Page 22 of Never and Always
Man-crazy Claire. She was the same girl in any and every year that she’d known her with her crazy mind set to always get the guy. Claire’s crazy ways had only served to fuel Mia’s desire for Nick to noticeher.
“Earlier he said if Glenn threw us both out we could get a gingerbreadhouse.”
“He asked you to move in with him?” Clairegasped.
Mia glowered at her wondering how she could arrive at that. “Claire, that’s what you got from what Isaid?”
“Yes, he was talking about the two of you living in the gingerbread house, right? So that’s asking you to move in withhim.”
Mia couldn’t help but laugh. She brought her hand up to her chest and her fingers brushed against the tiny diamond on a thin gold chain that was hidden beneath her clothes. The necklace was so much a part of her now that she forgot sometimes that it wasthere.
Nick had given it to her for her eighteenthbirthday.
Up until that point she’d never had a present like that, and the fact that it was from him made it even more special. He was the only man to give her something so valuable. A diamond that was probably worth a thousand dollars but, like her grandmother’s paintings, it was priceless. Just for the sentiment. That wasall.
“He doesn’t see me like that. He thinks I’m a child, and I have to say that I’ve given him causeto.”
“Mia, remember, you’re a victim here, not the bad guy. You messed up; it’s all about fixing the problem now.” Clairenodded.
“I need a job that pays well.” She’d been thinking about finding ways to pay Glenn back for his portion of money that was stolen. “I need to get that moneyback.”
“The twomillion?”
“Yes.” She thought of doing beauty treatments for a prestigious salon that probably catered forcelebs.
“No offense, but unless you’re some sort of technician, a doctor, investment banker, or maybe a stripper, I doubt you’ll get thatmoney.”
“Strippers get that kind of money?” Mia couldn’t believethat.
“They can. But don’t you dare even consider it. Obviously I wasjoking.”
Sure, that was a joke, but it wouldn’t be very funny when Glenn found out about the paintings and really did throw her into thestreet.
“I have to fix this somehow, and I can’t stay here for toolong.”
“It’s your house, too,” Claire pointedout.
“I grew up here, but this is Glenn’splace.”
She wanted to move to Florida permanently when her business took off and thought of getting a house to go along with the spa retreat. She’d actually wanted something built so she could be onsite. Something by the lake or the beach. That was why she held off so long on buying a house down there and chose to rentinstead.
“You can stay with me, but honey, if I were you I’d hang out here for as long as possible and let the gorgeous Nick take care of you,” Claire chuckled, noddingvigorously.
“You’re so crazy,” Mialaughed.
“I’m not. Just imagine running your hands all over that gorgeous body,” Claire squealed, making Mia laugh evenmore.
Claire was a serial dater and was out with a different guy every other night. She’d had a handful of serious relationships, but always ended things for one reason or another. Mia thought she had commitment issues and was too taken with the idea of having attention from everyone, as opposed to one guy thatmattered.
Each to their own, she supposed. Mia had always been the kind of girl who wanted to find the one guy who could sweep her off herfeet.
“Don’t lie and tell me you haven’t thought about him like that.” Claire pointed her finger at her. “I know you have. You were completely crazy over him when you were younger. That kind of crazy doesn’t just go away, and he’s like a hundred times hotter with all that Marinemuscle.”
Claire was right and Mia couldn’t lie, but for herself she wouldn’t admit it, either. Several things went through her mind when she thought about Nick. The first was that he was out of her reach, and there was a boundary that neither of them wouldcross.
There was one time, though—it was actually the last time she saw him—when she thought maybe there was a chance that he might likeher.
It was their body language and the way he looked at her. It showed more than the casual affection they displayed with each other prior to that. He was on leave from the Marines and her parents were visiting from Hong Kong. They’d had one of their family dinners where her mother prepared a feast. Nick sat next to her and she was excited for the attention he showed. It coursed throughout her, making her whole body comealive.
