Chapter 30
30
“What do you mean Mia’s here?” he asked, quickly pulling himself up to a sitting position. He felt Zara, who heard his question, tense up in his arms. He wondered if, like him, she was remembering how when his mother, upon discovering that Zara had extended her stay in the cove, had looked like the cat that had eaten the canary. He would bet any amount of money Irene Toussaint had known Mia was coming to town. Hell, she’d probably planned it with the help of the Givenses.
“She came all the way to Catalina Cove to see you and to talk to you,” his mother was saying.
“I’m sure she came to see you and Dad. There’s no reason Mia wants to meet with me.”
“Well, she does. What time will you be home?”
Saint rubbed his hand down his face, feeling more annoyed by the second. “I’ve made plans for today. All day. Besides, it doesn’t matter, Mom. Mia made her decision about us over three years ago, and I accepted it and moved on. I’ll talk to you later.”
“Saint, wait! Mia came all the way from Florida to see you. Doesn’t that mean anything to you?”
“Honestly, no. I’m not sure why she would do such a thing when we haven’t been in touch for over three years.”
“She’s the person who needs to tell you that.”
“Mia doesn’t need to tell me anything. I hope she enjoys her time visiting with you and Dad. Goodbye, Mom.” Out of respect, he waited for her to hang up before disconnecting the call.
“Your ex-girlfriend is in town?”
He looked at Zara. “Yes.”
“Why is she here?”
“Hell if I know. Mom claims she wants to meet with me. Mia is the last person I want to see. You should know that better than anyone.” And she should. He’d told her a lot about his relationship with Mia.
“Maybe you should talk to her to see what she wants,” Zara suggested.
He frowned. “Why? If your ex-boyfriend showed up after having no contact with you for three years and asked to meet with you, would you grant him any of your time?”
“No, but then the situation surrounding my breakup with Maurice was different than yours with Mia. He betrayed me with another woman. Mia didn’t betray you with another man.”
“No, but double rejection of a marriage proposal is just as hard a pill to swallow, Zara.”
She thought about what he’d said. But still... “If for no other reason, I think you should meet with her for closure, Saint.”
He stepped out of bed and stared at Zara, feeling somewhat annoyed at her suggestion. “Closure? What makes you think there’s not already closure between us?”
“The two of you were together for four years. That’s a long time.”
“Doesn’t matter. I’ve moved on.”
“Have you, Saint? Have you truly moved on?”
He placed his hands on his hips, his annoyance increasing. “What kind of question is that, Zara? Of course I’ve moved on.”
It was bad enough he had to deal with Mia’s unexpected appearance. Now on top of that, Zara was talking pure, unadulterated nonsense. It was as if she was intentionally trying to push him back to his ex-girlfriend. Why? Was there an ulterior motive for her doing so? Was she trying to find an excuse to end things between them? He didn’t want to think that, but what other reason would there be for her to come up with this closure bull crap?
“Have you truly done so, Saint? You and Mia broke up over three years ago and I’m the only woman you’ve spent any real time with since then.”
He frowned, holding her gaze. “And?”
“Nothing,” she said, looking away.
He had a gut feeling there was something. He then remembered that before he’d received that call from his mother, Zara had been about to tell him something. And he could tell from her expression whatever she was going to say had been serious.
Rubbing his hand down his face again, he didn’t want to think what that could mean. Hopefully nothing. Things had been going so well between them over the past weeks. Last night, on the day that would have been her last one in Catalina Cove had she not extended her stay, they’d gone dancing. Then later, they’d returned to the cottage and made love practically all through the night.
He had noticed a difference, an intensity that hadn’t been there before. It was in the way she’d returned his kiss and in the way her body had taken his into it. It was as if she was determined to capture every moment—desperate almost.
That made him wonder...
He could understand her being that way if it had been their last night together and she was leaving. However, she had extended her time, so what was going on here? “What were you going to tell me before I got Mom’s call, Zara?”
She looked away, out the window. “Nothing.”
Nothing? That was the second time she’d answered him that way. He knew there had been something, and he had a feeling it was something he would not have liked. “Are you sure?”
She looked back at him. “Yes, I’m sure.”
“Alright. Let’s get ready to go boating.”
Zara lifted a brow. “We’re still going?”
She sounded surprised. “Is there a reason why we shouldn’t?”
“No, I guess not,” she said, slipping out of bed.
It wasn’t what she’d said but how she’d said it that rattled him, set him on edge and, frankly, pissed him off. He’d promised himself after Mia that he would never become vulnerable to any woman again. “You know, you’re right. Maybe I need to go see what Mia wants to talk to me about,” he said, angrily grabbing his clothes from the chair and quickly putting them on. “We can do a rain check on boating since you’ll be here for another week.”
“Yes. Sure.” She looked out the window again.
He started to say something and then thought better of it. Turning, he walked out of the bedroom.
Tears began streaming down Zara’s face the moment she heard the door close behind Saint. Instead of telling him how much she loved him, she’d sent him to another woman. Namely, his ex. How could she do such a thing? Deep down she knew it wasn’t Saint who needed closure from Mia; she was the one who needed the closure from the woman.
Nothing between her and Saint had changed. If anything, things were good. Better than ever. Over the past weeks, not only were they connected on a physical level, but they’d connected on an emotional level as well. Then why was it that, since she’d acknowledged her love for him, her mind was conjuring up all these worst-case scenarios?
She wiped away her tears but more continued to fall. She loved him so much but her knee-jerk reaction upon hearing his ex-girlfriend was in town wanting to meet with him had probably pushed him away. Why was there this need, before she put her heart on the line with him, to make sure he wasn’t still carrying a torch for Mia? A torch Saint had assured her so many times was out? Why did she feel threatened by the woman’s appearance in town?
Zara knew the answer. A woman from Maurice’s past had taken him from her and the thought of that same scenario happening with Saint was a heartbreak she couldn’t take. It would be more devastating than the first time.
She knew how she felt about Saint, but she had no idea how he felt about her. Although Sierra and Vaughn thought he cared for her, she wasn’t sure of that and refused to assume anything. She couldn’t and her heart, which had taken such a beating before, refused to let her.
She thought of what he’d said moments before leaving...
“Mia is the last person I want to see. You should know that better than anyone.”
He was right, she should. They had shared so much over the past months. Their prior heartaches and pains, and the reasons why they didn’t want to risk their hearts again. However, they’d never talked about a future with each other. She wasn’t even sure what to expect when she visited Catalina Cove again. Would he want to continue their hookups? Or was he ready to walk away from her to see what could be in his future? A future without her.
Sitting down on the bed she couldn’t hold back her tears. She’d fallen so desperately in love with Saint that even now her heart ached. What if he saw Mia and decided even after all she had done that he still had feelings for her and would give her another chance? What if...?
She closed her eyes against a fresh wave of tears, refusing to think any longer. Thinking too much had gotten her into this mess. She should have told Saint how she felt before he left. He wasn’t like Maurice. She knew that. Saint was a man of honor and respect, thoughtful and kind. One who could be trusted and admired.
Wiping the tears from her eyes, she stood, hoping and praying after he met with Mia that he would come back to her. And when he did, she would tell him how she felt. Every single thing in her heart. Looking out the window, she saw the day would be a nice one. Too bad she wouldn’t be boating on the bayou with Saint after all. She’d ruined her plans for that.
But she would have faith that whatever happened was meant to be. She would prepare breakfast, do her yoga and then go swimming. Today would be another relaxing, do-nothing day while hoping the man she loved returned to her.
Saint went straight to his parents’ home and walked in. He found them seated around the kitchen table eating breakfast. “Good morning, everyone,” he said, getting their attention.
His mother beamed. “Saint. I knew you would come.”
Had she? He switched his gaze from his mother to Mia, who was sitting there looking at him. She looked the same. Pretty as ever. But at that moment while staring at her, he felt what he’d known he would feel. Nothing. Whatever love he’d once had for her was gone. He hadn’t needed to see her to know that Zara was the woman who now had his heart.
“Mia, you look well,” he said.
“So do you, Evans.”
Although his family and close friends called him Saint, she’d never done so. It hadn’t bothered him before but for some reason it did so now. “Thanks. I understand you want to talk to me.”
“Yes, I do.”
“For Pete’s sake, Saint. Let her finish her breakfast. There’s no rush when you have all day,” his mother said, all smiles.
He switched his gaze from Mia to his mother. If that was what she thought, she was wrong. “No, I don’t have all day. Like I told you on the phone earlier, I’ve made plans for today.” Although Zara wouldn’t be joining him, he planned to go boating on the bayou by himself.
“What kind of plans?”
He released a sigh. Only his mother felt she had the right to ask. “I’m going boating on the bayou.”
“That sounds wonderful. Maybe Mia can join you,” his mother said.
When hell freezes over , he thought. There was no way Mia would join him doing anything. Zara was the only woman he wanted with him on his boat. “Sorry, but someone else will be joining me.” What he’d said was a bald-faced lie, but his mother had no right to deliberately put him on the spot in front of Mia.
He looked back at Mia. “Please finish your breakfast, Mia. I’ll be out back near the dock when you’re ready to talk.”
He then left the kitchen.