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Probably-Not-Ryan stood in the entryway, his gaze slowly scanning the store.Looking for something or just curious?Either way, she didn’t plan to let him stay long.
“Welcome to Brooks Books. Is there something I can help you find?”
“Actually, I believe you just did.”
His smile widened, and Mia felt her knees go a little weak. She could only imagine the kind of trouble a smile like that could get a girl into. As opposed to dating as she’d been since her divorce three years ago, there was something about this man that made her momentarily rethink her position on the matter. That hint of spice in his cologne wasn’t helping matters, either. She tried to do a subtle ring check, but his left hand was just out of view.
“Oh?” she asked, wishing he would take off those darned sunglasses so she could get a clear view of his face. Or that he’d carry her off into the sunset. Either would be fine with her in this moment.
Whoa.When was the last time a man had made her feel like that? And from across the room, no less?
“Yes, you see, I was looking for someone.”
Please be me. Please be me.
He removed his sunglasses, and Mia swallowed hard. He’d been sexy with those shades on but was even more striking with them off. Perfect skin stretched across high cheekbones, while that stubble on his chin beckoned her closer. His eyes quickly claimed her attention, though, with their unusual light-brown coloring and flecks of green.
Flecks of green?
Oh no.
There was only one person she’d ever known with eyes like that. Eyes she hadn’t seen in nearly two decades and would have been perfectly content to never see again. Surely, fate wouldn’t drop that arrogant, cocky, overconfident jerk from college into her happy little corner of the world with everything else she had going on right now. She hoped—noprayed—she’d guessed wrong. That it was somebody else, anyone else.
“Hello, Mia.”
Nope. There’d only ever been one man who could say her name and send her toes curling and hands fisting at the same time:
Alexander Wellington.
*
Alex watched Mia’ssmile shift from genuine to forced, reminding him the task ahead would not be easy. Not that he expected it to be, as big a jerk as he’d been to her all those years ago. But ever since seeing her on television this fall, he hadn’t been able to get the woman off his mind.
Oh, sure, he’d tried. Added additional stops along his usual autumn, eastern customer check-in route for Wellington Equipment & Trucking. Spent more time than necessary working on bids and proposals. He’d even attended a silent auction at one of his mother’s charity organizations, just to avoid being home alone with his thoughts. But nothing had worked.
So, he intentionally made a detour as he passed by her hometown tonight, to say what needed to be said. Only then could he truly fulfill the promise he’d made this summer to his dear friend Tom—to live a life with no regrets. And his regrets with Mia were many.
The visit was also a chance to finally prove to himself that the ridiculous crush he’d had on her in college was long gone.
“Why, hello,Alex. What brings you to our humble little corner of the world?” She passed him with her chin in the air to flip over theOPENsign on their front door. “And five minutes past closing, no less.”
Ouch.He’d said two words and already she was trying to get rid of him.
“Actually, I was passing through the area and remembered your family had a bookstore here.” He shrugged. “Thought I’d stop by and check it out.”
“Really.” Mia folded both arms over her chest. “I’m rather surprised you even know what a bookstore is—it almost implies that you actually know how to read.”
At that, he couldn’t help but smirk. “Read and write, actually. In fact, I make it a point to stop in as many bookstores on my travels as I can. You know, to see if my books made it to their shelves or not.”
“Oh? Did you hire someone to write your memoir?” She glanced briefly toward a cluster of wooden shelves behind her. “I’m not sure we have a section for wealthy jerks of the Midwest.”
Yep, still the same spitfire she’d been back in college. And just as beautiful. Her hair was a little longer than it had been back then, her makeup more subtle. But oh, how those curves still called to him, and her stormy blue eyes slayed him like no other.
The attraction is all in your head, buddy. All in your head.
“I sensed that type of book might be a tough sell,” he said, smiling. “So, I decided to write something a little more interesting. Turns out, there’s quite a market for books featuring American bourbon distilleries. At least, that’s what my agent tells me. So far, only the first two have hit bestseller status. We’ll see what book three does next summer.”
Her jaw dropped, the look absolutely priceless. Rarely if ever had he seen Mia Brooks rendered speechless. However, as entertaining as it was, Alex knew gloating over his newfound fame wouldn’t help further his cause for stopping by. He drew in a deep breath before continuing but was interrupted by a second woman who appeared around the corner.
