AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He nodded. “Not just any tournament. It’s one of the best in the world. Invitation only. It’s based out of St. John.”
Her heart sank. St. John, again. “Let me guess, you’ve been invited.”
“Yes! I’ve been trying to get in for three years. Someone dropped out, so I have a last minute spot.”
“Last minute?”
He took both her hands. “I leave in three days.”
Mia took a deep breath. One fishing tournament wasn’t such a big deal. “That sounds like a great opportunity. How long will you be gone?”
“About five weeks.”
Mia’s heart had started lifting, but it plunged again, like a deflating helium balloon. “Why so long?”
“Well… there are two others that follow the Commonwealth, if I place. And I have to motor down there.”
“You’re driving?”
He laughed, and before he even opened his mouth Mia felt stupid. “No, I have to motor the boat down there. And then back. It takes a couple days on each end.”
Mia bit her lip. “Oh, well. Okay. So I’ll see you in a month?” If he comes back, she thought. All her happiness flew over the edge of the balcony. How could she expect a two-week relationship to hold up against over a month of total separation? With
Blaine in the islands, surrounded by gorgeous women who all knew what he was worth?
Blaine gripped her hands harder. “Come with me,” he said.
His comment didn’t register with Mia. “To St. John?”
He nodded, an ecstatic grin on his face. “Yes.”
Mia let go of his hands and backed away. “For five weeks?”
“You don’t have to work.”
“But—what about Perdita?”
Blaine laughed. “I’m sure your mum can keep her.”
The mention of her mother raised another problem. “I can’t—Blaine, my parents would freak out. Going to the islands with a man I just met for five weeks?”
“You’re twenty-six, Mia,” Blaine said. His grin faltered. “You can do what you want to do.”
Mia refused his logic. He doesn’t really want me to go, said her frazzled mind. He’s just being nice. “It’s not that simple…I—I won’t know anyone. And I get sick on boats. I can’t live on a boat.”
“You’re sweet and friendly and smart. Everyone will love you. And we can rent a condo. Or a beach cottage. I can find us someplace amazing.”
“I thought you didn’t want a woman who needs to be spoiled.”
Now a scowl completely replaced his grin. “Okay. Do you want to stay in a shack? Fine.”
She shook her head. “No. I don’t want to stay anywhere but here. At home. I’m not comfortable living with you, and hanging around with all your smoozy rich friends—“
He tried to put his arms around her, but she pulled away. His phone rang in his pocket. “Answer it,” she said.
He pulled the phone out, and as usual, pushed decline and slipped it back in his pocket. For some reason, that small gesture made Mia see red. “Who was that?”
“My ex—“
