My gaze drifts across the fundraiser grounds before I can stop it, searching through the crowd until I find her.
Mia. Amelia.
She stands near the welcome table with a clipboard in one hand, her pale green sanctuary shirt tucked into worn jeans, her hair pulled back like she means business. She’s actually talking to Abby, but even from here, I can see the tension in her shoulders.
Busy and tired…but beautiful.
Extra security was definitely for my family.
No other reason whatsoever.
“Is that her talking with Tank’s woman?” Stefano asks.
I nod.
“She’s beautiful,” Stefano says.
Again, I nod.
Because she is.
“Be right back,” Stefano says.
My head turns sharply. “What are you doing?”
He doesn’t answer because, of course he doesn’t.
He simply walks away, his shoulders pushed back, chin high, and arms relaxed.
“Stefano,” I warn, knowing exactly what he’s about to do.
He lifts one hand without turning around, and I narrow my eyes at his back.
I won’t need to put that protection detail on my brother after all because I’m going to kill him myself.
***Mia***
I smile as the owner of a local boutique hands me a check.
“It’s not much,” she says bashfully. “But I wanted to help where I could.”
Glancing down, I see the check is for five thousand dollars.
For a second, I can only stare at it.
“Do you have any idea how much food I can buy with this amount of money?” I ask, looking back at the kind woman. “How much medicine? Please don’t say it isn’t much. The fact that you’re willing to help already means everything. And this amount really will help.”
Her shoulders relax as she takes a deep breath.
“Good,” she says softly. “I can’t believe I’m only just learning about this place. We actually have a mutual friend who told me about it last week.”
“Really?” I ask with a smile. “Who?”
“Cody Bentley.”
“Oh, I love Cody,” I say with a laugh. “I met him when he first came to volunteer a few years back, and I haven’t been able to get rid of him since.”
“Yeah, he has that effect on people,” she says, laughing with me. “Anyway, I can see you’re busy. Maybe we can meet up later? My family is all around here somewhere, and I know they would love to meet you.”
