Just Right for Me

by Wehr, Mary

  “You’re the one who’s in a snit, not me.” Liar. Mia had gone to bed last night certain she’d be able to go through their childhood home by herself before the contract of sale could be finalized, but when she woke up this morning she had chickened out. “I decided not to go. I’d like you to go with me, but I take it today’s out of the question.”

  The waitress came back with their drinks and before Becky could reply Mia took a gulp of her wine. “Mom’s been gone now for nearly a month, yet it feels like she died long ago.”

  “Would you rather not sell the house now and live there for a while? This way you could save on rent.”

  “You’ve got to be joking? You know how much I hated living there.” Evidently, Becky had mistaken her melancholy for sentiment. What a hoot. “I appreciate the offer, but I’d never move back into that house. I busted my ass all through high school working part-time jobs so I’d be able to save up enough money to get my own place after I graduated. We both know how well that went. Mom demanded my first paycheck to help pay the bills and from then on, she took half of it for rent. By the time I moved out, I had nothing saved for college.”

  Mia changed her mind about the wine and asked a passing waitress for a glass of water. Becky was right. She didn’t drink much alcohol and it wouldn’t do her any good to go back to the bank reeking of wine. “I’ll be damn glad to be rid of it.”

  Becky sighed as she traced the rim of her glass with her finger. “I wish I had something nice to remember about our childhood. We couldn’t even have a pet, for heaven’s sake.” She reached across the table and squeezed Mia’s hand. “Mom basically ignored me and took everything out on you and I still can’t figure out why. I remember a lot yelling and name calling, but did something else happen and you’re afraid to tell me?”

  “Of course not.” Revealing to Becky what had happened all those years ago would only hurt her sister and perhaps make her angry. Mia had done what she had to do in order to protect her younger sibling. But, Becky had grown up and could very well be the shoulder Mia needed to lean on when the memories of that day came rushing back. “Can you swing by the house tomorrow around three o’clock? This way we can go through the place together one last time and have a little talk.”

  “Okay, great.” Becky sipped her soda. “I wish Dad would’ve fussed over us like most fathers do with their daughters. I always envied the other little girls in my class when their dads came to pick them up from school, ask them how the day went or held their hand.” Her brown eyes filled with tears. “Jason treats me like a woman, but the little girl inside of me, craves to be cuddled and disciplined. He takes care of those needs, Mia. It’s like he was meant just for me.”

  Mia admired Becky’s candor and wished she could share her desire to be spanked, but there wasn’t a special man in her life she could really trust. As for a parent’s embrace, how could you miss something that was never given? But, since Becky had been bringing the subject up more often than not, determined to defend her Domestic Discipline marriage, Mia wished she had those memories of a father and daughter bond formed with love and discipline. She’d cherish them. She shook her head. Those dreams were reserved for little girls and not a woman of twenty-nine.

  “Mia, Jason is so good to me. He didn’t stop me from going out with my friends last week.”

  “But you still had stipulations,” Mia argued, determined not to give up her views on this type of marriage.

  Becky agreed, “Yes, I did. Jason warned me not to have more than three drinks. You know I don’t hold my alcohol well.”

  “I won’t argue with you there.” More than three drinks and Becky would have been dancing on the tables. Yes, Jason knew her sister well, so she should just butt out. Mia held back a groan. With Becky’s eighth wedding anniversary just around the corner, she had no right to judge. Here she sat, still single, and not one candidate for a husband on the horizon. Not that she needed a man in order to be happy.

  “Oh, I almost forgot to tell you. Ross is back.”

  Mia ached inside at the mention of her ex-fiancé’s name. “I guess he’s home for his aunt’s funeral. It’s sometime this week, isn’t it? I’m sure he’ll high tail it out of town as soon as he settles the estate.” Mia hadn’t seen or heard from Ross since the day she had thrown her engagement ring at him, along with some other breakables, and ordered him out of her life.

  Becky shook her head. “No, I mean he’s back…to stay. He phoned last night. Apparently, he sold his shares back to the software company he had invested in and is moving back to Pennsylvania.” She leaned forward and said softly, “Mia, I know what you’re thinking, and I’m sure Kelly lied to you all those years ago.”

  Just a smidgen of Becky’s confidence would definitely give her the boost she needed to try to be happy. “How can you be so sure?”

  Becky clicked her tongue in exasperation. “Think about it. If he didn’t pay any attention to her during high school, why would he bother to fuck her years later?” She slapped her hand across her mouth. “Oops.”

  “Shush, Becky, keep your voice down.” Mia had a bad habit of swearing, but at least she had enough sense not to do in a crowded restaurant where there were children present. She paused for a moment. “Ross had his chance to explain, but left without even trying to defend himself.”

  “Would you have listened if he had?” Becky’s smug expression dared her to say otherwise.

  Mia bit into her pizza. No, she had been too enraged at the time to listen. The tiny mole on Ross’s inner thigh could only be noticeable if he was naked, yet Kelly knew the exact location. The bitch had entered the bank, snickered at Mia and politely asked her to kiss his mole for her before she proceeded to tell Mia right where it was. Mia’s trust in Ross had been blown apart. Later in the day, when he came over to the apartment, Mia repeated everything Kelly had told her plus a few choice words of her own and waited for him to say something – anything - to prove her wrong. Instead, he had stomped out of the apartment and out of her life.

  Men had been on her shit list since then and still were. The only reason she had gone out with one of Jason’s buddies was to keep Becky out of her hair. The night had ended in disaster. When she did decide to throw her hat in the ring again, she found herself comparing every man to Ross. Her temper had chased away the only man she’d ever love. Only three months into the engagement and everything had gone to pot. Not a day passed by without a thought of the twenty-two year old young man she had discarded so carelessly in a fit of rage. The desire to call him and beg for his forgiveness played in her mind, but she didn’t want to mess up his life any further than she already had.

  The only relative Ross had left passed away several days ago. Maggie had been an eccentric old woman short on words, but tenderhearted and kind up until the day she died. Mia had taken a liking to her from the moment Ross introduced them one lazy Sunday afternoon. Maggie had insisted Mia keep in touch even though she and Ross were no longer together. They’d share a cup of tea and indulge in some girl talk. She would miss the woman’s pleasant companionship and easygoing manner.

  Chapter Three

  Laughter erupted, followed by an exaggerated feminine giggle. Mia had just bitten into her pizza and nearly choked. “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” A familiar chord struck inside her. Only one man possessed such a full-bodied laugh.

  Like a rocket, Becky shot up from her chair and peered toward the back of the restaurant.

  Flabbergasted, Mia clutched Becky by the arm and yanked her back into her seat. “Holy smokes, can’t you be a little more discreet? Stay down and let me take a look.”

  Legs trembling, Mia stood up and made a point of brushing imaginary wrinkles from her skirt. She chanced a glance over her shoulder and gasped. His back may be broader but there was no mistaking the rakish mane of dark hair curling at the collar of his shirt. She sank back into her seat.

  “Oh my gosh. It is Ross,” both women said in unison.

  Becky scowle
d. “Wait, he’s getting up. There’s a tall blonde with him too, what a skank.” She rolled her eyes in disgust. “She looks like a made-up Barbie doll with boobs out to here.” She held her hands about a foot away from her chest for emphasis.

  Mia glanced down at her own chest. Even though she didn’t lack for curves, she could hardly compete with a Dolly Parton wannabe. On the verge of a full-blown panic attack, she took a deep breath and let it out in short spurts. Why did he have to be here now?

  Mia considered her options and came up short. There weren’t any. She couldn’t hide in the ladies room because she’d have to pass Ross in order to get to it and the only way she’d make it to the exit door without being spotted was if she crawled on her hands and knees. Flashing her fanny to the public was not on her list of things to do for a laugh.

  Becky sat facing the back of the restaurant giving Mia a chance to gather her wits before he reached their table. She squirmed in her seat and groaned. Just one look at the man’s back and her panties were already damp. Becky’s smile suddenly widened and she gulped.

  Muscled thighs in navy blue dress slacks came into her line of vision and boy, what a vision. The wide leather belt hugging his lean waist snared her attention far longer than necessary. She could easily imagine his big hands holding that belt and threatening to spank her with it. His stomach appeared flat under his crisp white dress shirt and her fingers twitched. She ached to slip her hand inside the slight gap between the buttons and stroke his firm skin. Mia tilted her head in order to see his face and caught her breath. He seemed so much taller than she had remembered and his dark hair combined with a tanned, rugged face deepened his eyes to a piercing midnight blue. He carried himself with confidence and although his face appeared to be a bit more on the stern side, the slight tilt at the corner of his mouth along with the laugh lines gracing the edge of those gorgeous eyes revealed a sense of humor.

  Mia’s heart contracted painfully when the woman standing at his side slipped her hand under his elbow and pressed her humongous breasts against his sinewy arm. Obviously, she was staking a claim to Ross and the smug look on her face dared Mia to cross the line. Mia curled her feet around the legs of her chair so she wouldn’t bolt out of her seat and fisted her hands until her fingernails bit into her palms. She had to calm down. Acting like a harridan would surely send Ross out the door and she wasn’t about to make the same mistake twice.

  “Hello, Becky, Mia. It’s nice to see you both again.”

  Blue eyes connected with green and the noise in the restaurant faded into the background. Becky could have been standing on the table doing the hula and Mia wouldn’t have noticed. Had those eyes always been that deep of a blue? And his mouth—Lordy, the things he could do with that mouth.

  Ross had always relished making love to her with his lips and tongue. He’d make a meal out of her and wouldn’t stop until her entire body quivered over and over. She’d orgasm into his mouth, and then he’d drape her legs over his shoulders, grab her hips and plunge into her body until he wrenched another scream from her lips. Only then would he take his own pleasure.

  Her heart thumped so loudly in her ears, she thought it would pop out of her chest. “Hello Ross, it’s nice to see you again. I wish it were under more pleasant circumstances.” Mia squeezed her thighs together. Damn his tongue anyway. Her panties were soaked and her face warmed when she caught the scent of her own arousal.

  She watched as Ross politely freed himself from the blonde’s tenacious hold and leaned down. He gave her a peck on the cheek and she hoped he couldn’t smell her sex. A hint of spice and pure male permeated the air and she was tempted to throw herself at him and bury her nose in his massive chest. No doubt, the blonde with the fake boobs would have something to say about that. What she wouldn’t give to have a few minutes alone with the bitch….

  Her thoughts must have shown on her face because his mouth moved up to her ear and he whispered ever so softly, “Still the hot tempered young lady prone to jumping to conclusions, aren’t you? I think a trip over my knee could help with that.”

  Did he just threaten to spank her? Mortified, Mia lowered her eyes and choked back a nervous laugh. Ross had never resorted to physical intimidation before, so what had changed? She watched in anticipation as he reached for her hand. A jolt of electricity shot up her arm. Sexual need tightened in Mia’s belly as she studied his knuckles and long fingers. She bit her bottom lip to keep from moaning out loud at the pleasure she derived from his touch.

  He raised her hand to his firm mouth and dropped a light kiss on her heated skin. His square jaw sported a hint of stubble and her womb clenched sending tingles to her most secret place. Sometimes he’d purposely not shave so he could drive her to distraction by rubbing his face along her inner thighs, stopping short of the part that craved for his attention.

  But that had been in the past and he had moved on.

  Mia’s throat felt as if she had a wad of cotton in it and she downed the contents of her glass. She hid her disappointment with a small smile. She should have kept the wine. “I’m very sorry about your Aunt. Please let me know when the funeral takes place. I’d like to pay my respects.”

  Ross released her hand and straightened to his full height. “Thank you, but everything’s already been taken care of this morning,” he replied. His deep voice glided over her like warm honey. “Aunt Maggie had made her wishes clear. She wanted nothing more than a simple cremation and burial.”

  Disappointment washed through Mia. Well, that was short and to the point. In other words, don’t give it another thought. “I understand.” Mia tensed when he motioned to his left.

  “This is Connie. She’s a friend of mine.”

  Mia noticed that Connie had laid claim to Ross’s arm once again and could barely hold back a snort. Sure, she is. They stood so close together a toothpick couldn’t be wedged between their bodies. Any closer and Connie would be on top of the man.

  After a few more minutes of inane talk, they left. Mia felt like a total idiot. Earlier, she had wondered how she’d react upon seeing him again, she even entertained the thought of another shot at their relationship, but the past couldn’t be revived no matter how much a person wished. She pushed her half-eaten slice of pizza aside. All of a sudden, she wasn’t hungry anymore.

  * * * * *

  “Come on, Ross, baby. I know just how to wipe that scowl off your face.” Connie’s hand trailed along his thigh and literally clamped down on his cock. “I know you want me too.”

  Ross gritted his teeth. You couldn’t be more wrong, lady. Seeing Mia at the restaurant had been a surprise, albeit a nice one. His plan was to take Connie for lunch and then ship her back home to California, but whenever he brought the subject up she’d interrupt him with something about her dad and the lunch had taken longer than he had intended. Ross would be forever grateful for Pete’s guidance in advising him of his investments and he didn’t want things to end on a sour note with his daughter, but as usual, Connie refused to cooperate.

  Seeing Mia strengthened his determination to win her back and Connie’s touch made him sick. He brushed aside her hand. “I have some business to attend to and you need to get yourself on a plane back home. I’m staying here and seeing about my aunt’s property. It’s best if you go back home to daddy.”

  A low hiss reached his ears followed by a slew of curse words even he didn’t know. “You’re still hung up on your ex, aren’t you? Dammit, Ross, I…”

  “Enough. We both agreed not to get involved emotionally. I told you not to follow me here. I have other priorities.”

  “Like getting into the panties of the plain Jane, I take it?”

  Ross’s mouth twisted wryly. Mia was far from plain. Her wealth of chestnut colored hair framed her heart shaped face perfectly. A man could easily lose himself in those gorgeous green eyes and her pink full mouth could bring any kind of wicked dream he imagined in his head come true. Connie was just being a brat and needed a good spanking, but Ros
s had lost all desire to put his hands on the woman.

  “You were totally on board with our friendly relationship. Now, I don’t want to hear another word do you understand? While you’re packing, I’ll call a cab.” The ride back to the hotel passed in silence, but he didn’t give a shit. He parked the car and before he turned off the engine, Connie jumped out of her seat and slammed the door.

  Tired of watching Connie fly around the room like a witch on a broom, Ross stared out the hotel window. Grief over his hasty actions years ago weighed him down and gnawed at his very soul. If only he could be like Jason. Even in a temper, Jason could always think twice before striking once but not Ross. Ross had always been the opposite, but the two men had always gotten along. Ross had envied Jason’s knack for patience, but once he became a Marine it hadn’t taken him long to learn to curb his temper or suffer the consequences. Life had become a lot less complicated when he assessed a situation first, instead of making rash decisions.

  Ross tuned out Connie’s swearing and regaled the day he had met Mia. They had been invited to dinner party thrown by Jason and Becky. During the course of the evening, they were asked to be the attendants for the wedding. The four had attended the same high school, which surprised Ross. Certainly, he would have remembered such a beautiful woman as Mia Adams. She was only a year younger. He had purged his memory, but all he could come up with was an image of a mousey girl in baggy clothes and not the gorgeous woman with the killer body sitting across from him.

  Soon they began dating, but between Mia’s temper and his hard head, their relationship hadn’t lasted long. Mia had serious trust issues and Ross disliked drama, so he had walked away instead of dealing with it. But, things were much different now. He was a hell of a lot more patient and knew if he had taken the time to talk things out, he and Mia would probably be married by now and chasing around a couple of kids.