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“What did you say?”
“If we stay up all night, can you sleep on the plane tomorrow?”
Ben hired a car to take them to McCarran. “Fly back with me. It won’t be a problem for us to fly into Centennial, drop you off, and then fly to Gunnison.”
“I didn’t realize you had your own plane when you said you were changing your flight.” Liv felt peevish.
“Well, it’s not mine, it’s the band’s, and we share time with my folks. My dad’s a pilot too.”
That got her attention. “My dad was a pilot. Air Force.”
“My father got his pilot’s license in his twenties, to ferry my grandfather back and forth from Denver. He was never a military guy.”
“Oh.”
“You sound disappointed. Does it matter?”
No, it didn’t matter. But outside of their undeniable mutual attraction, how much did they really have in common?
Last night Ben insisted they talk about when they could see each other again. Liv had been purposely evasive. He didn’t think she believed that he’d want to see her again, did he? He didn’t need to placate her by promising he’d call. Did he think she wasn’t smart enough to recognize this for what it was?
“I thought we might have that in common,” she shrugged.
Ben looked at Paige, who shrugged too.
“Look, it’s a nice offer, but we’ve got a car at DIA. Flying into Centennial will complicate things. Let’s say goodbye here. It’ll be easier that way.”
Ben looked at Paige again. “I thought you said if I stayed another night she wouldn’t be as grouchy.”
Paige spit out her coffee as she laughed out loud.
“It isn’t funny.” Liv moved away from both of them. “I’ll be back in a minute.” She huffed off in the direction the ladies room.
“What…in…the…hell?” Ben looked at Paige. Granted, he might be used to getting his own way. Maybe he was a little stubborn, and perhaps a tad controlling, but this woman wouldn’t give an inch.
“Go easy on her, she’s w-a-a-a-y out of her comfort zone with you. Let her be pissy, but like her anyway. She’ll come around.” Paige hesitated. “As long as you do.”
“Is that it? She thinks I won’t come around again?”
“She doesn’t think it, she knows it. At least that’s what she’s convinced herself.”
“How do you know all this? Did she get up in the middle of the night and call you?”
“No. But I know her. When I say she’s out of her comfort zone, she isn’t even on the same planet as her comfort zone when it comes to you. Cut her a little slack, understand what the motivation is behind her behavior. As I said, she’ll come around as long as you do.”
“Ready, Paige?” Liv touched Ben’s arm, stood on her tiptoes, and kissed his cheek. “Bye, Ben. Thanks for everything. I had a lot of fun. Come on, Paige, let’s go.” Liv turned and was two feet away from him before he realized what she was doing.
Two l
ong strides later he grabbed Liv around the waist and spun her back to him. “Oh, no. We aren’t doing this again. Come here, baby.” Ben’s mouth covered hers. His hand held the back of her head close, so she couldn’t end their kiss until he was ready. His other arm came around and he squeezed her behind. And then he released her.
“I’ll talk to you later, Liv. Have a safe flight.” With that, he turned around and walked in the other direction.
Liv stood still, stunned, then looked at Paige. “Not. A. Word. Got it?”
“Got it.” Paige giggled.
“You okay?” asked Paige, twenty minutes into their flight.
