with after that night I looked for you in them. No one compared that's when I knew I had to get off my ass and find the real thing."

"I don't understand," Steffy told him, and he sat up. She was almost nervous about what he would say.

"My dad wanted me here to run his company. He's getting older and wants to take a step back, Spencer Publications will be mine. He brought me here to learn how to run all aspects from New York once I went back, Justin and I were going to be here short-term."

"But you bought a house. How does that work?"

"I got here and Liam approached me about your company, so I looked into them. My dad also was in love with your grandmother years ago, and when I heard that name, I knew. My Steffy was Stephanie Forrester, CEO to the Forrester family business, and I knew I had to be here. There was no way I was walking away from her or letting her walk away from me."

"So you stalked me?" Steffy knew she should be a little off put, but she kind of found it cute. She had no idea he'd looked for her.

"It was a series of happy coincidences, but after I knew where you were, I did watch you."

"Wow. Ummh, I'm not sure if I should be offended or impressed."

"It got us here, waking up to each other. It got me to admit that I'll fight for you and that's huge for me. I've never fought for a woman."

"So that night at the restaurant, did you mess our plans up on purpose?" Steffy assumed he had, but she wanted to hear it from his mouth.

"Of course I did. I saw an opportunity and took it."

"I don't like being deceived, Bill. From here on out, we're completely straight with each other."

"I'm not the one with secrets, Steffy. There are so many people around you with so many secrets."

Steffy got an eerie feeling with that statement, but brushed it off. He'd made it clear he wasn't a fan of her father. That had to be who he meant.

"Just always be honest, please, Bill. I think of you as one of the few that alway has been with me."

"I won't lie to you."

Steffy hugged him, hoping that it was the case. She already had a lot to tackle today, she just hoped her involvement with Bill stayed free from all of that. She needed her safe place.

"Dollar Bill," Justin greeted as he walked into the office. "I sure hope your night was as eventful as mine."

"Justin, chill. I'm not going to tell you what color her panties are or anything like that. We're not going there."

"What?" Justin's eyes bucked. "Me and Amber sat up talking all night and I got a lot of information on the mighty Logans. I was speaking

on you connecting with Steffy, but I see you got a lot more done than me. So, Dollar, what color are the panties? Black, I bet, she seems like a black, barely there kind of girl."

"We're not talking about her like this. She's important, Justin, not some joke like the rest."

Justin laughed. "I know that. I just wanted a reaction."

"Did you get what you wanted?"

"Yes. I now know that you see her as important, so I got my answer about you being the one to set up her father. Amber doesn't think Ridge is guilty."

"I didn't set him up. I was thinking something a little more personal for my attack on Ridge Forrester."

"Something personal like sleeping with his daughter at her engagement party and making sure her fiancé knows about it?" Bill and Justin's attention shot to the door. Liam.

"To what do I owe the pleasure of your company?" Bill actually smiled at this. He had been waiting for the inevitable conversation between he and Liam.

"I found this, along with a condom wrapper in my fiancé's grandfather's library." He was holding up the engagement ring Bill had snatched off Steffy's finger.

"Oh, how insensitive of me. I meant to drop it off on your—scratch that, Steffy's doorstep, since you can't afford your own place and all."

"I waited up all night for her. I was worried."

"It's a fine time to start being worried about her. What about all those times she waited up for you?"

"I thought, that first time you eluded that you met her, I thought I felt tension. You were sleeping with her then, weren't you?"

"You have no faith in your woman do you? She's not like that to keep it going on that long. Besides, if I had been with her that long ago, she never would have been allowed to share a bed with you again. I don't share when I want something."

"Then when?"

"Does it really matter?" Bill stood from his desk and crossed the room. Justin tried to jump between he and Liam, but Bill wasn't having it. He wanted to be eye to eye with the asshole who had broken the spirit of the woman he cared so deeply for.

"All you need to know is that I'm here now. I've been with her and I know what she needs. I'm going to see to it that she has everything. Everything she wants, everything she needs, and everything you can't possibly manage to provide. She's going to be mine."

"You're so sure of yourself," Liam snickered. "She's been mine for three years. You can't erase that."

"And I've had her twice and your ring is off."

"That day when I came by, her birthday, she was with you?"

"Yes."

"But you're so confident, why didn't you march her right out and flaunt your affair in my face?" Liam laughed. "Because you know given the choice she might not pick you."

"Pick me?"

"You've been lurking around my fiancé since the day you arrived, and now I'm sure you're doing it to get back at Ridge for whatever reason. I love her, I'm not giving up what we have because she's intriguing to you for the moment. I'm trying to build a life with her."

"So am I."

Bill said it and stunned himself. In the talk they'd had earlier this morning, Steffy was waiting for him to give her this, but only did it fly out of his mouth when he felt the need to prove his devotion. He wouldn't let Liam flaunt his years around like they meant more than him being completely committed to making Steffy happy.

"This isn't a game to me, and making her reveal what we had to you before she was ready wasn't high on my list of priorities. You don't matter to me, she does," Bill informed Liam.

"Well, then step aside. You know that she was confused that day. You preyed on her vulnerability."

"I've never stepped aside from anything."

"Well do it now. Do it for Steffy. She doesn't need you confusing her, not when she really loves me."

"If she really loves you, she will tell me to step aside. She hasn't."

The words left his mouth and his office door opened. "Bill, I thought we could have that breakfast I ran out on this morning. I'm sorry, the morning was hectic and I have no idea where—" Her smile that once brightened the room fell. "Liam." She hadn't noticed him standing there on her way in. "What are you doing here?"

"Apparently finding out that you slept with him at our engagement party and then spent the night."

Steffy dropped the bag she was holding, and Justin quickly retrieved it and exited the room. Bill had almost forgotten he was there.

"Liam, I'm sorry." Tears glittered in Steffy's eyes and Bill wanted to comfort her, but he had to see what she would say—how she would handle this.

"Steffy, tell him you made a mistake and this will never happen again," Liam demanded.

Bill watched as her eyes danced between both of them and waited for her response. His heart beat faster as he looked at her unreadable face.

"I'm sorry—Bill. Getting engaged was a mistake and I never meant to hurt you."

"Steffy," Liam pleaded. "What are you saying?"

"I can't marry you, Liam. Not when I have feelings for Bill."

"He's using you, Steffy," Liam threw out. "Some sick revenge against your dad."

"He would never," Steffy defended. "This is deeper than all that. I think you should go."

"Steffy—"

"Liam, please. I can't do this with you here. I'll meet you at home. We need to discuss where we stand."

"I'm not leaving you with him."

"You have no choice," Steffy warned.

Liam left reluctantly, and Steffy stayed behind. Bill waited until the coast was clear and reached for her. He wanted to wrap his arms around her, but she stopped him.

"What's wrong?" Bill asked.

"I just spent all morning trying to figure out who set my dad up and how to clear his name. Look me in the eye and promise me it wasn't you."

"Steffy—"

"Promise me, Bill."

"I promise."

"You didn't do this, but what were you planning?"

Bill swallowed hard and framed her face with his hands. "It has nothing to do with me wanting to be with you. I wouldn't do that to you."

"Then what?"

"Brooke."

"What about her?"

"The best way to hurt a man is through the woman he loves. Always remember that."

He watched her expression and relaxed when she shrugged. "I don't care much about what happens to her. Do your worst."

"I plan to." Bill stalled a minute before asking the question that was plaguing him. "Are you going to end it with him?"

"I broke off the engagement, but the rest will have to just be between me and Liam for now. You promised to give me time, Bill. Just like I'm leaving you to your plans for Brooke and my dad, you have to let me handle my relationship."

"I'm not a patient man, Steffy. I won't watch you with him."

"And I wouldn't ask you to. I'm not trying to make this difficult for anyone."

"I know you're not," Bill acknowledged. "I just want to know when I'll have you again. I don't do well with withdrawals."

"As much as you miss me when I'm not around, I miss you too, Bill. This just isn't an easy situation."

"Will I be able to see you tonight?"

"What do you have in mind?"

"Dinner and maybe some desert?"

"Sounds delicious," she smirked. "But let me get back to you after I take care of a few things."

Steffy walked toward the door and stopped. "I wished there was a quick answer I could give you."

"I know you do."

"I'll see you soon, Bill. I promise."

She left and he felt a little of the air leave the room. He wished he had her free and clear, but he knew she had history with Liam. She was a good person, she didn't want to hurt either of them. She'd make the decision that made the most sense for everyone.

Now Bill just had to make her see that he was all in. He knew she questioned that. Hell, he'd question it too if he hadn't just realized in the heat of the moment that she was it for him. Maybe if he hadn't been such a coward he would have told her that. Baby steps. This was frightening territory for him.