Forever and a Night

by Lana Campbell

  That statement peaked Mia’s curiosity. “Oh. Well, what I meant was, expect a few curious looks, maybe some hard questions too.”

  “Reasonable. They’ll be wondering about our relationship.”

  She slid a quick look his way. “Definitely. Care to share about your previously unprosperous days?”

  He smiled at her, looking a bit reminiscent. “Well, I grew up in Georgia. My father owned a large tobacco and cotton plantation. Until I was around seventeen, my childhood along with my sister, Elizabeth’s was very good. We both attended private schools, had everything a child could want and desire, including love. Our parents were amazing. Unfortunately, my father fell on some very hard times and lost his fortune. My years afterward were poverty-stricken. In fact my parents and Elizabeth died far too young from the results. I managed to survive and eventually got lucky with a few successful business ventures, but it took a long time to get to where I am now.”

  Mia had no ready response for his sad story and kept her eyes on the road. What had caused his parents and sister to die? She supposed if he’d wanted to tell her he would have.

  She understood poverty well and losing loved ones. “I’m sorry about your family and I can sympathize. I lost both my parents a number of years ago. Natural causes. I was an only child. My mother was never suppose to have children. She was forty five when she got pregnant with me. She always called me her miracle child because she believed God answered her many years of prayer to have one. I believe He did. I too had awesome parents.”

  The look he gave her was filled with understanding. “My parent’s were Christian too.”

  Her eyes widened. Mia spared a glance his way. “Really? And you?”

  He hunched a shoulder. “Once, but I guess I’m at a place some would call back slid. I’m not proud of it and I have no real excuses, I suppose.”

  Mia offered him a compassionate smile. “I can’t judge you there, Nathan. I was so angry after my divorce, with my ex mostly, but even God. I just had to work through it. You will too with whatever you’re facing.”

  He nodded, but didn’t appear convinced. She worried about him because it sounded as if he had no kinfolk left, even extended. However, she was delighted to know he was a Believer, be it a troubled one. “If you should ever want to talk about it…” Mia shrugged. She didn’t want to press him, but she felt spiritually compelled to put the offer out there.

  He gave her a warm smile. “You’d be the best person for the job, no doubt. You’re very caring and compassionate. However, you’re probably right. I’ll just have to work through it.”

  She didn’t like the despondent note in his tone. Mia stared at the highway, considering a response. “But you don’t have to do it alone, Nathan. Even if you don’t feel comfortable talking to another person, you can always talk to God. Nothing is unforgivable. Sometimes the hardest thing we have to do in life is forgive ourselves.”

  He snorted and shot her a pointed look. “You’re faith is admirable. Maybe God can forgive any sin. But honestly, could you? Could any of us if we were hurt so badly by the consequences of someone’s actions it destroyed our lives?”

  Mia glanced at him, trying to get some sort of pulse on those seemingly loaded questions. She could tell by the irritation in his voice and expression she’d unwittingly picked at an emotional scab.

  She chose her words carefully. “No. Not just anyone could, but a true Christian has to if they want to follow God. We don’t get to pick and choose who we forgive. Trust me it doesn’t work that way. I don’t want to get into the whole dissing the ex thing, but lets just say, eventually I realized only bitterness could destroy me and then I was able to let it go. It sucked getting there though.”

  Mia strongly sensed this conversation was about someone who hurt him. A woman? Julia claimed he’d never had a serious relationship. This hurt or betrayal may have happened before they’d met, which could explain why he’d never married.

  Nathan exhaled a long breath, then said, “Indeed it does. I suspect the road to that ambiguous `there` can be longer and more treacherous for some than others.” He turned his head and stared out the window.

  Mia said no more. Curiosity ran rampant inside her, but she tamped it down and prayed for Nathan.

  A short while later, they arrived at Chris’s and his wife Amy’s little slice of bayou paradise. At least fifteen cars lined his front yard. She found a spot and parked. They unloaded the coolers from her back seat and headed to the festivities in full swing behind Chris’s modest country home.

  There were three, ten foot banquet tables, supplied by Joe, in the center of the back yard underneath two pop up tents. Food covered them end to end. Mia could barely find room for her lemon-aide, cobblers and tater salad. Nathan helped her. She tucked her cooler underneath, then began introductions. She started at the BBQ grill, billowing with smoke and the delightful smell of sizzling burgers and dogs, where the majority of the men gathered, talking and drinking beer.

  “Hey guys! What’s up? Happy Fourth.”

  “Hi, Mia,” Chris said, and gave her a quick hug. Joe, Michael, Andrew, and a couple spouses of the female staff added their own greetings.

  She turned and smiled warmly at Nathan, then the men. “This is Nathan Davenport. I know some of you have encountered him at the restaurant and know I’ll be working for him. He’s cool.”

  There were a few brief, curious looks shared between them, but they all made genuine efforts to greet him and shook his hand. After that they made a circuit around the back yard, greeting and talking to the women, gathered into various little groups.

  Everyone knew who he was, so some fired a few personal questions his way, about his life, business, them. He took all in stride, answering without hesitation. His answers to the them questions, relieved her because she didn’t want to explain their relationship, when she was still clueless about it. Basically, he’d told the ladies that he considered her a wonderful, bright person who he was enjoying getting to know.

  Eventually, she and Nathan settled themselves on the blanket beneath the shade of a huge oak with two heaping plates of food and a couple of Coronas.

  “You have some great friends, Mia,” he commented, then took a bite of his burger.

  “Thanks. They’re all good people. One thing about Tavania’s, being a small, privately owned restaurant, we’ve all grown into an extended, dysfunctional family of sorts. I’ll miss them.”

  “I can see clearly they care for you too. I’m sure those you’ve made the strongest connections with will always be a part of your life.”

  She nodded and offered him a little smile. He was right. Tavania’s would always hold a place in her heart, but her life headed in a new direction. Nathan’s direction, which was entirely too convoluted. Here she sat on a date with her employer. Probably not wise. Every rational brain cell in her head screamed: stupid, stupid, stupid. Yet her heart compelled her to explore a future with him. “What the heck are we doing here, Nathan?”

  He sat his plate on the blanket and stared at her. Those black tinted sunglasses of his shielded his eyes from her, but the firm set of his jaw, sent a message of serious intent. “I won’t play games with you, Mia. I can’t get you out of my mind. You aren’t a mere passing fancy for me. You’re beautiful, heart, soul and body and I’ve never met anyone like you. I want you in my life and not as my chef.”

  Mia swallowed hard. This was the second time he’d referred to something permanent. She was nowhere near ready for that. She knew so little about him.

  “I have some questions for you, Nathan.”

  “Ask away.”

  She decided to pluck the most curious question from her quiver of quarries. “Julia told me you’ve never married or basically came close. I find that very strange.”

  He hunched his shoulder, his expression thoughtful. “All I can say to that, is when I was looking, it was in the wrong places. Then for a long time I stopped. I spent so many years creating the business I have tod
ay, it left me little time to pursue personal relationships. Julia and Dimitri are my closest friends and even they took a back burner while I did what was necessary to build Davenport Enterprises. Now I have highly skilled people in place who afford me the luxury of exploring other options in life. It just took a long time for me to get there.”

  “And there’s never been anyone special in your life?” Mia had to press this issue. Curiosity might kill the cat, but so be it. She couldn’t help herself. She couldn’t believe Nathan had never been in love or in a serious relationship.

  He harrumphed and gave a brief shake of his head. “Once I thought I was in love, but I was only nineteen at the time. Suffice it to say I was far too young to be a good judge of character. She was older than me and far more world wise. I was just a temporary diversion for her. Thank God.”

  That comment sparked a whole new set of questions. While she considered one, she picked up her burger and took a bite. “I’m not going to press you to talk about her, but it’s obvious she didn’t have a very good impact on your life. I totally get that. My ex dumped me for my daughter’s best friend. Talk about scandalous, especially living in a small town. Moving forward with life after that kind of hurt isn’t easy, but…” She paused and shrugged. “People have to. If I hadn’t let go of the anger, I wouldn’t have the friends I have today.” She gestured toward the people scattered about Chris’ back yard.

  “I’m sorry to hear that, Mia. Very sorry. He was an idiot is all I can say.” Nathan took her hand. “I totally agree with you about letting go of the past and making a promising future, which is exactly what I’ve been trying to do with you.”

  Mia’s stomach lurched and the slow, sexy smile he gave her didn’t help. She knew him to be younger than her and childless. If something did happen between them, her ability to give him a child, might not be so easy.

  Boy, this was not the place and time to talk about such things. Too late now. The worms were already crawling out of the can. Plus, she could tell by the expectant smile on his face he had intimate ideas floating in his head, which he was bound to execute at some point today. She let out a burdened sigh.

  “What’s wrong, Mia? What did I say?”

  She shook her head. “Nothing’s wrong, Nathan. I get you now. At least I think so. You’re at a point in life where you want to discover possibilities with someone whom you might find a future with.”

  “Absolutely. How much clearer can I make it? That person is you.”

  She sucked in a couple of fortifying breaths for what she had to say next. “I like you, Nathan, but let’s put logic on the table here. You must have enough sense to realize I’m older than you. I’ve told you about my children. I suspect you might want kids one day?”

  “Yes, but I what I want more is the right woman to share my life with.”

  Excellent reply, but Mia wasn’t biting. “Dang. All this time I thought it was me who needed to be examining whatever is happening between us under a microscope. Now I’m seeing it’s actually you who needs to be doing so. The best advice I can give you is to talk to Julia and Dimitri. I guess she’s a little older than me. Point is, look at the trouble she’s gone through to have a baby. She’s lucky. Not every woman our age is so fortunate. I’m sorry. I don’t know how to put it any more delicate than this, but Nathan, you need to be hunting for a much younger woman.”

  Nope. He was not pleased, Mia thought, noticing the firm set of his jaw.

  He sat the burger in his hand on his plate and gave her full attention. “I’ve found the woman I want. I don’t give a damn about your age. Children are a benefit of marriage, not a requirement. I need to find my life-mate. I’m exploring that with you, Mia. Damn it, don’t put the brakes on here, please.”

  “Man, Nathan, I just don’t know about this.” If she wasn’t half in love with him, maybe she could have scraped up a sensible argument. Trouble was, she teetered on the precipice of falling into the abyss some people called head over heels. Apparently, he recognized the fact she balanced there. He leaned in and abducted her mouth, kissing her with a purpose and passion that had her eyes crossed when he finally released her.

  “Now that wasn’t fair,” she groused, but grinned.

  He chuckled. “All’s fair in love and war.” He reached up, cupped the back of her head and pulled her in, unleashing a series of smoldering kisses that made her insides go molten like the liquid in a lava lamp.

  Wow, he kissed good, she thought, her brain about as fried as a dedicated pothead’s. Mia was glad they were in public. Thinking of her co-workers and their kids, she pulled away. He smiled at her in an affectionate, lusty way that made her heart feel like it was being squeezed by a fist.

  Crap! She was falling for him and fast and he wasn’t helping matters by being so darned seductive.

  She picked up her plate and started eating and so did Nathan.

  The afternoon was iconic. In between some socializing with her co-workers and their significant others, they spent the next couple hours under the oak sharing about their lives. Around three, after everyone had time to digest their lunch, the softball game started. The group divided into teams. She and Chris were the chosen captains. Chris’ first pick was his wife. Her first pick was Nathan and would have been no matter what, but her choice won their team the game.

  It was the ninth inning and the bases were loaded when he went to bat. She was on second. He socked a home run ball so far into the trees beyond their makeshift diamond, silence reigned over the entire gathering for several moments. Then all four batters started running for home. They’d won by a landslide. It had been so much fun.

  About thirty minutes after the sun set, the fireworks began. She and Nathan moved her blanket to a private section of backyard to watch. Everyone donated for the display, but Chris spent the most money because he was the master of ceremony for this event and took great pride in it.

  Nathan had settled his beer cooler at the side of their blanket. He pulled two out, popped the tops and handed her one. She took the bottle and blinked at him because Corona’s didn’t have twist off caps. His strength had amazed her more than once. She was still grooving over that home run.

  “I’ve really enjoyed today,” he said.

  There was desire-laced honesty in his eyes and Mia’s tummy made a little summersault move. “Me too.”

  “Come here.” He scooted back then guided her body between his legs so she could rest her back against his chest. As his arms wrapped around her waist, a brilliant display of fireworks splashed across the night sky, seconds before the resounding boom echoed.

  She turned so she could look into his eyes which were filled with affection. God, he was awesome. She couldn’t help herself. Holding her beer off to the side, she leaned up and kissed him. For the next hour fireworks exploded overhead while she and Nathan created a whole bunch of their own.

  Chapter 9

  The next morning, Mia had her head in the refrigerator digging out supplies for lunch, when she heard footsteps behind her. She straightened and turned. Nathan entered the kitchen, a coffee cup in hand. He headed directly toward her, passion-filled purpose glimmered in his eyes. He sat his cup on the counter, pulled her into his arms and kissed her with as much ferocity and crazy as the explosive ones they’d shared under the stars and fireworks last night.

  When he released her, he grinned and said, “Morning, beautiful. I missed you.”

  His kisses were dizzying, this happening between them even more so. “I missed you too.” Last night he’d succeeded in his mission to seduce her into exploring a future with him. Like a cocklebur, he’d lodged himself in her heart, her mind too. She couldn’t stop thinking about him, wanting him.

  She trailed a hand across his chest. He was dressed in casual business mode; a tan pair of slacks and a short-sleeved, light green button up shirt. Feeling ornery and more than a little heated, she flipped open a button and slid her hand inside to investigate the skin and muscles beneath, which did not disap
point. She hummed her approval and had apparently lit a fire in the process. He muttered a curse, then hauled her onto the countertop taking advantage of her neck, teasing a very sensitive spot with soft nibbles and kisses.

  Mia shivered and let out a little moan. His touch, his lips and kisses—all of it was as addictive as a drug and always was when he touched her, kissed her. He was a habit she had no intentions of breaking anytime soon.

  A soft, rumbling growl usher from his throat, similar to the one he’d scared her with that second night cooking for him. She felt his teeth scrape her neck. Wow, they were sharp! She felt a bit of pain, but the attention his hands gave her breasts and the delicious, throbbing ache in her lower belly absorbed the discomfort.

  “Nathan!”

  In a series of movements so quick, it made her head spin, Nathan pulled her off the counter and placed her on the floor, then positioned his body between her and the person who had just spoken. It was Jazerra, Mia realized with a good deal of embarrassment when the lust fog cleared and she could focus.

  Oh boy. She glared at Nathan, seriously pissed.

  “Don’t start, old woman,” Nathan warned. Mia couldn’t see his face, but his tone brooked no argument.

  Jazerra’s hands were propped on her hips and she shook her head in a disgusted fashion. “Shame on you! That there’s gotta end and you know it. I’m a warnin’ ya, Nathan. If ya don’t do what ya need to do today, I will.” With that she stormed out the door.

  Mia wasn’t stupid. Nathan was hiding something from her. When he finally turned, his troubled expression bore proof of her suspicions. “What is she talking about Nathan? And don’t you lie to me. I know something’s up.”

  He swallowed hard then glanced at the floor. “It’s true. I have been hiding something from you, Mia.”

  All the happiness bubbling within her the last few days, flushed out of her system and fear swamped her heart. This couldn’t happen again. No more lies. Her life had been decimated with them by Daniel. She’d loved her husband, but nowhere near the way she loved Nathan.