A Daring Affair

by Tremay, Joy

  “I remember when your college roommate got pregnant and she was on the pill. After that, you swore you would still make your boyfriends use a condom.”

  Mia bit her fingernails nervously. “Like me, she took them like clockwork and wasn’t on any meds that would have interfered with them.”

  There was silence on the other line.

  “Do you want this baby, Mia?”

  Mia stared at herself in the mirror and saw a frightened young woman. She ran her hands across her mid-section when a sudden, fierce protective wave went through her. Surprised at the emotion, her brain started to function again.

  She needed to be strong, she needed to be smart, and she needed to be the mother her child deserved her to be. Strong conviction and clarity filled her mind. No matter what happened between her and Eric, she was going to love this baby with all her heart. After all, she loved the father of her child, and the child would always remind her of Eric.

  “Yes, I do. Of course I do,” she answered softly, tears falling silently on her lap. “I’m keeping this baby.”

  * * *

  Mia sat outside a café at Whaler’s Village and sipped her coffee slowly. She had risen early and had found Eric already gone. He had left a note on the bedside table saying that he had gone surfing. Mia had put on a yellow tank top and a dark brown mini skirt before meeting Charlie at the café.

  A part of her was still in shock, but she was determined to keep her secret until they returned to Edmonton. Eric had a right to know, but she wasn’t ready to tell him yet. She wanted her doctor back in Edmonton to confirm her pregnancy, and she wanted to talk to Eric about their relationship. It was imperative that she find out how he really felt about her now. It was her life, and it was her baby, and this time, she wasn’t going to be impulsive in any future decisions.

  “Hi, Mia, sorry I’m a little late,” said Charlie as he sat down across from her.

  Mia noticed that his blond hair was damp. He wore a beige T-shirt and red cargo shorts.

  “Did you go surfing this morning?” she asked.

  “Yup. Every morning, as soon as the sun rises,” he answered with a boyish grin. “My buddies and I can’t start the day unless we surf.”

  A waiter approached them and Charlie ordered a cup of Kona coffee and Hawaiian sweet bread.

  “It’s nice to see you again, Mia. You said you were in Kauai last weekend?”

  Mia was able to forget her worries for a while as she told Charlie about her adventures in Kauai. He nodded and listened, interjecting his own stories of past Kauai trips. She had forgotten how comfortable it was to be around him.

  “I hope that your Eric knows how lucky he is to be with you, Mia. I knew I didn’t have a chance after seeing him with you at the beach that day,” Charlie added ruefully.

  “What do you mean?” Mia asked, taking a sip of her coffee.

  “Anyone could see how much he was into you. Slightly possessive too. But, hey, you can’t blame him. I’d be the same if you were mine,” he said, winking at her before he reached for the sweet bread and took a large bite out of it.

  Mia rolled her eyes at his teasing. “I can’t imagine you being possessive over anyone.”

  “Do you have a sister?” he asked abruptly, taking a sip of his coffee.

  “Yes, I have two half-sisters, but they’re too young for you. However, I do have a cousin who just happens to be single.”

  “Does she look like you?”

  “No, she’s much prettier.”

  Charlie’s eyebrows rose. “That’s it. Give me your phone number. I need to keep in contact with you, so I can meet your cousin.”

  Mia laughed and shook her head. “You would fly all the way to Edmonton just to meet my cousin?”

  He shrugged. “Why not? I’ve got a lot of frequent flier miles.”

  Mia laughed again as he took his cell phone out.

  * * *

  Eric frowned as he watched Charlie and Mia from a distance. He had finished surfing a while ago and had discovered that Mia had left his condo. He found her note on the kitchen counter and had decided to meet her at Whaler’s Village. When he had come upon her laughing and talking to Charlie at the café, he had been less than pleased. Now seeing Charlie put what was obviously Mia’s cell phone number into his phone, he was ready to interrupt their little coffee break. But something held him back.

  * * *

  “You’re leaving in a week?” asked Charlie sadly.

  Mia nodded. “Yes, unfortunately. I love Maui and I wish I could stay.” Suddenly, emotions started to build up inside her and she couldn’t keep the sadness at bay.

  “Hey, what’s wrong?” he asked, concerned. He scooted his chair closer to hers and placed his arm around her shoulders.

  Mia looked down into her coffee cup and took a calming breath. She needed to get a hold of herself. It was time for her to grow up and accept the consequences of her actions.

  “Nothing’s wrong, Charlie. I’ve just been a bit tired from work lately,” she said weakly. Seeing his frown, she smiled at him reassuringly.

  “You sure?”

  She nodded, feeling him squeeze her shoulder. “Thanks for having coffee with me this morning,” she said, trying to inject a light tone in her voice.

  “You’re welcome. Don’t forget to say goodbye before you leave, Mia. I’m determined to meet your pretty cousin one day.”

  She laughed and stood. “I’ll warn her in advance,” she teased.

  He stood and gave her a warm hug. “Malama pono a hui hou, take care until we meet again.”

  “I’m sure we will.”

  Suddenly, Charlie leaned down and gave her a quick kiss on her cheek.

  Thrown off by his unexpected gesture, Mia looked at him in bemusement as he chuckled.

  “Couldn’t help it. I never could resist kissing a pretty girl,” he said mischievously before he walked away with a grin and a shaka hand sign.

  Mia smiled as she waved goodbye to him, and wondered why she couldn’t have fallen for a more easy-going, carefree guy like Charlie, instead of her complicated and confusing boss.

  * * *

  Eric’s eyes narrowed as he studied Mia’s expression while she watched Charlie leave. From his viewpoint, it looked like she had a wistful expression in her eyes. A slow burn had churned in his belly as he had watched them together. The kiss Charlie gave Mia made him want to confront Charlie and tell him to keep away from his girlfriend.

  He couldn’t believe the jealousy coursing through his body. He had never felt this way over Leilani when he had caught other men flirting with her. It was time to have a serious discussion with Mia about their relationship. He wanted her to know that after they left Maui, he had every intention of continuing what they had started five weeks ago.

  * * *

  Mia left Whaler’s Village and was lost in thought as she walked down the long, paved, pedestrian path that allowed easy access to all the hotels along Kaanapali Beach. The path faced the ocean, where paddle boarders, swimmers, and kayakers could be seen enjoying the light surf and warm water.

  She was oblivious to the tourists and pedestrians walking by when she suddenly heard a familiar voice call out her name.

  “Mia!”

  She turned at the sound of her name and found Eric rapidly approaching. She felt elated at his sudden appearance but wondered at the grim look on his face. He took her hand gently and led her to a grassy area framed by tall palm trees, away from pedestrian traffic. His face seemed to be carved out of granite as he looked at her sternly, making her smile turn into a puzzled frown.

  “What’s going on? Were you on some kind of date?” he asked, frowning.

  “What do you mean?” she asked, confused by the surly look in his eyes.

  “Why were you with that guy?”

  “Don’t take such a belligerent tone with me, Eric,” she scolded. “I was just having coffee with Charlie.”

  “Is that what it was?” Eric asked sarcastically. “He
had his arm around you, and you looked like you enjoyed it.”

  Mia stared at him for a few seconds, stung by his sarcasm, before she glared at him. “Excuse me? Were you spying on me?”

  “I wasn’t spying on you. I found your note and decided to join you, but when I found you, it looked like you were having a private conversation with that guy.”

  Mia placed her arms on her hips and wanted to smack him for his suspicions.

  “What you’re hinting at is completely distasteful,” Mia said heatedly. “Charlie and I were not having some kind of private conversation. We were just talking. I don’t appreciate your accusing me of seeing another guy behind your back.”

  Eric ran an agitated hand through his dark hair. He continued to look down into Mia’s eyes intensely, but she defiantly stared back at him.

  “All right. Maybe I made a mistake,” he said hesitantly, “but I didn’t like what I saw.”

  Mia’s annoyance began to dissipate as she realized that perhaps his insecurity stemmed from her not exactly being forthcoming with him regarding her feelings.

  “Eric, I would never cheat on you,” she said with quiet conviction.

  He paused, his eyes softening. He reached out and touched her face gently, stroking her cheekbone with his thumb.

  “I know that, Mia. I’m sorry. It’s just that I don’t like it when other guys come onto you,” he admitted roughly. “You mean a lot to me.”

  “Is that right?” she asked, holding her breath.

  “You know you do,” he answered, his eyes intent on hers.

  Eric opened his arms wide and without hesitation, Mia went into them. She was immediately enveloped into his warmth, and she wrapped her arms around his waist.

  He rubbed his chin against the top of her head as his hand sifted through her silky hair. “I shouldn’t have jumped to conclusions.”

  She looked up and saw the look of chagrin in his eyes. “You know you mean a lot to me too, Eric,” she said softly.

  He bent to kiss her on her lips. “I care about you deeply, sweetheart,” he mumbled against her lips.

  Mia desperately wanted to hear him say that he loved her, but perhaps he needed to hear her say the words to him first. She would have to find the courage to say them, sooner rather than later.

  * * *

  Drained of all energy, Mia felt boneless and spent after another bout of toe-curling lovemaking with Eric. He had made love to her with a ferocity that shook her to her core. He gathered her into his arms, and she couldn’t stop herself from saying the three words that she had been holding back for weeks now.

  “I love you, Eric,” Mia whispered. She felt nervous as she said the words, but she was finally glad to say them to him.

  An emotion, unlike any other she had seen before, flared in his eyes. It made her pulse quicken but then he quickly shuttered his expression. The three words she had been hoping he would say never came. With a heavy heart, she realized that perhaps she had been hoping for too much.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked softly, sensing his withdrawal.

  “Nothing’s wrong, Mia,” he answered. He placed a kiss on her cheek and stared down into her eyes. “You know how much I care about you, don’t you?”

  “Yes,” she answered, hope rising at his words.

  “Let’s just take this slowly,” he said carefully.

  Mia felt a dull ache, and she looked away from him, so he wouldn’t see her hurt and disappointment.

  “Our relationship is important to me,” Eric said firmly, placing a finger under her chin, gently coaxing her to look at him again. “I just don’t want us to rush.”

  “I tell you that I love you, and all you can tell me is that you want us to take it slow, and you don’t want us to rush?” Mia asked, unable to keep the hurt out of her voice. Eric sighed and she closed her eyes to block out his attractive face. She was beginning to feel that what they had together contained more lust than substance, and baring her heart to him had probably been yet another impulsive mistake.

  “Mia, you don’t understand,” he said patiently. “I want us to be together, but I know from experience that it’s best to take one day at a time.”

  Eric traced a finger over her face, and added earnestly, “We’ve only known each other for five weeks, and we’ll be leaving Maui in a week. I don’t intend to end our relationship once we’re back in Edmonton, but I don’t want us to rush into things just because we’re leaving the island.”

  “I didn’t say I love you because we’re leaving Maui soon, Eric” she said in exasperation. “I said it because I mean it.”

  “Thank you, Mia,” he said, nodding. “I hope you know that I will never do anything to hurt you.”

  “You’re welcome,” she said tonelessly. There was nothing else to say.

  She closed her eyes and shut him out. Didn’t he realize that he had already hurt her? She turned on her side and hugged a pillow. She felt him place his hand gently on her hair before he rose out of bed to go to the bathroom. She squeezed her eyes tightly, but nothing could prevent her tears from falling or the sorrow she felt for being so naïve.

  Eric didn’t love her, and that made her heart squeeze painfully. She wasn’t about to tell him about the baby now. If he thought that her saying, “I love you” was rushing things, how much more for a baby on its way? She didn’t want to end up being his proverbial ball and chain.

  Mia resolved that no matter what happened, she was going to keep her baby a secret, at least for now. She didn’t want his thanks, she wanted his love, and if he couldn’t give it to her, then she would find a way to raise her baby on her own.

  * * *

  Eric stepped into the shower and closed his eyes as the warm spray hit his face. The combination of raw hunger and stark need had coalesced into a maelstrom of emotions, leaving him feeling weak and vulnerable. The intense feelings coursing through him were too new and foreign, and far from comfortable. He needed time to absorb what he felt for Mia.

  He’d had many affairs, but never any serious girlfriends. Even Leilani had not been able to get him to commit for long. But with Mia, he kept envisioning having children with her, raising them together, and growing old with her. He had never needed anybody to fulfill his life. He had been content to be in charge of the hotels and be the trusted, right-hand man to his boss. He neither liked nor was accustomed to major changes in his personal life.

  Mia had distracted him since he first set eyes on her. She was wild and sexy in bed, and mischievous and adventurous out of it. She had swiftly become his girlfriend, and was now living with him. It was all happening too fast, and he needed to press the pause button on their rapidly evolving relationship because he wanted to feel in control again.

  He stepped out of the shower, toweled himself dry, and put on his robe. He looked at himself in the bathroom mirror and resolved that it was time he took the driver’s seat in his personal life again. Mia didn’t know the impact her words had on him. The only other woman who had told him that she loved him was Leilani, and he had not quite believed her.

  It was different with Mia. He had felt the sincerity of her words deep in his heart. He had seen and keenly felt her disappointment when he had failed to say the words he knew she wanted to hear. But telling her he loved her wouldn’t be fair because he honestly didn’t know if it was true.

  When he walked back into the bedroom, he found she was gone.

  * * *

  Mia decided that she needed to get away from Eric. She was upset, confused, and a little depressed. The last thing she wanted to do was spend more time with the man who didn’t seem to want her as much as she wanted him.

  She borrowed Eric’s bicycle, biked to a nearby beach and sat on a grassy knoll. There were several dozen people swimming and enjoying the waves in the late afternoon. She watched a group of children gleefully swimming in the water, calling out to their mothers sitting on the beach. Mia glanced down at her stomach and pondered the impending, enormous responsibility.
It was difficult to believe that she would be having a child of her own soon.

  Mia decided to leave the bicycle on the knoll and walked down the path toward the beach. She sat on the white sand and allowed the warm breeze and the sounds of the surf to soothe her frayed nerves. She wasn’t going to change her mind about not telling Eric about the baby. The man was obviously confused and didn’t know what to do about her, but that wasn’t her problem.

  Right now, her priority was her baby, and she wasn’t going to allow anyone to make her baby feel unwanted or insecure, even though she felt that way herself.

  “Children are so funny, aren’t they?”

  Mia glanced over at a woman sitting on a colorful beach blanket a few feet away. She looked to be in her early thirties, and wore a black bathing suit. She was taking out colorful, plastic toys from a large beach bag. The woman looked up and gave Mia a friendly smile.

  “My kids beg me to bring their beach toys, but when we get here they don’t play with them.”

  Mia smiled back at her. “Maybe they’ll play with them later.”

  The woman shook her head. “No, they never really do. I’m forced to lug around these toys wherever we go.” The woman paused. “Hi, I’m Tania.”

  “I’m Mia.”

  “You have kids?”

  “Not yet, but I’m expecting.”

  “Congratulations,” grinned Tania. “Let me tell you something, kids are wonderful, except when they’re not.”

  Mia laughed and looked at two children cavorting in the ocean. The boy and the girl looked alike. They waved at Tania, and she waved back at them. They hurriedly placed their snorkeling gear on and dove into the ocean.

  “Those are my twins. They could swim before they could walk, and they swim like dolphins,” Tania said proudly. “We vacation in Maui every year because it’s their favorite place in the world.”

  “They’re lucky kids,” Mia said.

  Tania rubbed suntan lotion on her bare arms and held the bottle out to Mia.

  She took it gratefully, having forgotten to grab her suntan lotion before leaving Eric’s condo in her rush to get away from him.