Page 23 of The Only Time

It’s like someone climbed inside my brain and found what I think the perfect body is and made her just for me. That’s a fucked-up thought, but it’s how I feel as I watch her.

The water droplets glide down her slender stomach making their way down to the edge of her bikini bottoms. I’m suddenly thirsty and want to lick the water off her. Her wet hair sticks to her body, adding to her effortless allure.

The world around me fades away, leaving Mia in sharp, stunning focus. She grabs her towel, which I now notice is sitting on the chair next to me, and wraps it around her body.

“Can I join you?”

“Of course,” I reply.

She takes a seat on the chair next to me and we both lay back in silence for a minute.

“It’s a beautiful backyard. I love the trees here,” she says into the night.

“Thank you. I love the trees too. It’s what has always sold me on this house. Plus, the privacy it creates is nice.” I look over at her, noticing she doesn’t have a drop of makeup on. Her skin is perfect. “What made you want to get in your workout this late at night?”

Her lips press together tightly—a troubled look on her face. “I just felt like my body had a ton of stored energy when I laid down. I knew I needed to get rid of some if I was ever going to sleep. I think I’m just used to working a ton of hours. It’s been slow here.”

“You lost your job?” I ask, suddenly remembering why it was I didn’t trust her in the first place.

“What? No. I didn’t lose my job.”

“You didn’t? Don’t you need to head back soon or risk actually losing that job?” I ask, now more confused.

“No, my job is waiting for me.”

She’s not very forthcoming with information. “What do you do for a living, Mia?”

“I own a wine distribution company with my brothers. I’m the head of marketing and deal with all of our branding.”

That, I wasn’t expecting. Suddenly, her expensive car pops into my mind. “How long has your company been around?”

Maybe the car is an expense on the company, something to help with lowering taxes. A lot of startups do that to try and lower their taxes at the end of the year.

“About eight years. We do about a billion in revenue a year now.”

If I was drinking something, I would’ve choked on it. That’s no startup. That’s a well-established, successful company. And she owns it. Her bank account must put mine to shame. I don’t know what to do with that information.

Here I thought she was using me—interested in my money.

“Well, I think that swim actually did me in. I’m gonna go shower and try to sleep. I’ll see you tomorrow, Eric. Let me know if I can help you with anything.”

She gets up and walks away, but I’m too speechless to offer a goodnight.

Okay, so she isn’t using me for my money, but that doesn’t change anything. I still can’t trust my attraction to her. I have to stay strong and remember why touching her would be a very bad idea.

Chapter Nine

Mia

Okay, I’m bored. I’ve been here for a week now. My brothers still insist that I take more time off work, but since I’m too afraid to leave the house, there’s nothing for me to do.

I really should get over my fear and go to the grocery store today. It’s a good first step in getting out. I mean, honestly, is Don really going to be able to find me? Maybe I’m blowing this entire thing out of proportion. Even if he found me, he’d probably just beg to get back together, not kill me or anything.

Okay, good. It’s settled. I’ll go to the store and buy some food. I wonder what Eric would want for dinner. I should go ask him. I just hope he’s wearing a shirt this time. I swear I can’t even close my eyes now without seeing an image of his topless figure. It’s burned into my retinas.

I head downstairs and search the house. He must be in his bedroom and I am not about to barge in.

When I was in my room looking out the window, I saw a gazebo at the edge of his property by the woods. I pour a glass of iced tea and start to walk through the grass to see what’s inside of it. It could be another nice place to read or eventually pull out my laptop to work.

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