Chapter Two
New Year’s Eve
Dallas, Texas
Mia
T here’s only ten minutes left before midnight.
Everyone cheers as I get drunk with my brother’s assistant and now fiancée, Kiera, and our bestie, Kami Hernandez. Two girls I’ve come to be great friends with.
The Brick, owned by Jake and Jonathan’s best friend, and now Kami’s fiancé Ian Brown, is loud and crowded with party goers.
“I feel like I just moved in with you, and you’re already leaving.” I say to Kami.
Back in early November, I’d moved in with Kami after Kiera had just gotten engaged to my oldest brother. Also during that time, my ex and I broke up. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect, and it saved me from the frustrating process of apartment hunting. But who knew that just less than three weeks after I’d moved in, Kami would become engaged and moving out to live with her man as well.
“Don’t worry, you’ll still see me at the office,” Kami tells me.
“I know that, but it won’t be the same,” I point out.
“True, but I’m sure you and your new roomie will get along great,” Kiera assures.
“Maybe, but I’ve yet to meet her. She seems to be all but a ghost.”
Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, I’d posted about needing a roommate on the internet. The day after, I received a PM from someone who saw my post. She said she was looking for a place to live and thought she and I would make a good fit. We chatted to each other over the holidays, and we seemed to be getting along. The last I heard from her was when she reached out to me saying she’d be signing the papers in the next couple of days.
Kami looks at me, puzzled. “You mean she hasn’t messaged you since?”
“She told me she’d get back to me about scheduling a time to move in, but that’s it.”
“Maybe she’s busy with work or something.” I appreciate Kami trying to find a simple explanation for me, but I’m beginning to worry if I’ve made a mistake, that I should have pressed more for us to meet in person.
“What are you beautiful ladies discussing?” Jake smirks at me as he stands beside our table.
Ugh, what does he want now?
I roll my eyes, avoiding eye contact with him. “Nothing concerning you.”
He clasps a hand to his chest dramatically. “You wound me again, Ms. Knight.”
I should be annoyed with him being in my space. But something in his sultry voice, and the way he calls me that, makes my body hum with excitement.
I’m in my twenties. I’ve grown up. He shouldn’t affect me now like he did when I was a teenager.
“Don’t worry. I think you’ll live.” I send him an incredulous stare, hiding my inner turmoil.
There’s a short pause between the four of us before Kiera breaks the ice. “So, Jake, Jonathan tells me you’re moving out of your apartment soon.”
He’s what?
I look to Kiera with shock, then back to Jake as he responds.
“Yeah, I’m just about packed.”
“Really?” Kami seems just as surprised as I am. “I didn’t know you were moving out.”
“Yeah, it’s smaller than what I’m used to, but closer to the office, and I’m rooming with someone.”
That makes zero sense. He seemingly makes a fortune from his position as Co-CEO of KH Industries. Why would he move into a smaller place and live with a roommate when, financially, he doesn’t have to? Hell, he can afford to live in a place similar to where he is now.
“Who’s the lucky girl?” Kiera teases.
I’m an adult. I shouldn’t care what, or who, Jake does or doesn’t do. Yet I find myself holding onto his every word like I did when I was younger. I have got to get a grip on myself.
Jake opens his mouth as though to answer Kiera’s question, but Ian’s brother, Matt Brown, walks up to the table with a tray of champagne in stem glasses.
“One minute to the New Year,” he says excitedly.
Right. One minute to the New Year. One minute until everyone can have a clean slate. I could use one of those right about now.
Matt continues his trek through the bar, handing everyone a glass of champagne. Kiera and Kami walk over to their men while I do my best to distance myself from Jake. Of all the places he could be standing, why next to me?
“I hope for your sake your roommate knows what she’s getting herself into,” I give Jake a snide comment.
“Twenty seconds!” I hear someone shout with excitement.
In my peripheral, I see Jake turn his body, as well as his gaze, toward me. “Maybe…you could tell me.”
I turn my attention to him. His eyes lock with mine. “What do you mean?”
Jake continues, inching closer to me. “I’m sorry I wasn’t clear earlier, but I had to tell you in person.”
“Tell me what?”
I hear everyone counting down from ten. But that’s background music against the thumping of my heart and the anxiety that’s creeping in. I don’t know whether to look away from him or keep our eye contact. His face is inches from mine.
“ I’m your new roommate.”
“Happy New Year!” everyone around us shouts.
Before I can react, Jake wraps me in his arms, crashing his lips to mine.
I’m frozen in place. I have my eyes wide open as I watch him kiss me. What. The. Fuck?
In my book, a guy only kisses a woman if he’s into her. Jake has never and never will, taken me seriously like that. So why is he kissing me when he doesn’t actually mean it?
I should pull away. But all I can focus on is his lips on mine.
So this is what it’s like to kiss those lips. To be this close to him.
Wait. No. That’s beside the point. This has to be some kind of joke. If so, I refuse to be humiliated.
I force myself upright and push my hands against his hard, muscled chest, breaking from the kiss.
Just as I do, I hear Jonathan’s voice. “What the fuck, man?” He’s angry. Some might say even murderous.
When my brother comes into view, he looks ready to throw some punches until Nathan interferes like a referee at a football game.
“Guys, guys.” Nathan stands between the two men. “There’s no need to throw punches.”
“That’s my sister, you fuck.” Jonathan yells. His fiancée, Kiera Young, tries to pull him back.
Jake remains quiet, as though choosing to let his best friend tear him a new one.
“It’s New Year’s. Everyone has had a lot to drink,” Nathan tries to assure Jonathan.
“He’s right,” Jake responds. His once-serious expression shifts to a calm, almost smug one. “I’ve had one too many, and I got caught up in the moment.” Jake turns to me. “I’m sorry, Mia. I was out of line.”
I don’t know what’s worse, him kissing me as a joke or him saying our kiss was a drunken mistake.
What an asshat.
A couple of hours later, I leave the party on my own. The night is quiet, dark, and cold so early in the morning. My black coat keeps me warm against the freezing temperature.
I walk to my yellow Mini Cooper, and am about to unlock the passenger side door, when I sense someone behind me.
Quickly opening my purse, I grab the spray can of mace. I turn on my toes with my arm stretched out, ready to spray. My finger on the trigger.
“Don’t spray, it’s me,” a familiar male voice yells, covering his face with his hands. Jake?
I feel relief wash over me, followed by a sense of frustration, as I put the can back into my purse. “Jeez, Jake. Don’t sneak up on me like that.”
He rests his arms at his sides. “I wasn’t trying to scare you. I just wanted to talk to you.”
I cross my arms over my chest. “About what?”
“When I’ll be moving in.”
I roll my eyes. “Look, you’ve made your point. You don’t need to stretch this joke any more than you already have.”
“That wasn’t a joke. When I said I was your roommate, I meant it.” His voice is serious.
What the hell? “Why would you?—”
“Jonathan and I figured since he’ll be now…occupied, you’ll be needing someone to look after you.”
I stare at him skeptically. “And you’ve decided you’re the man for the job?”
He shrugs. “Someone has to make sure you stay out of trouble.”
Ugh, how many times do I have to tell my brother? I’m not a kid anymore. Using his best friend as a way to keep track of me is going way too far.
And given that Jake seems to be going along with this, his views of me seem to have stayed the same as they were all those years ago.
As if I need reminding.
I scoff. “That’s great and all, but last I checked, I’m not twelve anymore. I can take care of myself. So break your lease and take back your apartment.”
He shakes his head. “No can do. My old place just sold yesterday morning, I put down a deposit for your place yesterday, and all the paperwork has been finalized.”
And I’m just finding out about this now? “Are you fucking crazy?”
“Language.” He lowers his voice to the octave I’ve become familiar with every time I curse in front of him.
I ball my hands into fists.
God, he’s so aggravating.
There’s no getting out of this, and he knows it.
I sigh deeply. I really don’t want to do this, but…
“There will be strict ground rules.”
“I’m listening.” He leans against my car.
“Don’t be a slob. I expect you to clean after yourself. I’m not your maid.”
“Yes ma’am,” he says in that sultry voice of his.
This man is all but asking me to bitch-slap him.
“Stay in your own lane. Unless there’s an emergency, you don’t bother me, and I don’t bother you. Your business is yours. Mine is mine.”
He nods absently, remaining silent. Why do I feel like that isn’t a good sign?
I continue anyway. “As for guests, I tend to keep mine to a dull roar. I expect you to do the same.”
“Don’t be a slob, leave you alone, and no crazy guests. Got it,” he lists off with his hand. “Anything else I can do for you?”
“When can I expect you to move in?” The only thing I can do at this rate is prepare for his “invasion.”
He looks at his watch and shrugs. “This afternoon sounds good.”
Is he for real? “Today? Why not tomorrow? What’s the rush?”
“Why wait, baby girl?” he smirks.
I try to mentally hold myself back from arguing with him. Jake has been, and always will be, the type of man to stick to something once he’s set his mind to it.
“Fine. Later today. What time?”
“Yeah, one would be best.” He doesn’t even hesitate to answer.
Unlocking my driver’s side door, I throw my small purse into the passenger seat.
“Fine. I’ll see you then.” I don’t look at him as I get in the car and drive into the night.