“Is that okay with you?” Liam asked carefully. “Knowing Gwen, she likely tried to think of every possible solution.”
“Yeah, it’s okay. Thank you so much.”
“Did you have breakfast yet?” Liam asked.
“I had tea and a granola bar. I’m not a big breakfast person.”
“Then let’s have a big lunch,” he said. “Gwen said something about making sure you have food you can eat comfortably.”
“You don’t need to go to any trouble,” I said quickly. “We could order something in. I have accounts at a couple of different places.”
“Don’t you worry, little one. I’ve got you covered.” He paused, and it was weird thinking of this stranger looking at me when I couldn’t see him. “Kayla, when’s the last time you got any fresh air? No offense, but you’re a bit pale.”
I laughed lightly. “I’m always pale. I don’t go in the sunshine much. The light has always been a bit too bright for me.”
“Those bandages are light proof, right?” he asked. I nodded. “What if I take you out on the balcony for a few minutes? Roll your sleeves up, get some sun and air.”
My hands balled into fists. “I... don’t think I could.” I felt myself being usually open with him, which I guess was best under the circumstances.
“What if we just stand in the doorway? I won’t let you get anywhere near the edge.”
Maybe he was an outdoorsy sort of guy. I’d always spent most of my time inside, and he was likely right. “I’ll try,” I whispered.
Liam stood up and took my hand. “I know it might be weird having a stranger touch you, Kayla, but try to relax. I promise I only want you to be happy and healthy.” That rumbling chuckle filled the room as he slowly led me to the door, then pushed up my sleeves. “And of course, uninjured from tripping hazards. You wouldn’t believe how hard Gwen would smack me if I let anything bad happen to her patient.”
That made me laugh. He slid the balcony door open and lifted me so that I was standing on the door frame. I felt the heat of the sun on my face and arms, and the slight breeze was refreshing. But as it picked up, I cringed back. Being unable to see the edge was terrifying, since I could sort of sense where it was.
“You’re okay.” Thick arms wrapped around my stomach, holding me still. “Is this alright? I’ll be your seat belt.”
Liam was so warm, my back pressed against his chest. Hopefully he thought I was taking deep breaths of the outdoor air, but I was actually trying to calm my reaction to him. There was something absurdly sexy about a stranger holding me so close. He obviously didn’t mean anything by it, but it still felt a bit intimate. Saucy.
In this long, dark nightmare, the feeling of him, the scent of him, had been the first time I’d felt grounded in my body.
My other senses had been weird from the lack of sight to balance them, but my sensitivity to touch had been increasing. With this brick wall of a man surrounding me, I felt myself blushing from the primal thoughts flashing through my mind.
“The edge is four feet away,” he said gently, his breath tickling my ear. “I’d never let you go, Kayla.”
Something rang through his voice as he said that. My stomach clenched and my thighs tightened. I knew he was just doing a favor for his sister, but for a moment I could imagine what it would feel like if he were caring for me in different circumstances.
After around five minutes, he brought me in, then he went to fetch the sandwiches he’d brought from his favorite shop. We talked politely about strange restaurants, getting to know each other a little.
Then I listened to audiobooks for several hours while he sat at the other end of the couch working on his laptop. It was nice, but I couldn’t stop trying to think of excuses to have him touch me again. It was like an itch I couldn’t reach, and couldn’t push out of my mind.
I finished a chapter of a book, and couldn’t sit still any more. Pulling off my headphones, I asked, “How is your work going?”
“Pretty good, thanks,” he said. I felt something move through the air around him. Stretching his arms, maybe?
“What do you do?”
“I’m a copy editor for technical manuals,” he said. Then he made a little noise that may have been a snort. “Not exciting to some people, but it activates my hunter instinct. It’s like a little prize every time I find an error, or a chunk that needs rewriting.”
“What sorts of manuals?”
“Some projects are interesting things like new software. Some are really boring like dishwasher maintenance instructions.” There was a click which I assumed was his laptop closing, then he shifted, and his voice sounded like he was now facing me. “I learn something every day, so that keeps my brain clicking along.”
I nodded. “Cool.”
“It’s steady work, and I can keep my own hours, which is nice.”