Chapter 15 - Laurel
Everything happened so fast, I wasn’t quite sure I wasn’t still in bed, dreaming to keep reality away.
One minute I was sitting in Mik’s office, waiting for him to come in and tell me this was just a prank to get my mind off the attack, but instead I was saying I do.
With red roses in my hands and my staid pants and blouse combo.
I never much imagined my wedding day when I was little. Why would I, when I understood what marriage was all about thanks to my parents’ stellar example? But I certainly wouldn’t have pictured this.
Then Mik told me I looked gorgeous, under his breath, for only me to hear, and suddenly I didn’t feel like I was about to pass out all over again.
There was just something about Mik’s unopposable strength that grounded me.
And I needed to feel like I was standing on solid ground now that it was certain that Rand hadn’t given up on me.
I let myself go along with everything, let myself believe this wasn’t the worst possible decision in the world.
It seemed right because Mik was so sure, and I was grateful enough that he wasn’t asking me a hundred questions about Rand or the vineyard or why I lied, that when he told me I’d be helping him out, I jumped.
And came down to earth hard when the next kiss got way too heated. The peck in his office to seal the deal already stirred up memories of the night at the brewery. Recreating that fun atmosphere and feeling his hands on me helped further erase what Rand had done.
Then I felt that twitch. That rock-hard reminder that things were about to get out of control. And some wild part of me I didn’t know existed wanted to pull myself closer to Mik and let his tongue delve deeper, never stop holding on.
Maybe I was doing him a favor. Maybe he was a barrier to my ex, who was only going to double down now that he was so profoundly humiliated. But I couldn’t do something stupid. Or stupider than agreeing to this crazy scheme.
Would he let me go with good grace or would I have to fight, and lose, all over again? My heart was in my throat for a second, but this was Mik. He wasn’t Rand. He might have annoying control issues, but he’d never be like Rand.
I berated myself for the silly slip of telling him no more kisses would be happening soon, when I meant never. Never ever. This was a mutual aid agreement only, and temporary. Storming upstairs, I calmed down enough to take in my new surroundings.
The place was amazing, more luxurious than anything I’d ever seen, even on TV shows about the mansions of the super wealthy.
I had been stunned by the outside, which was pure California with a red tile roof and creamy beige stucco, loads of balconies sprinkled with tropical plants, all shaded by soaring palm trees.
Inside, it was a mix of modern and classic, and since Mik hadn’t been in the country much longer than a few months, I imagined it either came with all the beautiful furniture and paintings or he’d hired a decorator.
I could almost picture Chase and Todd drooling when I described the art deco chandelier, so over the top for the wide hallway upstairs, or the vast multi-colored glass one that hung in the two-story entryway.
Wait, I couldn’t tell them anything. I was pretty sure this was supposed to be on the down low, although Mik and I hadn’t discussed that either. We hadn’t discussed anything, and to be honest, I was shocked I was in his house at all, but I couldn’t be too upset about it.
If Rand was as pissed off as I believed him to be, it was only a matter of time before he found my apartment and showed up there.
The first room I peeked into was clearly Mik’s, oozing masculinity with a giant dark wood bed and black and white photos of the nearby mountains on the walls.
His bathrobe hung on a hook of an open door, probably leading into a fantastic master bathroom.
I looked at it for too long, knowing exactly how intoxicating it would smell if I stuck my face into the plush fabric.
Shutting the door in a hurry, I meandered further down the hall.
The next bedroom was nice, but too stark and too much like a five-star hotel, not that I’d ever been in one.
Rand could afford it, but he was a cheapskate on top of everything else.
I didn’t count the resort in Napa that Mik insisted on checking into, since I barely got to use the shower there.
The next one, still too close to Mik’s bedroom, was prettier, but it seemed smarter to be as far away as possible. It wasn’t Mik I was worried about so much as myself after I almost lost it after a couple of dances and one lingering, mind-blowing kiss.
It might have been silly to trust Mik at all. I didn’t know him, not really, so why was I suddenly so comfortable alone in his house with him? He might have been irritating at work, but he saved me from Rand, which is why. And took me to a place where my ex couldn’t touch me.
I just had to get myself under control and trust myself not to get swept up in this. I had to stay grounded in reality, which was never my strong suit.
“Oh, this is it,” I said when I looked into the next guest bedroom.
It was pale lavender, close enough to my favorite color, pink, and the homiest one so far.
It looked like a real-life woman had chosen the frilly throw pillows and the pretty watercolors on the cream walls.
The curtains were sheer and flowed to the floor, and I hurried across the room to crack the window to get a little breeze blowing to complete the look.
Well, that was odd. The windows wouldn’t budge and seemed to be permanently shut or locked somehow from the outside. Oh well, so much for making the romantic curtains flutter, and at least the view of the pool was nice.
Just to make sure, I went to the next bedroom to check the windows and couldn’t raise them an inch. That had to be some kind of fire hazard, and once I felt steady enough to talk to Mik without risking falling into his arms again, I’d mention it.
After I unpacked my overnight bag, which had appeared at my door while I was busy inspecting the bathroom, my stomach growled.
I didn’t remember the last time I ate, and when I thought back, I was shocked to realize it was breakfast the day before.
I was about to take a late lunch when the delivery from hell distracted me, and then I was out of it until this morning.
How did everything change so much in so short a time? It didn’t seem possible, and there was no way I’d last much longer, but I couldn’t bear the thought of facing Mik’s smug face, so sure he’d get me back on his lap or in his arms.
Because he might, if I saw him again so soon.
There was a brisk knock at the door, and I froze, waiting to see if he opened it.
He didn’t, and there was silence for several long moments.
Getting up, I approached the door like it was a tiger about to pounce, and when I slowly cracked it open, no one was there.
Taking a step out, my toe bumped into a silver tray, loaded down with food.
Once again, I was overwhelmed with gratitude that I didn’t have to face him so soon, and wondered if this was his idea or the cook who had to have whipped up this meal.
I tore into a piece of crusty bread as soon as I had the platter on the big desk in the corner of the room, and settled happily into the overstuffed armchair to enjoy it all in peace.
This was great, but there was still tomorrow at work to contend with. I couldn’t hide from Mik forever. All I could do was hope sleep would cool down the unaccountable lust he awakened in me and that he’d also realize it was best if we kept things contractual.
The next morning, I did feel a lot stronger. This was unconventional, but so what? I was getting safety and protection, and so was he, from another arranged marriage that he wouldn’t be able to get out of.
As soon as I was dressed, I found Mik in the kitchen, casually sipping coffee at the granite counter, dressed in one of his perfectly fitted suits and looking more scrumptious than the plate of fresh pastries next to him. What the hell did he do to me? I couldn’t find my voice.
“Morning,” he said, tipping his coffee cup at me. “I’m about to head out, but if you’re not ready, I’ll arrange for a car to take you in later.”
No wicked grin, no sultry smile, not a hint that the last time we were in the same room, we were locked together with our tongues in each other’s mouths. He was acting like the kiss never happened, or that he told me he was ready to make this marriage real.
Well, that was good. Wasn’t it? Was I relieved or not?
Not wanting to be further in his debt, I told him I was ready to go, grabbing a jelly donut as I scrambled after him to ride into work. Instead of driving himself, he had a driver, and we both sat in the back seat. Great. Now he didn’t have to concentrate on the road.
Instead, he gave all his attention to his tablet, only mentioning to me in passing as we arrived that he’d have some new wine glasses delivered, before taking off to his office and shutting himself in.
Business as usual. That’s what I wanted. So why did it feel like I might be disappointed?