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Remy handed baby Phoenix to Bently before she stood. “Dre, can I talk to you for a second?”
“Fine,” he said, following after her while draining the last of his beer. They walked towards the beach, out of earshot of the rest of their friends.
“What is going on with you?” Remy asked, getting straight to the point.
“Nothing.”
“Don’t give me that crap answer. You’re being mean to that woman. She’s a guest and a new friend of Jasmine’s and mine. Why would you be so rude to a person who came to introduce herself to you? This isn’t like you, Dre.” Remy worried her brow.
“Don’t you see? She’s playing you all.”
“What I see is the anger you have for what Tiffany did to you. That was a year ago. You need to move on and stop assuming all other women you meet are like her,” Remy said.
“I’m fine, Remy. I’m over Tiffany.” It still hurt to say her name.
“Mia seems like a good person. Jasmine was having a tough day and Mia helped make it better. She has no one else. No family or friends here, and you aren’t giving her a very good impression of Shattered Cove.”
She was alone? “Fine.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
Andre sighed. “It means I’ll be cordial to her. Happy?”
Remy shook her head. “It’s a start.”
Andre put his arm around his sister as they walked back to their friends. Mia was nowhere in sight. Had she left? Did he care? He walked into the bed-and-breakfast through the screen door, past the kitchen, and found the bathroom door closed, so he knocked.
“I’ll be right out,” Mia’s voice said from within. She sniffled.
Had he made her cry? A pang of guilt shot through his chest, unsettling him. Why should he care about this woman’s feelings? It was probably just an act for sympathy. Tiffany used to cry too. But his ex had never done it privately—it was always out in the open to manipulate him. So, maybe Mia was sincere? He should just bite the bullet and apologize.
She opened the door, chocolate tresses spilling around her face. The scent of spicy roses enveloped him. The flash of vulnerability in her eyes made something deep and primal surge inside him. Up close, her beauty shocked his system with white-hot lust. His body reacted before his mind could catch up. Andre stepped into her space, crowding her against the door as his body towered over hers. Those big chocolate eyes staring up at him burned with fire.
“W-what are you doing?” she asked, her voice holding only a slight tremor.
“I have no fucking clue.” But I can’t stop it. And that makes it all the worse.
Her chest rose and fell. Her breasts pressed against his chest as they stared at each other in silence for a few seconds.
She stood taller. “I would appreciate some personal space.”
“Liar,” he said. It was clear from the way her eyes dilated and her breathing shallowed she was just as attracted to him as he was to her. “I fucking hate liars.”
“I hate assholes who think they can be mean and expect women to fall at their feet. Let’s be clear, Andre, was it? The only one falling to their knees will be you,” Mia said.
He was so distracted by her feistiness, instantly addicted to the challenge between them, that he didn’t understand why he was suddenly, in fact, on his knees holding his junk as it radiated with pain. He groaned and hissed through his gritted teeth. She kneed me in the balls!
Leaning down, she said, “Next time a woman tells you to give them space, you better listen.” She stepped over him and walked out.
Damn!He hadn’t seen that coming.
After a few minutes, Andre composed himself. Shit. He had been a dick. He wasn’t acting like himself whenever she was around. His mother would kill him if she found out about the way he’d treated Mia. Whatever. It wasn’t like he was going to have to see her again. He could avoid her easily enough at home, go jogging earlier, and close his blinds on her side of the property. If Jasmine and Remy hung out with her, he’d avoid that too.
Andre walked to the backyard. Mikel had finally arrived.
“Hey, Dre. Small world, isn’t it?” Mikel asked.
“How so?” Andre asked.
Mikel smiled. “Mia Garcia is the owner of the yoga studio we start renovations on next.”
