Page 111 of Regards, Mia

“Kennedy!” Mia calls, taking off her helmet and shaking out her hair.

Kennedy eyes me, then returns her gaze to Mia. “Are you okay?” she asks.

“Never better.”

“But you just got off the back of a motorcycle.” Her gaze lights on me with suspicion.

“Kennedy, this is Jay. He’s the newest member of our book club.”

Kennedy lifts a pierced eyebrow. “I thought no men were allowed. Besides Thatcher, of course.”

“It was Thatcher’s idea,” Mia says.

I hold up my hands, backing off. “I don’t have to stay if you are uncomfortable with it.”

Kennedy grins. “The more the merrier. As long as you like to read?”

“I mostly read non-fiction. Biographies and memoirs are my favorite, but I also love True Crime.”

Kennedy nods. “You can crash our book club any day.” She opens the door to the bookstore and slips inside. “Did you hear why Sloane isn’t coming tonight?”

“Sloane never goes anywhere,” Mia says. “She’s always working.”

“She’s taking time off to get married,” Kennedy says.

“Married?” Mia halts mid-stride, nearly tripping over my foot. “I didn’t even know she was dating anyone.”

“Me either! I thought maybe I missed the whirlwind romance because I’d been in Puerto Rico for six weeks.” She looks at me, raising both eyebrows. “I missed a whole lot.”

“I can’t believe Sloane is getting married,” Mia says.

Kennedy looks at me apologetically. “I hope you weren’t here to discuss books, because all we’re gonna talk about is Sloane and her weekend wedding.”

“Maybe I should go,” I say, hesitating at the door. “I don’t want to ruin your party.”

Kennedy links her arm through mine. “A few months ago, Mia would have run kicking and screaming from a man being introduced to our club. Now she brings you.” She tugs me inside. “You’re not going anywhere.”

I glance down and see Mia grinning up at me, and I know it’s true. I’m here to stay.

Epilogue

Max and Samantha's house is exactly what I'd thought it would be. Small and cozy, it's hidden from the street by flowering trees. It's the perfect place to raise a family. I can already imagine a couple of kids riding bikes down the long, winding driveway, and scaling the trees for hide and seek. Max and Samantha wasted no time getting their family started. It's only been six months since their wedding, and they are already expecting their first.

Mia stops her car in front of the house and turns to face me. Her mouth turns down in a frown. "Thanks for being here," she says.

"Of course." I curl my hand around the nape of her neck and pull her close, kissing her frown away. "There's no place I'd rather be."

"Really?" She wrinkles her nose. "I can think of at least a dozen. And I have a pile of work to do."

I squint down at her. "No work today. Don't even mention it."

She jabs a finger at my chest. "That goes for you, too. I don't want to hear a single word about boxing."

"Ouch." I grab her hand and drag it up to my lips. "That hurts."

She laughs and rubs her knuckles over my beard. "You're such a baby." Her hand slides into my hair. “You smell so good.” She leans close, running her nose up my jaw. “How do you always smell so fucking good?”

My dick responds to the sexy tone in her voice. "You have the dirtiest mouth."

---