Page 40 of Accidental Wedding Crasher
“I love her.”
Evan said the words to make his brother happy, but when he spoke them aloud, he realized how true they were. In some way, he did love Mia. She was unlike anyone he’d ever met before. As Luka had said, she made him want to be a better man. She made him realize that there was value in putting aside his work and embracing the fun side of life. She inspired him. When he was with her, she was like the sun, bright and warm and pulling him in with her gravity.
And that was scary, because Evan knew what happened to people who fell in love. He didn’t want to give up his work, not even for Mia. He couldn’t. He shouldn’t even want to.
“Woo-hoo!” Luka cheered. Just then, a few of his friends came over with shots, and Luka allowed himself to be pulled away. He gestured for Evan to follow, but Evan shook his head.
He slipped away from the party, alone, and walked across the fields in the darkness. As he got further from the flashing lights and loud music of the party, he could see stars overhead and hear crickets chirping. Despite the peace of the evening, his mind raced with thoughts of Mia. It would be hard to leave her at the end of this week. And he didn’t even want to imagine what his family would say when he turned up without her at the next event. Hedidn’twantto turn up without her.
“Hey.”
Startled, Evan turned and saw Mia standing in the moonlight. She wore a tight dark-colored dress and had her hair down in curls around her shoulders. She looked gorgeous, as she always did.
“Mia?” Evan put his hand to his chest, calming his heart. “What are you doing here?”
“I needed a little break from the party.” She smiled. “Sarah is great, and so are her friends, but they have so much energy. And so many questions. I’m not even drinking, because I’m sure that if I do, I’ll reveal that we aren’t really together.”
Evan chuckled. “I get that. That’s why I took a break from Luka’s party, too.” He glanced at her. “Nice dress.”
“Sarah lent it to me.” She laughed softly. “Finally, I didn’t have to think about what I was going to wear.”
They stood together in silence for a moment, looking up at the stars. The air was fresh and cool. Evan was aware of each of Mia’s small movements as she shifted on her feet or brushed her hair back with a hand. It was as though they were connected by an invisible thread that made him in tune with what she was doing all the time.
“Evan,” Mia said, her voice low, “we’re leaving the day after tomorrow.”
“That’s right,” Evan said. He tilted his head back, looking up. “Thank you again for coming.”
“Thank you for having me.” The words sounded overly formal. “Do you think… do you think we’ll see each other again after this? I mean, if you need my help at another wedding or family event.”
There was hope in her voice and something else, something that tugged at Evan’s heart and made warmth pool in his limbs. The idea of a future with Mia, even if that future was time together at weddings and events, sounded wonderful. Before he could think twice, Evan found himself nodding.
“I’d like that.” He turned to look at Mia. She was looking back at him, her eyes sparkling in the darkness. “You’re really something, Mia. You know that, right?”
She laughed softly. “I’m not so sure.”
“No, you’re amazing. I…” There was more Evan wanted to say. He wanted to explain that if things were different, if he didn’thave his company, he would want something real with her. Yet he knew that whatever he said would fall flat.
“I think…” Mia trailed off too, biting her lip. They stood without speaking, looking at each other, as the moment stretched. Evan felt as though the invisible string that connected them was pulling him closer. He knew he was tipsy. He was saying more than he should, even though he was hardly saying anything. She looked so beautiful in the moonlight, her lips slightly parted, her eyes round and bright.
And then, suddenly, they were kissing. Evan wasn’t sure who’d leaned in first, but it didn’t matter. As their lips brushed, it was as though all the feeling that had been building up since the moment they met swelled between them. His hands were on her waist, pulling her closer, as her hands slid into his hair. He bit her lip, and she sighed softly, a sound that filled Evan with heat. He traced the curve of her spine as the kiss deepened. She tasted like chocolate and sunshine.
As they kissed, the world around them fell away. They were no longer guests at a wedding. They were no longer standing in a starlit field. They were no longer a high school teacher and a CEO. They weren’t even Evan and Mia anymore. The kiss was all that existed, all Evan could think about. All he cared about.
Then, as suddenly as it had started, they both pulled away at the same instant. Mia’s cheeks were flushed, and her lips were red. Her hair was messy where he’d run his hand through it. Evan knew he looked disheveled from only a few moments of kissing. The world spun again. What had happened?
“I—” Evan said. He wasn’t sure where he was going with this, but it didn’t matter because Mia spoke up first.
“I’d better get back to the party,” she said quickly, words spilling over each other. “Sarah will be wondering where I am. See you later.” Without giving him a chance to speak, she turned, hair swishing over her bare shoulders, and hurried back toward the bachelorette party. Evan was left standing alone in the darkness, watching her disappear. He was still reeling. He hadn’t intended to kiss her.
Yet it had been earth-shattering.
What did this mean? Evan knew what itcouldn’tmean. Even though he cared about Mia, even though he felt something for her that was dangerously close to love, he couldn’t have a relationship with her. He simply couldn’t. It would mean giving up everything he’d worked for all his life.
Yet the thought ofnotkissing Mia again was almost as painful. Evan ran a hand through his hair. He should never have come into the fields alone. He should never have invited Mia here, even though this week had been one of the best he could remember. Everything was changing too quickly. Things were spinning out of his control.
And he had work to do.
CHAPTER 17
