“You. How much I like having you here with me.” Her smile widens, and her eyes sparkle.
“I like being here with you.” After a moment, her expression drops and she sighs, staring out towards the lake. “I don’t want to go back.”
“So don’t. Stay with me.”
She laughs and looks to the ceiling. But I’m not joking with her. I want her to stay. She peeks over at me again.
“I wish it were that easy. I’ve dreamt about what it would be like. What I would do if I stayed.”
“And what’s that?” Instead of answering, she blushes and turns away. I grip her foot to get her attention. “Tell me.”
“It’s silly. It doesn’t matter anyway. It’s a childish fantasy.”
“You say that a lot. Things arechildish. I’m guessing your mother said that to you often?” She shoots me a glare that lets me know I’m prying, and that she’s slightly uncomfortable. So, I lift my palms in surrender. “I’m not trying toDr. Philyou. I’m just trying to understand.”
She blows out a deep breath. “While most kids were out playing and getting dirty, I had extra math lessons. I didn’t get to wear jeans to school or t-shirts. I had to do those things in secret or when I visited Nana. I was always told:I may be a child, but I didn’t have to act like one.”
“Damn, that’s kinda harsh.”
“Tell me about it,” she deadpans. “But the one thing she really crushed me on…” She bites her thumbnail and looks away again, as if deciding if she wants to share the rest or not.
“Hey.” I rub up and down her shin with my hand, bringing her attention back to me. “I’m right here, baby. I’m listening.” She offers a sad smile.
“Did I ever tell you that I wanted to be a writer?” Her eyes light up, and I want to see more of it. I shake my head no, but I don’t interrupt her. “I wanted to be a romance writer. Asteamyromance writer.” The devilish smirk on her face is so fucking cute right now.
“So, then… How did you end up in finance? That’s a tough field, and there aren't a lot of women, right?” She remains silent but cocks an eyebrow at me and tilts her head. “Ah. Your mother. So, you’ve spent all this time doing something you don’t want to do to please someone else?”
“Okay, when you say it like that, it sounds terrible.”
“No, baby. I’m just trying to understand.” I lean over, haul her into my arms, and force her onto my lap. “Explain it to me.”
“I just wanted her to be proud of me, Jace. I still do. So I put mychildish fantasy…” She uses air quotes to emphasize her mother’s words. “…aside and pursued the career she thought was best for me. Earning awards and accolades, hoping she’d finally cut me some slack or give me praise. But it never came.
“Then, when Celeste told me about all she sacrificed to get her new promotion, including her marriage, I… snapped. I saw my life fast-forwarded ten years, and I didn’t like where I was headed.”
I kiss her forehead and breathe in her subtle vanilla scent. “So, you came here.”
“Yeah. I came here.”
“You don’t have to go back, you know. You can stay. And write. I’m pretty sure I can give you some… inspiration.” I waggle my eyebrows at her suggestively, achieving my desired effect and making her laugh.
She sighs as she looks over my face, lightly caressing my skin with the tips of her fingers. Then she palms my cheek, and I lean into her warm touch. “Are you trying to make me fall in love with you, Jace? So I’ll stay?” She smiles softly as she gazes into my eyes.
“Maybe. Is it working?” I don’t dare break eye contact, hoping she can see how I feel about her.
“Maybe. I’ll let you know after you show me some of that inspiration you mentioned.”
“I think you’re just trying to get my pants off, Mia.”
“Why yes, Officer Stevens. Yes, I am.”Fuck, she doesn’t have to ask me twice.
I scoop her up in my arms and carry her to my bed, where I make her come for me repeatedly until she passes out from exhaustion. I never expected to fall in love with her so fast. And I already know I’ll be fucked if she leaves.
7
MIA
Ifeel like I’m in a dream and never want to wake up. Jace’s house is everything I’ve wanted, perfect for a family and right on the lake. I’ve always been a water baby—whether it’s the pool, lake, or ocean, I don’t care. And he lives next door to my Nana. So, it must be fate, right? It’s insane how fast we’ve settled into this domesticated home life, and I love every minute of it.
