Chapter 13
Connor
The restaurant was dimly lit, soft music playing in the background as Mia and I were led to our table. The rich aroma of grilled steak filled the air, making my mouth water as we passed by a man and woman seated, each enjoying one.
As we settled into our seats, I couldn’t help but notice how the candlelight flickered across Mia’s face, highlighting the curve of her cheekbones and the sparkle in her eyes.
“This is nice,”
I said, picking up the menus and handing her one. “What are you in the mood for?”
She glanced over the options, her brow furrowing slightly in concentration. “Their steak looked amazing,”
she nodded towards the same couple I’d seen. “But it’s so expensive.”
I waved a hand of dismissal and the mere mention of money. “Don’t worry about that. Order whatever you want.”
She smiled, a hint of shyness in her expression. “Alright then. Steak it is.”
As we waited for our food, the conversation between us felt like we were old friends.
“You know, I always wanted to go to school to become a chef,”
I confessed, twirling my wine glass between my fingers. “Spent hours in the kitchen with my mum, learning all her secret recipes.”
Her eyes lit up. “Really? That explains your culinary skills. But why didn’t you go to school for it?”
I shrugged, a wry smile tugging at my lips. “Life, I suppose. Got caught up in the family business, and then when my mother passed away, I was the only one who knew their way around the kitchen.”
She nodded, understanding in her eyes. “I get that. Life has a way of taking unexpected turns.”
“What about you?”
I asked, genuinely curious. “What did little Mia dream of becoming?”
A soft chuckle escaped her. “Promise not to laugh?”
I held up my hand solemnly. “Scout’s honor.”
“I wanted to be a spy,”
she admitted, her cheeks flushing slightly. “Spent my childhood with my nose buried in mystery novels, imagining myself as some sort of international woman of intrigue.”
I couldn’t help the snicker that escaped me. “Well, considering recent events, maybe you weren’t too far off the mark.”
Our steaks arrived, perfectly cooked and accompanied by sautéed mushrooms, baked potato and an array of root vegetables, roasted to perfection. As we ate, we continued to swap stories, finding more and more common ground. We both loved music from the 80’s, The Goonies was our favorite movie, and we both harbored a secret fondness for reality TV.
“I can’t believe you watch ‘The Real Housewives’ too,”
Mia giggled, taking a sip of her wine. “I thought I was the only one.”
I grinned, feeling more relaxed than I had in years. “What can I say? It’s my guilty pleasure. But if you tell anyone, I swear I’ll deny it.”
By the time we finished our meal, I felt like I’d known Mia for years rather than days.
“What do you say we walk off some of this food?”
I suggested as we left the restaurant. “The falls should be beautiful at night.”
She nodded, a soft smile playing at her lips. “I’d like that.”
“Oh my, isn’t it beautiful?”
Mia breathed as she took in the horseshoe falls to our left. Blue lights lit them up from below, casting an ethereal glow across the cascading water. The mist rose up, catching the colorful illumination and creating a dreamlike haze around us.
I wanted to say, not as beautiful as you, but decided it was best to keep my mouth shut and instead my hand found hers. She didn’t try to remove hers and instead, turned to look at me, “Tell me one thing that no one knows about you.”
We stopped walking and I leaned against the railing, gazing out at the illuminated falls as I considered Mia’s question. The roar of the cascading water filled the air, drowning out the sounds of the city behind us.
“Hmmm. One thing no one knows about me,”
I mused, a wry smile tugging at my lips. “That’s a tough one. I’m not exactly known for keeping secrets.”
She bumped her shoulder against mine playfully. “Come on, there must be something. Some hidden talent or embarrassing story you’ve never shared.”
I chuckled, running a hand through my hair. “Alright, alright. But you have to promise not to laugh.”
She held up her hand solemnly. “Cross my heart.”
I took a deep breath, steeling myself. “When I was a kid, maybe 8 or 9, I used to... I used to pretend I was a mermaid.”
Her eyebrows shot up, a grin spreading across her face. “A mermaid?”
“Well, merman.”
I nodded, feeling heat creep up my neck as she busted out laughing. “Yeah. I’d spend hours in the bathtub, splashing around and singing made-up songs about life under the sea. Even fashioned myself a tail out of my mum’s old curtains.”
Tears of mirth streamed from her eyes. “Sorry! I’m not laughing at you, I swear. It’s just... I can’t quite picture it.”
I shrugged, a smile on my face. “Yeah, well, I was a weird kid. But hey, at least I turned out alright, I think.”
Mia’s laughter subsided, and she looked at me with a warmth that made my heart skip a beat. “I think it’s sweet. And for what it’s worth, I bet you made a very handsome mermaid.”
I laughed, feeling the tension ease from my shoulders. “Why thank you. Now it’s your turn. Tell me something no one else knows about you.”
Without batting an eye she blurted out, “I once stole a car when I was fifteen.”
“Wait,”
I said, “You’re telling me you actually stole a car when you were a teenager?”
Mia grinned, a mischievous glint in her eye. “Borrowed, technically. And in my defense, I did return it. Eventually.”
“Is that how you learned to drive so well, outrunning the cops?”
She shook her head. “No, I learned to do that after a hit.”
I squinted at her. A hit? That sounded suspicious when she apparently is just a librarian. She must have seen the questions on my face because her eyes widened as she realized what she had just said. A nervous laugh escaped past her lips. “I mean, after I hit... a deer. Yeah, I hit a deer once and had to learn how to handle a car better after that.”
I raised an eyebrow, not quite buying her explanation. If she was fifteen when she ‘stole’ the car, how many times did she drive one without a license. Considering she needed to be sixteen to even start the process of getting one. There was clearly more to Mia’s past than she was letting on. But I decided not to push it - at least not tonight. We were having such a nice evening, and tomorrow was a big day.
“Well, remind me never to let you behind the wheel when there are deer around,”
I joked, trying to lighten the mood.
She relaxed, the tension leaving her shoulders and a grateful smile spread across her face. “Deal. Though I promise my driving skills have improved since then.”
“I can attest to that!”
We fell into a comfortable silence, watching the mist rise from the thundering falls. After a few moments, I felt Mia shiver beside me.
“Cold?”
I asked, shrugging off my jacket.
She protested, but I draped it over her shoulders anyway. “Thanks,”
she murmured, pulling it tight around her.
As we turned to head back to the hotel, I couldn’t help but feel a surge of protectiveness. Whatever Mia was hiding, whatever danger she was in, I was determined to keep her safe. And maybe, just maybe, earn her trust enough that she’d feel comfortable sharing the whole truth with me.
Back in our suite, the reality of our situation began to sink in. One bed. One very large, very inviting bed.
“I can take the couch,”
I offered, not wanting to make her uncomfortable.
She shook her head. “Don’t be ridiculous. That bed is big enough for both of us. Besides, we’re getting married tomorrow. Might as well get used to sharing a bed, right?”
I nodded, trying to ignore the flutter in my stomach at her words. “Right. Of course.”
As we got ready for bed, moving around each other in the bathroom like we’d been doing it for years, I couldn’t help but marvel at how natural it all felt. When we finally slid under the covers, I was intensely aware of Mia’s presence beside me, the sound of her breathing, the faint scent of her shampoo.
“Connor?”
her voice was soft in the darkness.
“Yeah?”
“Thank you. For everything.”
I rolled onto my side, facing her. In the dim light from the windows, I could just make out the outline of her face. “You don’t have to thank me, Mia. I meant what I said before. I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you safe.”
She was quiet for a long moment, and I thought she might have fallen asleep. Then, so quietly I almost missed it, she whispered, “I don’t deserve you.”
Before I could respond, she had rolled over, her back to me and I lay there for a long time, staring at the ceiling.