The next few days. Well, he’d told her what he expected and she had to admire him for his honesty. William had offered forever, but that had been love. This was lust. She knew it, Liam knew it, and it was silly to pretend it was anything else.
“Jessie? Will you go there with me?”
She lifted her head and in that terrible, wonderful moment when their eyes met, she knew that she’d go anywhere with him, if he asked, that she would stay with him, if he asked.
“That sounds…” She smiled. “It sounds wonderful.”
Liam kissed her. Then he unlocked the lavatory door and stepped into the cabin.
“The coast’s clear,” he whispered.
It was true. Nobody was watching them. The flight attendant wasn’t in sight, and the man in the front row was sound asleep. Still, Jessie didn’t take an easy breath until she was seated beside Liam again, safe in the protective curve of his arm. He drew a blanket over them, tucked it in and brought her head to his shoulder. It felt as if they were in a cocoon, with the rest of the world locked away.
“Close your eyes,” he said. “See if you can get some rest.”
She nodded and burrowed closer. She was exhausted, but she was too wired to sleep. So much had happened. She’d done things she’d never have believed herself capable of doing. Her life seemed to be spinning out of control and she still couldn’t decide if that was terrifying or exhilarating. All she knew was that she’d never felt more alive than she did now. And she felt safe with Liam’s arm around her, but how could that be? Nothing about him was safe. He was everything she’d avoided, everything she’d been afraid to want.
Maybe there were times it was best not to think too much about what you were doing.
Maybe this was one of those times.
* * *
NIGHT HAD FALLEN by the time they landed in Miami.
Liam told her he’d made some calls while she slept. Everything was ready for them, he said, holding her hand as he led her through the terminal.
She caught people looking at them. Why wouldn’t they? Liam was so handsome. Gorgeous was the word. And she was probably glowing with excitement. It was hard to remember how frightened she’d been a few hours ago. She gave a soft laugh, and Liam looked at her and smiled.
“What?”
“Nothing. I just—I can’t believe this is me. I mean, I never…” Jessie hesitated. “It’s awful, isn’t it? That this feels so right when William—”
/> “Don’t think about Bill,” Liam said quickly. “Not tonight.”
He was right, Jessie told herself as she waited near the cash register in a brightly lit terminal gift shop. “I need some stuff,” Liam had told her, and she’d nodded, knowing he meant things like a toothbrush, knowing he’d probably also meant condoms, but trying her best not to think about it. Not that she didn’t want him to buy condoms. She was glad he saw that as his responsibility. The problem was, she could feel her nerves starting to take over again, feel the anticipation giving way to wariness.
Any second now, she half expected her conscience would demand to know if she had any idea at all of what she was doing.
She did. And she was going to do it anyway.
Liam caught her eye and smiled as he headed for the register. She smiled back, tried not to think about the condoms, looked down at the counter and the cheap souvenirs arrayed on it. She picked up a plastic alligator boasting a mouthful of teeth and an articulated tail, toyed with it, put it down, picked up a small plastic globe that held a bright green palm tree standing on white sand, set against a tropical cardboard sea. She tilted the globe and the sand turned the placid scene into a hurricane.
“Would you like that?” Liam said, and she looked up to find him standing close beside her.
“No.” She gave a little laugh, put the globe down. “I mean, it’s just silly, but…” Her voice trailed off. “Well,” she said briskly, “did you get everything you needed?” Color flew into her cheeks. “I mean—”
“Everything I need, for now,” he said easily. “There are shops at the place we’re going to. We can take care of the rest tomorrow.”
“Fine,” she said, even more briskly. “I won’t be able to pay you back until after I return to—until I can get to my bank again.”
“Jess.”
“Hmm?”
“What’s the matter?”
“Nothing. Why would you think—”