22. Theo
22
THEO
“Roberts, you can’t keep waiting on this. If we don’t break ground on that property soon, it won’t be ready for next season at all.”
I look at the desk in front of me. Steve has rolled out the plans that include building C, the building that we would need Mia’s property in order to have space for. I had tucked them away in a drawer, but Steve has managed to pull them out again.
I just continue to look at him, unsure of how to explain that we’re going to have to give up that idea. I just can’t.
And whenever I think that maybe Mia would be receptive to my offer if it’s just good enough, I think about her face when I told her that I wasn’t going to continue trying to buy her property.
There was something genuine about it—excitement that showed she really cares about that place.
I look up and make eye contact with my business partner. “Steve, I understand your concern. I think it’s time to consider the second option, the one we sketched out if we weren’t able to obtain the property.”
“But that was when we had no way to contact the owner! We were looking up phone numbers that might be associated with this old woman. She was in a nursing home the whole time, though.” Steve places his hands on his hips, and his eyes become cold. “Now, it’s a different scenario.”
“Yes, she’s right there. She’s easy to contact, but I’ve told you that I’ve had several discussions with her.”
Steve shakes his head. He’s starting to get agitated. “It’s not a discussion, Roberts. It’s an offer. And she would be dumb not to take it. Have you offered her the million we discussed?”
I nod, feeling everything that Steve is feeling piling up on my shoulders. I came to peace about this situation a few days ago. I came to the conclusion that Mia wouldn’t change her mind. Now, I just need to get that idea through Steve’s thick skull.
“I’ve offered her every configuration I can think of. I even offered her a share in the resort’s profits.”
“You what ?”
“You want the property. I was trying to get it. It doesn’t matter, though. She’s not interested.”
Steve runs a hair through his perfectly coiffed hair as he begins to pace back and forth. “It’s not that hard. It doesn’t take that much. Didn’t you say you used to know her? Back in high school, you went to school together or something?”
“Yes, something like that.”
“So why is she so resistant to listening to what you have to offer?”
I sigh and close my eyes for a moment to gather my thoughts. “She’s just…stubborn. The property was her grandmother's. She has some important memories there, and she’s not willing to sell.”
“Those memories must be worth a lot if she won’t accept a million for them. What about the business dinner that I suggested? Did that not help at all? I thought for sure you two would get to talk, connect, and she would see how important this resort is. It’s not just for us, because of course we’ll make money from it, but it’s also for Oak Island. There is little to no entertainment here.” Steve stops his pacing and turns to look at me. “What’s your plan, Roberts?”
I’ve already enacted my plan, and it’s nothing fancy, nothing grand, but I don’t know what else to do. I’ve given up the idea of expanding the resort to its full potential. “Give me time,” I tell Steve instead. I can’t tell him that it’s not going to happen, not when he’s in a mood like this. He won’t accept my answer.
Steve shakes his head. “You have a week. I want to be bulldozing that house before mid-June.”
I immediately picture the sunroom that Mia and I worked so hard on. I can see it shattering before my eyes as the place is bulldozed. That’s not going to happen. She’s not going to sell, and I’m not going to ask her again.
Mia and I have come too far. We’ve finally opened up about our feelings for one another. But I can’t tell Steve that. Not yet.
“Fine, we can talk again in a week,” I promise him, even though I know I won’t have any updates he wants to hear.
Steve finally stalks out of the office, and I flop into the office chair. I need a few minutes to recover from that.
I sit here in my office chair, staring at the closed door Steve just walked through. Why does this have to be so complicated? I know I have to make a decision soon, but right now, I need a break. I need to see Mia. She’ll help me clear my head.
Standing up, I grab my keys and head out. The walk to Mia’s house is short, but it gives me a chance to clear my head a bit. By the time I reach her front door, I’m still tense, but seeing her will help. It always does.
I knock, and within moments, Mia opens the door. She’s wearing a simple dress, and her dark hair is pulled back into a ponytail. She has a stripe of white paint across her cheek that gives her a playful look. She is beautiful, and just seeing her face makes some of the tension ease from my shoulders.
“Hey, Theo. Come on in.” No questions asked about the serious look on my face.
“Hey, Mia.” I pull her into a hug, keeping it brief even though I want to stroke her hair, her back, everything. “What have you been working on?”
“I’m painting one of the bedrooms. There was nothing wrong per se with the paint in there, but it had some marks on it, and I want all the bedrooms to look fresh.”
I smile at her enthusiasm. “I can’t wait to see them when you’re done.”
We move to the living room, and Mia motions for me to sit down. “You look stressed. Is everything okay?”
I hesitate for a moment, then nod. “Yeah, it’s just...Steve. He’s putting a lot of pressure on me about the resort.”
Mia’s expression softens, and she sits down beside me. “Tell me about it.”
I take a deep breath, feeling the need to be honest with her. Somehow, I feel like I can tell her about it. “He’s really pushing to get your property. He doesn’t understand why you won’t sell, and he’s not happy with the idea of scaling back the resort plans.”
Mia’s eyes narrow slightly. “But I thought we had an understanding. I thought you weren’t going to push me anymore.”
I rush to answer her. “I’m not. I promise, Mia. I’m not going to ask you to sell again. I told Steve that too, but he’s not listening. He’s giving me a week to convince you or he’s… Well, I don’t know what he’s going to do.”
Mia looks down at her hands, clearly thinking. “What options does he have? I mean, he’s your partner, not your boss, right?”
“I might have to put the project on hold. At least until I can figure out a way to move forward without your property. But that means Steve and I might not come out of this still a team. In fact, I’m pretty sure he’s already decided that he never wants to work with me on another project again.”
Mia’s eyes meet mine, and there’s a mix of emotions in them. “Theo, I don’t want to be the reason your project fails.”
I reach across the space between us and place a hand on her knee. “You’re not. This is on me. I’m the one who needs to find a solution that works for everyone. And honestly, I care more about you and your happiness than any business deal. That’s why I’m not badgering you. The only reason I’m telling you is… Well, you asked why I look stressed, and I want to explain. I want to be honest with you.”
Mia’s eyes soften, and she takes my hand from her knee, lacing her fingers through mine. “Thank you, Theo. That means a lot to me.”
I squeeze her hand, feeling a connection between us that goes beyond words. “You mean a lot to me, Mia. More than this project. And this project is worth a few million, so that’s a compliment.”
She laughs, and I love the light sound tinkling in the air.
Before she can say anything else, I close the distance between us. I think the only way to assure her that I really only want what’s best for us is if she knows how much she means to me.
My kiss is gentle at first, but then it deepens. I can’t seem to hold back what I’m feeling for Mia, and the truth is that I don’t want to. Mia responds, her arms wrapping around my neck as she pulls me closer. Her body presses into mine.
Then, suddenly, she straddles me where I’m sitting on the couch, her hips pressing into mine. I kiss her harder and harder, but it’s not enough. I want more.
I pull Mia’s head back slightly by her ponytail, and she’s forced to look up. I slowly kiss my way down her neck until I reach the fabric of her paint-stained T-shirt.
It’s in the way. I want to get rid of it, but I don’t want to cross any boundaries Mia might have set up.
I pull back just enough so that we both have breathing space. “Are you good if I…” I let my voice trail off as I grab the hem of Mia’s T-shirt.
“Yes, please. Don’t stop.”
The sound of Mia practically begging me to continue touching her is all I need to encourage me forward. I yank Mia’s T-shirt over her head. Now, her breasts are directly in front of me with almost no barrier. The desire I feel to take them in my mouth is overpowering, and I fumble with the clasp on Mia’s bra.
When it comes off, I grip her breasts tightly, taking one in each hand and squeezing. Mia moans and pushes her hips harder against mine. I’m hard, and my dick is throbbing with need. I want to push myself inside her and make her scream, but that has to wait.
First, I want to pleasure Mia. I take one of her breasts in my mouth, my tongue circling her nipple until I pull it into my mouth and suck on it gently.
Mia's breathing quickens, and her hands tangle in my hair, pulling me closer. Her moans grow louder as I continue to suck on her breast, my free hand exploring the soft curves of her body. I can feel her hips grinding against me, the heat between us becoming almost unbearable.
I want to take off all our clothes. I want us to be naked, so I can feel her skin against mine.
I move my mouth to her other breast, giving it the same attention, while my hand slides down her stomach and slips under the waistband of her pants. I slide my fingers into her underwear, and Mia gasps. She’s wet and ready. I begin to stroke her gently, feeling her body respond to my touch.
"Theo," she whispers. She doesn’t need to say anything else, because she communicates so much with just that one word.
I lift my head to look at her, our eyes locking. "I want you, Mia. Now.”
She nods, standing up from the couch. She starts removing the rest of her clothing quickly, then she reaches for me and pulls me to my feet. She undoes my belt and pushes my pants down. Her desperation makes her clumsy.
Finally, she has my boxers down, and my erection springs free. We're both naked, and I lift her onto my hips. She wraps her legs around me, and my dick is pressing hard against her stomach as we kiss and kiss and kiss.
I don’t have patience anymore, and I can’t keep teasing her.
I drop a pillow onto the arm of the couch and set Mia on it. Then, I position myself between her legs, teasing her entrance with the end of my dick. It’s taking all the strength I have left not to shove myself completely inside her.
When I can’t wait any longer, I push myself inside…hard. Both of us gasp at the sensation. I start to move, slowly at first, then faster as my natural instincts take over. Mia lays back against the couch, giving me the control to do whatever the hell I want with her.
I run my hands down her thighs, squeezing her flesh as I go. Mia’s groans are building, and I know she’s nearing her climax. I am too, but I want her to come before me. I want to make sure she enjoys this as much as I do.
"Come for me, Mia," I murmur, my own release building.
With a final cry, Mia’s back arches, and she lets out a strangled cry. The sight and feel of her orgasm pushes me over the edge, and I follow her, shoving myself inside her as hard as I can as I feel my orgasm hitting me.
We stay like that for a moment, clinging to each other, our breathing ragged. Slowly, I pull out and help her back into a sitting position. She sits on the arm of the couch, wrapping her arms around me as we continue to recover.
"I meant what I said earlier. I care about you, Mia. I don't want to lose what we have."
She looks up at me, her eyes softening. "I care about you too, Theo. Believe me, I don’t do that with just anyone.”
“Just with the sexiest of neighbors?”
Mia laughs. “Something like that.”
Afterward, we lie together, our bodies tangled together on the floor of her living room. Mia rests her head on my chest, and I run my fingers through her hair, feeling content and at peace for the first time in a long time.
I don’t want to get back to work or think about anything serious. I just want to stay in this bubble of happiness with Mia.