Chapter 5
Katie clapped her hands together and hugged Mia round the shoulders. ‘You look wonderful, Mimi.’
‘You’re sure you don’t mind me borrowing this?’ She smoothed her hands over the velvety skirt that swirled in bronzy colours, skimming over her hips and grazing her ankles.
‘I’m sure. But I’m borrowing that top another time. It’s perfect with the skirt.’
Mia smiled. ‘Not like we’ve not switched clothes often enough over the years.’
‘True.’ Katie laughed. ‘Did you ever find that yellow scarf of mine?’
‘Wasn’t it an orange jumper of mine that you lost?’
‘Honestly, I can’t remember any more.’ She laughed and checked the clock. ‘Let’s get you downstairs and into a taxi.’
The wolf-whistle from Aiden pierced the shop floor as soon as she reached the bottom step. ‘You look gorgeous, Mia.’
‘You don’t think it’s too much?’ She ran her fingers over the skirt again. ‘I mean, it’s May and I’m in velvet.’
‘Definitely not. You look positively strokable. I’d struggle to keep my hands off you!’
‘Don’t even think about it!’ Katie warned. ‘Mia’s not one of your playthings.’
‘Kitikat.’ Mia rested a hand on her friend’s arm. ‘He’s just teasing.’
‘Yeah.’ Aiden grinned unapologetically. ‘I know she’s way too good for me. But a man can dream, can’t he?’
‘Don’t you have a home to go to? I’m sure we already kicked you out once.’ Katie rolled her eyes.
‘Got halfway there and realised I’d forgotten my phone.’ He leaned over the shop counter, before waving the device at them both. ‘Mia, whoever your would-be-prince-charming tonight is, he’s lucky. I hope he knows that.’
‘She could be coming out with me,’ Katie pointed out.
Aiden looked Mia over again. ‘If she was, it would be a criminal waste.’ He flashed Mia a wink. ‘You’re beautiful. Good luck with project Triple D.’
‘Thanks, Aiden.’ Mia felt oddly shy at the compliment. ‘Have a good night.’
‘You too, Princess.’
‘Triple D?’ Katie asked as Aiden left. ‘Princess?’
‘Disney Dream Dude. He’s teasing.’
‘I like that one.’
‘I’m hoping I like this one. I’m getting really, really fed up of frogs.’
‘Here.’ Katie rooted through a bowl of small, polished crystals that looked a lot like sweets, and pulled out a pale pink stone.
Mia twisted it back and forth.
‘It’s rose quartz,’ Katie explained. ‘Phe says it helps call love into your life.’
‘Really?’
‘Phe gave me a piece of this not long after we met. And we’re together now.’
‘You don’t really think a lump of pink stone got you and Ophelia together?’
‘Of course not.’ Katie giggled. ‘But do I know that it didn’t help me be more open to a relationship with her? Maybe.’ She folded Mia’s fingers over the smooth stone. ‘And you, Mimi, need all the help you can get!’
‘I’d be offended if you weren’t so right.’ Mia sighed and stared at the crystal before tucking it into her cleavage. ‘What? It’s not like your skirt has pockets!’
Aiden glanced away from the customer he was just finishing with when Mia strode in and stalked straight up the stairs.
‘Mwuh-oh.’
He stared at Mist who looked right back at him. For a second, it had almost sounded like the cat said uh-oh. He couldn’t disagree with her – Mia’s usual warmth was absent, and she practically radiated tension.
‘Don’t suppose you know what’s wrong?’
Mist gave him an unimpressed look then started to clean her paws.
‘Right, of course not.’ He flipped the shop sign to closed for lunch just as Mia clipped back down the stairs.
‘Hey, Princess, you OK?’
‘Yeah, fine,’ she replied, clearly not telling the truth. ‘Just dropping back Katie’s skirt. I left it on the landing.’
‘OK. How was your date?’
‘Not quite as promising as his profile suggested.’
‘Should I ask?’
‘He was too short.’
‘Oh, snakes’ fur and dragon feathers.’ Aiden put on a silly falsetto. ‘One can’t possibly have a short prince.’
‘Shut up.’ She flicked a rude gesture at him.
‘Oh, but the horrors, a short prince! One can only dread to think if his shortcomings extended lower than the head on his shoulders!’
‘Seriously, shut up.’ Mia started to laugh.
‘What? You’re the one with lofty standards.’
She sighed. ‘He wasn’t even as tall as me.’
‘You’re what? Five six?’
‘I was in heels, so probably about five nine.’
‘And three inches is a problem for you?’
‘No. But him insisting he really was five eleven and a half when it’s blatantly not true? Yeah, that’s problematic for me. If he’d been honest on his profile, I’d have worn flats. But lying over something that stupid makes me wonder what else he’d lie about.’
‘You should have realised when he emphasised the half inch.’
‘You think?’
‘Yeah, no real man gives a toss about half an inch. At least, not above his waist.’
She stared at him for a couple of seconds before cracking up. ‘Did he seriously think I wouldn’t notice? Or realise how crappy it’d make me feel?’
‘Do not let that loser make you feel bad. He’s not worth it.’
‘I know. It just… gets you down sometimes. But thanks for making me laugh again.’
‘Always my pleasure.’
‘Bye, Aiden.’ Mia headed to the door, still smiling.
‘See ya, Princess. Nice legs, by the way.’
‘Thanks. Figured May was a good time to dig my dresses out of the wardrobe.’
‘Brightened my day right up.’
Mia hesitated by the door. ‘I was going to grab lunch from the café. Can I pick you something up too?’
‘That’d be great, thanks.’
‘What do you want?’
‘Surprise me.’
‘Anything you dislike?’
‘Short-arse wannabes who lie to my favourite Princess.’ He was glad when she returned his smile. ‘I’m not fussy. Pretty easily pleased.’
‘So I hear.’ Mia chuckled as she headed out of the shop.
By the time she got back, he’d made drinks, grabbed the biscuit barrel and spread a blanket from the treatment room out in the sunshine.
‘This is nice.’ Mia followed him into the shop’s little garden. ‘But are you sure it’s OK? I don’t want you getting into trouble leaving the shop.’
‘Aww, you worry about me. I’m touched.’
‘Touched in the head, most likely.’
‘Haha. I do get a lunch break. And I’ve got the phone with me. Besides, it’s a gorgeous day, and I have a gorgeous woman by my side. That’s definitely worth taking time to appreciate.’
‘It’s just a chicken sandwich, Aiden.’ Mia dropped the bag into his lap. ‘Consider it my Friday treat.’
‘Thanks, I’ll get them next time,’ he promised. ‘But do me a favour? The next time I pay you a compliment, maybe just try accepting it, OK?’
‘Yes, sir, thank you, sir, compliment duly accepted, sir.’
He snorted in amusement and tucked into his sandwich. After a while, Mia stretched out her legs and leaned back on her elbows. ‘This really is nice.’
‘It really is. Biscuit?’
‘Thanks.’ She temporarily relieved the owl of his head and peered inside. ‘Dark chocolate, huh?’
‘I didn’t think there were any of those left. They sold really well. Ophelia or Rayenne must have put them in. They’re probably three weeks old, so I’m not sure how good they’ll be. There should be fresher, safer ones underneath.’
‘Oh, I think I can handle it.’ She bit into one and smiled. ‘They still taste pretty good.’
‘Do they?’ He reached for one himself, and was flooded by the heady spice mix that washed heat through him. ‘They have held up well. Good to know.’ He couldn’t resist glancing down at the shapely legs peeking out beneath the very sensible nurse’s uniform.
‘Is there something I can do for you, Aiden?’
Oops, busted. Though he could think of a few replies – all of which would probably be unwise. ‘Just admiring the view. And thinking.’
‘Do tell.’
‘I don’t think I realised people had freckles on their legs.’
‘Obviously I do.’
‘So I see. But I have to admit, it makes me wonder if they go all the way up and down.’
‘Interested in finding out, are you?’
‘I’d be lying if I said that’s not tempting.’ He waited until she looked at him. ‘Really tempting. But it doesn’t matter, because I’d never act on it.’
‘So you are all talk,’ she teased then added, so quietly he almost missed it, ‘Pity.’
He should have left it at that. This was Mia. His friend. But he couldn’t. ‘What was that?’
‘I said “pity”, because maybe I’ve wondered how far your ink extends.’
‘Are you interested in finding out?’
‘What would you do if I said yes?’
It took long moments for his brain to come up with a semi-sensible reply. ‘I’d question your sense of humour.’
Mia took a deep breath. ‘And if I said I wasn’t joking?’
‘I’d say it’s an incredible compliment, but probably a dumb idea. Because for all that we tease and joke around, I really do care about you, Mia, and I’m not willing to do anything to risk hurting you.’
‘What makes you think you’d hurt me?’
Aiden chose his next words carefully. ‘I wouldn’t mean to – and I certainly don’t want to – but that’s what would probably happen. You’re looking for serious – your Triple D – and I can’t offer you that.’
‘I know that. Katie warned me about you.’
‘You should listen to her.’
‘Maybe. But I’m just so fed up, Aiden. So much time and effort, for broken hopes and disappointing dates.’
‘All the short, lying frogs?’
‘Yeah. Dating should be fun, and this isn’t. And I miss having fun, Aiden.’
‘What are you saying, Princess?’
‘That even though I know what I want long-term, I don’t feel like I should be denied all fun while waiting to meet Mr Happy Ever After. Do you?’
‘Of course not…’
‘Then I stand by my earlier comment. It’s a pity you’re all talk and tease. Because it seems much more sensible to me to have fun with someone I know and trust not to hurt me, rather than with some stranger. Stranger hook-ups aren’t really my style anyway.’
‘Is any of this? Do you even do string-free sex? Because that’s what we’re talking about, right?’ Even if he probably shouldn’t be.
Mia nodded. ‘That’s what I’m talking about, yes. And no, I haven’t before, but that’s not stopping me thinking about it – a lot – now.’
‘You know it’s probably just the cookies?’
‘You’re a good baker, Aiden. But I don’t think you’re that good. It’s not like you’ve spelled me!’ She giggled. ‘I just thought it could be fun.’