“It is. You should come see it sometime.” What the hell was he doing? Inviting her? No. He couldn’t do this.
She grinned. “Thanks, but I probably won’t do much traveling. I’ve read a lot about it though. The water is supposed to be so clear.”
“Books could never accurately capture the beauty.”
“I don’t know. With the right author, you can practically taste the scenery.”
The van came to a stop, and they all scrambled out. The guide explained how to use the shoes.
“You can follow me on the easy trail, or you can walk on your own. There are several paths that allow for beautiful views. Just be back here in two hours.” He pointed to his left. “I’m going that way.”
Tristan nudged Mia. “Why don’t we go that way?” he asked, pointing to the right, and she agreed.
He wasn’t sure how she could look so pretty even all bundled up. Her red hair spilled out of her hat, and her green eyes sparkled.
“You’re a little too excited for this,” he said.
“Maybe. I’m not usually. New things terrify me. But those trees look stunning.”
She took off, and he trudged after her, trying to get a feel for the shoes. They hadn’t gone ten feet when she stopped and took pictures of cardinals in the trees.
“It’s so pretty.”
He looked around. The way the snow dusted all of the pines really was beautiful. “It is.”
She continued to tromp along under the trees. “Look at those tracks. What do you think they are?”
“Probably a cat or some kind of bear. Those are pretty big.”
Her eyes widened. “Should I be scared?”
He chuckled. “No. I’m sure we’re fine.”
She was like a kid in a candy shop.
Mia said she didn’t want to travel, but he had the sudden desire to show her everything. If she was this excited about snow, what would she think of the white sands of the Keys or the Empire State Building? He could take her to Broadway shows, visit the Eiffel Tower, and snorkel in the Great Barrier Reef.
He used to travel a lot before Delilah got sick, and he wanted to do it again. He wanted to show this sheltered woman the world.
She was about four steps in front of him, and she gasped. He rushed to catch up and stumbled in those wretched shoes.
“What is it?” he asked.
“Look.”
They’d come to a ridge, and a white valley spread out below them, dotted with green pines. A herd of elk was crossing the valley, several with enormous antlers.
She sighed. “This is how Christmas is supposed to look.”
“Don’t you have snow in Iowa?”
“Of course, but it’s not pretty like this. I could stand here for hours,” she said.
And he could stand there for hours watching the wonder and awe on her face.
He put a cautious hand on her back. He was falling for this spunky redhead, and he needed to figure out what that meant for him.
He’d only ever been in one serious relationship. Okay, two, if high school counted. And it didn’t. Since Delilah died, he’d only been interested in women who took care of his immediate needs but wanted nothing else. He’d really thought that would be the rest of his life. He’d had his one great love. No one got that twice.
But there was something about Mia. Something that made him want to have more. He couldn’t figure out what it was. No woman had stirred that in him, but he couldn’t watch another woman waste away from disease. He knew the odds of it happening to another person he loved were low, but he didn’t want to take any chances.
Instead of shying away from his hand, Mia leaned into him, and he curved his arm around, setting his hand on her hip. Her body warmed his quickly, and she felt good in his arms. He found himself wishing they were in a much more private setting. She rested her head against his chest.
Oh, this was too much.
The beauty of the snow and the way she felt—it was like coming home. Like there was nowhere in the world he’d rather be in that moment. It made him want to buy a cabin in the mountains just so they could have moments like this long in the future.
The feelings frightened him.
He didn’t want to risk his heart again. He wouldn’t be able to survive if another woman was taken from him the way Delilah was.
But dammit, he was already in deep.
Mia looked up at him with dancing green eyes. “You were right. Books don’t do scenes like this justice. I need to get out more.”
“Yeah, you do. And I want to take you. I can show you exotic places.”
She held her breath for a moment and then slid away from him. “Don’t say things you don’t mean.”
He sucked in a breath, taken by surprise by her sudden coldness. She stomped away from him.
“Mia, wait.”
She didn’t, and he had hurry to catch up. Once he fell into step with her, he wracked his brain trying to figure out what to say next.
“I’m sorry. I think I overacted,” she finally said.
“No, I shouldn’t have been so bold. I got caught up in the moment.”
She let out a little laugh. “Yeah. That happens, and then I get my heart broken.”
“I’m sensing a past here.”
She sniffed. “You have no idea.”
“You’ve lived in one town your entire life. How much trouble could you possibly have?”
She ran her gloved hands along pine boughs, and snow fell onto them.
“You think small town boys can’t be just as cruel as big city men?” Her voice came out with vehemence.
“That’s not what I meant. I’m sorry. I’m jumping to conclusions. What happened?” He wanted to know everything.
“You don’t really want to hear my sob story, do you?”
“Beats listening to the old people on our bus discuss whether or not snowshoeing is going to aggravate their hemorrhoids.”
She laughed louder than he thought the joke merited, but he loved the way her face lit up. He just had to figure out how to make her see him the same way he was starting to feel about her.
“Okay, you win. Let’s see. I dated Jeremy all the way through high school. He was a farmer’s kid and planned on taking over when his daddy died. They were the richest family in town, but so down-to-earth. Anyway, I went to Des Moines for school, and he stayed behind. I came home as many weekends as I could. One weekend I wanted to surprise him, and I snuck into his room like I did in high school, and my best friend was in bed with him.”
“Ouch.” He couldn’t stand cheaters. One time he found out a woman he slept with was married, and after that, he vowed to always ask beforehand. Sure, some people would lie, but at least he’d done his due diligence.
“They are married with a couple of kids now.” She seemed too calm about that, like it wasn’t traumatic.
“I can see how that might damage your trust. But he was one guy.”
She met Tristan’s eyes. “Oh, we’re not done yet,” he said.
Tristan wanted to pull her into his arms and comfort her. More than that, he wanted to restore her confidence in the male species. But first he had to know what he was up against.
He growled. “Tell me about the other asshole.”
She held up two fingers. “Two other assholes, not just one. Anyway, after Jeremy shattered my dreams, I went a little wild. I spent a lot of time at frat houses on campus, partying and sleeping around.”
“You?”
“Yeah. I had my moment. It didn’t last long.”
“How many guys did you hook up with?”
“Six. But that’s not the point.” She fidgeted with her zipper and wouldn’t meet his eyes.
It gave him immense pleasure to see her squirm. “Sure. Whatever.”
She rolled her eyes. “Anyway, I met Steven in my econ class. He understood it way better than I did. We dated for three years. At the beginning of the last semester, he proposed. We planned on getting married that summer.”
“What happened?”
“Bet you can’t guess.”
“In bed with your roommate?”
“Ooh. So, close. No, I found him in bed with his roommate.” She stared at Tristan as if she was waiting for a reaction.
It took him a few seconds. “Oh. Oooh. Did you have any idea?”
“Not a clue. But that is one image I will never get out of my head.” She was still deadpan. Anytime he tried talking about Delilah, he totally choked up. Though, there was a big difference between breaking up and death.
Tristan chuckled. “I can tell that might cause some trust issues. What about the last one?”
Her body deflated slightly. “Number three was a high school teacher. Drew was level-headed and all around a good guy. I fell for him harder than I had Steven. We moved in together and everything. We had big dreams. He knew about my previous issues, and he promised he was a one-woman type guy.”
They were getting closer to the parking lot, and Tristan wanted her to slow down so he could hear the rest of her story. He was nervous about how it would end, but then at least he’d understand her broken heart.
“Go on.”
“And he was. The problem was, he liked high school girls too.”
Tristan faltered. “Really?”
“Yep, he’s locked up in jail. I’m scheduled to testify against him. I was the one who found all the texts and dirty pictures on his phone. I’ve been put on leave at work until after the trial.”
“Oh my gosh, Mia, you’ve really been through the ringer. Why would they put you on leave?”
“Guilty by association,” she said. “Maybe conflict of interest. I’m not sure, but they have, and I love that job.” She bit her lip and crossed her arms in frustration.
“I’m sorry. You met all the bad ones.”
“I have the worst luck with men. So I’ve pretty much accepted I will grow old as a spinster. I’m okay with my job, little house, and quiet life. Plus, I even get to enjoy a honeymoon. It’s not so bad.”
“Honeymoon?”
“Do you really think I’m the type to go a ski resort alone?”
Oh, shit. She was supposed to be honeymooning on this trip. Poor girl.
Tristan let out a breath. “Surely you’ve dated at least one good guy.”
She shook her head. “I’ve only been in three long-term relationships. A handful of other dates, but all three men I loved totally and completely shattered my heart. It’s like, once a guy gets to know me, and we start considering our next step, they want out.”
Which is exactly what he would do with her. He couldn’t give her anything more than a superficial relationship. He had far different reasons for wanting to stay single, but he would never give his heart away again. Delilah would hold it forever.
But a woman like Mia.
He wondered if she’d consider being his friend. Someone he could travel with and bring to parties. No strings. They wouldn’t even have to sleep together. She could keep her job in her tiny town, and he could still show her the world. It would be safe for both of them. He liked her and wanted to keep her around. He couldn’t risk a relationship, but then again, neither could she. It was perfect, actually.
“What if I took you on trips just as a friend?”
She looked at him, disbelief on her face. “Why would you do that?”
“Because I like watching you see new things. But also... because I’m lonely. I was married. She was the love of my life. She died. I don’t ever want to fall in love again. But I could use a friend.”
“You have friends.”
“Guys are different. But to have a woman who has zero expectations of a relationship sounds like a good bet.”
“Until you decide you want to sleep with me.” She glared at him and stalked away on those stupid snowshoes. At least she couldn’t get very far. But then again, neither could he. She slowed, and he caught up with her.
“I get what happened to you. I just want a friend. I have other women I can sleep with, but I don’t want to develop anything with them. Does that make sense?”
She chewed on her bottom lip. She was considering it. This was good.
“I don’t have money to travel. The bastard Drew was the one who paid for our ‘adventure honeymoon.’”
“I’ll pay for everything.”
She spun around on those ridiculous snowshoes.
“And you have zero expectations?” She raised her eyebrows at him. “You’re lying.”
He should’ve expected that response.
“No. I’m not. Seriously. Let me explain. Say we go to...I don’t know... Paris. I book us a two-bedroom suite. We go see all the sites and then do a nice dinner overlooking the Eiffel Tower. At dinner, I see a beautiful young French woman at the bar. We finish eating. I put you in a cab back to the hotel, and I go off with the French woman. I come back the next morning, and we continue our trip. You get what you want, and I get what I want.”
She stared at him for a long moment, searching Tristan’s face.
“But what if I want to sleep with you?”
His stomach flip-flopped. She’d rendered him speechless.
“Uh, well, um. Do you?” He’d been aware enough to catch the if.
“Maybe I do. Maybe I don’t. But you’ve painted a beautiful picture of you getting what you want, while I get a traveling companion. But you never stopped to consider that I might want more than a friend.”
He scratched his forehead. “But you just said you didn’t want a relationship and that you didn’t do flings. I don’t know how else things could go.”
She laughed and spun around and continued toward the parking lot. Her musical voice floated back.
“Don’t you know women change their mind all the time?”
He followed, still thoroughly confused. He hadn’t met a woman like her in a very long time. She had him all tied up in knots, and he didn’t know which way to go.
Chapter Eighteen
Tristan didn’t utter a word all the way back to the resort. A couple of times, he breathed in like he was going to say something, but then he didn’t. Mia kept silent as well and paid attention to the scenery passing them by. She wasn’t sure what had possessed her to say the things she did, but it was such a pretty picture he painted of traveling together.
Except for one thing.
She didn’t want to sit around and watch him sleep with other women. She wanted to be the one he brought back to his room. But she also didn’t.
Tristan was exactly the kind of guy who would tear her apart. It would be too complicated, the scenario he was bringing up. Also, holy shit, he was married? In a million years, she never would have thought that. The fact that his wife had died was just now sinking in.
“I’m sorry about your wife,” she said without looking at him. She’d lost her mother and watched how it affected her dad. She should certainly be more sensitive to that kind of loss.
It wasn’t until they got off the elevator that Tristan finally spoke.
“You want to come to dinner again with us? Jessica and Liz seem to really like you.”
She gave him a wicked smile. “Seth too.”
He clenched his fists. “Yeah, Seth too, but maybe you should focus on getting to know the girls.”
“See. This is what I mean. What if I want to pursue things with Seth? You’re not okay with that.”
He let out a breath. “You’re right. That’s a little hypocritical of me. If you want to sleep with Seth, I’m cool with that. So dinner?”
“I probably shouldn’t.” She was confused by where everything was going, and she
needed time to think.
He dropped his eyes and stuck his hands in his pockets. “Why?”
“Because I need to consider your idea without you around.”
He swallowed. “I meant it. I would love to just be your friend.”
Mia swiped her key at her door and stepped into her room. She turned and met his eyes.
“Tri
stan, I’m not sure any straight single woman could ever be just friends with you.”
She shut the door before she said something else dumb like, “Come on in and join me in that massive bathtub of mine.”
Mia’s thoughts and feelings were all over the place. She needed to think, and to think, she needed to bake. She pulled out her favorite Christmas recipes, grabbed her keys, and headed out to buy what she needed.
Mia slid the gingerbread cookies out of the oven, and her phone rang. She tossed off the oven mitt and answered it.
“Girl, please tell me your trip has been more exciting than mine.”
“Come on, Vi, you are in the happiest place on earth. It’s got to be more exciting than mine.”
“I’ve met all the Disney princesses, and I’m sick of little kids. Let me live vicariously through you.”
“I should’ve called you earlier.” Mia told her the whole story and didn’t leave out anything. She needed Vi’s advice. “And now I don’t know what to do.”
“Okay, let me make sure I have this straight. This is hot stuff you sent me a picture of. Right?”
“Yeah.”
“This is what you’re gonna do. You’re going to get into your car, and you are going to drive to the closest mall and find yourself a Victoria’s Secret. You show the girl the picture of that man and tell her you need something to impress him. Then you…”
A knock on the door interrupted her.
“Oh, that’s probably Frankie.”
“I thought you said his name was Tristan.”
“It is. Frankie is the bellboy I’ve befriended. I ran out of eggs, and he’s bringing me more.”
“You’re cooking?”
“Yeah.”
“Stop. Victoria’s Secret. Now.”
Mia flung the door open and gulped. Tristan stood there in an ocean blue button down shirt that matched his eyes. He had a blazer flung over his shoulder. Mia let out a breath. “Tristan.”
“Can I come in?”
Vi screeched on the phone. “Forget Victoria Secret! You let that boy in, and you call me in the morning.”
Mia hung up and set the phone down. “Yeah, sure.” She stepped back, and he slipped past her, smelling like cologne and Christmas. “Why do you smell like pine trees?”
Christmas and Commitment (Omega Mu Alpha Brothers Book 6) Page 8
