Page 8 of Claimed By my Frenemy

Before anyone can respond, I pull up an extra chair and sit down, putting my drink on the table. Mia looks like she’s about to explode, but she’s trying to hold it together. This table is not meant for six chairs, and everyone has to scoot around a little to make it work. There is an awkward moment of chair shuffling before everyone gets settled again. I’m right across from Mia, which gives me the best view possible.

I can tell she’s trying to avoid looking at me, but I’m making it pretty impossible right now.

“I didn’t realize you were back in town, Mia. Must be nice, coming back home after so long. Where have you been these past few years?”

The blue-haired woman seems all too happy to fill me in when Mia doesn’t answer. “She’s been in Raleigh. She had a cool position as a designer for… What was it, Mia?”

“Your Home Your Way,” Mia replies through gritted teeth.

I continue to smile congenially like talking with Mia is my favorite pastime. Actually, I wouldn’t mind it so much if she weren’t trying to be so controlling by not selling the property, but I’m not here to talk about that.

Now if one of her friends brings it up, I am happy to present my numbers again, but for right now, the plan is to just continue annoying her.

Mia stands up abruptly, her chair scraping against the boards of the pier. “Theo, can I talk to you for a second? Alone?”

“Sure, Mia. Why not?”

The other women start whispering, and I can hear the blazing curiosity in their voices. They are dying to know exactly what’s going on, and I’ll be honest. I’m just as curious about what Mia has to say to me. Is this all it takes to convince her to sell?Knowing that I’ll be a thorn in her side until she does can be pretty motivating.

Once we’ve taken a few steps down toward the end of the pier, Mia spins around to face me, her eyes blazing. “What thehellare you doing here? Are you trying to make my life miserable?”

I feign innocence. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m just here having a drink. I can bet you that I come to Leo’s more often than you do.”

“Cut the crap, Theo. What you did last night, making all this noise, is harassment. You can’t force me to sell my grandmother’s house. What kind of person does that? Just accept that I’m not interested and move on with your life.”

I shrug, taking a sip of my drink. I can tell that the fact I’m acting so casual is annoying Mia even more. “I’m just a businessman, Mia. I own five properties on this island, and I do what I can to make them as profitable as possible. It’s nothing personal. But if you want to make it personal…”

Mia’s face flushes with anger. “You’re unbelievable. My friends deserve to know what kind of person you are. Everyone deserves to know. I bet if people knew what a jerk you are in real life, they wouldn’t want to come to your ‘resort.’”

Before I can respond, Mia turns back to the table, her voice rising to project the few feet between us and her friends. “Hey, everyone, you should know what Theo’s been up to. He’s been trying to buy my grandmother’s house and making my life a living hell because I won’t sell. Apparently, this guy doesn’t know how to accept ‘no’ from a woman.”

Her friends lean forward. I’m not sure if it’s because they’re getting protective of Mia or because their daily lives are so boring that they want any drama Mia has to offer.

The blue-haired woman screws her whole face up at me. “Theo, didn’t your mommy teach you how to play fair?”

I give a nonchalant shrug. “It’s just business. Nothing personal.”

“Mia, maybe you should come sit down,” the dark-haired one suggests.

“No, I don’t think it’s fair that he gets to treat me like this. We’re going to be neighbors. We’re going to have to deal with each other for I don’t know how long. The least he can do is apologize for being a jerk.”

She turns back to me and crosses her arms. She’s staring at me, waiting for some sort of apology, I guess. But I’m not planning to apologize. And now that her arms are under her breasts, they’ve been lifted just enough to give me a better view of them through the V-neck of her dress.

They’re making my mouth go dry as I remember my fantasy from last night. Now, we’re surrounded by people. Eyes are on us, thanks to Mia’s loud declaration. I can’t get hard right now. I can’t allow anyone to know how taunting her body is to me.

So, I force my eyes back to her friends. “Hey, I brought up the topic once. I haven’t brought it up again, though if youarewilling to sell, you just let me know. The ball’s in your court.”

“Theo, you can’t pretend like you’re just letting me make my own decisions. You’re clearly trying to push me to sell by making me uncomfortable on my own property.”

I see the blue-haired woman flash a mischievous grin at her friends. “Well, it sounds like you’ve both had an argument, and it hasn’t ended well. I think there’s only one way to fix it.”

“By Mia selling?” I suggest.

“By Theo moving,” Mia replies darkly.

“No, by you two kissing. It’s time to kiss and make up. Right, ladies?” She tries to get encouragement from everyone else, by looking around the table and making eye contact with the other women.

Two of the other women start chanting, “Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!”

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