Ella climbed the steps and shoved her suitcase in the small overhead bin. It barely fit, and she had to wrestle it into place. She’d probably never get the damn thing out. Figured. If she could just get home... She’d deal with the fallout there.
Her phone chimed, and she checked it, froze and blinked rapidly, trying to comprehend what she was seeing. It was a request from Jenna to coordinate her and Mike’s reception in Hollywood. They’d decided to throw a big party once they were back from their honeymoon and sell the photos, with the proceeds going to their favorite environmental charity. A second email followed, this one from Jenna’s studio, asking Ella to coordinate a small, intimate event where well-wishers from the studio could congratulate the bride and groom. The initial guest list of seventy-five people made Ella light-headed. The budget forced her to drop into her seat like her ass was made of granite.
Whatever was happening, it was like karma had finally decided Ella deserved a little recognition and had upped the wattage to “spotlight.” Jenna had sent the kindest thank-you note for their ceremony and said she hoped Ella would meet her for lunch to discuss the reception as soon as Jenna was back in town.
Ella tried to type a response, but her fingers shook so badly that what came out was something not even autocorrect could untangle. She tucked her phone away, determined to answer when the plane set down at the international concourse on the main island. She had a three-hour layover anyway. Plenty of time to get her nerves under control.
The door to the plane closed, the engines started and the noise echoed around inside the hollow pit in Ella’s stomach. No matter how far Jenna’s request went toward soothing Ella’s fear she’d never work again, there was still the matter of Liam. The pain of losing him was far worse than she’d ever imagined it could be. It made little sense that she’d fallen for him so hard and fast. But it simply was what it was. She was sure she’d recover, but she’d have felt much better if she had a timeline. Right now it felt like it would be years before she could even stomach the idea of drinks with a stranger. She would simply have to fight her way back to her old self. Period.
“Even if it kills me a little bit each day,” she murmured.
The plane taxied away from the tiny terminal, bouncing around as it crossed the cracked and broken asphalt that led to the slightly more even runway.
Ella closed her eyes and let her head rest against the seat back, the dull roar of the engines fueling a burgeoning headache. She was so tired. Maybe she’d be able to get some sleep, if not now then certainly on the next flight to Honolulu.
The engines powered down at the same time the pilot’s voice came over the speaker system. “Ladies and gentlemen, there has been a slight delay in our departure. We’ll be returning to the gate for a moment to resolve an outstanding issue and then we’ll be on our way.”
Grumbles and protests were soft, subtle.
Ella sat up, rubbing her temple. The plane came to a stop and the pilot emerged, opened the door and said something to someone outside.
“I’d come back for a piece of that pie,” a woman murmured.
Something stirred in Ella’s belly, something suspiciously similar to hope.
The pilot stepped back into the cockpit, leaving plenty of room for Liam to enter the cabin.
Ella stared at him, dumbfounded. “What do you think you’re doing?”
He came toward her, movements lithe despite the cabin’s tiny confines. “We’re not done here, Ella.”
“I am.”
He stopped beside her seat, deep brown eyes meeting hers with an unfamiliar somberness. “If you really mean that, I’ll get off this plane. I’d ask that you hear me out first.”
Ella looked around. “Here?”
“Here,” someone called out from farther back.
“Then here it is,” Liam replied. “I’m an ass.”
“News flash,” Ella muttered. “You forgot a few adjectives, mostlycontrolling,superior,vain,boorish,arrogant,egotistical,conceited,self-important. Should I go on?”
“No need, seeing as I agree with everything you’ve said.” Liam closed his eyes and took one deep breath, two, three, as he seemed to search for words. Finally, he opened his eyes and focused on her with an intensity that kept her silent. “It’s become clear to me that I’m a rather self-righteous jackass who, until recently, operated on the assumption that I knew what was best for everyone.” He held up a hand when she opened her mouth to respond. “Please. I’d like to get this out before I lose my nerve.”
“You never lose your nerve,” she whispered.
He traced a finger along her jaw. “I’ve never had something I was so scared to lose.”
She couldn’t speak, could only nod and pray that he didn’t expect more from her.
“I have made mistakes in life, the most egregious ones this week. But if I let you leave this island without hearing how I feel about you—aboutus—it will be the biggest mistake I’ll ever make. You see, I’ve always chosen duty over desire. It was the Baggett way. Emotions weren’t a factor when one had to make a choice. Baggett men did what they were conditioned to do.”
“Achieve the desired outcome at any cost.” Ella swallowed hard. “I remember this part of the program.”
A smile teased one corner of his mouth. “I’m the boss, so I’m exercising my right to change the program.”
Her head was spinning. This wasn’t happening, wasn’t real. It couldn’t be. “You don’t make yourself vulnerable, Liam. It’s not who you are. You’ve said as much yourself.”