Read Online Falling for Him by Alexandra O'Hurley - Free Book Online Page B

badly.” She lifted her gaze to him. “I wanted it badly because … I love you.”
    Liam froze, not knowing how to respond, but he couldn’t leave her show of emotion unanswered.
    “I will always care about what happens to you, but I’m sorry I can’t return the feelings you have for me. You’re a special woman who deserves a man who’ll love her as much as she loves him.”
    He watched as her lips quivered and tears flooded her eyes. She held on to them, none running down her cheeks. “I do deserve that. I’m only sorry it won’t be you.”
    “I’m sorry for that too.”
    “What about me … us … doesn’t work for you?”
    “I can’t answer that because I don’t know. You’re everything a man could want. You’re beautiful, smart, funny, and I enjoy your company. But you’re—” He paused, not sure how to end that without hurting her even more.
    “I’m not the one.”
    It was Liam’s turn to look at his feet. “Yeah.”
    He felt her caress his face, and he lifted his gaze to her. She brushed past him and got into her car. Liam watched her back up, pull out of the parking lot, and drive into the distance. A sense of sadness filled him, yet at the same time, there was a profound weight lifted from his shoulders.
    Liam turned from the lot and began walking, feeling freer with each step. He took a deep breath and walked into a shop on the hunt for warm coffee and a comfortable chair. He wasn’t ready to go home to an empty house; he needed to keep himself occupied for a bit and settle his emotions.
    Why in the hell did Olivia’s face jump into his mind once more? He was becoming a man obsessed. Olivia was the something he was trying not to think about, and the emotions he felt for her confused him. He needed time. Time to sort his feelings out.

Chapter 6
    Olivia sat in the café perusing the classified ads. The shop had a great vibe, and she wondered why she’d never ventured out here before. Words had flown from her fingertips as she’d sipped coffee, her laptop battery dying before she could complete her thoughts. A return trip would definitely be in order, this time with laptop cord in hand. She wasn’t ready to head home, so she grabbed the paper and began looking to see what was out there.
    An English degree; what the hell was she going to do with an English degree? Perhaps her mother was right; and teaching was her only option. School had been a horror for her; kids had always picked on her and laughed about her limp. The fear she would have to relive that humiliation repeatedly had kept her from wanting to put herself in that position ever again.
    Unless she had the surgery.
    The prospect of surgery hovered in the back of her mind. Of course she knew it was a chance for her to live a more normal life and break out of her shell.
    She wanted a new life, but in grasping for it, she ran the risk of getting her hopes up for something that could never be. She’d had too many disappointments in her life and wasn’t prepared to suffer another.
    “The last person I anticipated to find sitting here would be you. It must be kismet.”
    Olivia looked up into the eager face of Liam Palmer; a delightful rush ballooned within her as she took in his handsome features. His face was pink from the cold, his eyes glittering, and she was reminded yet again why she’d had such a crush on him for so many years. “Kismet?”
    “Long story. Can I sit?”
    His words brought her out of her reverie and she realized she’d been somewhat rude. She removed her laptop case from the other chair and folded the paper together to make space for him. “Of course you can.”
    The tiny table felt overly full with him once he joined her. He was all arms and legs, folded around the table. His overwhelming size made her feel petite. It wasn’t often she felt like that, and it felt nice. Liam was so handsome, she just couldn’t stop looking her fill. Her gaze roamed over his face, resting on his full lips. Olivia got the