Page 35 of Accidental Wedding Crasher
“Oh!” She sat up straight, breaking his reverie. “I know exactly what we need!”
“What?” Evan asked, already grinning. Mia got up and went inside. Evan turned in his chair so that he could watch as she rummaged in her suitcase. She pulled something out before heading back outside. Evan grinned as she broke off a piece of chocolate and handed it to him, sitting back in her chair.
“Where did you get this?” he asked, taking it from her and popping it into his mouth. Their fingertips brushed, and Evan tried to ignore the warmth that spread up his arm.
“I brought it with me.” Mia winked. “I’m always prepared.”
“What else did you bring?” Evan asked.
“Let’s see... mostly chocolate and clothes.” Mia giggled. “I guess I’m not prepared foreverything.Just chocolate- and wardrobe-based emergencies.”
“Well, those are the most common emergencies anyone might face,” Evan replied, mock-serious, and Mia giggled harder. “Can I have another piece?”
“Sure.” She passed him one. “Do you know what happened the one time I forgot to pack an emergency chocolate stash?”
“What happened?” Evan asked. He’d asked for more chocolate partially because it was good, and partially in hopes of their fingers brushing again. They did, and warmth spread up his arm.
“I went to the wrong wedding,” Mia said, making wide eyes. “So, it’s important to be prepared.”
“Definitely.” Evan agreed. “Although one could argue that going to the wrong wedding eventually brought you to Italy.”
“True.” Mia made the wide eyes again. “Forgetting the chocolate may have been a good thing. I could throw this off the balcony now...” She held the chocolate bar over the edge threateningly, and Evan grabbed her hand and pulled her back.
“No, let’s eat it. Since it’s here already.”
“Okay, okay.” She chuckled. “Fair enough.”
Evan was still holding her hand, and he was deeply aware of the curve of her wrist beneath his palm. Their eyes met, and he realized again how very close they were. It would be so easy to lean in and kiss her, just once, on those soft pink lips. He remembered as though it were yesterday how it had felt to kiss her. To hold her. To feel as if the world was standing still for the two of them.
He couldn’t. Quickly, Evan released her hand and sat back in his chair, trying to slow the beating of his heart. Mia was magnetic. From the moment he’d seen her at the first wedding, he’d wanted to kiss her. He’d wanted to find out who she was. He’d wanted to be close to her. Yet now that he knew more about her, now that they’d stayed up late a few nights talking, now that he’d seen her with his family... he wanted more.
He wanted something real.
He couldn’t have it, though. Evan had given his whole life to Reign. Ever since college, he’d dedicated almost every waking moment to his company. As Mia had said earlier, if thinking about work was the same as working, he worked all the time. Not a single day had gone by in the past few years when he hadn’t thought about Reign and what was best for it. Evan couldn’t allow himself to feel something real for Mia, because that would mean turning his back on the company he’d spent his whole life building. After all, love, marriage, kids — they all destroyed careers.
“Are you okay?” Mia’s brow furrowed. “You look very serious all of a sudden. I wasn’t really going to throw the chocolate off the balcony.”
“I know.” He flashed her a quick smile. “I’m feeling tired. I think I’d better turn in.”
“Of course.” Mia nodded, though something like hurt flickered across her lovely features. “More chocolate forme.” She broke off another square and popped it into her mouth.
Evan hesitated. He didn’t really want to sleep, but he shouldn’t stay here on this balcony with Mia under the starlight any longer, either. So, he made himself get up and head inside to lie in the bed they shared. He was restless for a long time, and he was still awake when Mia slipped into bed beside him on her side of the pillow wall. She smelled like jasmine. The mattress dipped under her slim frame, and each time she rolled over to get more comfortable, Evan felt it.
It was a long time before he managed to fall asleep.
CHAPTER 15
MIA
Mia woke the next morning to find that Evan was already gone. His side of the bed had been partially made, and his computer was gone, too. Yawning, she stretched and sat up.
Today would be another day of family fun. Apparently, they’d have a painting lesson in the morning, followed by an olive oil tasting in the afternoon. Neither of those sounded exactly fun to Mia, but she’d do her best to enjoy both.
Especially if Evan was going to be there.
Despite her best intentions of keeping her distance from him, Mia was finding it harder and harder to stay away. Her annoyance and hurt at his month of silence had dissipated, leaving a flutter in her heart when she saw him. Last night, on the balcony, she’d even thought they were close to a kiss. She’d have pulled away — wouldn’t she have? — but Evan had gotten there first. And she’d had trouble sleeping that night, imagining what might have happened if one of them had leaned forward…
Sighing, Mia swung her legs out of bed and padded into the bathroom for a shower. After dressing and doing her hair, she headed downstairs for breakfast. Sarah and Luka waved her over to sit with them, but she still scanned the rest of the room in hopes of finding Evan somewhere. He was nowhere to be seen, so she went to sit with them.
