Page 87 of Vita Mia

“She used to tell stories to me when I was little. Tell me how important it was for us to trust and be loyal to each other. I know my mother hates to see my brothers compete. I do too. This interview will bring out the worst in my family. I can’t help but feel a bit scared about that. Since the worst happened to my father and uncle Lo.”

“You can trust me,” Ryder said.

She cast her gaze over to him. “Are you sure you can trust us?”

He nodded.

“What can I do to prove it?” he asked.

“For one, you can stop acting like you’re scared to touch me when I know you want too.”

Ryder’s eyes stretched in surprise. Mia laid back on the grass. She smiled up at him. He looked around to see if the men patrolling the land with guns were near. They were alone. He found that odd. But didn’t question it. The privacy added to his bravery.

“No one comes out here Ryder. If you’re wondering,” she said.

He scooted back an inch or two and then dropped down on his side and stared down at her. “I do want to touch you. But I know how deadly a mistake than can be. Nothing is wrong with my memory sweetheart.”

“I’m sorry for what Gianni did to you. He used to be a boxer, but mama put a stop to it when he hurt an opponent so bad the man was brain dead. He likes to fight. If it matters, you lasted longer than most who go up against him. I think he respects you.”

“I doubt that.”

“Trust me, he wouldn’t keep teasing you into a confrontation if he didn’t. I saw the fight. You did knock him on his ass once. Gianni didn’t like that much,” she laughed. “Besides Gianni has another way of dealing with people he doesn’t respect,” her voice trailed off. But he caught the meaning. “It’s my fault. Gino and Gianni didn’t believe me when I told them we never had sex. Eve did. She says I would never lie to her. It’s the only lie I ever told her. She is the reason my mother never was told the full story. She knows we were caught together. But not the sex part. I’d die if she finds that out.”

“Your mother seems like she would understand.”

“I dunno. She doesn’t speak up like she used too. She’s different.”

Ryder moved MiaBella’s hair from her brow when the wind blew the long strands over her face. In doing so his finger grazed down to her chin. That slow trace from her temple and along her jawline went from seductive to soothing And she responded with the blink of her dark lashes over those deep doe-like eyes of hers. “It’s been two years. I’m sure you found a boyfriend to treat you special,” he said but prayed she didn’t.

MiaBella shook her head.

Ryder had to restrain himself from smiling.

“No one wants to date me here... Plenty of marriage proposals though,” she gave a wry smile. “More than half the men in Bagheria are distant cousins of mine. And in America, dating is even worse. I can’t make a step without being protected by my brother’s men. It’s hard to make friends when you got a bodyguard following you around campus. I had few at the University, though. I even pledged a sorority.” She smiled and her eyes lit up with excitement. But then the smile faded. “If it weren’t for Lola and Jewel I’d never have seen New York, Florida or Los Angeles.”

“There was no one else?”

“That’s what you’re really asking isn’t it?” MiaBella looked up at the open sky. “No, Ryder. The only sex I’ve ever had was with you. What you said was right. I wanted to give myself to someone special. To someone who thought I was special.”

“You are special.”

“Prove it.”

“There you go with your dares,” Ryder smiled.

“Kiss me, again.”

“That’s not how this should work. Dinner and movie, maybe, first?”

“Stop joking. I’m serious. Kiss me and I might believe you mean it.”

Ryder paused. MiaBella closed her eyes and waited for the kiss. His gaze swept from her lips, to her breasts, to the crease between her thighs and back to her luscious mouth. Under any other circumstances he’d do more than kiss her. But a sense of dread came over him that stopped him in his heart. His vision lifted to the forest behind them. And the hairs to the back of his neck raised. They were being watched. He was sure of it.

MiaBella opened one eye and peeked up at him.

“I don’t want any trouble, no drama. I think we should head back.” He pushed up from the grass and dusted his rump off with his hand. MiaBella didn’t move at first. She lay there staring up at the sky. “I guess you’re wrong. Nothing special about a girl that makes you fearful.”

“It’s not you, Mia.”

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