I leaned back, letting out a breath. I did owe her—not just for the ride, but for treating me like a normal guy. After so many years of people catering to me as a rich guy, Mia’s straightforward attitude was a breath of fresh air.
“So,” I said, changing the subject, “any big weekend plans, or am I your entertainment?”
She raised an eyebrow. “You? Entertainment? I doubt you could keep up.”
“I can be pretty entertaining when I want to be.”
“Oh, really?” She leaned forward, her gaze challenging. “What’s your idea of fun?”
“Depends on the company,” I shot back, my voice dropping lower.
She didn’t break eye contact, and for a moment, the tension between us thickened. But then Daisy barked, hopping up onto the couch between us, breaking the moment with a wagging tail and a slobbery kiss to Mia’s cheek.
She laughed, shoving Daisy off playfully. “Alright, alright. We’ll stick to PG-rated fun.”
“Your loss,” I said, though the heat from that brief exchange still lingered.
Dinner was simple enough—delivery from a place down the road. I ordered grilled chicken and veggies while Mia stuck to her burger and fries. But before the food even arrived, I couldn’t help myself.
“You know, a burger and fries isn’t the best choice. All that grease? You might want to go for something cleaner,” I said, leaning back against the couch with a casual shrug. “I always eat clean. Helps keep everything in check, especially when I’m training.”
Mia raised an eyebrow, her expression deadpan. “Oh really? And here I thought we were just having dinner, not a lecture on nutrition.”
I chuckled, trying to keep the mood light. “I’m just saying, grilled chicken and veggies—solid choice. Fuel for the body.”
She smirked, leaning forward slightly. “Well, Liam, I’ll eat what I want, thanks. I like burgers, and I don’t think a little bit of fries is going to hurt me.”
I hesitated, feeling a bit sheepish for pushing it. “Alright, fair enough. Can we just agree to disagree?”
Mia laughed, the sound easing the tension in my chest. “Deal. But don’t think you’re going to convert me to your ‘clean eating’ lifestyle.”
I grinned, nodding. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”
With that settled, the food arrived, and as we dug in, it wasn’t the meal that stood out—it was the conversation. We talked about everything, from her work at the park to the bizarre calls she’d gotten from clueless tourists. The more we talked, the more I relaxed, finding myself laughing more than I had in weeks.
But as the night wore on, something shifted. Maybe it was the wine we’d opened or the fire Mia had lit in the fireplace earlier. Whatever it was, the air between us thickened with unspoken tension.
We were sitting closer now, our knees almost touching. Every now and then, her hand would brush against mine when she reached for her glass, and I could feel the heat from her leg on my thigh.
“So,” she said quietly, “how’s the ankle?”
I shrugged. “Still attached.”
“Here,” she said, moving closer. “Let me take a look.”
Before I could protest, she gently lifted my leg, her fingers brushing against my skin as she removed my boot and checked the bandage. Her touch was gentle yet firm, and the movement of her hands sent a comforting sensation through my body.
“You don’t have to—” I began, but she cut me off.
“I know,” she murmured, her eyes focused on my ankle. “But I want to.”
Her hands lingered for a moment longer than necessary, and when she finally let go, the tension between us didn’t dissipate—it grew stronger.
“Mia,” I said softly, locking eyes with her. “I?—”
She bit her lip, looking down for a second before meeting my gaze again. “There’s... something I should tell you.”
My heart skipped a beat. “What is it?”