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“I had no idea my typing skills stirred such emotion.” Merriment danced in his voice.
His dimples winked into view again, and her heart sank. She’d once longed for him to smile at her like that. How many hours had she daydreamed that her older brother’s best friend would suddenly notice her and ask her out, then profess his love?
But that was before I ruined his life.
“By the way, I’m Liam Bennett.”
His confirmation put a lump in her throat the size of a potato. He stuck out his hand, and hers trembled on the way to shake it. His touch shot lightning bolts up her arm.
Must be from guilt.
“I’m Carly S—” She turned her last name into a hacking cough, her mind racing to come up with a replacement for Simpson. “Carly” was safe, as Liam would’ve known her as “Lottie,” her old nickname, and no one ever used her full name, Carlotta. But a last name? She coughed a few more times, garnering some stares. People probably thought she was contagious. “Carly Simon.”
He blinked. “Carly Simon? Like the singer?”
“There’s a singer named Carly Simon?”
His brows knitted together and went up.
“You have the same name as a famous seventies singing star, and no one’s ever mentioned it before?”
It was fortunate that Carly had no plans to become an attorney, as she’d clearly proven she possessed no ability to concoct a plausible lie.
“Someone might’ve said something before. I can’t remember.”
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.
