“Mine is when something I really want is beyond my reach, no matter what I do.”
And it might be even worse when it’s not some-thing he wanted, but some-one. Which was how he was beginning to feel about Carly.
The roads were already piling up with snow, so what should’ve been a thirty-minute drive was taking twice as long. Once they turned off the main highway, Liam put the car in four-wheel drive. With blowing snow frosting over the road signs, finding Bran’s house would’ve been impossible without his maps app.
“I’m so glad you’re driving.” Carly struggled out of her coat and disentangled herself from the shoulder strap. “I would be a nervous wreck driving in this snow.”
His pride warmed at her trust in his abilities. “Some people are edgy knowing I’m driving without my feet.”
“That’s just dumb!” She huffed, as if she were offended for his sake. “Do you have to put up with a lot of that sort of stuff? People being prejudiced against you?”
She sounded almost as bitter about it as he’d once been. And for some reason, he liked the idea. Maybe because his own family had acted more ashamed than defensive. As if people were right to shun him and assume he could no longer contribute to society.
Except his sister, Kiera. Five years his senior, she was the only one who’d refused to treat him differently after the accident. He still remembered the day he’d finally had to accept that he would never walk again. He’d called her on the phone, depressed and devastated.
Her response? “This sucks, but you can’t let it defeat you. You’re still the same Liam you always were. The guy I’m proud to call my brother. Don’t lose that guy!”
Her words had stuck with him, even though he hadn’t found the strength to act on them until he met the guys at camp. Maybe that’s what he was feeling toward Carly. She must remind him of his sister.
But I wasn’t thinking brotherly thoughts when I had her in my arms.
“I deal with prejudices, for sure. Some people can only see the physical—the outside—when what really matters is the inside.”
“I know what you mean.” She sounded so earnest and sincere, as if she truly wanted to relate to him. “I tell myself it doesn’t matter what other people think, but sometimes it’s hard.”
“It must be tough, being young, smart, and beautiful.” He used a teasing tone.
“You should know,” she retorted. “I feel sorry for you, having to fend off women who judge you solely on your looks. Like our flight attendant, for example.”
“That situation with Layla wasn’t typical.”
“Um-hm. I’m sure it’s highly unusual for women to flirt with you.” It was too dark to see, but he knew Carly was rolling her eyes. “That’s probably why you said so many awkward things when we were talking on the plane. Oh, wait... that was me!”
He laughed. “You had a few awkward moments. But overall, I’d say you held your own. You can’t expect me to believe guys aren’t falling all over you.”
“They may fall over Faye Fortune. But they go running if they meet the real me.”
“I’ve met the real you. And I wouldn’t run, even if I could.”
“You’ve only met Faye Fortune. The real me has issues and a ton of baggage.”
She tried to laugh, but it came out full of sadness. Now he wanted to know what had caused that kind of pain.
“Let me meet Carly. I’m a good listener.” He turned down an unmarked road. “And we have twenty more minutes before we get to Bran’s.”
“You don’t want to hear about my problems.”
“Sure, I do.” He slowed the vehicle as they passed over a bridge.
“Well... I don’t want to hurt your feelings, but I don’t talk about stuff. Even my best friend complains about it.”
“Ah! It’s a challenge! I accept!”
“No, that wasn’t a—”
“I’ll get you to share something with me that you haven’t told your best friend.”
“That wasn’t a challenge, but if it were, you’d lose.”
“We’ll see.” He chuckled, to put her at ease, but he was serious about his intentions. He wanted to break down those barriers and really know her.
“Has anyone ever told you that you were stubborn?”
“Anyone who knows me.”
“I’m not surprised.” She went quiet for a moment. Was she contemplating opening up to him, after all? “I’m kind of nervous about meeting your friend.”
“Because he’s blind?”
“I don’t care that he’s blind. I’m worried because he’s a billionaire.” She shuddered. “Rich people make me jumpy. I get awkward and say embarrassing things.”
“Ah! That explains the stuff you said about my muscles.”
“That was just my normal level of awkwardness. It would’ve been even worse if you were rich.” Her sudden intake of air was audible. “Wait! Are you rich, too?”
He bit his lips. Though he didn’t approach the immense wealth of the four Phantom Enterprise owners, his holdings had just pushed him into the billionaire category. “I’m not exactly poor.”
