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“Baby steps, Liam…” he whispered aloud, fighting the waves of panic that made him feel like he was being drowned. “Get your flight first, land in Quebec, get something to drive, and then let the implosion happen.”

Now he was here .

On the flight.

And the flight attendants that greeted him made that fragile calm he’d somehow managed to scrounge together detonate and explode like an underwater volcano.

First, the woman before him had the most beautiful and serene expression on her face, like staring at the Mona Lisa.

She was classically lovely, hard to read, and so very different from Nadine – who made her intentions known from the first time he’d met her.

Then the flight attendant’s coworker decided to chime in, like some mind-reader, volunteering the fact that Liam wasn’t wearing a wedding ring, which made him immediately check her hand.

Nothing.

She was single too – and that set his mind racing. Could he do it? Could he be brave enough to ask a perfect stranger to marry him? And why would she even consider it? The woman had to have someone important in her life, as Nadine’s words echoed in his head.

Winners aren’t available – only the ‘losers’ are. Lucky for you, I’m in between relationships, and I suppose timing is everything. So, from one ‘winner’ to another guy who has a little potential, do ya’ wanna be unavailable – with me?

He never considered being single as ‘losing’ the dating game until he met Nadine.

She made him feel like a loser without her in his life – and even called him that a few times.

When she was there, he actively understood what it felt like to be sinking or floundering in your own existence, which was why he was breaking it off.

She was insufferable and made him feel terrible about himself.

Being ‘single’ meant that he was waiting for something more, something special, not that he was a ‘Loser’.

No, that was all Nadine’s warped image of life – not his.

Drawing in a deep breath, he slid open the panel that separated him from the rest of the world and her.

A moment later, she walked past him to the cockpit and witnessed the door being slammed in her face.

Her once serene expression as she turned around was rattled, and he caught a glimpse of something that spoke to him, giving him a smidgeon of courage.

She drew herself together, smoothing her uniform and her wary expression, before shaking off what he’d just witnessed.

“Can I help you, sir?”

“Did he just…” Liam’s shocked words trailed off, reeling that someone could treat a coworker, a lady, like that. “Are you… I’m not married,” he blurted out – and then winced.

Maybe Nadine was right – maybe he was indeed one of those ‘losers’ because his dating skills were almost less than zero. Her surprised eyes met his as she glanced around, her face turning red.

“Look,” the woman began, and he felt like the biggest dork.

The plane was almost full, people were staring, and she was whispering to him, trying to keep her voice down.

Liam braced himself for the crushing ‘No’ that was about to be slapped down on him like your average creep trying to pick up a woman who was out of his league.

“I apologize for my coworker for making you feel uncomfortable or…”

“Are you… are you married?” he interrupted in a hushed voice, unable to help the desperate words that seemed to trip from him uncontrollably. It was like he was puking up his issues every time his lips parted.

“My life is a hot mess,” the woman answered – and Liam felt a rush of hope.

That was not the letdown he was expecting.

She wasn’t saying ‘no’ but rather ‘explaining’ that there were obstacles in her life.

He could deal with obstacles, if necessary, as she continued in a hushed voice for just him.

“I’m gone all the time, I’ve got issues, and I’m not married for a reason…

okay? I’m the reason for the ‘ it’s not you, it’s me’ clich é’ .

You seem nice, but this isn’t appropriate right now. We are about to take off.”

“Maybe we could talk over a drink?” he asked, grasping at straws and unsure if he could actually spit out the words bubbling up in him.

Will you marry me so I can keep my new job? His brain screamed silently as he heard Nadine’s voice echoing in his head, too.

Loser.

“Sure,” the woman replied distractedly, looking past him. “I need to check in with my coworker. Did you need something?”

“N-Never mind,” Liam whispered, looking away – and sighed.

He couldn’t do it.

He couldn’t say the words.

“If you need something, just press the attendant button, and we’ll be right over,” the beautiful woman offered, and there was a tone in her voice that made him realize she was reciting a line.

Zero emotion.

She was performing a job, and he was reading it all wrong.

Loser! Loser! Loser!

“I’ll check on you in a few minutes,” she offered, moving away – and panic pushed him.

He wasn’t a ‘loser’. Nadine wasn’t right.

The Wolverines asked for him specifically.

They wanted him to be the captain of the team.

They offered him carte blanche along with an endorsement with an athletic clothing line that had already been arranged.

“My name is Liam,” he threw out there to her, hoping she would introduce herself again because he’d missed her name during the announcements.

And she walked away, distracted.

Loser.

He cursed under his breath in sheer frustration.

There had to be a way to talk to this woman for a few minutes without an audience, to speak to her, plead his case, and convince her to marry him – if nothing else for just long enough for him to present his marriage license to the team.

If he could fix his mess, then maybe he should offer to fix one of hers since she had volunteered that her life was a mess too.

Could two ‘wrongs’ actually make a ‘right’?

He was about to find out.