Page 105 of Most Likely to Deny Love

Mia nodded again, giving a small shrug that somehow managed to look both casual and final. The color drained from Jared’s face as he rose to his feet, movements stiff and awkward.Before he could move toward Miranda, she stood abruptly and left the room, her back ramrod straight. He followed after her, looking like a whipped dog.

Beside me, Nan let out a cackle of delight. “Oh my! Whatever your Mia just said, I believe we’ve just witnessed the impossible: Jared Sullivan, utterly deflated.”

“It sure looks that way.”

Nan’s eyes were gleaming. “I’d give a significant portion of my fortune to find out what she said.”

Mia rose from the sofa and made her way toward us, looking entirely too pleased with herself. When she reached us, she settled into the sofa next to me.

“Well, that was illuminating.” Her voice was bright with suppressed laughter.

Nan leaned forward eagerly. “What on earth did you say to make that boy look like he swallowed his own tongue?”

Mia’s smile was all innocence, but her eyes danced with wicked humor. “Oh, nothing special. He just made it clear that he could give me so much more than his brother ever could.” She shrugged. “So I asked him if he had a ten-inch dick as well.”

I choked on the sip of port I’d just taken as Nan threw her head back with a howl of laughter so loud it turned heads across the room.

“Oh my god,” Nan wheezed, clutching her chest. “Oh, that is priceless. Absolutely priceless.”

I shook my head, torn between shock and admiration. “Jesus, Mia.”

“What?” She blinked at me with faux innocence. “He wanted to know if I was interested in an upgrade. I simply inquired about the specifications.”

That set Nan off again, her laughter turning into hiccupping giggles.

Mia’s smile faded slightly as she glanced at my mom, who was staring daggers at all three of us. “Honestly, though, I think I need a shower. I feel like I need to scrub his sleaze off my skin.”

“Understandable.” I rose, offering her my hand. “Let’s call it a night.”

“Please.” She took my hand, fingers warm against mine.

We said our goodnights to Nan, who was still wiping tears from her eyes.

Mia was quiet as we climbed the stairs and it wasn’t until we were walking along the hallway to our room that she let out a deep sigh of relief. “That was actually easier than I expected,” she admitted. “I was prepared to work a lot harder to shut him down.”

I chuckled, tension finally easing from my shoulders. “I think you underestimate your own talent. You eviscerated him with a single sentence.” I pushed open our bedroom door and ushered her inside.

“Well, hopefully it’s taught him a lesson. I’m just gonna jump in the shower real quick.”

“Take your time. I’ll be waiting.”

She pressed a quick kiss to my lips before disappearing into the bathroom. The sound of running water filled the quiet room as I moved to stoke the fire, adding another log to build the flames higher before settling on the sofa near the fireplace.

There was nothing to do but stare into the flames as I waited for Mia. My mind

kept circling around everything that had happened this weekend. Coming home had never been so easy and it was all because of Mia.

The bathroom door opened softly, pulling me from my thoughts. Mia stepped into the room wearing a silky pajama set that clung to her curves in ways that made my mouth go dry. Herhair, still wet from her shower, curled slightly around her face. She looked fresh, soft, and so beautiful it made my chest ache.

She moved toward me with purpose, and I couldn’t tear my eyes away. When she reached me, she didn’t hesitate to slide onto my lap, straddling me.

“I’m sorry your family is so shit,” she said softly, her hands coming to rest on my shoulders.

“Me too.”

She ran her hands down my chest, her touch leaving trails of fire on my skin. “I might not know as much about pressure points as you do, but I do know some things.” her hand moved lower and she waggled her eyebrows suggestively.

I caught her hand in mine, intending to play along, but something stopped me. The firelight caught in her eyes, turning them from gray to silver, and suddenly I couldn’t remember how to breathe. This woman who’d somehow come to mean more to me than anyone, was looking at me like I was the only person in the world.

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