Mia rolled her eyes. The single mother of four was nice, but the fact that each of her children—all under the age of eight—had a different father spoke for her reputation.
“Thank you. I appreciate the gesture, but I’m here to walk Mia out.”
She didn’t want to be linked with Ryan, it would hurt too much when he left her again, but the look on Lisa’s face might have been worth it.
“Oh.” Lisa’s tone was anything but subtle. She didn’t think Mia could land a man like Ryan.
He was hot. She thought so when he was in his suit at the casino, when he wore his wig and hat as James, smoking hot when he was naked, but now, relaxed in jeans and a hat, he was perfect.
Too perfect.
But that was just looks. Being perfectly smoking hot did not make a relationship. Especially when said relationship was just sex.
No more just sex for Mia. She was too old and worth more than that.
“It’s slowing down right now, but there will be another rush after dinner hour. Have fun.” Mia picked up her water bottle from under a cornstalk and headed out toward the exit.
Ryan caught up to her and walked by her side. “I’ve never been in one of these before. I saw the aerial view from the flyer. Pretty cool.”
Pretty cool. He didn’t even sound like Agent Ryan Thorne.
“The woman I spoke to at the ticket counter said they hire designers to come up with an aerial image, and there’s a whole science to cutting down the paths. That’s amazing.”
“They do this every year.”
“I especially like this year’s theme.”
Of course he would. From the sky, the maze looked like a lobster. It was one of the most challenging mazes to design, cut, and get through.
“Last year’s was a moose. The year before an eagle.” They made their last left and, a moment later, were exiting the maze. “Thanks again for the escort. Like I said, I have to go.” She took off for her car, sighing in relief when he didn’t follow.
Four hours into her shift at the restaurant and she still hadn’t shaken Ryan’s new appearance from her mind. He must have been undercover. But what the hell was he doing in the middle of the corn maze?
Sure, it was fall festival weekend in town, but Agent Thorne wasn’t the small town festival type of guy.
“Have a nice evening,” she said to table twelve as they got up to leave.
“Will we see you at the dance later on?” the flirty old man asked.
“Sure will.”
“Think you could save me a dance? That is, if Penny doesn’t mind.” He winked at his wife who shook her head in amusement.
“Tony has always been a ladies man. It’s one of the reasons I love him so.”
“Forty-five years and she still can’t get enough of me.”
Mia laughed as she picked up their dirty dishes and wiped down the table. It was nearing closing time, and most of the town was getting ready for the dance or were in the tasting room at Coastal Vines starting their party early.
There were a few at the bar here, but Allison tended to them while Mia waited tables tonight.
“How many tonight?” she heard Allison ask.
Great. At this rate she’d never get out of here. The kitchen crew had already started their clean up, anxious to close up for the night. People who showed up for a meal a half hour before closing were a pain in her ass. Not normally; only on nights when she had other places to be.
Which wasn’t all that often lately.
“One, please.”
Mia froze and squeezed her eyes shut. Ryan.
“Right this way.”
Allison sat him at a two-top in Mia’s section. Made sense since she was the only waitress left for the night.
“Can I get you a beverage while you look at the menu?”
“A coffee, please. Regular.”
“Coming right up.” When Allison’s back was to Ryan, she mouthed the word “Hot” to Mia.
Yeah. She knew. Knew all too well.
“You’re following me now?” Mia held the dirty plates in one hand and the rag in the other.
Ryan’s lazy grin reached from ear to ear. “I didn’t specifically ask for you to be my waitress. Lucky me, I guess.”
“I’m the only one taking tables right now.”
“And you’re closing soon. I’ll be quick.” He dismissed her by putting the menu close to his face, but not before she caught his chest shake from a chuckle.
Agent Ryan Thorne didn’t chuckle. This was all too much.
“Pain in the ass,” she mumbled on her way to the kitchen. She dropped the dirty dishes by the dishwasher and subconsciously—or possibly consciously—ran her fingers under her eyes, cleaning up any sweaty makeup smudges, and tucked some fly-aways behind her ears.
Making herself seem indifferent, she strolled to Ryan’s table and took out her pad of paper.
“What can I get you?”
Again, that smirk. Why hadn’t she ever seen it before? It was a good thing she hadn’t, or she would have followed him to New York. It was the most genuine smile she’d ever seen on him, even compared to when he was acting as James.
He’d changed since this afternoon. Tonight, he wore a navy blue polo shirt that made his dark hair and eyes turn him into a sexy, smoldering Abercrombie model. One that had aged—quite well—since the men on those posters inside the store were more like boys. He was more like a Ralph Lauren model.
His eyes crinkled around the corners, making him appear real and not so robotic or stoic as before.
“That’s a loaded question.”
“Listen, I don’t have time for this tonight. I still have a lot of cleaning to do here before going to—” She didn’t need to tell him her plans. That was last thing she needed was him showing up at Coastal Vines.
“The dance.”
Too late.
“Stalking much? Thought you said that was beneath your pay grade. Have you moved on to serial—” She gasped and clamped her lips shut. All those accusations, and then turned teasing, about him being a serial killer. It was a wonder he didn’t hate her.
“I’ll have a bowl of clam chowder.” He didn’t even flinch and handed the menu to her with a smile.
Still keeping the words to a minimum but this time it was with personality and charm. It was a damn good thing he didn’t do this before. It was hard enough getting over the hardened emotionless, heartless bastard she thought he was.
Except, he’d shown her a whole boatload of emotion after she’d been rescued. And he bared his soul about his ex-wife and son. It had made the slew of bastardly curse words she’d stored up for him all vanish into the night.
And made getting over him that much harder.
“One bowl of chowder coming up.” She spun on her heels and marched back to the kitchen. Part of her wanted to know why he returned, and the other part didn’t. Since Ryan wasn’t known for offering much—if any—information on matters, she figured as long as she didn’t ask him why he was here, she was safe from knowing. From falling. Again.
She ladled a bowl of chowder, put some oyster crackers on the side, and checked the bread warmer. Still a few rolls left. They’d get trashed in a minute, so she might as well offer them to Ryan.
Slipping them into a basket and putting two pats of butter next to them, she carried the food out to table twelve.
“Anything else?” she asked out of habit after she placed the food on his table.
“Well, since you asked.” He unfolded the linen napkin and placed it on his lap. “I was planning on checking out the town dance tonight but didn’t have a date.”
Her cheeks burned, and her toes tingled. “Good thing a date isn’t required. Plenty of people go stag.”
“Are you?” He picked up his spoon and ate his soup as if they were regular people having a normal conversation.
Whatever was going on between her and Ryan was anything but regular.
“I don’t think that’s any of your busi
ness.”
“That’s fair.” He nodded and set his spoon down. “Would you care to join me?” He gestured to the empty chair across from him.
“What? Now?” She rubbed her temples and huffed out a sigh. “I’m working, and you’re confusing, and I’m not having sex with you.” She stormed off and went to the back of the restaurant to stack chairs.
That was what he wanted. Sex. Just sex. Dinner and sex. Maybe a dance and sex. Sex. Sex. Sex. That was all he cared about. She was so upset and fired up she didn’t hear him come up behind her.
“I wasn’t asking for sex.” His words whispered across her neck. “I wanted to have a meal with you. Go to a dance with you. That’s all.”
He placed a light kiss on the back of her neck and walked away. She didn’t turn around until she heard the front door open and close.
When she was done stacking, she went to his table to clear it. He’d barely touched his soup and left enough cash to cover his meal as well as a hefty tip. Pocketing the money, she dropped to the seat he vacated and finished his chowder.
It was still hot, and she didn’t want it to go to waste. And she hadn’t eaten all day. The fact that Ryan’s lips had been on that spoon a few minutes earlier hadn’t donned on her until she had the spoon in her mouth.
“I’m living in the freaking Twilight Zone.” She needed to talk to her friends, but they were all at the function hall already. Grace and Lily got there early to decorate, and Hope said she’d make an early appearance with baby Brayden but wouldn’t be staying long.
The way Mia figured, she had two options. Avoid the dance and the possibility of running into Ryan and hide out in her apartment, or go to the dance, party with her friends and, show him she was doing A-okay without him.
The elastic around her wrist hadn’t been snapped in nearly a week, and she didn’t want to go back to it tonight.
“Option B it is.”
It would mean she’d be ten minutes later than planned, but as soon as she flipped the sign on the front door of the restaurant to Closed she sped home and took a quick shower, lathering up her loofa with strawberry body wash. She didn’t have time to wash her hair and hoped the strawberries were enough to mask the smell of fried fish.
Tugging on her favorite dark blue skinny jeans, she contemplated between going sexy and flirty or comfortable. It was a family affair after all.
“Screw it.” The town knew Mia for a party animal. She chose her burgundy off-the-shoulder sweater and plaid print wedges to complete the outfit.
Fifteen minutes later, she pulled into the already full lot and braced herself for an interesting night.
This morning she was coming up with excuses why she couldn’t stay late; now she wanted to cut up the dance floor with every man in the hall.
Except Ryan.
She couldn’t dance with him. If he put his hands on her—anywhere—she’d make the biggest mistake of her life and fall into his arms.
Tonight, she’d show him and everyone else that Mia Parker was strong as hell all on her own.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Ryan hadn’t thought this through, which was a first for him. Everything about Mia was a first. He’d never been carefree or reckless before, and what he did, what he was about to do, could definitely be categorized as both.
Finding her at the corn maze had been easy enough. He wasn’t ashamed to use his resources to track her down. If she’d asked how he found her, he would have been honest. Lily and even Ty knew he had tabs on their family and friends just in case someone from Lily’s past made an appearance.
It had never been Ryan’s intention to use his connections with the FBI for his own personal use. He didn’t think his boss would mind, though. In fact, Ryan would bet Heath would be proud of him for using his resources to help him move on.
There was a series of obstacles he needed to get through before anything could happen with Mia. The first may be the most challenging.
Ty.
The last time he saw Mia’s brother he told Ryan straight out to never come in contact with Mia again and that he wasn’t fit for her.
At the time, Ryan had agreed with Ty. He still did, but part of him—the part that wanted to move on, to have a future, to be happy again—wanted to believe Ty was wrong.
That Ryan was good for her. He wasn’t sure how that was possible. It was Mia who was perfect for Ryan. What the hell did he have to offer her?
Ty would be a serious roadblock. He’d have to prove himself before her brother would let him anywhere near her.
Today’s brief encounter with Mia didn’t count. He wanted more than a few words in a corn maze or a quick meal at the restaurant. He wanted to hold her hand and walk through the maze with Mia by his side. He wanted to sit across from her at a table and enjoy a meal, listen to her talk, watch her face light up when she laughed.
The Coastal Vines lot was packed when Ryan pulled in, but he managed to find a parking spot toward the back by a big red barn. He didn’t trace Lily or Ty’s phone but assumed they’d be at the town dance, even if only for a little while. Lily was due soon, but that didn’t mean they wouldn’t be out tonight.
He checked the lot for Ty’s truck. There were a dozen or so dark pickups, and without his flashlight to check for Parker Construction on the doors, he hadn’t a clue if the over-protective brother was already there.
Putting on a brave face, he locked his car and made his way to the entrance of the function hall. The sounds of laughter and country music greeted him even before he opened the door.
Doing his best to slip in unnoticed, he moved quickly to a dark corner and surveyed the room. He zeroed in on long, dark hair and a flash of skin. Mia’s bare shoulder spoke to him like a lighthouse beacon. She moved her hips and raised her hands above her head as she danced to the music with her friends.
Her smile was infectious, and Ryan found himself smiling as well. She sang along to the music, a song he wasn’t familiar with, but he didn’t listen to country so he wouldn’t expect otherwise.
Grace and a very pregnant Lily surrounded her, laughing as well. When the song ended, they dropped their arms and fanned their faces.
Lily spotted him first. Her smile faltered. Mia must have noticed and turned toward him. Mirroring Lily’s frown, she narrowed her eyes at him then spun around, giving him her back.
So far, not so good. This wasn’t the way to win her back.
The band started another song, this one slower, and he watched Mia cross the floor and grab a man’s hand.
Carter Marshall. Ryan had done his research, and unless something had changed in the past two months, they were just friends.
However, if just friends was anything like just sex, Ryan’s future was doomed. Like a voyeur, he watched Carter’s licentious smile tug at his lips as he pulled Mia in close. He looked over the top of her head and sent Ryan a wink.
Bastard.
Keeping his cool, he stepped out from the shadows and propped his shoulder against one of the wooden beams around the dance floor and watched Carter spin Mia around. When the song ended and the band started up Cotton-Eyed Joe, Ryan made his way through the crowd and found a place next to Mia.
Dancing was one of his least favorite things to do, but that didn’t mean he didn’t know how. It had been years—at least a decade—since he’d danced it, but the steps came back to him easier than he expected.
He kept his attention forward and on the music, ignoring Mia’s wide eyes that followed his moves. When it was time to pair up with a partner he hooked his arm through hers before Carter could get to her.
With an expert move he didn’t know he had in him, he managed to swing her to the other end of the dance floor closer to the dark corner where he’d been lurking.
He continued with the steps, but this time placed Mia to his left so she was far from reach of Carter. Call him territorial, he didn’t care.
“You could be a little less obvious, you know.” The song ended and Mia stopped dancing. Her
chest rose and fell in rapid succession as she wiped sweat from her brow.
The band announced a ten-minute break, and Ryan used his body to block out her friends behind him. He wanted her undivided attention. Probably a stupid thing to hope for at a community dance.
Again, he wasn’t thinking straight. It seemed to be a pattern when Mia was involved.
A strong hand gripped his shoulder from behind, and fingers dug into his flesh. “What the hell are you doing here?”
Ty.
Ryan remained still and locked his gaze with Mia’s. “Celebrating with the community.”
Mia’s expression was unreadable. Normally her eyes told the story of her heart, of her soul. They lightened when she talked about her writing and when she listened to him ramble about marine life.
They darkened when they made love, and they turned distant every time he had to leave. He didn’t like looking into the glassy faraway stare, knowing too well how much of an ass he was to her.
He’d told himself being up front about keeping things between them purely sexual was the honest approach. Too bad he’d been lying to himself and to Mia.
Now, her gorgeous eyes were a mixture of sadness, curiosity, and pity. But when they were dancing, he’d say they were full of amusement. The constant change was what made them unreadable. Never could her beautiful face be completely devoid of emotion. Save that for him.
“It’s not your community, Thorne. Get the hell away from my sister and out of our town.”
“Ty.” At the sound of Lily’s voice, his grip loosened. “Please don’t cause a scene.”
Mia blinked rapidly—were those tears?—and stepped around Ryan to pat her brother’s arm. “No harm no foul. I believe Ryan is just passing through anyway. He’ll be gone before we know it.” She took off across the open dance floor and turned the corner toward the restrooms.
“Outside. Now.” Ty pushed Ryan toward the door, making him go first.
“Honey,” he heard Lily warn.
“Go check on Mia. I’ll be right back.” It amazed Ryan how Ty’s voice could so quickly change from aggressive to tender when talking to his wife.
Something More (A Well Paired Novel) Page 21
