“A deal’s a deal, Mia.”
She huffs before pulling her bottom lip between her teeth. “We can scratch off the North Eastern Psychology Association Spring Ball. That seems more like a schmoozing event.”
“A perfect opportunity to charm people,” I counter.
“I wouldn’t have anything to wear to something like that…besides, it would be right at the end of the three months. Hopefully, I will have found something by then.”
I mentally tuck that away for later. That was the one I was most looking forward to. The other events would be smart casual, but the spring ball is a black-tie event, and I’d already pictured Mia in something rich in tone and silky to the touch.
I shrug. “Whatever you want. But we should do as many as possible in the next month.”
“Why?”
So I can spend as much time with you as humanly possible.
“Let’s start off on a good foot. Before you know it, you’ll be offered so many opportunities, you’ll be able to have your pick.”
“Okay sure. Will you let me know what I should wear?”
“Cat-burglar outfits won’t be necessary.”
“So just the Daisy Dukes then?” she teases.
I roll my eyes, making my way back to my office so I can start my session with Richard. “Are you free tonight? I did promise to cook you dinner every week on Wednesdays.”
Her eyes crinkle around the edges as she looks to the floor before her usual professional exterior returns. “Sure.”
“Dress warm. We have an excursion first. I’ll pick you up at your place.”
Her eyes widen, and she shifts from foot to foot, her hip jutting out, creating an indecent curve of her hip.
Her voice lowers. “An excursion-excursion?”
I grin, give her a wink and head into the office.
???
I park outside Mia’s apartment building and buzz her number. She’s had a busy day, so I’m hoping this particular excursion won’t take too long. I could have skipped it, but the pressure of the last week has gotten too much, and I wanted to check on Richard’s progress with his ornithophobia. We’d worked our way up by looking at photos of birds during our sessions, talking about the feelings and memories that came along with them until last week he managed to walk from the office to his parked car unassisted. He was making strides to disassociate the fear of birds with his affair. He’d also written a letter to his ex-wife to apologize to her for cheating on her with his receptionist, to explain that whilst he was working on himself in therapy, he didn’t expect anything from her.
Mia hops down the steps, wearing tight jeans tucked into knee-high boots whilst wearing a parker jacket. Thank fuck for that jacket. She does a little twirl for me, grinning ear to ear.
“Is this suitable, Dr. Adams?”
“You’re off the clock, Mia.”
She rolls her eyes. “Fine. Is this suitable,Alfie?”
I grunt, turning back to the car and opening the door for her.
“Such a gentleman.”
“I figured you might need a boost into the car; your jeans are so tight they look like they don’t bend.”
“Thinking awful hard about my jeans, Alfie.” She laughs.
Something is hard. That’s for sure.
I slip into the car, pulling into the lane.
