23. Mia
Chapter 23
Mia
I can smell and I can taste the whiskey on his breath and it’s all I needed to know. He’s drunk and looking for a booty call. Well, he came to the wrong door for that because I ain’t selling.
“Ian. You should go now.” I wipe my forehead again with the towel because I’m sweating. It’s not hot in here, but I’m hot. And bothered. His kisses were amazing. His words, although what every girl wants to hear, don’t mean a thing because he’s been drinking. I’ve lived in too many foster homes where that’s all you could smell… alcohol and lies. They’re just words when alcohol is involved.
Besides, we don’t even know each other. Tomorrow morning he’s going to regret he even knocked on my door. No, I need to end this before it gets any muddier. “You should go.” I repeat and as I look up at Ian, the look on his face tells me that was not what he expected to hear.
After a moment, he nods, “You’re right. My apologies. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Good night, Mr. Gallo.”
“Good night, Miss McIntosh.”
I watch him walk out the door and just like that, we’re back to formalities and I hate the way I’m feeling. Like I broke him. Like I broke his heart.
But I can’t believe his words when they’re spoken after drinking who knows how much whiskey. James, although it’s not fair to compare the two men because they’re night and day different from each other, would drink to excess and then tell me how much he loved me and couldn’t live without me. Then the next day, it was as if he had never said a word to me. It sucked, and I hated how I felt afterwards and with my new start, I promised myself that I wouldn’t let myself get hurt like that again.
And so, I kicked out the billionaire.
Great job, Mia. He’s going to kick you to the curb tomorrow morning and all you’ll have is a crappy apartment with a crappy car and no job. And the reporters will probably still be around because he won’t say a thing to the press. Or better yet, he’ll have Brinna do a press release telling everyone I was just a weekend fling or that he was just faking it.
Who knows, but now all the excitement I had over my new business earlier is completely gone and I probably need to figure out what I’m going to do when the morning comes.
I leave all my stuff where it’s sitting on the table, take off my robe, and climb into bed. Might as well get as much rest as I can in this delicious bed before I have to give it all up in the morning.
I turn off the light using the remote control from NASA and lay there staring at the ceiling, thinking about his kisses and how they felt. How he makes me feel. That’s when the tears start falling.
Turning over onto my side, I let the tears fall without wiping them away. I like Ian more than I think I realize. He sees me. I’m not inconsequential to him like I have been to others I’ve met in my life. I just wish his words were true and not said because he’s horney and drunk.
The stress over the last few days has taken its toll on me and the tears keep flowing to where I get up and get my trusty towel from earlier to wipe away my tears. I’m ugly crying now and I can’t seem to stop myself. Suddenly, the door to my room opens up and I’m in Ian’s arms.
“Shh. I’ve got you, Mia.” He pulls me into his arms and carries me over to the bed. “Lay down.” He pulls the covers over me as he lies on top of the covers and pulls me back into his arms. “Cry it out. I’m not going anywhere. I’m here, sweetheart.”
And I do. I can’t help myself as the tears just keep falling down my cheeks. Ian lets me cry as he strokes my hair down my back, encouraging me to let it all out.
“It’s okay, Mia. I’ve got you.” He keeps repeating softly into my hair until exhaustion takes over and I fall asleep.
I don’t want to wake up, but I can hear lawn mowers just outside my window. Slowly opening my eyes, I see the curtains are still closed and it’s still pretty dark in my room, but there is some sunlight peeking in round the curtains. Immediately, I remember last night and my crying fit, then Ian coming in and holding me until I fell asleep. Is he still here?
I roll over and don’t find Ian, but I do find a beautiful hibiscus flower sitting on the pillow he slept on last night and a note that says ‘Stay here. I’ll be right back’. I smile at the flower, picking it up and swirling it around in a circle. Unfortunately, the flower has no smell, but the beautiful pink color makes up for it. It’s beautiful.
“You’re awake.” Ian says as he navigates a tray of coffee and what looks like another muffin from Paula.
I sit up in bed and suddenly I’m embarrassed over how I cried in front of him last night. Wonder if this is how he’s going to kick me out of his house and tell me the deal is off. “I am. What time is it?” Since I threw my phone across the room yesterday, it’s been off. The damn thing wouldn’t stop ringing or alerting me to another incoming text. I don’t know anyone, so not really sure who was calling and texting me but thought it best to just ignore the damn thing. But with it turned off, I have no clue what time it is.
“Almost ten.” Ian places the tray on the same table by the French doors to the balcony where I ate yesterday.
“Ten! What time is everyone coming this morning?” I start wrestling with the covers. How the hell am I all tied up in here? I can’t seem to get my legs out. How many covers do I have on me? Four?
“Relax. You’ve got some time. IT has already dropped off your computer and new phone. I put them over there.” Ian points to the coffee table in the living room. “And I gave your sizes to my personal shopper, and she’s already had some clothes sent over and more will be delivered tomorrow. What she’s sent should get you through until then.”
I finally get my legs out from underneath all the covers and sit up on the side of the bed. “Oh, okay. Thank you.” Getting out from under the covers feels like I just finished a workout.
Ian comes over and sits on the bed next to me and I’m suddenly very well aware that not only do I not have a bra on, but I’m wearing his T-shirt stolen from his room last night and nothing else. I try to use what little give I have in the covers to cover up, but it’s no use now that he’s sitting next to me.
“How are you feeling this morning?” he asks hesitantly.
“Honestly?”
“Always. Please.” He looks concerned.
“Embarrassed. Tired. Puffy.” I tap the bags under my eyes. Yep, swollen. “Exposed.” I try to pull the shirt down past my knees, but it won’t stretch that far.
Ian stands up and grabs one of the many blankets I had just wrestled out from under, and he places it over my lap. “Better?”
I nod, “Yes. Thank you.”
“Please don’t feel embarrassed, Mia. The last few days have got to be overwhelming for you and then I laid my heart at your feet and you’re not… we’re not ready for any of that. It’s my fault and I’m sorry. I never want to be the reason for your tears.”
“It has been a lot. I thought I could handle it all, but I guess I’m not as strong as I think I am.”
“Oh, you’re stronger than you think, Mia. I’m in awe of your strength.” He stands up. “Now, I’m going to go make my coffee over there while you go get changed. I’d like to talk to you when you’re done, if you’re okay with that.”
Really? He thinks I’m strong?
“There are a few outfits in the bathroom from the personal shopper. I left them in the bags for you. How do you take your coffee?”
I stand up and make my way to the bathroom. “Sweet.”
“Sweet it is.” He smiles at me as I disappear into the bathroom.
After a quick shower, I grabbed underwear and a sundress and got dressed. I had applied a bit of makeup to cover up the last of the puffy eye look. ‘Okay, you can do this, girl. Just go out there and show no fear. If he decides to kick you to the curb and renege on our deal, then so be it. You’re strong. Just like he told you.’ I psych myself up as I turn the doorknob from the bathroom and back into the bedroom.
Ian’s got the French doors opened, and he’s sitting at the table staring out over the ocean when he hears me approach and turns to look at me. He stands and kisses me on the cheek. “Good morning, beautiful.” He motions to the other chair, and I find my coffee and a chocolate chip muffin waiting for me. “Complements of Paula. She said your eyes lit up when she mentioned chocolate chip muffins yesterday.”
I smile as I sit down. “I didn’t realize I had, but they are my favorite type of muffin.”
“Mine, too. She’s an amazing baker, but don’t tell her I said that, or she’ll want a bigger raise.” He jokes as he takes another sip of his coffee.
I break off the top of the muffin and pop a part of it in my mouth and realize Ian is not wrong. Paula is a great baker. I stir my coffee and take a small sip. Most people hate sweet coffee, so I’m sure I’m going to have to doctor it up some more, but to my surprise, Ian made it perfect. “Delicious.”
He only smiles at me and then looks back out at the ocean.
We sit in silence, only listening to the ocean waves and the lawn mowers below for a while before I can’t take it anymore and I break down and ask my burning question. “So, is our deal canceled?”
Ian’s head turns to me as if I slapped him. “You want to cancel our deal? Why?”
“No, I don’t want to, but I just thought after last night… you know.” I shrug my shoulders.
“No, I don’t know. And no, I don’t want to cancel our deal, Mia. Not unless you do.”
The worry in his eyes has me confused. Last night, I kicked him out of my room after he told me how he felt. Granted, it was just words from alcohol, but still.
“Do you, Mia? Do you want to cancel our deal?” he asks, since I seem to be lost in my head.
“No.”
“No?”
“No.”
The relief on his face is immediate. “Good.” He pauses and then completely turns towards me. “Can we talk about last night?”
“I’d really rather not. Can we just pretend it didn’t happen?” I smile. I’m just glad our deal is still on. I would feel completely devastated if he had decided to kick me out and call it off, as it would completely dash my hopes for my shop. Not sure if they would ever really happen after that.
“No, but you can let me do all the talking.” He says and waits for my reply, but I just nod.
“Mia, last night, I bared my heart to you, and you called me out on it. And it hurt.”
“I didn’t mean…”
“Wait. Let me finish.” He interrupts me. “I’m glad you did, and I understand why you did, and you had every right to. I was too forward. I had a couple of drinks, and it’s all too much, too soon. I get it. Really, I do. But what you should understand about me is that throughout my entire life I’ve zoned in on what I wanted, and I go after it. And I usually get it. Last night… I tried to do the same with you. I wanted you. Want you still. I don’t understand…”
“Ian.”
“Please, Mia. Let me finish.”
I nod again, deciding to let this all play out and see what he has to say.
“I don’t understand these feelings I’m having over you. They’re all new to me and, quite frankly, freaking me out. I think about you constantly. What are you doing? Are you okay? What are you thinking? Who’s saying what shit about you and how do I destroy them? And all of this started the moment you walked into my office last week.”
“Really?”
“Really, really. And I know that this is supposed to be a fake relationship, and I’ll play the part if that is all you’re looking for. We have a deal; the money for playing the part. I’ll honor that. If that’s what you want.”
I think about what he’s saying for a moment and then turn to him. “And if it’s not?” I ask shyly.
He swallows hard. “And if it’s not, then I’d like to ask you out on a proper date. Last night, I rushed things because I couldn’t control how I was feeling around you. But normal people go on dates, get to know each other. I’d like to get to know you, Mia. The entire package.”
“And what if you don’t like the entire package?”
He smiles. “I highly doubt there’s any chance of that, Mia McIntosh. Your heart is pure, you have no problem putting me in my place, and you truly care about others. You have every right to not give a damn about the rest of the world with the way you grew up, yet you care. A lot. How could anyone not want to love you, Mia?”
I take a deep breath, finish the rest of my chocolate chip muffin, and then take a sip of my coffee. Mostly to take a few moments to process what he’s saying to me and how I want to respond back.
I like Ian a lot. A lot more than I ever thought I would. He’s funny when he doesn’t try to be, and his kind heart is bigger than he knows. He’s not too shabby on the eyes, either. Last night, when I was lying on his chest crying like a baby, I couldn't help but notice how hard his chest and abdomen were.
“I’d like to go on a date with you, Ian. Even though you’re my fiancé right now, I think a first date is appropriate.” I smile at him to help break the tension. How could I not want to go on a date with him?
He’s choosing me.