Page 13 of The Only Time

“A toast,” Dad says as he holds up his glass, “to this wonderful meal cooked by an even more wonderful lady. Thank you for all the hard work you put into this.”

Everyone else toasts enthusiastically, nodding in agreement. I sneak a glance at Mia who is biting her lip with a blush on her face. My eyes follow the blush that extends down to her neck and then to her chest.

My dick twitches in response. I wonder if I could get her embarrassed while fucking her, telling her how good she looks taking my cock.

Shit. What the fuck am I doing?I can’t think of her like that. She is off limits.

I take a big gulp of my wine, drinking half my glass in one sip. Those thoughts are not allowed to happen. Not with someone like her, someone I’ll be forced to spend time with. I can’t risk it.

If I need to blow off steam, it has to be with a chick at a bar I know I’ll never see again. It’s safer that way.

Chapter Five

Mia

Today has been going so well, I almost forgot why I’m here. Almost. Until I got a text message from my brother Gabe telling me he talked to the cops. The restraining order is now set, but there’s nothing they can do in the meantime.

Don will receive the restraining order tomorrow.

My entire body breaks out into goosebumps just thinking about it. What if it pisses him off and he tries to find me? I don’t even know how easy it is for stalkers to find people. Did I need to do something to make sure I couldn’t be tracked down?

I’m trying my best to act like I’m okay. Layla and her family have been so warm and welcoming. Well, all of them except for the one sitting next to me—the one I’m living with.

I can’t get a read on him. I sense anger, but also sadness. With everything I’m going through, you would think it would scareme, but it doesn’t. He doesn’t seem crazy. He just seems like he’s trying to bury emotions that he’s working really hard to avoid.

“This is really good,” he whispers to me like he wants it to be a secret.

I find myself smiling. “Thanks. I’m glad you’re enjoying it.”

“Oh my gosh. Marry me, Mia,” Liam shouts from across the table. “This food is the best I’ve ever had.”

“Excuse me?” Layla throws a roll at him. “You could at least be mindful of the fact that I’m right here.”

I can’t help but laugh at them. Everyone reminds me so much of my family. Now that I think about it, Eric reminds me a lot of my brother, Gabe. They share an intensity about them. Gabe was burned by his ex-wife who decided being a mother and wife wasn’t for her, so she took off to California.

It messed him up for a long time.

Liam continues to flirt with me and throw compliments my way, which makes Eric shift uncomfortably in his seat. I doubt it’s because he’s jealous, though my heart flutters at the idea of someone like Eric being jealous over me.

He seems so…powerful. What would it be like to be the object of desire from those angry eyes?

After we finish our dinner, I convince everyone that I can handle the dishes so that they leave. I can tell Eric has reached his limit, and I kind of feel bad for being the reason his home has been invaded like this.

Josh and Layla are the last to leave. After Eric closes the door, an awkward silence instantly falls between us.

He pulls at the back of his neck. It’s either a nervous habit or he is extremely tense. “Uh, thanks for dinner. I can get the dishes.”

I would be shocked that he offered, but I heard his mother scold him about not helping me since I’ve worked on the meal all day.

I fight back a smile. “I see you listen to what your mother tells you.” He looks confused. “I heard her telling you to help me with dishes.”

“Oh,” he smiles, “yeah, she likes to make sure I remember not to be my grumpy self sometimes. But she’s right, I should do the dishes.”

He’s even hotter when he isn’t being a complete dick. Not that I’m interested in men at the moment. In fact, I’m wondering if maybe his idea of being a loner is the route I should be taking.

“I’m not going to let you do the dishes all by yourself. How about we both do them? It’ll get done faster that way.”

He shrugs his shoulders. “Sounds like a good offer. I’ll take it.”

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