She'd spent every spare moment of the past few weeks making as many designs as she could for the show-most of them the erotic pieces, because that's what had captured everyone's interest the most. She'd been grateful for the distraction because it left her little time to think about Cameron and her aching heart, or just how empty and lonely the apartment was now that Gina had moved out. But after tonight, she was going to have a whole lot of time to think about things she'd put out of her mind for weeks. And she wasn't looking forward to dealing with herself, for fear of what she might uncover.
The next hour whirled by in a quick blur. Between being introduced to dozens of Amy's clients, to doing a quick interview for the local newspaper for a piece they planned to write up about her and the show for an upcoming article, Mia was swept up into the excitement and satisfaction of a successful event. It wasn't until she saw Scott and Ashley heading her way that she realized she'd yet to talk to her family about the erotic aspect of her artwork.
"Wow, this is quite an event," Scott said, seemingly awed by all the people and the flurry of activity around him. "And I have to tell you, none of us had any idea you were putting naked pictures into your designs."
Mia couldn't tell if Scott approved or not. "I just put those into some of the artwork. There's plenty of stained-glass designs without naked people in them," she said, waving her hand toward a collection of floral pieces that were very G rated.
"Those erotic designs are beautiful, and very impressive." Ashley looped her arm through her husband's and smiled up at him adoringly. "Scott bought me the mermaid one."
Mia stared in shock at her brother. "You did?" She couldn't believe he'd spent that kind of money on one of her stained-glass designs.
He shrugged. "It's a very unique piece, and we both liked it. Besides, I want to be sure I get one of your first, original designs. That way when you become this famous artist, it'll be worth a whole lot more." Scott winked at her.
Now Mia just outright gaped at him. "Is this my brother Scott talking? The guy who turned down my idea of incorporating my stained-glass designs into the family business?"
Scott frowned at her. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"I'm just surprised, is all," she said with a shake of her head. "You crushed my hopes and dreams when I came home from college, and now you're suddenly one of my biggest supporters."
"Of course I am. God, Mia, Dad and I had no idea we were crushing a dream of yours, or else we never would have said no." A wealth of regrets deepened the blue of Scott's eyes. "I guess we didn't realize just how serious you were about your stained-glass art. And if we'd really known and understood how important your art was to you, we never would have deliberately held you back."
Mia paused in thought, surprised by her brother's reaction. She'd been so insecure back then, that at the first sign of rejection she'd automatically pulled back and kept her artwork to herself instead of putting up an argument. How unlike her, a woman who was so aggressive in all other areas of her life, she thought wryly.
Then, through the years, she'd kept her erotic pieces hidden, until she'd shared them with Cameron and he'd given her the confidence to pursue her greatest passion. She knew in her heart that her family loved her despite their overprotective ways, but it was Cameron who knew her better than any of them.
"I suppose now that you've made it on your own, very successfully I might add, that Alex and I should start looking for a replacement secretary?" Scott teased.
Her brother might have been joking, but Mia had given that a lot of thought the past few weeks. She'd come to the conclusion that if she wanted to make this her career, she had to give her stained-glass art one hundred percent of herself.
"This is what I love, Scott, and I can't see myself doing anything else," she told her brother. "So I guess you can consider this my two weeks notice."
Scott's mouth gaped open, and Mia tried not to laugh. She'd definitely shocked Scott with her announcement, but before he could reply, Alex and Dana joined them and then Steve and Liz. Soon, she was surrounded by the entire Wilde clan as they complimented and congratulated her on her designs and the phenomenal success of her first show.
Mia approached her stepmother, Amelia, who she'd yet to get a moment alone with tonight. She was standing next to Mia's father, and it struck Mia in that moment just how in love the two of them were. Her father deserved that, and Amelia deserved so much more than Mia had ever given her. Like her affection. Her love. A real mother-daughter relationship.
Mia's throat grew tight with the realization, and she swallowed back the knot and smiled at her father and Amelia. "Thank you both for coming tonight," she said and kissed her father on the cheek, then Amelia's. "It means so much to me to have the entire family here."
"We wouldn't miss something as important as this, Mia." Amelia grasped Mia's hands and gave them a warm squeeze that spoke volumes. "Your father and I are very proud of you."
The truth of Amelia's words reflected in her eyes, and another swell of emotion rose within Mia. For so many years Mia had been so caught up in her own personal pain and rebellion that she'd denied Amelia any real emotion. And it was so obvious just by looking into the other woman's eyes that she was still hoping it would happen one day.
God, Mia'd been so incredibly selfish!
"Mia," Amy called out from across the gallery where she was standing with a middle-aged couple. "Would you mind coming over here, please? I have someone interested in talking to you about having a custom piece designed."
Mia hated letting this moment between her and Amelia pass without saying more, but she had no choice. "Excuse-me," she said and went to discuss business with the couple.
Once again, the business end of her new career took precedence. One custom order led to another, and in between were the stained-glass purchases the guests were making so they could take their art home with them tonight. Finally, the last call was made for anyone who was interested in placing a bid on the silent auction items.
Needing a break and a moment alone to catch her breath, Mia slipped into the back room where the erotic pieces were displayed while everyone else was congregated in the front area of the gallery. She took a drink of her second glass of champagne as she glanced at one of her designs with a SOLD tag attached to it, feeling both giddy and amazed at how much the piece had gone for-almost enough to pay her rent for the next month. Amy had told her everything was going so well that Mia could easily expect a five-figure check before the night was through.
Her success was definitely heady, but one thing was undeniably missing from tonight's festivities: the one man who'd made it all possible. Cameron. She felt that loss in a soul-deep way. Even though she'd accomplished so much tonight, she had no one to share it all with.
"You look absolutely beautiful tonight."
The deep, sexy voice belonged to only one man she knew. Mia was certain she was dreaming, or hallucinating, until she spun around and found Cameron standing directly behind her. He looked so good, with his tousled dark blond hair, a collared shirt that showed off his wide shoulders and chest, and a pair of khaki trousers that fit him to perfection. Although his demeanor seemed reserved and guarded, his gorgeous green eyes told Mia just how much he wanted her. Still.
She was so elated to see him, she nearly jumped right into his arms. Instead, she exclaimed breathlessly, "You came!"
Disappointment, and even a hint of sadness, passed over his features. "You didn't think I would?"
Her fingers curled tight around her champagne flute. "Honestly, I wasn't sure."
"You still haven't learned to believe in me, have you?" It was a simple question that didn't require an answer, and he didn't wait for one. "I've been here for a while. An hour at least. I've been watching you bask in your well-earned success."
She laughed and shook her head. "Amazing, isn't it?"
"Not considering the talent in all these designs," he said with a smile that went straight to her senses. "I had no doubt you could
do it."
"I owe you a huge thanks," she said, the words feeling so inadequate when they'd shared so much.
"It's not your gratitude I want, Mia." There was a bite to his tone, and he glanced away for a moment as if to compose himself before looking at her again.
"I came in here to tell you that I know how difficult this was for you, to let your family see this side to you, but everyone I've talked to is very happy for you, Mia." His voice was gentle this time, as were the fingers he tenderly brushed across her cheek. "Now that you've put yourself out there, don't hide who you are inside. Be true to yourself, your feelings, and what you want out of life. And if this is it," he said, gesturing toward her work, "then embrace it with everything you have and everything you are."
He turned and left before she could reply, but his words remained with her long after he was gone. Could she be true to herself and what she wanted? With her stained-glass art, yes, she'd finally taken that step. But with Cameron… that loose end haunted her long after the guests had left for the evening.
By the end of the night, her career as a stained-glass artist had taken off. Her personal life, however, had crashed and burned.
Chapter Eighteen
MIA had known since the night of the gallery show that she and Amelia needed to talk, and it was a conversation long time in coming. She chose Sunday morning to pay a visit to Amelia, because she knew her father would be out fishing with his buddies and her stepmother would be home alone.
Mia pulled up to the house she'd grown up in and found Amelia out front on her knees as she planted new flowers along the walkway. Gardening was Amelia's passion, and Mia experienced a pang of regret for all the times her stepmother had tried to share her love of plants and flowers with Mia, only to have Mia rebuff her attempts.
Releasing a breath to ease her anxiety, Mia slid from the car and made her way toward Amelia, wondering if her stepmother would ever forgive her for being so self-centered and such a spoiled brat as a child. For rejecting the love and affection Amelia had tried so hard to offer her, until finally her stepmother stopped making the effort.
The clicking of her sandals on the walkway alerted her stepmother of Mia's presence, and Amelia glanced up at her in startled surprise. She was wearing a wide-brimmed hat to shield her face from the sun, but the warmth Mia saw in her stepmother's eyes was from a different source entirely. It came directly from Amelia's generous heart, and this time Mia basked in that warmth and kindness like one of the flowers Amelia was planting.
Amelia smiled up at her. "Hi, Mia. Your father isn't home," she said automatically.
"I know." Mia shifted on her feet and swiped her palms down the sides of her jean skirt. "I stopped by to talk to you."
"Oh." That announcement took Amelia off guard, and she stood, tugging off her gardening gloves. "In that case, let's go inside. I could use a cool drink, and I just made some fresh lemonade this morning."
Mia followed Amelia into the kitchen, and when she tried to help with the drinks, Amelia gently shooed her away. So Mia sat down at the table, and a few minutes later Amelia set a glass of lemonade in front of her, along with an empty plate and a big basket of fresh baked muffins.
Mia picked one of her favorites from the abundance of baked goods-a French apple streusel muffin-and smiled at Amelia. There were enough muffins in the basket to feed a small army. "Were you expecting company?" she asked, a teasing inflection in her voice.
"Actually, no." Amelia laughed and selected a blueberry muffin for herself. "Sometimes I forget that it's just your father and I. I prepared such large meals for so many years to feed all you kids, the boys especially, and sometimes I slip back into old habits."
Mia sliced open her muffin and slathered butter on one side. "You took very good care of us, you know that, don't you?"
"I certainly tried." Amelia tipped her head toward Mia, her expression curious. "Where did that comment come from?"
"My heart," Mia said without hesitation, and because it was the truth. "I came by today because there's a whole lot of things I need to share with you. Things I should have said and done years ago."
Worry replaced Amelia's initial speculation. "Is everything okay?"
"I'm hoping it will be, after today." Mia took a bite of her muffin, taking the moment to gather her thoughts. "First, I want to apologize for the way I've treated you, and for not letting you be a part of my life."
"Mia," Amelia began softly, and Mia was certain her stepmother was about to smooth things over and tell her it was okay.
But her past behavior wasn't okay, and Mia held up a hand to stop Amelia from speaking. "I need to tell you this."
Amelia sat back in her chair, her gaze reflecting a deep understanding. "Okay."
Mia pushed her half-eaten muffin aside, her appetite gone for the moment. "When my real mother died I was only five, and because my father waited a month to tell me she'd passed away, and I didn't go to the funeral, I honestly believed my real mother was going to come back home someday. Then a few years later he married you, and I was in such denial I didn't want to accept you as my new mother. I resented your presence and what you stood for, and I rebelled and took it out on you. I'd lost my mother, and in my mind I felt as though I'd lost my father now, too."
Reaching across the table, Amelia placed her hand over Mia's. "Oh, honey, I never meant to make you feel that way."
"The thing is, you never did. It was all me." Accepting the blame that was her burden to bear, Mia curled her fingers over Amelia's hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. "Then, as the years passed and I realized you weren't the wicked stepmother I'd imagined you to be, by then I was so certain you wouldn't love me because I'd been such an awful, disruptive child. I certainly didn't give you any reason to love me."
Mia's voice cracked with emotion, and she exhaled a trembling breath before continuing. "So it became easier and safer for me to keep my distance from you emotionally, than risking the kind of hurt and pain I'd gone through when I lost my mother. That was something I never wanted to experience again."
Amelia waved her hand between them. "First of all, I've always loved you and your brothers as if you all were my own. Even when you were an awful, disruptive child," she said with a gentle, maternal grin. Then she grew serious. "Your father and I decided not to have any children together because I was perfectly content with the four of you. But I'd be lying if I said I didn't miss not having a close mother-daughter type of relationship with you. Then again, I never wanted you to think I was trying to take your mother's place, so I took my cues from you."
And they'd been angry, selfish cues, Mia knew. "We've both missed out on so much. Is it too late to ask for your forgiveness, with the hope that maybe we can start out fresh and new from this point on?" This time, there were no fears or insecurities about opening herself up emotionally to Amelia. Mia was coming to realize that without risk, there was no gain.
"I'd like that very much." Moisture dampened Amelia's eyes-tears based in pure joy. She leaned toward Mia and wrapped her in a warm, tight hug. "All I ever wanted was for you to be happy, Mia."
Closing her eyes, Mia absorbed Amelia's embrace. Such a simple gesture that meant so much. Finally, they pulled apart and a smile played at the corners of Mia's mouth when she thought of how far she'd come in the past few weeks-and where she was headed. The confidence she felt was amazing and exhilarating. So was the inner peace filling her as a result of her visit with Amelia today.
"For the first time in my life, I'm very happy," Mia said and knew she meant every word.
Amelia's soft brown gaze searched Mia's expression. "Does it have anything to do with Cameron?"
Unsure where Amelia's question had stemmed from, Mia treaded cautiously, not quiet sure what she willing to reveal just yet. "What makes you ask that?"
"The night of the gallery show Joel made mention that he hoped things worked out between the two of you," Amelia said as she folded her arms on the table.
Mia was shocked t
o learn that Joel knew about her relationship with Cameron. She was even more stunned that her sometimes-overbearing brother hadn't said anything directly to her about it. Maybe, hopefully, her brothers were learning that she needed to stand on her own two feet and no longer needed them to shelter and protect her.
"I have to say, I agree with Joel," Amelia went on. "Cameron is a good man, and I could see by the way he watched you from afar that night that he cares for you very much."
Actually, Cameron loved her, Mia thought, reveling in the knowledge that such an incredible man wanted her. And there was no doubt in Mia's mind that she loved him as well. It had just taken her a little bit longer to embrace the emotion, to believe in it, to know it was lasting and true.
"Well, I'm finally in the right place, mentally and emotionally, to give my all to a relationship with Cameron," Mia said, thinking just how far she'd come in just a few short weeks. "There were some things I needed to take care of and do on my own first." Like going public with her stained-glass art and mending her relationship with Amelia. "And now, I'm ready to be the kind of woman Cameron needs in his life."
"So what are you waiting for?" Amelia encouraged her, as only a mother could do. "Go and tell him how you feel."
Mia planned to. Because she'd learned just how precious an emotion like love was, and she wouldn't take it, or Cameron, for granted ever again.
THE last person Cameron expected to find when he opened his front door was Mia. But there she was, looking like she'd just stepped from the dreams that consumed him on a nightly basis. Dreams of Mia, and what could have been.
She looked like a vision with her silky black hair tousled around her beautiful face and her soft gray eyes staring at him expectantly. Hopefully. She didn't try to hide the emotions in her gaze, the open vulnerability. But he also saw something else in her anxious expression. Real and candid feelings he dared to believe were meant for him.
Too Wilde to Tame Page 27
