Maybe I’ll lock myself inside the bathroom for the rest of the flight.
CHAPTER 2
LIAM
The Houston to Chicago leg of Liam’s flight was proving to be much more pleasant than the first. If he’d noticed how attractive his seatmate was when she’d first sat down, he might’ve ignored that urgent email from his supplier regarding defective photovoltaic sensors.
He pondered Carly’s magnetic draw as he lowered his tray table. No stranger had ever had this effect on him before. There was simply something about her that put him at ease; made him feel he had nothing to prove. Perhaps the feeling stemmed from the fact that she was unaware of his paralysis. Whatever the case, he had a few more hours to enjoy her company before he had to return to reality.
“Here’s your meal.” Layla leaned past Carly to put the plate directly on Liam’s tray. “I made sure it’s hot, just the way you like it, right?”
He’d quickly tired of the flight attendant’s suggestive comments. She’d been with him on the previous leg of the flight from New Orleans to Houston and seemed to feel it gave her the right to flirt with him. “Thank you, Layla. You’ve got me figured out.”
Liam responded with smiles and friendly teasing, though he wasn’t attracted to her in the least. He’d learned early on that certain women were more offended by his rejection than that of a man without a disability, no matter his dress, education, or physical attributes. It was as if he, being partially paralyzed, ought to be grateful for any attention he got, and his lack of interest was perceived as the ultimate insult.
“I’m guessing mine is probably ice cold,” Carly mumbled, her lips rolling in to hold back a smile. “Or poisoned.”
She frowned at Liam’s laughing response, holding a shushing finger to her lips, as if she weren’t the one who caused it.
He laughed even harder, loving the blush of color on her face. Her rosy cheeks were lovely against the soft gray of her eyes. Though he’d had to work hard even to observe their color, since she’d mostly avoided his gaze. Still, something about those smoky eyes was like déjà vu. He supposed they must be the same color as Faye Fortune’s, though he’d never paid much attention to the popular singer.
“I’m afraid Layla isn’t my type.” Liam leaned his head close to Carly’s, getting a whiff of her fresh scent with hints of strawberry.
He’d almost been turned off by her seemingly air-headed comments and behaviors. But as they chatted, she explained she was working on her thesis and had barely slept in weeks.
“Been there. Done that.” He understood why she was loopy. “Where are you staying in Chicago?”
He chewed a piece of sirloin steak, tasty but tough, definitely not worth the extra cost of flying first class. Yet it wouldn’t faze his bank account. Thanks to his buddies, who’d encouraged him to buy stock when Phantom Enterprises first went public, he could more than afford to blow money on such luxuries. The larger first-class seats also made it easier to maneuver in and out of a wheelchair.
“I’m renting a car and driving up to Door County in Wisconsin for the next few days. The fall foliage is supposed to be beautiful there.” She breathed in deeply, closing her eyes and licking her lips, as if anticipating the pleasure.
Liam tugged at the suddenly tight collar on his T-shirt, imagining her reaction if he kissed those lush lips of hers.
What’s wrong with me?
He gave himself an internal kick in the rear. He wasn’t in the habit of obsessing over a woman’s lips, especially one he’d just met.
The intensity of his physical attraction to Carly surprised him. He’d had a long dry spell since his last serious girlfriend, Elle, who’d supposedly left him to pursue a newfound passion for mountain climbing. Though he knew for a fact she was still biking, the sport that had originally brought them together.
Through the grapevine, he’d heard his paralysis was simply “too much for her to deal with.” He didn’t hold it against her, since he often felt the same way. It was the fact that she’d lied that had left him with a bitter taste. Why hadn’t she told him the truth? He had no respect for people who weren’t honest.
Elle hadn’t been the first to reject him solely because he had paraplegia. But she’d been the first who’d fooled him into thinking she loved him as he was, before pulling the plug on their relationship.
For a change, it was nice to get to know a woman without his physical limitations factoring in. Yet he probably shouldn’t let it go too long. He could imagine rolling up to her at the conference and saying, “Hi. Remember me? I’m Liam. On the plane, I neglected to mention I have paraplegia.”
He would tell her soon, but not yet. He had plenty of time.
“Where did you grow up?” He added some salt to the broccoli.
It seemed like a safe question, but Carly’s hands quaked as they tucked her hair behind her ear. “I...”
“You don’t have to answer that if—”
“No, it’s fine.” She pushed her mashed potatoes around on her plate. “We moved around. I graduated high school in Houston.” Her curt nod told him the subject was closed. For some reason, he was more intrigued than discouraged. He wasn’t ready to give up.
“What do you like to do in your spare time?”
The corner of her mouth twitched. “Spare time? What’s that? I’m a grad-student, remember?” She chewed a bite of food and swallowed, her profile showing off her cute turned-up nose. “This is the first break I’ve had in four years. My computer and I have started going to couples therapy.”
He smiled, only partially because of her joke; he liked knowing she wasn’t in a relationship. It definitely pushed the odds in his favor. It was the perfect opportunity to test her interest with a tease that wouldn’t apply much pressure.
“What’s he like... your computer?”
“What’s my computer like?”
“Yes. I always try to know my competition.” He waggled his eyebrows and laughed to put her at ease, but it didn’t work.
“Your competition?” Her throat worked as she gulped, her head shrinking between her shoulders.
“Hey, I’m not trying to pressure you or anything. I just thought we might meet for lunch or something... during the convention.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” She pressed her napkin to her lips, her eyes closing.
Her summary rejection sat on his chest like a set of fifty-pound dumbbells. Was it possible she somehow knew about his disability?
“Do you mind if I ask why?”
“Trust me. If you really knew me, you wouldn’t want to spend any time with me.”
He wouldn’t have believed her were it not for the tear that escaped before she whisked it away with the back of her hand. But that moment of vulnerability told him she was hiding something deep... something that made her feel unworthy of love.
