Page 5 of Regards, Mia

“It’s a blind date. We’ve never actually met.” He places a hand on the small of my back, urging me forward. “Funny thing, huh?”

I try to picture Emily and Jay together and fail. “She’s a little young for you, isn’t she?”

Jay winces. “Her sister said she was thirty, but she doesn’t look it.”

Jealousy rears its ugly head. Emily doesn’t deal with criminals daily, which probably contributes to her fresh face.

“Maybe it’s the ponytail,” I say, watching her hair swing as she turns her head and sees Jay.

Then shereallysees him.

Her eyes widen, her jaw drops, and two spots of color appear on her cheeks.

Oh yes, honey, I know how you feel. I felt the same way when I saw him for the first time.

Hot.

Bothered.

Tingly in all the right places.

Wait till she hears his voice. Deep and rumbly, Jay has one of those voices that stirs your soul.

We approach the table, and Emily shoots to her feet.

“You’re taller in person.” Her voice comes out in a squeak as her gaze drops over Jay from the tip of his motorcycle boots to the top of his head.

He’s standing behind me, but I can visualize what she’s seeing. Broad shoulders, impressive chest, long legs, then back up again to his sexy-as-sin face.

“I get that a lot,” he says, sounding mildly annoyed.

I can sympathize. One of my biggest pet peeves is people commenting on my height. I know I’m short. I don’t need anyone to remind me.

And of course Jay knows he’s taller than average, an imperial mountain of a man.

“The wait for a table was over an hour,” Emily says. “But my friends invited us to join them.” She darts a glance between Harrison and Jay. “Is that okay?”

“It suits me.” Jay raises an eyebrow at me, gesturing at Harrison. “Unless you two would rather be alone?”

I shake my head, taking the seat Harrison pulls out for me. “Please join us. No use waiting an hour for a table when we have plenty of room.”

Jay helps Emily with her chair, then shakes Harrison’s hand. This isn’t selfish at all on my part. I’m only trying to be nice, not prolong my interaction with the sexy stranger who isn’t a stranger anymore.

“Jay, this is Harrison and Mia,” Emily says.

Jay takes the seat across from me. “I met Mia on the way in,” he says.

Shivers tiptoe down my spine at the sound of my name on his lips. That deep rumble hits me in all the right spots.

“I know Harrison from work,” she says to Jay.

He nods, his gaze flicking to Harrison. “Real estate?” he asks.

“That’s right,” Harrison answers, looking pleased. “Are you in the market for a house?”

Jay shakes his head. “I’ve got a place.”

Emily laughs. “Harrison never stops working,” she says. “That’s why he won Mossy Oak’s Best Realtor three months in a row.”

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