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Mia, with her fingers pressed to her lips, gave a deep sigh. “That was such a shitty thing for her to do.”
An unfunny laugh came from me. “Wasn’t it? According to Ben, who tried to call me after but had to leave a message, the kiss was unexpected and unwelcome. He had no feelings for her and zero intention of speaking to her again. He’d been in shock but had followed me outside but lost me. I didn’t want to see him, her, or anyone else. I packed up, got on a plane, and cut all ties with her. Stopped paying her rent and the other bills I’d taken on.”
“Good for you. She didn’t deserve a minute more of your time.” Mia tilted her head. “Why’s she trying to get in contact with you now?”
“Fuck knows. I don’t care enough to find out. If it was anything real, Ma would tell me.”
“How so? Does your mother still see her around?”
“Kelly works for her.”
Her jaw dropped. “How could your mother even talk to her after that? I’d want to slap her silly.”
“I know, but bear in mind the wedding and breakup was five years ago, and this was a more recent occurrence. My mother put up a job advert for a receptionist at their inn, and Kelly applied. Ma called me in outrage over it, but I said to employ her if she fit the job requirements. It didn’t bother me. They needed someone, and pickings were slim in their small town. Everyone’s happy.”
A dubious expression met mine.
“Is anyone actually happy with that arrangement, though? It must hurt your mother to see her, considering what she did.”
“My family is pretty forgiving. Or maybe Ma prefers to keep her enemies close.”
“And what about you? Visiting must be awkward.”
“I can count how many times I’ve been back to the inn since she took the job on one hand.”
Mia toyed with the edge of the duvet. “Where does that leave you with Ben? Not in a great place, I take it.”
I slumped, weight descending where I’d hoped it would be taken off. Apparently sharing problems didn’t halve them, instead they just multiplied. “Strained at best. At worst…”
Her eyes rounded. “You think he lied to you about her?”
“No, not at all. I believe him. I just wish my brain would get the message.”
Mia waited for me to explain. I was doing a shite job of it.
“I’ve had nightmares,” I finally managed.
“Of him and her?”
“Exactly. The dreams were regular right after it happened, then recently, they came back.” I dried up, suddenly sick of this.
Why the hell was I ruining a fucking amazing evening with Mia over nonsense from the past? What a waste of time. Her stories, on the other hand, I wanted to hear. They were active and still ongoing, needing resolving. Mine was a body dead and buried. Digging up the grave wasn’t going to help anyone.
I inflated my chest and pushed down all the hurt and misery into the little box where I kept it. Then I installed my smirk once again and hauled Mia onto my lap. “Enough of all that. We’re wasting time when we could be doing way more fun things.”
I kissed her, and to my utter relief, she allowed it. Then I spent the rest of the time putting my mouth to much better use than talking.
Chapter 32
Mia
Darkness and warm strength surrounded me. Beautifully broken Valentine stirred in his sleep, a possessive hand taking a squeeze of my breast. We were naked again, having sunk into sleep after multiple rounds of mind-breaking sex.
Need for him had taken me over almost entirely. I was insatiable.
His fingers flexed again, feeling me up, then his lips pressed to my neck from where he spooned me from behind. I gave up a small sound of pleasure, and his arms tightened around me.
Without further warning, I was lifted and rolled so I was on him, my back to his chest. One of Valentine’s arms braced me and the other snaked down my body, straight between my legs. His fingers speared into my wet centre, and he groaned.
