Mia.
A pretty name. Of course, she has a gorgeous name to suit such a stunning young woman.
Christ. I really didn’t fucking think this through, did I? Something jumped up and grabbed hold of my tongue, and I really shoulda fucking figured out a way to ask her age back in the bookstore. But no, instead I bolted outta there because I felt like she’d laugh at me if I even considered saying what was running through my mind.
If there’s one thing I don’t have on my side, it’s youth, and this girl is definitely gonna make me feel ancient as soon as she tells me the year she was born. I can already sense it.
“Ummm…” Mia’s plump lips are flushed with the cold, enticing me to stare at her mouth when she wets her lips, not knowing what to say. She’s looking at me with big emerald eyes and the shock ofwhat the fuck is happeningherewritten all over her face.
“You have a boyfriend? All the way out here? And… a dog?” The guy with the overly gelled hair snorts and takes a step back. Stella continues nuzzling Mia’s hand, the little meddling furball. “How… endearing.” The expression on the asshole’s face tells the truth of what he’s saying. If there’s one thing I can guarantee, it’s that he’s terrified of the thought that my dog is gonna get muddy paws and dog hair all over that designer jacket.
Clearing my throat, I squeeze Mia’s shoulder a little tighter. Jesus. She’s so tiny compared to me, and I immediately love the way she fits right there at my side beneath my arm.
I just know he’ll love that, too.
“Wouldn’t have guessed we’d be running into anyone Mia knows up here. We’ve been making it work long-distance. But the holidays have been the perfect opportunity to enjoy spending time together. I mean… who can blame me for trying to steal her away at every chance, when my girl is so goddamn stunning?” With my free hand, I brush some loose strands of hair off her face, and pink dusts high on the apple of her cheeks.
“Well… okay. We’d better get going, Polly.” The idiot with slicked back hair and cheap cologne shuffles awkwardly while staring at Mia and pointedly avoiding looking at me.
Does it makeanysense that I feel incredibly protective of her already? Not in the slightest. But I’ve only ever felt this way once before, that kind of struck-by-lightning sense of looking someone in the eyes and immediately feeling drawn to them. Seeing her in the bookstore looking so beautiful and giving me a soft smile to melt me right where I stood, I dunno, it just spoke to the part of me who has felt like something has been missing for a long time.
So, it looks like I’m jumping in with both feet and swinging for the fences to sell this thing.
“Happy holidays, see you around. Come on, baby. We’d better go get checked into Mistwood.” I flash a smile and touch the brim of my hat.
Before either of them can say a thing in reply—or Mia can protest the way I’m kind-of-sort-of-kidnapping her—I pull her with me and whistle at Stella to follow.
The dog and I are going to have stern words later. Fucking hell. Or maybe I’ll be giving her extra belly rubs and treats for being the one to go racing after the girl I’d been in a daze over. I’d returned to the truck, already convinced that she wouldn’t be interested. Then Stella shot down the sidewalk like her tail was on fire.
“What are you doing?” Mia hisses at me as we walk away.
“My truck is over here.” I gesture in the direction of my ‘73 Chevy.
“Well,mycar is over there.” Mia jerks her chin toward a tired-looking sedan parked a little further along the sidewalk.
I’m well aware that I haven’t eased up on holding her against my side. Hopefully, she’s not too furious with me when wefinally do get a moment to talk about what just happened. “Let’s get out of earshot, huh?” I say while keeping us moving.
Mia huffs out a sigh. Allowing me to steer us both in the direction of my vehicle, at least.
Suddenly, my conscience catches up with me, leaving my palms clammy and pulse starting to climb. What if she’s pissed off? What if she’s started a new relationship since that jerkoff? What if I just stuck my big fucking boot in it?
“Look… I appreciate you helping collect me off the ground…again.” She starts to shake her head. “Thanks for saving me from a whole lot of embarrassment. But I can handle myself from here.”
My throat tightens. “I know it seems crazy, but I just couldn’t stand seeing the two of them rub it in your face like that.” We reach the door to my truck, and I open the back for Stella, who jumps in and spins around on the spot before curling up with her tail draped over her snout. Of course, my old girl is acting spry as a fucking spring chicken, completely innocent to the fact that she bolted out the door on me a moment ago, and tackled this girl to the ground out of nowhere.
“I guess I should say thank you for that also.” She laughs a little wryly before facing me and cautiously sticking out her hand. “I’m Mia, by the way. But you kinda know that now, huh?”
I wrap her tiny palm up in my own, and she’s so small, seems utterly ethereal; it feels like I’m holding something incredibly precious inside my palm. Staring straight into those mossy green eyes, I hold her gaze. “The name’s Reid. And I meant every word of what I said back there.”
Her eyebrows shoot up, and she attempts to pull her hand away, but I don’t let go.
“You—you can’t be serious?” Mia stammers.
“I am.” My grip tightens ever so slightly on her hand.
“It’s Christmas?”
“And that’s important… because?”
