Page 31 of Marking Mia

They were all attractive in their own way, but Kane looks like he belongs in a magazine.

I follow Jace and Finn to the table, suddenly feeling nervous all over again. But there’s something else there. Intrigue. Something about this man draws me in, and I want to know everything there is to know about him.

“Mia, this is Kane. Kane, Mia,” Jace introduces.

Kane looks up from his phone, his piercing gray-blue eyes meeting mine. “Mia, it’s a pleasure. Please sit.”

Now that I am closer, I realize just how gorgeous he is.

His thick, dark brown hair is neatly combed, and his broad muscles fill out his expensive suit. I could lose myself in those eyes, and part of me imagines falling into those strong arms.

eleven

. . .

Mia

“Allow me,” Finn says, pulling my chair out for me, and I can’t help but blush. No one has ever pulled a chair out for me, and it feels nice, like I’m being taken care of.

As I settle into my seat, the strangeness of this situation hits me. I barely know these guys, and I don’t know Kane at all.

Why the hell am I here having dinner with strangers?For all I know, they could be luring me into a trap.

I keep waiting for this to feel wrong, but it never does.

Somehow, I feel safe and don’t want to leave, rather than feel guilty or scared. It feels right to be sitting here with them, though I can’t quite put my finger on why.

“Hi, I’m Mia,” I say to Kane, even though there were already introductions. “I’m a barista at the café where I met Finn. We’ve become friends, sort of.”

“Finn and Jace have told me all about you already, Mia,” Kane replies, his voice like rich velvet.

Something about the way he says it strikes me as odd, and I suddenly feel a wave of uneasiness. This feels like more than just a friendly dinner.

“Um,” I begin, already wanting to leave because of how awkward this is. It doesn’t make sense to be talking to him.

“Don’t worry, we only said good things about you,” Jace cuts in as he sits down to my right.

“I’ve never been to this restaurant. Do you have any recommendations, Mia?” Kane’s intense gaze shifts from Jace to me. He looks way too sophisticated and out of place here.

Just like that, we move on to simpler topics, which I’m grateful for.

“The salmon is delicious,” I say, glancing at the menu to see if they’ve added any new dishes.

“That does sound good,” Kane replies without looking at the menu. His eyes are strangely fixed on me, and I begin to feel uncomfortable, along with an unexpected throbbing between my legs.

“I used to eat here a lot. Before... well, anyway, it’s been a while, but I’m sure there are still great dishes.”

I silently curse myself. It isn’t exactly polite dinner conversation to bring up personal struggles, and I don’t want any pity or questions about Justin right now.

“May I take your order, please?” asks a waitress who looks like she is barely out of college, popping a bubble gum in her mouth.

The three handsome men at the table look to me to order first, and I blush again. It feels strange to have three gorgeous guys at a casual dinner right after breaking up with Justin.

“I’ll go with the salmon,” I say, gulping as I stare at the wood on the table, wondering what my life has come to. For some reason, the men seem hyper-focused on me after they place their orders, and I start to wonder if there’s something on my clothes or my face.

After the waitress takes our orders, Finn touches my elbow, and my breathing stops for a moment. His eyes flicker to my lips, and suddenly, an electric shock goes through meas we lock eyes. His green eyes, flecked with gold up close, are overwhelming.

“Something is off,” he observes.

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