Page 66 of Grumpy Billionaire Boss Protector

Mia sits up and brings her knees to her chest. Her shoulders seem tense, and her once-chipper demeanor has gone cold.

“What’s wrong?” I ask.

She shakes her head, attempting to put on a smile. “Nothing. It just feels like this trip went by so quickly. We spent so much time out of the villa but didn’t get to do everything I was hoping to do.”

I take a seat at the foot of the bed. “There’s always next time. Who says you can only visit Monaco once in a single lifetime?”

“My bank account,” she says with a chuckle.

I roll my eyes. Would it be so bad if I promised her I could bring her back here again after the show wraps? Would she even be comfortable with me thinking so far into the future? It certainly isn’t something I’ve done with other women I’ve seen casually. I shouldn’t start now and freak her out.

I peer out of the bedroom window. The sun is still shining brightly, but it’ll start setting in a couple of hours.

“The sun is still out,” I say, tapping her knee. “Why don’t we go for one last walk on the beach?”

She nods. “That would be nice.”

The beach is only a two-minute walk from the villa, but it’s usually pretty desolate by the time the afternoon rolls around. There are only a few locals with beach towels and lawn chairs out on the sand, making the most of the final hours of sunlight and warmth the day has to offer.

Mia and I walk hand in hand along the sand, taking everything in for the final time. Even the sound of the seagulls feels especially heavenly today.

“I’m going to miss this walk,” Mia says, staring out at the ocean.

“It has been a nice way to end the day while we’re still here.”

She sighs. “Can you believe there are people who get to experience this every day?”

I furrow my brows. “You’re talking kind of weirdly today. You don’t have a terminal illness you’re hiding from me, right?”

She laughs and shakes her head. “This has just been a nice break from everything that’s unfolded recently. I didn’t realize how much I needed this.”

She’s not the only one. I haven’t felt this stress-free in…years. And the thing is, I can’t tell if it’s because we’re playing a lot more than we are working or if it’s because Mia’s been by my side the entire time. Maybe there isn’t a difference between the two. When I’m with her, I feel free. It isn’t something I can say I’ve felt with a lot of people, especially women. It’s the first time in my life that I can be 100% myself and know that the person next to me does the same. There’s no judgment between us, even when we call each other out.

“You know, you never told me where your dream vacation would be,” she says, sweeping her eyes from the ocean to me.

I purse my lips in thought. I’ve been to many places in my lifetime. When my parents weren’t working, we would take at least two trips a year. After a while, every place becomes as stale as the last. But not here in Monaco. Not with Mia to keep me company.

“I’d like to visit LA and not have the worst time there,” I say. “I’d like to be able to enjoy the sunshine and perfect weather without any bitter memories attached to it.”

She raises her brows, seemingly impressed by my answer. “Well, Carter Cogswell. I don’t think you’ve ever given me such a deep answer up until now.”

Mia laughs, but for some reason, I can’t bring myself to join her. It’s true. I haven’t opened myself up to her. And she’s been nothing but an open book with me. It’s insane how good at being vulnerable she is. I wish I possessed that same quality, but vulnerability is the one trait I’m lacking in the most. The answer I gave her felt like a slip-up.

“What’s that noise?” Mia asks, whipping her head around to locate the sound of a live jazz band playing somewhere nearby. I hate to admit it, but I’m relieved the conversation is no longer on me.

I join in on the search, finally spotting the hint of a bass player off in the distance by the boardwalk.

“Over there,” I say, pointing my finger toward the band members.

“Let’s go check it out,” Mia says excitedly.

I revel in her enthused smile as she leads me down the beach toward the boardwalk. She’s so cute when she’s pumped about something. It’s something about her that I’m not ready to let go of. I didn’t get to see much of that when we were arguing all the time. As fun as it is to tease her, I mostly want to listen to her go on about all the things she finds fascinating. Even the mundane stuff.

We stop in a secluded part of the beach just below the band, listening to the saxophonist as he crushes his solo to a small crowd that’s formed around the group.

“They’re so good,” Mia says, peering up at them with wonder in her eyes.

“They are,” I agree, but my gaze is on her. “It’s beautiful.”

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