Page 13 of Regards, Mia

“I have a truck,” he pulls on his shirt with fluid movements, unbothered by the turn in events. “I’ll drive you.”

I turn away from the sight of him buttoning his shirt. “I’ll walk.”

“Mia.”

My head jerks up at the sound of my name on his lips. I’m still helpless to obey him. If he tells me to stay, I know I will. I can’t say no to him, not when I’ve experienced the exquisite pleasure he’s capable of giving me.

Damn my body. I should have procured a fuck buddy just to prevent situations like these. I’d been too long on my dry spell, that must explain why I’m even entertaining the thought of fucking a man who is entirely wrong for me in every possible way.

But all he has to do is say one word. One syllable. And I’m willing to ignore all the red flags waving in my peripheral vision.

Stay.

But he doesn’t.

“You’re not walking alone at this hour,” he says. “I’ll walk with you.”

A burning feeling spreads through my lungs, and I taste something bitter. “This is Mossy Oak. Not New York City.”

His voice snaps like a whip, leaving no room for argument. “I’ll walk with you.”

There is no use arguing. I stride out the door he holds open, leaving my favorite panties, and any fantasies of fucking a bad boy behind.

CHAPTER 5

Little Hustler

Nothing works. I can’t get Mia off my mind.

After walking her to her car and saying goodbye, I spent a sleepless night drinking expensive scotch, feeling sorry for myself, and playing the piano badly.

I finally passed out and woke before dawn with a terrible hangover. Instead of trying to go back to sleep, I decided to punish myself further with a brutal circuit workout.

Anything to forget the woman whose scent still lingered in my apartment.

Ninety minutes into a circuit of pull ups, jumping rope, and punching the heavy bag, my front desk manager unlocks the door and turns on the bright overhead lights. She nearly loses her shit when she sees me jumping rope in the back corner.

“What are you doing here?” she shrieks.

I drop the jump rope and shoot her the evil eye. “Last time I checked, this was my gym.”

“Yeah, but…” She pulls out her phone, her eyebrows knitting together as she swipes the screen. “Emily just sent me a picture. I thought you were still there.”

Holding up her phone, she shows me a picture of Emily reclining against a headboard, a satisfied grinon her face.

“That smile is no thanks to me,” I say, scowling as I pick up my gloves.

“What do you mean?” Laura steps in between me and the bag. “Did you or did you not take my sister on a date last night?”

“Well…” I’m not sure how to have this conversation. “She left with another man.”

Laura’s mouth opens but no words come out.

I drop my gloves and grab a towel. “Next time you want to set me up with someone,” I say, wiping sweat from my face. “Do us both a favor and don’t.”

“Jay!” Laura follows as I head toward the front door. “What the hell?”

“Ask your sister,” I say. “I’m going for a run. I’ll be back in a few hours.”

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