by Wendy Smith
I follow her inside and into the kitchen.
“I’ve got Netflix. We can pick something on there if you want.”
“Sounds good.”
She licks her lips. The simple action sends all the blood from my brain and straight to my cock. She’s such a distraction. “I can’t thank you enough for helping me today.”
“It’s really no problem.”
“I think there are a couple of beers in the fridge. Want one?”
I nod. “I can grab it.”
Mia places one hand on my chest. The contact makes me suck in a breath, and I hope she doesn’t notice. “Go and take a seat. I’ll get it. It’s the least I can do.”
I grin. “Yes, ma’am.”
“You can stop with that too. It makes me feel old.”
Laughing, I turn into the living room. “Sorry, Mia. I’ve got the Dominos app on my phone. Sound good?”
“Anything that doesn’t involve me cooking sounds good. With the car and everything else going on, I don’t really feel like it.”
“I’m not surprised.” I take a seat on the couch. “What kind of pizza do you want?”
“Not too fussed.”
I scan the app for deals. There’s one with a couple of pizzas and sides delivered. I choose a supreme and a barbeque chicken pizza, showing her the phone screen as she walks into the room with the beer.
“Looks good to me.”
“Comes with garlic bread and fries.”
She places the beers onto the coffee table and nods. “That sounds really good.”
“I’ll order it for six?”
She nods.
With a few taps of the buttons, I put my phone on the table and pick up the beer. “It’ll be here then.”
Mia sits beside me on the couch. “I guess we have some time to kill.”
I lean forward a little. Being this close to her is nice. “We do.” I lick my lips. This feels like a date, even though I know it’s not. “So, tell me more about you.”
She blushes. “There’s not a lot to tell.”
“I bet there is. You’re a leader in your field. There has to be a story behind that.”
She’s so humble, she just shrugs. “I enjoy what I do. I always loved learning.”
“Me too. I think with the possible exception of my brother, Drew, my other brothers preferred getting their hands on things. Drew became a doctor. He’s an obstetrician.”
She smiles. “How many brothers do you have?”
“Four.”
Her eyes widen.
“Corey’s the oldest. He’s a real mountain man. He does pest control, like possums and ferrets. Adam’s the mechanic. Drew’s a doctor, and Owen’s the Copper Creek town baker.”
“I don’t have any siblings. My childhood would have been very different to yours.”
“I spent a lot of time alone when I was a kid. My brothers are all a lot older than me. I think Owen was ten when I was born?”
She nods. “I bet they dote on their baby brother.”
Laughing, I shake my head. “They were pretty resentful when I was younger. I think I was more of a nuisance than anything else. But I get on well with all of them these days. They’re pretty protective of me.”
“I always wished I had that.” She looks down at her drink. “Or someone to protect. I wasn’t planned for. My parents had decided not to have kids.”
“And they told you that?”
She lets out a long breath. “My mother made sure I knew it. I guess that’s what made it so easy for them to basically disown me.”
“That’s awful.”
Mia shrugs. “I wish things had been different. I’m not sure if my life would have gone the way it did if they’d been supportive.”
“You married young.”
She nods. “Young enough. Garrett was studying at the same time I was, but for a career in finance. By the time I moved onto my master’s and then my doctorate, we were married and still in the honeymoon stage of our relationship.”
“And at some point things went bad.”
Mia looks up, meeting my gaze. The blue of her eyes hits me, and I’m sucked into her emotions. “I’m not sure if things were really ever good. Maybe I had rose-coloured glasses. But having a higher-qualified wife suddenly seemed to become a problem. Like he was angry that I’d completed my studies when he never seemed to care about me being a student.”
“He sounds like a complete moron to me.”
She laughs. “I’m not sure if I should be offended by that.”
“I mean, clearly the smartest thing he did was marry you. He should have cherished you, not been bothered by your career.”
With a sigh, she nods. “I know you’re right.”
I bite down on the inside of my cheek. “Is he a threat to you?”
She turns. There’s panic in her eyes. Her ex must be a real douche to put it there. “Garrett wouldn’t understand me spending any time with another man.”
“What? That I drove you to get your car fixed?”
She licks her lips. It looks like a nervous gesture more than anything else. I’m probably not the most appropriate person for her to be discussing this with.
“While we’re waiting for the divorce, I’m trying not to get on his bad side.” She seems to choose her words carefully.
“Did he hit you?”
Her eyes widen. “No, nothing like that.” She swallows. “He just likes to be in charge.”
My blood boils. He’s clearly still got her shaken even though they’re apart.
I lean forward. This is none of my business, but I have this overwhelming urge to protect her. “Was he abusive?”
She blinks rapidly. “I just know I couldn’t live like that anymore.”
Maybe he didn’t hit her, but she’s been wounded. I can see it in her eyes. Heat runs from the top of my head to the soles of my feet, anger at whatever she’s gone through.
“Let’s turn on the television. There must be something on,” she says.
We sit in silence but for the television for more than an hour. It’s not uncomfortable, but something weird hangs over us. Maybe it’s the fact that I want to smack the living daylights out of the douchebag she was married to.
“I’m sorry for all the questions,” I say. “The thought of you being hurt just makes me angry.”
She places her hand on my arm. “Because you’re a good man.”
“My mother would have castrated me if I’d treated a woman badly.” I laugh “She liked being mean herself.”
Mia’s mouth falls open. “Really?”
“No one’s ever been good enough for her boys. I think she’s trying to be protective, but it comes out all wrong.”
“It sounds like she cares a lot.”
“She does.” I frown. Mum’s illness is always in the back of my mind. We were so close when I was little, and I was the one at home with her and Dad when she was diagnosed. The thought of losing her stabs me in the heart.
“What’s wrong?”
“Mum has cancer. I’m not sure how much longer she’ll be around for.”
Sadness fills her expression. “Oh, James. I’m so sorry.”
“She’s tough. This is the second time she’s been ill, but I think this is it.”
A knock on the door interrupts us, and I’m glad for the disruption. Mum is in my thoughts a lot, but while I’m studying I can’t get home that often.
“I’ll get it. That’ll be the pizza,” I say.
She shakes her head. “Garrett doesn’t usually turn up in the evenings, nor does he knock, but I’ll get it just in case. I’ll bring it in here.”
I watch as she goes to the door and take a deep breath.
I’m in over my head with her, but I’m going nowhere. This should be all kinds of awkward with her being who she is, but it’s not. I feel more comfortable with her than I have with anyone else for a long time.
“Here we go.” She carries in the pizza boxes with garlic bread and chips on the top, and s
its them on the coffee table.
I separate the boxes and open them while Mia opens the bread and chips and places them just inside the boxes.
“I haven’t had pizza in forever.” She smiles as she picks up a slice of the chicken pizza.
“I don’t have it often. I usually cook for myself. Nothing too fancy, but I can’t afford to eat out all the time.” I say it before I think. All that does is highlight the differences between us. It’s hardly an impressive thing to admit.
She touches my arm. “I’ll pay you back for this.”
I shake my head, then take a bite. “No, you won’t. I’m just glad I have someone to share it with.”
“You usually eat alone?”
I nod. “I broke up with my girlfriend a few months back. It’s been just me for a while.”
“I’m so sorry.”
“She was one of the reasons I came to Auckland, so it’s not all bad.”
She laughs. “Thank heavens for small mercies. Or something like that.”
“I’m glad I’m here.”
Her lips twitch. “I’m glad too.” She takes a bite of the pizza and moans in such a way it makes my toes curl. “This is so good.”
I don’t want to eat anymore. I just want to watch her. She takes such pleasure out of something so simple.
After another bite, she gives me the side-eye. “You’re not eating.”
I laugh. “You’re enjoying it enough for both of us.”
She shakes her head. “I usually cook. Even if it’s something simple. But this is divine.”
“Maybe next time it’s your turn to choose what we eat.”
Her lips twitch. “Next time?”
Shrugging, I take another bite to avoid answering. I’m overthinking this. I know I am. But she doesn’t seem to be put off by my attempts at flirting, and even seems to be flirting back a little.
She smiles, placing her hand on my arm. The spark for me is undeniable. Does she feel it too? “Thanks for dinner.”
“You’re welcome.”
“There’s some juice in the fridge. Want some?”
“Sounds great.”
I wolf down another piece of pizza while she’s gone. It doesn’t help the nerves in my stomach. When I first saw her yesterday in the car park, she was Doctor Scott. Today, she’s Mia.
She returns to the couch with a glass of juice in each hand, and passes one to me. I take a drink while she sits and place the glass on a coaster on the coffee table.
Mia smiles as I study her again. How on earth was I lucky enough to end up here with her?
I already worship her work. God, how I want to worship this woman.
I know I shouldn’t.
I can’t do this.
This isn’t me.
But I do it anyway.
This is what I need.
I lean in and kiss her. It starts soft and lingering, but she opens her mouth and lets me in. My tongue meets hers. Our kiss is slow, sensuous. It’s so much more than just a kiss—there’s meaning behind it. Or is just that way for me?
When we break apart, she stares at me, but doesn’t pull away. I take her drink from her hands and place it on the coffee table beside mine. “Mia.”
“James,” she whispers. “We shouldn’t.”
“I know.”
I take her in my arms and kiss her again. Her lips are so soft and welcoming. She stiffens, but doesn’t stop me. I deepen the kiss, and she relaxes.
“I … thank you for helping me with my car,” she says softly, and I know that’s as far as this is going to go.
“I’m not sorry for kissing you.”
Her lips spread into a smile. “I’m not really sorry you did. But you can’t.”
I nod. “I’m sorry I overstepped. I’ll get going.”
As I turn, she grabs hold of my arm. “Thank you for everything.”
“You’re welcome. You’ve got my number if you have any more car trouble. Use it if you need it or for anything else.”
Mia nods.
I walk out to the garage, and the door opens as I approach. As if on autopilot, I start the car and back out of the driveway.
Leaving Mia makes me feel empty.
I’m such an idiot.
3
Mia
I spend half of Sunday pondering the night before.
I’m not sure what to do.
Ever since I finally got the courage to walk away from my marriage, I’ve been finding my feet in so many ways. Garrett took care of everything, which left me woefully inadequate at dealing with any stressful situation.
Sometimes, I feel like a child.
I spent years being controlled, manipulated, being made to feel like I was the weak link in our relationship. And then it took years to gain the courage to get out.
Even now, I’m trapped.
Garrett agreed I could live in the house until the divorce was final, but it takes two years to get to that point. There’s no way to speed it up. At the end of it, we’ll sell the place and split the proceeds, and then I’ll be able to leave and live the life I want.
But Garrett won’t let go.
On Monday, I not only have to continue to deal with waiting for our divorce, he’ll also be working at the same place as me. I’m not stupid. This is his way of trying to control me still.
And now there’s the added complication of what happened last night.
James Campbell has thrown me for a spin.
I didn’t expect anyone to come to my rescue with my car. When I’d finished my breakdown on the bench, I would have gotten in a taxi, gone home, and probably called the garage to take care of it. I would have returned to the mechanic who has probably been ripping us off for years.
But there’s so much more to James than I expected.
James genuinely cares.
He’s sweet and caring. I haven’t dated since leaving Garrett six months ago. The last thing I need is my control freak of an ex making my life difficult before I can completely sever ties. And he would.
Besides, James is a student.
That doesn’t stop me being attracted to him.
He’s the stereotypical tall, dark, and handsome guy. Solidly built, he has mischief in his eyes that are a soul-melting brown. It’d be so easy to drown in those eyes, and it doesn’t help when his emotions are reflected in them.
My stomach’s still flipping over the kiss.
I’d thought that reading the opposite sex would be hard when it came to starting again. It’s not like I’ve had that much experience with romance, but James likes me as much as I like him. I knew that before he kissed me.
And that kiss.
He was gentle, but it was intense. It was no quick peck. Instead, it was filled with longing. With lust.
My entire lower body clenches at that thought.
I can’t act on it, but I can’t stop thinking about it.
My phone rings loudly, and I jump in surprise. When I pick it up, I smile when I see who it is—Kelly Swanson. We became friends a few years ago through Garrett. Kelly’s husband met Garrett through work, and he was as big a douchebag as my own husband. When she left him, I looked closer at my own life and realised I didn’t like what I saw at all.
“Hey,” I say.
“I thought I’d catch up with you before another crazy week started. Want to get dinner somewhere?”
“Tonight?”
“Yeah. Nothing too flashy. Maybe we can go to that steakhouse we went to last time? I could do with a big piece of meat.”
I roll my eyes and laugh. “Trust you. That sounds amazing.”
“I’ll give them a call and make a booking for six if that works. Do it early so we can both get a good night’s sleep before work tomorrow.”
“That suits me.”
At five-thirty, the taxi I ordered shows up outside.
I usually take one to meet Kelly when we go out. Inevitably, we drink a little too much, and I’ve already had enough hassle with my car without havi
ng to leave it in town for the night. There’s not usually much parking around the restaurant anyway.
She’s waiting by the door when I arrive, and beams as I walk up. After throwing her arms around me, she gives me a squeeze before letting go. “Look at you. Is that the happy glow of single life you have going on?”
I laugh. “Something like that. I’m so glad you called.”
“It’s been forever. Let’s get inside.” Once we’re seated at the table, she reaches across and squeezes my hand. “You look amazing.”
The waiter places a bottle of water on the table, and I pour myself a glass.
“Can we order a bottle of the house sav?” Kelly asks. She looks at me. “You still drink, right?”
“That sounds great to me. I could do with one or four.”
She laughs. When the waiter’s gone, she turns back to me again. “So, how is it all going?”
“Good. I’m biding my time until the divorce and keeping my head down. For the most part.”
She grins. “So, you’ve met someone?”
I shrug. “Kind of. But it’s complicated.”
“It’ll always be complicated when you still have that dickhead in your life.”
I nod, and I’m not about to argue. She’s right.
“After twenty years, I can’t wait to get him out of my life. There’s still a year and half to go until that happens. I’m so looking forward to it.”
Kelly smiles. “I bet. I have some news of my own. I’m going overseas for a bit. Got a job offer in the UK, and my visa sorted out. So, I was thinking we could do tonight, and then catch up next week before I go.”
“That soon?”
Her smile grows. “It was just one of those things that popped up. I’m grabbing the opportunities when they come. I think I’ve missed out on so much life.”
I nod. “I understand. I’ll miss you.”
“I’ll be back before you know it.”
We’ve been out twice since my marriage breakup. When I was with Garrett, it was rare for me to have a night out without him. And when I did get one, I’d spend the evening being bombarded by texts asking when I was coming home.
I’m not sure now why I put up with it for so long. I guess I thought that was love.
I bet James wouldn’t do that. He’d leave me to have my freedom, and then I’d come home to … shit.
