Silence filled his ear yet again. He had pushed her too far, after she pleaded with him to keep it professional. But he couldn’t. He wanted her with too much passion to be denied the chance to be a part of her life. His chest ached the longer the silence drew on, and he was about to move the cell from his ear and hit End when he heard her softly clear her throat.

  “Liam … that crush…” Her voice caught and she paused.

  When she didn’t continue, he had to prompt her. “Yes?”

  “It never stopped.”

  It never stopped. Had she carried a torch for him for twenty years? Elation filled him, along with a speck of disappointment. Had he opened his eyes to her sooner…

  “I know I said I wouldn’t cross the line, but … I can’t stay away from you. You’re on my mind constantly. Perhaps I can let it go if you agree to dinner.”

  “Emotional blackmail?”

  “No. Give me better memories to erase the bad.”

  The other end was quiet for a moment. “Yes, I’ll go to dinner.”

  He smiled, feeling the win all the way down to his toes, even with the hesitancy he heard in her voice. “I’ll pick you up tomorrow night, Babycakes.”

  “If you call me that one more time, you can call the whole thing off.”

  “Yes, Miss Owens.”

  * * * *

  Olivia worried over her dress, pulling down the hem and the bust line up. Why she’d ever allowed the fussy store clerk and her mother to talk her into buying it, she’d never know. The longer she looked at herself, the more she wanted to believe what they’d told her. Perhaps her body wasn’t as bad as she thought it to be. It wasn’t perfect, but it wasn’t as horrible as she’d told herself over the years. She turned to and fro, staring at herself from different angles. Maybe she was passable.

  Yet she couldn’t quell the desire to open her closet and haul out a pair of jeans and a sweater, run to her comfort zone. But she needed to pull away from her comfort zone and prove to everyone, including herself, that she could stand on her own two feet.

  Tonight, she was getting what she’d wanted for years. A date with Liam Palmer. Now she was the one feeling guilty, like she was doing something she shouldn’t. It all felt so wrong. Her dreams of this moment weren’t like the reality it had become, a tangled web of emotions, guilt and remorse swirling with the lust she felt for him. When she was near him, only the desire was present, but once he was gone, her doubts continued to torment her, making her wonder if she should play a part in this drama. He’d ended a relationship for her. For her? What was he thinking?

  And what in the hell had she been thinking, telling him her secret last night? The late hour, his sincerity, the nightmare—it all coalesced into her downfall. He’d gotten to her, when she’d promised herself she’d be strong.

  Olivia heard the doorbell ring, and the butterflies in her stomach spun even faster than they had moments before. Her gaze drifted to the closet, her mind reaching out for jeans and a sweater. There was no time to change, unless she made him wait. She left the cashmere and denim behind, knowing she needed to try something new if she wanted to draw herself out of the shadows.

  One quick last glance in the mirror and she almost saw herself as pretty for a moment. The dress accentuated her hourglass figure. The updo she’d gotten kept her curls off her neck, making it look longer. A small dab of mascara and lip gloss and she was no longer the drab girl who hid in the shadows. The figure in the mirror smiled at her, and she saw a glimpse of the woman her family and friends had always said was there.

  Was this what Liam saw when he looked at her? If so, she needed to smile a little more often. She wasn’t what society thought was beautiful, but she needed to learn to be comfortable in her own skin.

  A few moments later, the short heels she’d picked to wear clicked down the oak treads as she came to meet Liam, the noise echoing in the wide foyer. She saw him gazing up expectantly, his mouth open wide as he stared. Her mother stood at the door, a silly smile coating her face. The impulse to run back upstairs was strong.

  “Olivia … you look stunning.”

  Liam’s words caught her short. She could barely breathe as he stood there looking awestruck as he gazed up at her. Quasimodo was gone. Cinderella had moved into her spot. She felt ready for the ball.

  “We’ve been telling her that for years and it’s fallen on deaf ears. Perhaps you’ll have more luck, Liam.”

  “Mom, please.” Olivia managed the last few steps and came to a halt just before Liam. Even with the heels, he hovered several inches above her height, making her feel tiny. Her palms were clammy, unsure of what she was supposed to do next.

  She’d had a couple of dates in college, if you could call them that. None had stood up against Liam’s wide shoulders and muscled build, or his boyishly handsome face and smile. None had stood up against the intangibles, either. Liam had charisma and charm, as well as a strong sense of right and wrong. He was capable, confident, and made her yearn like no other. No one else could ever come close. Compared to the man he was now, there was no competition.

  The fact he’d spent his life searching for her cure was daunting. His proclamation at the coffee shop replayed in her mind. It still hadn’t sunk in completely yet. He was who he was because of her. She wasn’t sure if she should feel pride or pity for the man. His “cross to bear,” as her mother had put it, had been heavy for it to push him so firmly into the direction it had.

  Olivia looked up at him, his wind-whipped dark hair tousled around his clean-shaven face. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and handsome as sin. He was a Greek god incarnate, with the Fates standing at his side. He had staggered along with her, bearing the burden of her accident all these years, his shoulders heavy under the weight he bore. No one could see the scars he bore inside, or the way he suffered. No one would see through the perfection they witnessed.

  She sucked in a breath as the realization came to her. In his own way, Liam limped as well, hobbled by the weight of his own guilt, guilt for something that wasn’t even his fault. He was in need of “fixing” as much as she, with a need for that weight to be lifted from his shoulders and she wasn’t sure the surgery would ever be enough to free him. She wasn’t the one who needed saving.

  He was.

  The surgery was the key. Perhaps she could bask in the glory of having her time with the man of her dreams, knowing once he’d done what he’d set out to do he could be gone. It would be her little touch of heaven, and maybe she could get him out of her system and move on.

  She could get burned. But then, she’d always been hurt. Maybe now was the time to stand up and face the fire. Could she remain standing once she was on the other side?

  Chapter 10

  “Are you ready? You’ll need a coat; it’s brisk outside.” Liam watched as Olivia floated down the last of the stairs. She looked prettier than he could ever recall, the black dress hugging her ample curves. Heat rushed through his body with the need to have her, bordering on crazed desire. He’d never felt this drive to pursue a woman before, to claim her as his own. Olivia made him want more, his inner male screaming at him to scoop her up and carry her away.

  He’d always been distant with other women, knowing his career came first. He’d put off thoughts of marriage and career, knowing Ms. Right would happen upon him if and when it was the right time.

  Was she his Ms. Right?

  He wasn’t completely sure, but this was the first time he’d ever felt like a lovesick pup, ready to think about a potential future. He was a grown man, far past the point where he should feel like a schoolboy. The fact she had that kind of impact on him was amazing. He hadn’t been this excited to spend time with a female in years. Hell, he couldn’t remember ever feeling this eager.

  It made his head spin when he considered how his thoughts for her had shifted so quickly. One day she was a family friend who he’d never seen in a sexual way. The next, he couldn’t stop thinking of getting his hands on her, of making her his own. Confusion swirled around him as Jenny’s words came back to haunt him a bit. Had there been something to it? Maybe his guilt was propelling him to make things right for her.

  But he didn’t think it was that. Yes, he wanted to make her whole, to correct that which he’d taken from her. Outside of that, he knew her life was her own to lead. Surgery or not, she had a future he wanted to be a part of. And he wanted it with a desperation he’d never felt before.

  Olivia had been there all along. He’d watched her grow into the woman she was, never suspecting she would one day floor him with her luscious curves, making him realize she was all woman. Olivia had always had a special spot in his heart. He’d spent time at her bedside as she’d convalesced, and then watched from the fringes as she grew into a young woman. It wasn’t until the night they’d had dinner that he saw her as more than the little girl she’d stayed all along in his mind. His reaction had been wholly visceral, but he also knew she was smart, well educated, and had a wicked wit. If he could get past her walls, he knew there was the treasure of her love waiting to be explored.

  Love? Is that what he wanted? The relationship hadn’t even gotten off the ground yet. It was too early to speculate, but he could see a future with her in it. For once, he felt willing to give everything to a woman. If she’d only have him.

  He’d prodded her to get this date. He was willing to do whatever was needed to get past her defenses, even if it meant using every trick in his book to get her to spend time with him. She was too uptight and needed him to loosen her up. Liam sensed a fire raging below the surface and he wanted to see it aflame and then bask in its glow.

  Once she was safely ensconced in his car and they were roaring down the curving lanes toward downtown, he finally released the breath he’d been holding. When he’d first seen her, she looked ready to flee. He’d half expected her to run back upstairs and lock herself in her room. Was that because he was intimidating her or because she lacked experience with men? He sensed she hadn’t dated much, so he would need to calm himself around her before he scared her off, no matter how much he wanted to push her to spend time with him. There was a fine line he’d have to tread with her and he hoped he could manage the balancing act.

  His small sports car navigated the turns with ease, the cramped space inside feeling claustrophobic as he feared his fingers would do exactly what they wanted. He bit his tongue to draw him from the edge of lust, reminding himself he was a gentleman, not this mauling beast he felt raging inside. Sweat began to bead along his neck and brow, his attempt to hold back taking physical exertion.

  “Last night’s call—” She jostled in her seat, apparently uncomfortable. “I think I said too much. I think we still need to keep our relationship professional. At least until after the surgery.”

  “I don’t think that’s a good idea at all.” His stare pinned her to the seat, her eyes widening, a flash of lust swirling within her gaze. “There’s no point in denying the inevitable.”

  “Inevitable? What’re you talking about?” She turned from him and faced forward. He did as well, swerving back into the lane of traffic he’d not realized he’d strayed from. Luckily, there were no other cars on this stretch of road.

  He settled in his seat and tried to ignore the passion he felt, knowing if he didn’t focus on what lay ahead, he could get them into an accident. If she were hurt yet again by his doing, he’d never forgive himself. Instead of arguing the point, he continued to drive, leaving their conversation hanging unanswered in the air between them.

  Did he have to spell it out for her? He saw the heated looks and the passion in her stare, knew it mirrored the emotion he felt within himself. Was her lack of confidence so poor that she thought of herself as less? She’d said in the café her accident had shaped who she was.

  “Is this your first date?”

  “No!” Her answer was forceful and agitated. Had he struck a nerve?

  “How many dates have you been on?”

  “A few.”

  “How many?”

  “I don’t have an exact number.”

  She didn’t have a number? Perhaps he had her all wrong. Maybe she dated more than he knew. A green beast began to churn in his gut. “How many men have you gone out on dates with?”

  “Two. Well, three, but really only two.”

  He relaxed a bit. “Which is it? Two or three.”

  “One wasn’t really a date at all.”

  “How’s that?”

  “I really don’t want to relive my horrible social life. I want to enjoy this evening. Can we drop it?”

  “Was it really that bad?”

  She looked through the window into the darkness, sighing before continuing. “My first date was with a pledge who’d been assigned to find an ugly girl to bring to a campus party in order to get into his frat.”

  Shock filled him. Any man who thought she was ugly was insane or blind. Or maybe even both. No wonder she had terrible self-esteem if that was the kind of experiences she’d had with the opposite sex.

  “You’re not ugly.”

  Her silence spoke volumes. She didn’t realize just how stunning she truly was. The fact she had no airs was one thing, but to not see the face before her in the mirror was another. He wanted to change her perception and help her see herself for the woman she was. How dare some frat asshole tear her down.

  Liam pulled the car to the side of the road and threw the car into park, anger filling him over an ignorant frat boy. “What was his name?”

  “His name? Why?” Olivia looked stunned, her eyes wide.

  “Perhaps he needs a little lesson in respect.” With my fists. Surprise filled Liam at the violence he felt in order to defend her honor. He hadn’t gotten into a physical fight since St. Anne’s when he was in middle school, and even then, it had only been to protect himself.

  “It was years ago. I’m over it.”

  “You’re an incredibly beautiful woman who is most certainly not over it. He was an ass and very wrong and should be reminded how to be a gentleman. The man would have to be legally blind to think you’re ugly. You most certainly aren’t.”

  Olivia crossed her arms over her chest, but the longer she watched him, the softer her face became. “I don’t need you to keep trying to fight my battles for me.”

  “If I don’t stand up to tell you you’re worth more, then I’m as bad as that jerk who hurt you. Not everyone out there is like him. You just need to let people into your life, those that aren’t assholes.”

  “If I let people in, I stand to get hurt more.”

  “Being hurt is a part of life, and it makes us stronger. Hiding away isn’t living. It’s surviving.”

  “What do you know about surviving? You have your own issues you need to focus on.”

  “And what would those be?”

  “A twenty-year pity party, for one.”

  “It wasn’t a pity party. I didn’t hole myself up in my room for twenty years. I went and found a solution for the problem and in the course of doing so, have helped a lot of people along the way.”

  She looked away from him. “It’s just hard to put down my guard. I want to reach out, but each time I have, I’ve been burned. You … well, have always been special to me. I suppose I fear if we try this and it doesn’t work, then I lose twice as hard.”

  “Or you could consider the alternative. You could win twice as big. I think you’re ready to come out from the shadows and live. I want to be there when you do.”

  “We’ve known each other all my life and you suddenly notice me? Why?”

  “I’ve always noticed you.” He reached out and caressed her cheek once more. “But it wasn’t until recently that I realized you’ve grown up on me. I suppose since we’ve known each other for so long, you were just too close. At dinner, I finally saw a glimpse of the woman I didn’t know and wanted to.”

  He gathered her face in his palm, rubbing his thumb over her full lips before leaning in to taste her. The kiss was tender, hesitant. He feared she would bolt, so he started softly, a whisper over her flesh. Liam pulled back slightly and saw the wonder in her stare. She didn’t speak, just stared at him timidly, a question in her gaze.

  “What was that for?” Her voice was so low he barely heard the words flutter from her lips.

  “I think it was obvious what that was for, Olivia. I’ve wanted to do that for days and I’d like to do it more in the future.”

  As her lips broke to ask another question, he silenced her with his mouth, kissing her deeper, allowing his tongue to tease inside her opened lips. She thought too much, she needed to feel. He wanted her to experience the depth of his attraction, not continue to doubt it. When she sighed and leaned in for more, he deepened the embrace; he forged deeper and sampled her taste.

  At first, she returned his kisses tentatively, holding back before she grew more assured. She soon melted into his embrace, responding as passionately as he, the fervor growing between them. He lowered the hand cupping her cheek to stroke her neck and slowly let it drift down the soft swell of her breast, testing her. When she arched her back slightly, he knew she was hungry for his touch, as hungry as he was to caress her.

  He bore the weight of her globe in his hand, squeezing the firm flesh and felt the nipple harden below his grasp. A soft moan escaped her lips and her kisses grew more rapid. She bit his lip and he gasped, shocked she would be so forward. He leaned back to look at her, taking in the wanton sight of her and knowing he had to have more.

  But not in his car. She deserved better than that, especially after seeing the small glimpse into her past experiences with males. Olivia needed a full-out romantic assault to erase her history.

  “Did I do something wrong?” she breathed out huskily.

  “No. You absolutely didn’t. You did everything right,” he said before he sighed and pulled away. “But we may miss our dinner reservation.” Liam slid back into his seat and adjusted his pants to give his hard cock a little more space to breathe. Hopefully, it would go down before they reached the restaurant or he’d be in trouble.