Chapter Nine
Mia
I decide to beat Austin to the kitchen early the next morning.
I want to fuel him with coffee before his meeting with his ex-wife.
I set my alarm knowing what time he usually comes downstairs, but I didn’t plan to find it so difficult to get out of bed.
No sooner do I sit up than nausea swamps me, and I lie back down until the wave passes, staring at the ceiling and praying to feel better.
I try to sit up again, this time with more positive results. Nothing more fun than a stomach bug, I think wryly, but I push on and manage to shower, feeling semi-okay once I dress.
My cell phone rings just as I am ready to go to the kitchen. I don’t recognize the number but it has a New York area code. My stomach churning even more now, I answer the call.
“Hello?”
“Mia? It’s Kate Collins, the Manhattan district attorney. I assume you received the summons to appear?”
“Oh, hi, yes. I did. I’m surprised you didn’t call me first.”
“I’m sorry about that. I was in court on a case and we had to get this moving. I’d like you to come to the city for some trial prep.”
I swallow hard. “Sure. Whatever you need.”
“Great. I’ll be in touch with the day and time.”
“Thank you,” I say, and Kate utters good-bye and disconnects the call.
I pinch the bridge of my nose and breathe in deep, holding back the nausea that isn’t courtesy of the phone call.
I head out to the kitchen and make myself a cup of tea, which works to settle my queasy stomach, at least until I brew coffee for Austin. I breathe in, smell the aroma, and run for the bathroom. I throw up the tea and not much else since my stomach is empty.
I brush my teeth and wash my face, glancing in the mirror over the towel as I dry off. Ugh. My face is pale, my eyes glassy. But I feel better again after losing what little is in my stomach, and I walk out to talk to Austin before he leaves.
I find he’s already poured himself a cup of coffee when I arrive, and this time, my stomach doesn’t clench at the smell. “Good morning.”
“Morning.” He lifts the cup to his sexy mouth and takes a sip. “You’re pale,” he says, meeting my gaze. “Are you okay?”
I blush at the mess I look like, but when you live in the same house as someone, there isn’t much you can do to disguise the bad days. “Yeah. I… um… I wasn’t feeling well earlier but I think I’m better now.”
He glances at me with concern in his eyes. “Well, rest today. It’s not like Bailey is around to keep you hopping, so take advantage.”
I smile. “I will.” I hesitate, wondering if I should apologize again for what happened between us yesterday.
I have to learn to live in the same house with him even when Bailey isn’t around. I can’t kiss him one minute and push him away the next, sending mixed signals because my body and heart want what my mind knows I can’t have.
I sigh and push that thought away. There are more pressing concerns going through my mind.
“Austin,” I say, knowing I have to tell him about my phone call. “The district attorney called me this morning. She wants me to come into the city for trial prep. I realize Bailey’s not home, so it shouldn’t be an issue, but I thought you should know.”
“Shit. I wish you didn’t have to deal with this again.”
I nod. “Me, too. But I’ll just take the train—”
“No. I told you I’ll make sure you’re safe while you deal with this and I will.”
“Thank you. I’m truly grateful. I just… It’s not fair to you.
Any of this. I know you want to bring Bailey home as soon as possible, especially once this situation with her mother is resolved, and thanks to me, you can’t.
” I run my hands up and down my arms over my sweatshirt, rubbing away the sudden chill.
His eyes warm at the mention of his daughter and immediately squint in displeasure at my follow-up conclusion. “Of course I want to bring her home but this is not your fault. Things happen. We deal with them.”
“We do, but this is my problem, not yours. And I don’t want to keep messing up your life. So I…” I swallow past the words, but they have to come out. “I could move out,” I offer, sick at the thought. But I’d do it for Austin’s sake. For Bailey’s.
“What?” he asks, obviously shocked.
I hold up a hand, wanting him to listen before he decides.
“It makes sense. Think about it. You could have your daughter home and not have to worry about my problems with my former employer. I’ll come back after his trial is over, or after I testify…
that is, if you still want me.” I rush out my thoughts, knowing it is what is best for Bailey. For Austin.
“No.”
I blink at his abrupt tone. “But—”
“No buts.” He places his mug down and strides over so he is looming over me, big and powerful and sexy. “First, I’m a bodyguard. A protector by nature. Do you really think I would send you out there knowing someone was willing to break into this house to send you a message?”
“I guess not,” I murmur, not the least bit taken aback by his harsh voice. I understand where his anger is directed and it isn’t at me.
“That’s right. I’m going to protect you up until and through your testimony.”
Appreciation along with a shiver of awareness trickles through me at his determined tone and proclamation.
“Thank you.”
He inclines his head, his darkened gaze boring into me. “I’m not going to let anyone harm you.”
I believe him.
He reaches for me, then obviously thinks better of it and shoves one hand into his pocket. With the other, he reaches for his coffee mug and takes a final sip of his coffee.
It hurts, I think, him pulling back, but remind myself I made the decision first. Not him. I am the one who can’t handle casual and not get my heart hurt. So if he is following my lead, who am I to argue?
“Along those lines, while I’m gone, I have someone outside watching the house. After the break-in, I didn’t want you home alone.”
I nod. “Thank you. I’m grateful.” And overwhelmed by the lengths he goes to in order to keep me safe.
“I should get going,” he says, glancing away. “I don’t want to be late for this meeting with Kayla. The sooner I get her out of our lives for good, the better.”
I nod. “Can I get you a travel mug to take with you?” I offer.
“That would be great. I could use some more caffeinated fortification.”
I pull a mug from the cabinet and draw a deep breath as I pour the coffee, doing my best not to over-inhale and upset my stomach again. I feel better, but in a fragile, it’s-still-there sort of way.
I close the mug with the cover and hand it to him, careful to avoid our fingers touching.
“Thank you. Listen, I need to ask you something,” he says. “I have to go to a party this weekend at my boss’s house.”
“That’s nice,” I murmur.
“And I don’t want you home alone. Not after someone broke in with the alarm set.
Plus, the party is to celebrate Summer Michelle and my pal Ben’s return to the States after a short European tour and I know how much you’d love to meet her.
Being that she’s your favorite pop star.
” He winks at the reminder of our walk in the woods and the get-to-know-you questions that we indulged in.
I remember in detail… how small my hand felt in his, how warm and sensual his skin was wrapped around my palm. Just like how hot and strong his naked body felt when it came down over mine. I tremble and shake my head in an attempt to dislodge the thoughts that have no place in my mind right now.
“The point is,” he goes on, oblivious to the turn my mind took, “I want you to come with me to Dan’s.”
“Dan?” I ask stupidly, still lost in being with Austin in all the ways I pushed away.
He wrinkles his brows, obviously confused. “Dan, my boss. You’ve heard his name before.”
“Yes. Of course. Sorry. I’m still a little queasy,” I say, blaming my stomach for my frazzled behavior.
This time he does reach out and lift my chin with his hand. “Are you okay?” he asks, seriously worried as he looks into my eyes.
I do my best not to get lost in his. “Yes. I think I might have picked up a stomach virus or something. I’ll rest today. And as for your party… I’ll go with you,” I say.
I wish I was going as his date but again it all comes down to choices. And what I can and cannot live with. Besides, who knows, even if we were together, if he’d have taken me as anything more than a means to keep me safe. Or to allow me to meet my favorite pop star.
* * *
Austin
I drink from the travel mug Mia made me, trying my best to focus on the road, but I have so much on my mind, not the least of which is my ex, who I am meeting with, hopefully for the final time, and Mia, who I left home not feeling well and dealing with trial shit that should have been in her past.
I am so used to her being perky and happy that seeing her sick threw me. With her pale coloring and glassy, big green eyes, I wanted to pick her up and carry her to bed. I wanted to take care of her in the most primal, elemental way.
Which makes no sense to me. I take care of my daughter. Women are secondary. Or were until Mia.
I grip the steering wheel harder and force myself to concentrate on how I plan to handle Kayla, which means I am prepared when I walk into the diner and catch sight of her sitting alone at a table, drinking a cup of coffee like she doesn’t have anything to worry about except collecting her paycheck.
I stride over and settle into a seat, facing my duplicitous, smug-looking ex-wife, who sits drumming her fingertips on the table. She wears a satisfied smile on her face and a tight dress, though she has to know I am immune to anything she has or tries to offer.
“I’m so glad you called,” she practically purrs. “I knew you’d come around to my way of thinking.”
I force a smile. “I decided it was time we talk terms.”
I can see the dollar signs in her eyes and the pleasure I am about to get magnifies tenfold.
“So.” She trails her fingers across the table until she curls her hand around mine. “What are you willing to give me?”