Chapter 5
Ever the gentleman, Liam introduced himself using only his given name. He was a bit on the paranoid side when it came to women these days.
“Nice meeting you, Liam. I’m Hannah Ray,” she replied in a professional voice, emphasizing Ray.
A subtle dig of sorts. He liked that.
He scrutinized her as she sat across from him. Shapely legs covered in black tights and black suede boots indicated she had taste. She wore a burgundy trench coat that covered the upper half of her body. Honey-blond hair and eyes the color of a good whiskey with tiny green flecks dotted around her pupils. His vision certainly hadn’t been affected by aging. Not that forty was old. Hadn’t someone recently told him forty was the new thirty?
After a few awkward seconds, he acknowledged her introduction by holding his hand out to her. “It’s my pleasure.”
She reached across the expanse that separated them and took his hand in hers, almost yanking it back when she felt a jolt of desire so sudden that it frightened her. Taking a deep breath, she quickly shook his hand, then pulled away. “Nice.” And was he ever, she thought, as she raked her gaze over him. He had to be well over six feet tall because his long, denim-clad legs almost touched hers. Jet-black hair sprinkled with gray at the temples, and clear blue eyes; this man was a bona fide hunk. What the heck? She hadn’t reacted to a member of the male persuasion like this since . . . ever!
A couple of more seconds of silence, then they both began talking at once.
“—So what brings you here?” Hannah asked.
“—I take it this isn’t a vacation for you?” Liam said.
“Let’s start over. Ladies first,” Liam said, his wide grin revealing strikingly white teeth against a tanned face.
Hannah decided he was a ski bum. She saw that he went sockless, and this confirmed it even more. Who lives in Colorado and went without socks in the winter? But she told herself not to judge. He was very handsome, and he appeared to be very self-assured. Maybe he was arrogant and condescending like Richard Marchand, an asshole pharmacist she had once dated. No, she thought to herself, there just couldn’t be another man like dear old Richard. Realizing that he was waiting for her to start their conversation again, she smiled. “Sorry, I was woolgathering. Long flight, and it’s cold here.”
He laughed. “Colorado is usually cold this time of year, no doubt about it.”
“Excuse me,” Terrence said, as they exited the airport. “Would either of you like something to eat before we hit I-70? I have drinks but no food, and it’s a long drive: about six hours, and that’s in good weather, without a lot of traffic.”
“Six hours! Please tell me you’re joking?” Hannah said, not caring that she sounded like a whiny brat. She had just spent almost four and a half hours on a plane, and now she had a six-hour limo ride? And apparently that was if she was lucky!
Liam removed his phone from his shirt pocket and punched in a number. “Pierce, you still at the airport? Good. Don’t leave. I’m coming back. I’ll explain when I get there.”
“Maybe I should call Mr. Jorgenson,” Terrence said as they waited at a traffic light. “He’ll be upset if I arrive without his guests.”
“I’m calling him now,” Liam said, and scrolled through his phone until he located Max’s cell number.
“Max, I’m in Denver and just realized I’m still six hours away. Pierce is still at the airport with the Learjet. Can you arrange for someone to be there in say”—he looked at his watch—“two hours tops? Good. I’ll tell him. Later,” he said, then clicked off.
He turned in the seat so that he was facing the front of the limo. “Terrence, Max says you can have the night off. Said for you to spend the evening having fun and to stay at the Hilton in Denver tonight. Wants you to take your time driving back tomorrow. He also said he would make sure Tasha knows you’re okay.”
“Well, if that’s what Mr. Jorgenson wants, then his wish is totally my command.” Terrence grinned. “Yours too, Mr. McConnell, Miss Ray. I hope to see you both at all the Christmas festivities. They’re going to light up the mountain this year. It’s gonna be a sight to behold.”
Hannah knew that she must’ve heard Terrence correctly; she wasn’t hard of hearing. Yes, she’d heard all about the holiday events, but what she’d really heard and took in was the name. McConnell. Liam McConnell.
Anyone and everyone in the private sector of the law-enforcement business knew of his reputation. He was the best in electronic-security assessments. Meaning hackers could not hide from this man. And if they did, he would find them. His success rate was 100 percent.
“If you’ll get us back to the general aviation side ASAP, I’ll be forever in your debt,” Liam said to Terrence.
Terrence made an illegal U-turn, then headed back to the airport. “Right away, Mr. McConnell.”
“Do you mind filling me in on the change of plans?” Hannah singsonged. “Or did you forget there is someone else to consider?” Maybe he was an asshole like Richard Marchand.
“I apologize. I don’t see any reason to ride in this limo for six-plus hours when I have a perfectly good Learjet with an awesome pilot who, as luck would have it, hasn’t left the airport yet. I think Pierce can get us to Telluride in a little over an hour.” He paused, then continued, “If you’d rather not fly with me, I’ll understand. I am a total stranger.”
Hannah smirked. “If Max knows you, then I’m sure you’re not some psycho serial killer I need to fear.” She wanted to tell him she knew exactly who he was, but no way was she going to give him that satisfaction. And to think she’d felt a tiny bit of desire when he’d done nothing more than touch her hand. She needed to get a life beyond work. And maybe a little bit of romance somewhere in between.
“You do inspire confidence, Miss Ray.”
“Thank you,” she said, her words laced with sarcasm.
Fifteen minutes later, Terrence had arrived at the airport and pulled inside the gates that led to the private hangar area, then drove down the tarmac, where Pierce was doing his preflight check. He waved as they parked the limousine by the sleek aircraft.
Terrence hit the trunk button, but before he could race around to the back of the limo, Liam had already removed both pieces of luggage from the trunk. Hannah climbed out of the limo, stretched, and walked to where Liam stood and took her luggage by its handle. “Thanks, but I can carry this.” She didn’t want him thinking she was a weak, wimpy woman who needed a man to do what some considered “men’s work.” She was not one of those types at all. Independent to the core, it was something she’d learned from being raised by a single father.
“I can see that,” Liam said, his words edgy, a bit sharp.
Hannah focused her eyes on his. “Look, I think we’ve started off on the wrong foot. I don’t want to be here, and I don’t know about you, but I am about to freeze to death just standing here, and I am hungry. Can we start over?” Hannah felt deflated, like she’d stepped out of her body, almost as though she were having some kind of metaphysical experience. It wasn’t like her to give in so easily. But, she thought, really, what am I actually giving in to?
Liam grinned. “Must be the high altitude. It sometimes has a strange effect on people, right, Pierce?” Liam called out, as the pilot finished his preflight check. “Remember how badly it affected the president during the debates back in 2012?” He laughed and shook his head.
“Whatever you say, Liam. Though just so you know, Telluride Regional Airport is one of the highest commercial airports in North America at more than nine thousand feet above sea level. It sits atop Deep Creek Mesa, and the view of the San Juan Mountains is totally awesome.”
He adjusted his aviator glasses and continued. “You might want to load up on water while you’re out here. Supposed to help with altitude sickness. If that kind of thing bothers you.”
It hadn’t before, but he wasn’t sure about their passenger. “Ms. Ray? Have you ever had any trouble with high altitudes?” Liam asked.
She shook her head no. “Though this is only my second trip out West. Last time I was here, I didn’t ski, so if you’re asking me about those altitudes up there”—she directed her eyes toward the snowcapped mountains—“I wouldn’t know, since I’ve never been up on one of them. For better or worse, I am definitely not a lover of cold weather. I am Florida born and bred. Long live the beach.”
She wanted to stomp her boots, anything to get out of the freezing, stark cold. And she was starving. “Didn’t someone mention something about food a while ago? I could use a bite to eat.”
“I just placed an order with the airport’s catering crew,” Pierce told her. “They’ll have a little bit of everything on the plane.” He looked up when he saw a van heading their way. “They’re here now,” he said, motioning toward the catering truck.
“Great. Just what I want, more airplane food,” Hannah muttered.
“This isn’t the same stuff the commercial airlines serve,” Pierce informed her. “Private flying does offer a few amenities that the big commercial guys don’t. Good food is just one of the perks, right, Liam?”
Hannah didn’t want to burst the pilot’s bubble. She’d flown in more Gulfstreams and Learjets in her time than she cared to remember. She wasn’t a big fan of flying any way you looked at it. It was just another form of transportation as far as she was concerned. “Then let’s get on board,” she said, then asked before she forgot, “Does the plane have a ladies’ room?”
“It does, and it’s quite modern, too. The commode even flushes in midair,” Pierce said, then they all burst out laughing.
Hannah smiled. “That’s good enough for me.”
“About time, I’d say,” Liam added. “I wasn’t sure if I wanted to spend another hour in your company!” He laughed hard, then winked at her. Hannah wanted to come up with a snappy comeback but couldn’t think of anything appropriate, so she gave him her sexiest smile and winked back. “Are you sure?” she couldn’t help adding. Teasing him, that’s what she was doing! And, by gosh, she liked it!
“Okay, you two, enough. I say let’s get this bird in the air so we can all sit back and enjoy all these goodies,” Pierce suggested, and nodded to the food the two caterers were carrying onboard.
Hannah and Liam said their good-byes to Terrence. She saw Liam tuck a bit of cash in the young boy’s hand and gave him a quick wave before turning toward the aircraft.
Liam brought his luggage up the short flight of steps. Hannah followed behind, dragging her carry-on inside with her. It wasn’t like there wasn’t enough room for a half dozen more passengers, complete with their luggage. “You have a preference where you’d like to sit?” Hannah asked Liam, while he tucked his luggage beneath a seat.
“Not at all. Sit wherever you’re comfortable. This is going to be a quick flight; we’ll be lucky if we have time to eat all that food Pierce ordered.”
“Speaking of food, I’m ravenous. You mind if I dig into those boxes?” Hannah asked.
“Be my guest,” Liam said. “It’s probably a good idea to get our food. And then we can buckle up for the rest of the journey.”
Inside the cabin, at the rear of the plane, was a wet bar on the left and a restroom to the right. Liam stood very close to Hannah as she tried to maneuver around in the small space so she wouldn’t be practically rubbing up against him. Next to a stack of paper plates, she spied a Styrofoam container with several different types of deli meats. Another had cheeses of all sorts, and there was a variety of breads. She made fast work of slapping a few slices of turkey on some whole wheat bread, added some lettuce and a squeeze of whole-grain mustard. There were pasta salads, potato salads, and bean salads. She took a scoop of each before backing out of the cramped quarters.
“What would you like to drink?” Liam asked, stooping to peer inside a small refrigerator. “We’ve got soda, beer, and somewhere in here we should have bottled water.” He pulled out a few cans of soda, then grabbed two bottles of water. “Water work for you?”
Hannah had just taken her first bite when Liam spoke to her. She nodded and held out her hand. Chewing and swallowing her food faster than normal, she felt a chunk of lettuce go down the wrong pipe. She started coughing and gasping, trying to force the lodged piece of lettuce either up or out. Liam dropped his sandwich onto his seat, lowered himself, and came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her sternum. Before she could understand what he was doing, the lettuce flew out of her mouth, landing smack dab in the middle of Pierce’s perfectly pressed white shirt the moment he entered the cabin.
The three were quiet for a few seconds, looking from one to the other, then all three began to laugh so hard they had tears in their eyes. Hannah was embarrassed, but not so badly that she couldn’t laugh at herself. When they calmed down enough to talk, Hannah was the first to speak. She opened the bottle of water, took a sip, then said, “I do believe you just saved my life, Mr. McConnell.”
“I think I am going to have to agree with you this time,” he said.
“What is that freaky thing that happens to the person who saves the life of another?” Pierce asked while dabbing at his shirt with a wet napkin. “I heard it somewhere as a kid; if you save someone’s life, then they owe you a lifelong debt. The person who does the saving has to take responsibility for that person’s life. Supposed to do anything to help you whenever you’re in need, something like that.”
Hannah almost choked again. “I think some kid made that up. Really, who would do something like that in this day and age?”
“Save a life or take the debt?” Liam asked.
Hannah had the grace to blush. “Thank you for saving my life, though in all honesty, I think the lettuce was about to leave on its own, but one can’t say for sure. So thank you again, Liam.” She liked the sound of his name on her lips. “Your debt for chivalry is paid in full.”
“Hey, now wait a minute, don’t I even get the chance to ask for what kind of . . . payoff I’d like?” He grinned as he scooped the sandwich from his seat.
About the time Hannah was ready to answer, Pierce pulled in the hydraulic steps and closed the aircraft’s door. “You two better be buckled in and ready to roll. It’s time to get this bird in the sky.” He lowered himself into the cockpit. “And I mean it, too. Remember, as the pilot, I am in charge, and you will obey my orders.”