Ivy Simonett prepared for the evening ahead as most women do. She had a light snack, immersed herself in a nice relaxing bath, shaved her legs, lined her jade eyes with makeup, dried her short black hair in an attractive way that framed her face, and put on a beautiful black silk dress that complimented her slim frame and olive complexion. Then she left her apartment and waited for the taxi scheduled to pick her up, to take her to the awards banquet she was headed to. Her latest novel had won a prestigious award and she was on her way to accept it. Happiness, success, and independence were hers.

Ivy listened as a car pulled up and a heavy person stepped out of the car. Ivy smiled at the person as they walked over to her and waited for the greeting.

“This way, please, Ms. Simonett.” A hand at her elbow guided her in the direction of the car and Ivy settled in.

“My name is John, ma’am, I’ll be your driver this evening. Is your destination still the Plaza Hotel?” The driver asked as he put the car into gear and moved away from the curb.

“Yes, John, it is. Is traffic bad this evening?” Ivy asked, her face pointed in his direction.

“Not bad at all, ma’am. We should be there in ten minutes.” He replied, and Ivy settled back into her seat.

When she arrived at the Plaza, her door was opened and a female voice greeted her. Ivy held her hand out and slid out of the car.

“Good evening, Ms. Simonett, I’m Avery, an employee of the hotel. We’ll sort out the taxi for you. Please, if you’ll follow me we will get you to the banquet hall unless you need to make any stops first?” Ivy liked the sound of Avery’s voice, the scent of her perfume.

Ivy replied that she didn’t need to make any stops and followed along with the woman who had her elbow.

As she walked past the courtesy desk, she heard some of the people there talking and smiled to herself, pride in her accomplishments quite evident.

“That’s Ivy Simonett, she’s here tonight for an awards ceremony. You’d never believe she was blind would you?” the speaker used a whisper but Ivy could still hear them, her hearing better than most people’s.

Ivy smiled knowing that her hard work had paid off and she was gliding across the floor as if she could see what was in front of her. Ivy wasn’t ashamed of being blind, but she hated being treated like an invalid and that was how most people treated her when they found out she was not sighted. She sometimes needed a hand, a little guidance, but she’d made an effort to face the world bravely and being treated as though she wasn’t capable of taking care of herself was vastly frustrating. Her thoughts were interrupted by something smashing into her and knocking her down.

“Oomph!” Was all Ivy managed to get out before a male hand was slipping into her own, pulling her up from the floor.

“Oh, please excuse me miss, I wasn’t paying any attention to where I was going. Are you alright?” It was a nice voice, deeply pitched and warm, with a note to it that said laughter was never far away. Ivy liked the sound of it and the way the man smelled, cologne mixed with a warm spice, cinnamon perhaps. Moving her face in his direction, Ivy smiled and brushed off the concern.

“I’m fine, don’t worry over it. Are you alright?” She asked, hoping to deflect attention.

“Oh, I think you’ve stolen my heart with that smile of yours, but I’ll live without it.” The man’s voice still had that laughter in it but it wasn’t aimed at Ivy but at himself. She liked that.

“Well, perhaps I’ll give it back some day but for now I’ll keep it.” Ivy wasn’t sure what had come over her, a corny line such as that one deserved a sneer and a dismissal but there was something to this man that made her hesitate and play along. Maybe it was that note of self-confidence that seemed to say that the man could get away with such antics because he wasn’t the usual man but something special. She wasn’t sure but she was going to be late if she stood in the hallway with him much longer as Avery reminded her quietly.

“It was very nice to meet you; I hope you enjoy your evening, sir.” Ivy held her hand out in the direction she could sense he was standing in and wasn’t surprised when he took it, slipping a card into her palm as he did so. Now what was this, she thought with a quirk of her eyebrow. She’d have her assistant check it later.

“Good evening, miss, I hope to hear from you soon.”

Ivy’s smile widened as Avery walked her away from the man and guessed the card included a phone number. She decided to let some of her private thoughts show through and asked Avery a question.

“Was he wearing a wedding ring, Avery?”

Avery’s response came quickly, “No, Ms. Simonett. I believe he’s with the group of firefighters having their annual ball in our ballroom this evening. I can find out more about him if you’d like?”

Ivy dithered for a moment; not sure it was a good idea but decided to throw caution to the wind. “Yes please, and can you tell me what this card says?”

Avery took the card stock, presumably a business card, and spoke to Ivy, “This says his name is Liam Howell and lists his phone number and address. I can find out more about him with that information.”

“Thank you, Avery. I’ll be sure to meet up with you before the end of the evening.” Ivy stopped as soon as Avery’s movements revealed the first sign of stopping, and waited.

Avery placed Ivy’s hand on the back of the seat and left her side, Ivy’s assistant Emily assuring Avery she could leave now with a smile and a thank you.

“I’ve just had the most incredible experience, Emily. I’ve met a man who gives really bad pick-up lines and I accepted his card. Can you set up an appointment with a psychologist for me?” Ivy spoke with a laugh, letting Emily know she was only joking.

“Really?” Emily asked in shock. “You didn’t kick him in the groin and stomp over him as you walked away?”

“Shocking isn’t it?” Ivy asked, very pleased with herself. Perhaps it was only a momentary insanity or a giddy feeling from how well things had been going for her lately but Ivy had done something she normally wouldn’t have done and she was thrilled about it.

“Very. Do you intend to call him then?” Emily asked, her employer also a very good friend. You couldn’t be around Ivy long or do the things Emily had to do for Ivy without forming a bond, an understanding and closeness that did not come with most job choices. She had no qualms about encouraging Ivy’s adventures or confidence in speaking with her. Besides, Emily sometimes thought that Ivy spent far too much time on her own. She’d like to see Ivy happy with someone special in her life.

“I’ll find out more about him later and decide. Now, tell me more about the room please.” Ivy changed the conversation abruptly but she knew she didn’t have long before she’d have to know where she was, who the people around her were, and where she’d have to walk to accept her award. Living without sight brought its own challenges but with some planning and care she would be able to navigate her way through conversations and know what to expect.

Ivy felt triumphant and well pleased with herself. At 27, she was about to receive a very prestigious award for one of her books; she had her own home; she’d learned to navigate a world without sight, and she was still alive. Ten years ago, she’d been in a car accident that took her sight; and nearly took her life. Her achievements defied fate and what her own doctors had told her to expect from life. Even her family had tried to coddle her, tried to keep her from going out into a world meant for those that had sight.

In the first year or so of her life without sight Ivy had allowed the coddling, drowning in the depths of a deep depression. She’d been timid, afraid to leave home without someone glued by her side. Then one day she woke up in her bedroom at her parents’ home sick to death of hiding from the world that now terrified her. As she waited for her mother to come and guide her to the bathroom so she wouldn’t fall over something she couldn’t see, the pressure in her bladder growing, she became angry with herself. She was a grown woman and could take herself to the bathroom if she just paid attention to what was around her. She knew the path from her bed to the bathroom like the back of her hand and made her first successful attempt out into the world without anyone there to guide her.

She used the stick she’d been given, but never used, to feel for any impediments and walked close to the edge of the wall so she’d know where she was and made her way not only to the bathroom but to the kitchen. After washing her hands she went through to the kitchen, prepared a bowl of cereal, and was sat eating it when her mother walked in, shocked to see Ivy out of her room and eating.

“Who’s here?” Her mother had asked sleepily.

“Just us, Dad’s gone out to work I guess. What are we going to do today?”

“Just us? But how did you get out of your room?” Ivy’s mother, Jean, asked, confused about how Ivy had ended up in the kitchen with food in front of her.

“I did it Mum, all on my own.” Ivy said proudly.

Ivy then explained and asked her mother to take her out to a non-profit organization her doctor had been trying to get her to go to for months. The organization helped those with disabilities find their independence. They helped Ivy get her first apartment on her own, helped her with her finances until she started writing successfully, and taught her to live without someone always there to help her. She regained her independence before she was 19 years old and by the age of 20 she had her first writing contract. From there she’d only moved forward. It had been a lot of hard work and she’d had a few romances along the way but nothing had ever worked out. Ivy wouldn’t let go of her independence and that bothered both the men and the women she’d had relationships with.

Over the last year she’d been too focused on her latest book being published and promoting it to worry about relationships. Maybe it was time now? Her publisher wanted more books while she was hot but perhaps a couple of weeks or months off would do her some good? Ivy was distracted from her trip down memory lane by a speaker calling the room to attention and refocused on what was happening around her, but she couldn’t decide now which was making her antsier; holding that award in her hands finally or finding out more about Liam Howell.

* * *

Liam wandered into the ballroom, pleased with himself and expecting he’d just made another conquest to add to his tally. He found his fellow firefighters in a huddle in the corner and wondered what had them laughing, he wanted in on the fun too. As he got closer to the group of men he started to hear what they were saying and his smile faltered.

“He was standing there, oozing that Howell Charm that just makes you want to punch him so you can have half a chance with the ladies and you could tell he had no clue who he was talking to. My wife saw them first and said; that’s Ivy Simonett, doesn’t he realize she’s blind? She can’t see him at all and the Charmer is working overtime on that little lady for all he’s worth, I tell you. I had to run in here before I started laughing myself to death. Gina says the woman is one of her favourite authors and said that it was one of the reasons we came tonight, so she could sneak over and hopefully meet her. But there was Howell, trying to charm her pants off and she couldn’t even see our handsome boy giving her his all. Ah, here he is. How does it feel Howell?” His buddy, Andy, seemed to be well pleased with his little speech and Liam had caught on by now.

“She’s blind?” He asked Andy.

“Yep, she is, mate. Can’t see a thing. Couldn’t see that handsome face of yours or that body that you’ve got plastered all over calendar covers that makes the birds all drool, not a single bit of it.” Andy laughed as he spoke; pleased to see Liam had finally met his match.

“Well, she took my card so it can’t be all bad. Something must have worked.” Liam always succeeded with the ladies; he worked hard to give them what they wanted both with his physically fit body and in the bedroom. He loved women of all shapes and sizes and hadn’t met one that had turned him down since he was 16 years old and figured out what power his smile and words held on those of the opposite sex.

“I bet you she threw it away as soon as she could too. Women only want you for your body and that face of yours. I’ve heard talk about your smile too, but I tend to tune out when it goes that far. If the woman can’t see you, that charm of yours is lessened.”

“How much do you want to bet she didn’t, mate?” Liam had confidence in the power of his abilities and this seemed like a harmless game.

“I bet you a week of truck washing that you can’t get her into bed with you.” Andy challenged.

“A week of it, eh? All on your own, you wash the truck all by yourself or I do? How long do I have to get her into bed then?” Liam asked, feeling confident.

“Let’s say two weeks? I’d say one night to be fair to myself but as I said, she can’t see you; you might need a little extra time with this bird. How about that then? That fair enough?” Andy asked with a wide grin.

“Sure, sure mate. I hate washing that truck so watching you do it alone for a week’s going to be a laugh.” Liam was confident in his wager and knew Andy wouldn’t be grinning as he washed the truck on his own.

He excused himself and went to fetch a drink. Over at the bar he could hear noise coming from the convention room and wandered over to listen to what was happening in there. He could hear Ivy’s voice telling the gathered crowd about her pleasure over being given the award and started to feel something awkward and new in his chest as he listened to her sweet, husky voice. He wanted to keep her safe, to protect her from the world, and to make her his own. He’d never felt such a powerful urge before, usually he only felt desire, amusement, maybe even affection for a woman but never this tug of emotion just from hearing a woman’s voice.

The pull was so strong Liam left his own function and wandered into the room Ivy was now holding court in and stood behind a ficus tree, watching the beautiful woman pull the people gathered in the room into the palm of her hand. Even he was pulled in by her charming speech of thanks and transfixed by her presence. Watching her he couldn’t find a single clue that she could not see the room as she moved her eyes around the room, her face and body moving in a way that made it appear that she could see those gathered before her. Nothing gave it away, though everyone in the room knew her tale but Liam. The details were in Ivy’s first book, he heard one person saying to their tablemate. He’d have to look for it. Going back to his own function as Ivy went back to her seat, Liam was determined to find out what he could and hoped she’d give him that call, not necessarily for the sake of the bet but because he’d really like to get to know her better.

* * *

“He’s 32, unmarried, has his own home, is a firefighter as I suspected, has no children, but has a reputation as a bit of a player.” Avery whispered as she ushered Ivy out to her waiting taxi.

“How did you learn all of that so quickly?” Ivy asked.

“The Internet mostly, but I also did some listening in here and there. I hope you have a wonderful evening, Ms. Simonett, and if you don’t mind me saying, I’d give him a chance if you’re just looking for a little fun.” Avery tittered as she closed the door and Ivy smiled, the comment amusing her.

Using her mobile phone and the software that spoke to her, Ivy quickly found her camera app, snapped a photo of the card Avery had slipped back into her palm as she left Ivy, and sent the file to another app that would read the content of the photo back to her when she opened it. She would wait until she got home to do that part but for now she was content with having saved the information. She felt the weight of the award in the bag she’d brought with her and felt contentment run through her.

The cab pulled up to her apartment and Ivy quickly found the money necessary to pay her fare. Luckily the bills all came in different sizes here, unlike in America where the bills were all the same size. That had been the most confusing thing about her holiday there a couple of years ago, the paper money. She felt the coins she was handed back to ensure she’d been given the correct change, simply a habit now, and walked into her building after bidding the driver a good night.

She made it up to her apartment, took off her clothes, put on some sleep shorts and a shirt, and hopped into bed with her laptop. Using similar software to her phone she navigated to her social media and posted about the incredible evening she’d just had and how very proud she was. Then she did some searching for Liam Howell and found that he didn’t have much of an online presence, but that he was listed with the local fire department, as Avery had informed her. Playing the app that spoke the information from the card to her, Ivy quickly typed in Liam’s email address into her computer and then typed an email. Hitting send she sat back in bed, playing an audiobook, and waited for a reply.

* * *

“Hi Liam, dinner, 7:30, at the Curry House tomorrow? I may give you your heart back if you ask me nicely enough…Ivy…”

Liam read the email out to Andy and Andy’s wife Gina who were still at the bar of the Plaza with him. “That will be point one for Liam, zero for Andy.”

“What, what are you on about, Liam?” Gina asked.

“Oh, just a little friendly wager, Gina, nothing serious.” Liam replied.

“You two didn’t bet on whether you’d get a shag out of this did you?” Gina asked, looking at her husband angrily.

“Honey, it was his idea, I swear.” Andy responded.

“I don’t care whose idea it was, it’s disgusting, you’ll stop this at once, or you’ll be the one to pay” Gina told her husband with a meaningful look.

“You wouldn’t?” Andy asked, clearly disturbed.

“I would, nothing, not a thing out of me until I feel you’ve learned your lesson. This stops now or you’re cut off,” Gina told her husband with definite threat. She waited for his reply expectantly, her eyebrow quirked and her foot tapping.

“If I give up that means I have to wash the truck for a week, Gina. On my own. I’ll be coming home late every night!” Andy whined, hoping she’d give in. “It was only a joke, anyway, it’s not hurting anybody.”

“You two twits obviously know less about women than you think if you think that little bet won’t hurt anyone. It’s degrading and you will call it off now. Washing the truck will teach you a lesson.” Gina replied, getting up from her seat a little unsteadily. “Now, I think I need a cab home, are you coming?”

“Yes, Gina, let me get our coats. I’ll see you Monday Liam. Have the hosepipe ready for me.”

Liam snickered as his friend walked morosely out of the door. The bet might be over but his plans weren’t. He quickly tapped out a reply and left to find his own taxi home.