Where the Heart Is

Chapter 30

CHAPTER

30

Sawyer had never had a woman fall asleep on him. But that’s exactly what Mila did after dinner. And she hadn’t been wrong about the snoring. A chainsaw had nothing on her.

He stifled a chuckle as she let rip with a particularly loud snort, knowing she’d hate him for not waking her but enjoying the unexpected comfort of having her warm and pliant.

He never did this. Have a homemade meal with a woman, then sit on the couch and just … be. When he dated, he had dinner at a restaurant and usually went back to the woman’s place. He valued his privacy and his space and didn’t want either intruded upon by someone he wouldn’t see more than a few times, if that. He liked his life uncomplicated, the antithesis of what it had been growing up.

But he knew that spending time like this with Mila was one giant complication waiting to happen.

She hadn’t pushed him about the land deal, and he hadn’t volunteered the information. Time enough after dinner. If she ever woke up, that is.

It didn’t sit well with him, withholding the truth that his company was acquiring her land. But Will knew her better than anyone and if her brother insisted that Sawyer keep his involvement in this acquisition a secret, he’d do it.

Not that he was a complete idiot. Getting Will’s blessing might soothe his conscience, but it didn’t change facts.

He was lying to Mila.

A woman he cared about.

And it would be an absolute shitshow if she ever found out.

Earlier today, when he’d been finalising the paperwork to present to her, he’d convinced himself that even when he eventually told her the truth, she’d be grateful he’d stepped in to save her dream. One friend helping out another. What was so bad about that?

But when he’d arrived here for dinner, seen her comfortable in the kitchen, independent and loving it, with fire in her eyes as she pushed the flirting boundaries, he knew he was kidding himself.

She’d flay him alive.

Mila stirred and he instinctively tightened his arm around her. Rather than snuggle into him as he hoped, she stiffened.

‘I’m assuming it was a full stomach that put you to sleep and not my scintillating company,’ he murmured, as she eased away and he reluctantly let her go.

‘I can’t believe I fell asleep. Hope I didn’t drool on you.’ She patted his chest to check and he didn’t mind a bit.

‘No, but you were right about the snoring.’

She grimaced. ‘Sorry about that. I’m not sleeping well at the moment.’

He’d like to think he had something to do with that—that he invaded her thoughts as much as she invaded his—but in reality, it probably had more to do with the financial stress she was under.

‘I might be able to help with that.’

She quirked an eyebrow. ‘That’s awfully presumptuous of you. Dinner doesn’t mean a sleepover, you know.’ She winked. ‘Not that there’d be much sleeping going on.’

The image of the two of them in bed together had him biting back a groan. He’d like nothing better than to spend the night if she meant it. But he’d been the king of deflection growing up, using humour to distract from how he was feeling, and he recognised Mila doing the same thing now.

‘Nice to know how your mind works,’ he said, earning a playful whack on the arm for his wolfish grin. ‘But I was actually referring to the deal I’ve brokered for your tract of land that will enable you to finish your farm-stay project.’

Mila squealed so loudly he winced and covered his ears. ‘Are you serious? I didn’t want to push you earlier and ask about it, but this is really happening?’

‘It’s happening,’ he said, the joy on her face making his deception a little easier.

Not that he was deliberately deceiving her. He just wasn’t telling her the entire truth about who was acquiring her land.

‘You’re amazing,’ she said, launching herself at him so hard that they tumbled back on the couch, with her lying on top of him. ‘Thank you.’

‘My pleasure,’ he murmured, his arms sliding around her to anchor her, the weight of her making breathing difficult. Though that had more to do with her breasts pressed against his chest and her pelvis flush against his.

He should sit up, laugh off her exuberance, and suggest they have a coffee to wind down the evening.

But as Mila’s gaze focused on his mouth and her tongue darted out to moisten her bottom lip, he knew he had as much chance of stopping this as coming clean on the land deal tonight.

‘Mila, if we start something now, it’s going to end with me staying the night. Are you sure you want that?’

‘I’m very sure of what I want.’ The corners of her mouth kicked into a naughty smile that made his heart sing. ‘And that’s you.’