Hate to Love Him

by Jody Holford

  “Right. You’re so opposed to money, but I didn’t see you pushing away a European education or the Lexus you got for a grad gift.”

  “Enough, Michael,” her dad said. “Mia, I think it’s sweet that you want to carry on our legacy. But it’s naive to think we don’t have to change with the times. This is what I meant when I said you weren’t cut out for business. You have too much heart.”

  In a way, it was both the nicest and saddest thing he’d ever said to her.

  “I’ll concede that maybe I’m not cut out for all of it. I don’t like the hard choices, but I can and will make them when it’s in the best interests of myself and my tenants. Which is why, Michael is going to be allowed to convert six out of eighteen apartments,” Mia said.

  Michael scoffed and stood up. He stalked over to the wet bar and poured himself water. “Allowed? God. You’re like a spoiled little kid.”

  She would not engage in a petty name calling session.

  “I’ll convert my fifty percent and, as I said, yours will follow. You can thank me when you grow into your common sense,” Michael said.

  Jonathan stiffened, but Mia raised a hand. She had this. “You’ll take the offer, Michael.”

  He stormed back over to her, looking so much like their father, it stole her breath. “Why would I do that?”

  She stood. “Because if you don’t, Jonathan won’t do business with you at all.”

  Michael’s mouth dropped and Mia enjoyed sitting back down beside her grandmother as her brother swallowed that one down. A quick glance let her see Grams’s smirk. Her father had both hands on his knees, his knuckles turning white. Michael rounded on Jonathan, pointing at him.

  “What is she talking about? She put you up to this?”

  Jonathan leaned back in his seat. “She’s offered a very good deal. One that will eliminate my company wading through conflict. If you don’t take it, she’ll fight you on the conversion and I don’t want that for potential hotel visitors. If you do take it, we all get a small piece of what we want.”

  Michael looked like he wanted to throw the glass. “Didn’t know you did business this way.”

  Jonathan stood and stepped toward her brother. Mia’s heart rate spiked. “What way is that? The one that gets all of us what we want?”

  Mia could see from the way Michael leaned into Jonathan that he wanted to say something nasty. Something low that would inevitably change the tone between them. The breath she didn’t know she was holding whooshed out of her lungs when Michael retreated.

  He raised his glass, but the look in his eyes was angry. “Guess this calls for a celebration. To my little sister for completely undermining me.”

  Mia winced, but it was Grams who spoke. “It’s unfortunate your parents never taught you to win or lose with any grace. You could learn a lot from your sister.”

  Her father said nothing, which cut almost as deep as Michael’s toast. Her eyes met Jonathan’s. They were warm and proud and filled in the cracks that her family left around her heart.

  Brady was right. She couldn’t choose her family, but she could build a circle of her own if she’d stop being so scared to get attached. It was time to realize that just because most of her family found her lacking, didn’t mean everyone else would. Brady certainly didn’t. She smiled at the thought of him. Only a week or two ago, you’d have been frowning over the mention of his name. And now she wanted to go home and tell him she’d won. She’d fought the dragons and came out the victor.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Two things stopped Mia from telling Brady everything when she saw him, briefly, later that day. The main one was the strict nondisclosure that Conroy Hotels had for any of their deals. All business was confidential until made public. The second one was her sinking feeling that Brady wouldn’t see it as a win. You need to think of a solution that will make it a win for all of you.

  A basement apartment? Maybe for herself and he could take over hers? Could he stay with Gabby and Owen? He has Justin, too. She didn’t know what she’d do if she gave up her own place for him. She enjoyed living on the property and didn’t want to change her address. Mia worried how far she had fallen when she realized she was more worried about changing Brady’s living arrangements than her own. Her annoyed sigh turned into an almost growl.

  Stop it. Put it aside until you have a plan. Mia was cautiously optimistic about her date with Brady. Give yourself this night with him. See if there’s anything there, anything real beneath the chemistry between you. He was different than any of the other men she’d dated, mostly because he was genuine. With him, what she saw was exactly what she got—whether it was his temper, his infectious smile, or the sexy way he backed her against a door and kissed the life into her. Completely real.

  Nerves about the evening ahead swirled in her stomach like a coming storm. She’d changed four times. Four. She never changed. She picked an outfit that suited the event and she got ready to go. She was not a fussy woman. She was decisive. Apparently she could attend a governor’s ball without second-guessing her attire but an engagement party was too much.

  “Not just an engagement party,” she said, smoothing her hair one more time.

  As much as she’d wanted to keep a veil between her and her tenants—not only for propriety’s sake, but also to protect herself—it was nearly impossible to do with this group of people. Mia had spent a lifetime surrounded by people looking to get into certain social circles and reap the rewards. Generally, once people found out she wasn’t the party girl she was made out to be, they lost interest. Some “friends” tried to get to her brother through her. Others just wanted to enjoy limo rides and glittery events.

  Brady and his friends didn’t care one way or the other whether they were attending an engagement party or playing Monopoly—it was about time spent together with people they cared about. She’d tried to insulate herself from falling for them, but it wasn’t working. She wanted to be part of it.

  Taking a final look in the mirror, Mia decided to stop fussing. She picked a cute little Chanel clutch and slipped her phone into it. Breathing wasn’t settling her stomach. She was still wound up from the meeting yesterday.

  The thought of not telling Brady didn’t sit right, but she didn’t want to go to him with any uncertainty. They hadn’t defined what they were even doing together, other than having a bit of fun. But the moment she gave herself permission to stop arguing with him, it was like her heart sat up and took notice. Telling him before she had a final answer of how many tenants would have to go, or exactly what the conversion would entail, felt like the quickest way to end whatever was starting between them. Surprisingly, she didn’t want it to end.

  The knock pulled her from her thoughts. When she swung it open, she lost her breath. Brady did more than clean up nicely—he wore a suit the way he did a smile: perfectly.

  “Wow,” he said, exhaling a deep breath. His gaze traveled down the length of her rich navy blue dress and back up to the scooped neckline. “Just wow. I don’t know if there’s a strong enough word for how good you look.”

  She felt her skin flush. “What you said works. You look pretty wow yourself.”

  Leaning in, he kissed her cheek and she inhaled the soft scent of his cologne and him, immediately wanting more. She smiled at him when he pulled back.

  “You missed,” she whispered, stepping into him and putting her hands on his shoulders.

  His mouth came down to hers and she let herself fall into the kiss. It pulled her in and pushed away worries about her brother, her building, and her family. She was taking tonight. With him. And her new friends. Everything else could fade into the background for one evening.

  ...

  If Mia had been at all on the fence about hiring Shay—a newbie designer—to plan and execute the legacy event, walking into the warehouse she’d transformed for Owen and Gabby’s engagement party would have completely swayed her.

  “Shay, this is breathtaking,” Mia said, scanning the space
. High-beamed ceilings peeked through the thick strands of delicate, gauzy fabric that swept from one corner to another and back. Mini white lights twined through and around like stars dancing in a darkened sky.

  Brady walked beside her, their fingers grazing, but not linked. The almost touching was making her stomach somersault. Tables and chairs were dressed with white linen. The chairs had silver bows tied around the high backs. Music pumped through the stereo system, a sultry, romantic beat that added to the ambiance. People milled about, laughing and chatting in the wide-open room. A long table had been set up for food and Mia smiled when she saw the samplings included a cookie bar, a candy bar, and a build-your-own-sundae station. It was elegant and fun, sweet and sexy. Such a perfect combination of what she knew so far of Gabby and Owen.

  “Baby, this is incredible,” Wyatt said.

  Shay beamed at the praise. “Thank you. I’m so happy with it, and I hope Owen and Gabby are, too.”

  When Wyatt lowered his head, cupping Shay’s cheek, their mouths meeting halfway, Mia’s heart smiled and she sighed. Wyatt was a hard man, but with Shay, he was so sweet. Mia liked the idea that one person could soften the other. Like they were each other’s perfect balance.

  “You okay?” Brady said into her ear. His breath sent a shiver down her spine.

  She nodded, still taking it all in.

  Shay nudged her shoulder. “I meant to say, you look beautiful, Mia. And Brady, you clean up very nicely.”

  Wyatt grunted and pulled Shay closer. “Hey.”

  Shay laughed. “Not as nicely as you, honey. Let’s dance.”

  Wyatt groaned. “Let’s just stand near the back wall and make out.”

  Mia laughed, smiling at Brady as Wyatt and Shay walked toward the dance floor. The space was not huge, but the way it was set up made it seem bigger. There probably weren’t as many people as there seemed to be, but the way the tables were organized pushed people into tighter quarters. She saw Gabby and Owen, foreheads touching, on the dance floor, swaying far slower than the beat of the music. Moving toward the bar, Mia stopped, her mouth hanging open.

  Canvas prints lined the wall near the freestanding bar. A row of lights over them cast them in well-deserved spotlighting. Each one, six in total, was more than it seemed. The first was a dark shadow, standing alone, mired in swirling darkness but color swabbed the edges, like it was trying to seep in and offer warmth to the figure. Then next was an abstract of color, calm and soothing shades—blues and pale greens. It took her a moment of looking to see two hands reaching for one another. Her heart jumped. They were beautiful, but she couldn’t figure out how the emotion was jumping from the canvas straight into her soul. Each one got brighter, more vibrant until the last one showed the outline of a couple, intertwined and completely wrapped in each other. The colors cocooned them. They could be anyone. Any two people who had found their other half.

  “She’s amazing, isn’t she?” Brady asked from behind her. His breath tickled her neck, sending delightful shivers over her skin. Her heart already hammered, just from looking at the pictures, and his voice sent it into hyperdrive. She reminded herself to go slow—to not get caught up in the romance of everything around her—but she worried about being able to protect her heart.

  “I’ve seen some of her work, but these are just…breathtaking.” She didn’t turn but she could feel him at her back. Tingles traveled up her spine and wound their way to the nape of her neck, like fingers sneaking into her hair. She sighed. Waited for him to touch her. How had they gone from one end of the scale to the other so quickly? She’d never met a man quite like him. So at home in his own skin, kind and incredibly giving. Bossy. Happy. Honest. He’s real. Which made the news she’d yet to share with him an anvil on her chest. If she wrecked the deal by telling him, they’d all be out of luck. Mia had no grand illusions about her brother—he would find every weakness and pressure point to gain the advantage. Telling anyone anything would make the deal null and void.

  “They are. She’s incredible. She did an exhibit last month at the Klein gallery. Sold every one of her pieces.” His breath was warm on her already heated skin.

  “I was excited about what she’s working on for the lobby, but now, I’m absolutely thrilled. I can’t wait to see it.”

  When his fingers came to her shoulder and slid down one arm, she bit her lip to contain the jolt it sent through her body. She hadn’t let herself give in to anything in months. Nothing that resulted in pleasure. She’d convinced herself that any distractions would wreck her endgame but now, unlike her family, she wanted more than business. She wanted a life. She wanted the apartments more than anything, because to her, it felt more like a living breathing comfort than just a building…like it was part of her. But it wasn’t all she wanted. She wanted what Gabby and Owen had, and what Shay and Wyatt had. But she didn’t want to be just part of a couple. She still needed to be seen for herself, not for who was standing next to her. But what she could do. Who she was.

  Now she turned. The music tempo changed, adding a heavy, quicker beat to the air. In the quiet glow of the twinkling lights and the seductive decor of the room, he was sexier than she’d imagined possible. His eyes watched her, so dark she couldn’t properly describe the color. His suit, charcoal gray, fit him like it had been designed for the sole purpose of drawing attention to his wide shoulders and strong arms. His hair was styled, somewhat messily, like he’d done it then run his hands through it.

  “You look so good,” she whispered.

  “Good doesn’t describe how you look, Mia.”

  Her heart clenched. Brady picked up a lock of her hair and let it fall through his fingers. His voice was rough and low when he spoke, his electric gaze glued to hers. “I love your hair. You always have it tied up so tight. It’s gorgeous. Like the rest of you.”

  Mia blinked, and then shifted her feet like she was unconsciously shuffling toward him. She couldn’t take her eyes off his, and though she heard the voices and the happiness ringing out around her, it was like they were alone.

  “I missed you this week.” Did that sound needy? It wasn’t like she hadn’t been busy.

  One side of his mouth tilted up. “I missed you, too. You know what they say about absence. Plus, I really didn’t want to piss you off.”

  She laughed. “So far so good.”

  He stepped closer so their bodies were touching. “The night is still young.”

  Mia tightened her arms around his neck. “Now that I know how good you are at kissing, you don’t annoy me quite as much.”

  Brady’s laugh was deep, rumbling up from his belly. It made Mia’s heart dance to bring out the kind of laughter in him that he inspired in others.

  “I guess I should have kissed you sooner,” he said.

  Her heels put them closer in height. “You could kiss me now.”

  Brady closed the distance between them, and Mia lost herself in the feel of his arms around her, swaying to music under hundreds of tiny, twinkling lights. One of his hands settled on her lower back and pressed her closer, while the other played with strands of her hair.

  Tilting her head onto his shoulder, she pushed everything else from her mind. In the distance, she saw Gabby and Owen laughing. She didn’t see Wyatt and Shay and wondered if they’d found a spot to pretend they were alone. Her eyes moved back to Brady.

  “If you missed me, you could have come to me. You know where I live. Also could have texted me. God knows you’ve done that enough times. Only now, it might be more fun,” he said, still stroking her hair.

  She straightened so she could look at him. “What was wrong with my texts before?”

  His smile widened. “‘Do this. Phone me. Ensure that all paperwork is signed. Change locks. Keep a tally of all expenditures.’ Not exactly sexting.”

  Laughing she pressed her mouth to his. “As if I’d be sexting you. I didn’t even know you.”

  “Feel free now that things have changed,” he said.

  Mia realized
the feeling bouncing inside her chest was happiness. Genuine happiness.

  “Things have changed quite a bit, haven’t they?”

  Their bodies swayed slower to keep time with the music and one of his hands drifted up and down her back lazily. “I hope so. I like this. I’m pretty sure I won’t stay on your good side indefinitely, but I plan on making the most of the time I am.”

  His kiss was as much affection as desire. Gentleness as heat. She eagerly accepted both.

  “If you two are dancing, you’re missing the floor,” Owen said, approaching them with Gabby at his side. He pointed at the hardwood floor to their right.

  Owen laughed and gave Brady a brotherly shove while looking at her. “You look beautiful, Mia.”

  “You really do. You look pretty fine yourself, Brady. Is Mia teaching you how to dance?” Gabby asked.

  “I can dance. As long as it’s slow. No one needs to see anything other than that,” Brady said.

  “Congratulations. Thank you for inviting me,” Mia said, letting her hands rest on Brady’s chest.

  “Our pleasure. We’re glad you could make it,” Owen said.

  “Shay really outdid herself. Some people were born for what they choose to do. This is definitely her niche,” Brady said.

  He sounded like a proud older brother. Or what she imagined a proud brother might sound like.

  “It’s incredible. She took all of my jumbled thoughts and ideas and turned them into something amazing,” Gabby said.

  Looking up at Owen, she pressed a kiss to his lips. “Let’s go get something to eat. I’m starving.”

  Owen laughed and tapped her nose with his index finger. “Of course you are.” He twirled her once, and she laughed and fell into him, resting her head on his chest and putting her arms around his waist. He held her close for a moment, then they waved and wandered off hand in hand.