Page 43 of Liberating Mia
Curling up under the covers, she flipped through the channels, nothing grabbing her attention. Eventually, she found a movie channel playing an old favorite. The last she remembered was hearing thetap-tap-tapof the keys as Finn typed. A background sound that blended in with the low noise of the television.
Jerking awake, she became aware of Finn calling her.
“Easy there, Sugar. I’m didn’t mean to scare you.”
“Is something wrong? Was I snoring?”
“No. It’s eight, and you need to be downstairs at nine. I thought I’d wake you with enough time to get ready, rather than have to rush.”
“That’s impossible. I’ve barely been asleep.”
Finn chuckled. “You were out like a light before I even got finished emailing my mom. Didn’t even budge when I got into bed at one. Definitely got a solid seven, seven and a half hours in.”
Yawning, Mia threw the bedding off. Stretched. Yawned again. God that felt good. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d had such a good night’s sleep. Opening her eyes, she saw Finn holding a cup of coffee out to her. Groaning in pleasure, she reached for the mug.
“You are my hero. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
She took the mug with her and headed for the bathroom. One look at the state of her hair in the mirror, and Mia was grateful Finn had the foresight to wake her. She wanted to look nice for her first girly outing in forever, and she most certainly needed the confidence boost to face the coming statement she needed to give.
She hurried through the shortest shower in history, spending more time taming her hair and applying the makeup she found in her bag. Thirty minutes later, she dashed into the room to find something suitable to wear.
“I’ve got nothing to wear,” she wailed five minutes later, having flung every last item of clothing out of her bag and onto the bed. She pawed through the pieces again. “I can’t go with Tahlia today. I’ve got nothing to wear.”
“Mia. Take a deep breath. You’re going shopping, not to a job interview.”
Her eyes followed him as he strode across the room toward the bed where she stood. God, he made her knees weak. That confident stride, those bold good looks …gah!
Alright, alright. Pull yourself together. Things to do, places to go, people to see. No time to be drooling over this man, Mia.
She watched as he picked up one item, then another, placing them out neatly on the bed. He took a moment, then reached for a couple of items and handed them to her. Taking them, she laid the clothes down and had a look at what he’d picked.
A silky shift top she loved because the material never needed to be ironed, and jeans. Classic, simple, elegant. She grabbed the clothes and a pair of flat shoes that would be comfortable for lots of walking and dashed back into the bathroom to dress.
When she came back out, he checked his watch.
“I’ve gotta say, I’m impressed. I don’t think I know another woman who can shower, dress, and make themselves up in forty minutes.”
With a grin, she curtsied. “Thank you.”
Mia fidgeted nervously with her purse as they rode the elevator down.
“Hey.”
She heard the soft word but couldn’t look at him. Fear and nausea battled for supremacy – she wanted to run, screaming, for the door. A gentle finger under her chin tilted her head back. Still, she couldn’t meet his gaze. She heard Finn push a button and felt the elevator shudder to a halt.
“Mia, look at me.” After long moments, as he waited her out, she finally looked at him. “I know you’re scared, Sugar. I can only imagine the hell you went through over the last few months. But you are not alone. I’m right here. I’ll be here the entire time. You need a break, all you have to do is say the word. Yeah?”
She absorbed the words, looked deep in his eyes, and saw his sincerity. It eased the anxiety some to know he would be there, quietly supporting her through the process.
“Thank you.” The words came out a whisper.
She shifted under his intense scrutiny. Obviously satisfied with what he found, he reached out and set the elevator back in motion. Exiting on the ground floor, they found Larry and Tahlia in the lobby, waiting for them.
Tahlia took Mia’s hands in hers. “Good morning. Laurence tells me you have some unavoidable business this morning. If you’d rather postpone our shopping trip, I’ll understand.”
She felt her eyes well with the tears she’d come to despise in recent months.
