Page 43 of Regards, Mia

“How was your day, dear?” I ask, heavy on the sarcasm.

To my surprise, he doesn’t ignore me. A rare smile lights his face. “It was a good day.”

I’m temporarily stunned by his gorgeous smile and nearly trip over my own feet. If Jay notices, he doesn’t comment.

“What made it a good day?” I ask, regaining my composure.

“Thatcher is going to step in for my fighter who broke his hand.”

“Thatcher?” I can’t keep the skepticism from my voice.

“You don’t approve.”

It’s not that I don’t approve, I’m just surprised. “I thought he quit fighting.”

“It’s only one fight,” Jay says. “And it’s for a good cause.”

Thatcher is a grown man. If he wants to get in a ring and pummel somebody and be pummeled in return, who am I to stop him? “As long as it’s for a good cause.”

Jay nods. “It’s for Champion’s Corner. The youth program at the gym.”

“The program is important to you?”

A muscle in his jaw flexes. “It’s everything.”

Jay is a man of few words, and I know I’m not likely to get more out of him.

We continue down the aisles; me checking the list on myphone for the items I need and Jay scrutinizing anyone who gets within twenty-five yards of us.

I’m terrible in the kitchen, so each week I challenge myself with a new recipe in hopes of improving.

“You like to cook?” Jay watches me select ingredients for an early spring dish that is easy and delightful according to the online recipe.

“Not really.”

He winces as I add a sad-looking bunch of asparagus to the cart. “What are you gonna do with that?”

“I’m going to bake it with a creamy mushroom sauce.”

Jay wrinkles his nose, letting me know exactly how he feels about the dish.

“Care to join me?”

His gaze transfers from the cart to me, and a hum of excitement plays on every nerve in my body as I wait for his answer.

“Only if you let me cook.”

“That’s the best offer I’ve had all day.”

“If we are gonna pretend to be a couple at your brother’s wedding, we should practice sharing a meal together.”

I grab a bottle of wine and add it to the cart. “You don’t have to come to the wedding.”

Jay grabs another bottle of wine and inspects the label. “Do you have someone else?”

His voice sounds strange, like he swallowed too much air.

“No.” I take the bottle from his hands. “Have you tried this one?” I ask. “It’s more than decent.”

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