Something More (A Well Paired Novel)

by Rice, Marianne

  “True story. Not that I’m complaining. The Closet is doing much better than I ever hoped for.”

  “Who’s manning the store?” Mia asked.

  “No one. It’s slow right now, so I flipped the sign to Be Right Back.”

  “And you went for a leisurely stroll down the sidewalk in those shoes?”

  “Hell no. I drove.”

  Jenna laughed. “You drove one block? You could have changed your shoes and walked. It’s gorgeous out.”

  “I’m taking care of my complexion.” Grace was beautiful, even back in high school. She was only a year younger than Mia, and she’d heard about the pretty Le Blanc sister from her friends. Her looks and party reputation made a name for her.

  Not that Mia could judge. She made up for the lack of parties in high school in her twenties.

  “Speaking of complexion, Mia’s talking about getting a tattoo.”

  “Really? Of what? Where?”

  Mia stroked her neck again. “Maybe something small behind my ear or on the back of my neck.” She had no idea where this thought came from. She’d never planned on getting a tattoo until she walked through the doors of The Honey Pot and changed her mind about talking about sex.

  “That’s sexy. A man with a tattoo is hot. One right over his peck.” Grace rubbed her chest.

  “You could do a book or a quill pen. Something to do with your writing,” Jenna suggested.

  “Why the sudden fascination? You seeing a guy with a tat?”

  Leave it to Grace to revert the discussion. Granted, Mia was known for doing the same.

  She let out a long sigh. “I don’t know.” She paced the store, picking up jars of honey, smelling soaps, fingering the necklaces on the counter.

  “Mia, what’s going on?” Jenna rounded the counter and gave her a hug.

  The hug kind of did her in. She’d never make it through an interrogation. All her secrets would spill.

  “There’s this guy...”

  “Called it.” Mia narrowed her eyes at Grace. “What? I knew it had to be about a guy. You’re so ... broody.”

  “Broody? What does that mean?”

  “Grumpy. Boring. You haven’t snipped at me once.”

  True.

  “You said there’s a guy. Tell us more.” Jenna leaned against the counter, her posture saying she wasn’t going anywhere until Mia gave them all the deets.

  “Sort of. And that’s the problem. I don’t want there to be.”

  “Spill.” Grace rested an elbow on the counter and twirled her finger through the air as if the words would come rolling out of Mia faster that way.

  “Give her time,” sweet Jenna said.

  “So, we had sex.”

  “That’s a good start.” Grace loved to interrupt. Again, Mia couldn’t blame her. She did the same thing. Being on the other end of it was kind of annoying, though.

  Since Jenna stood so sweetly, Mia directed her attention to her.

  “I hadn’t planned on it. I went to his house yesterday to ... thank him for a gift he gave me.”

  “You thanked him with sex. Every man’s fantasy.”

  Mia rolled her eyes, still ignoring Grace.

  “He and I ... we weren’t ... we aren’t... I mean, we’re barely friends. Then out of nowhere he starts kissing my neck.”

  Her hand went to the arch of her neck and stroked where his gentle kisses had been just twenty-four hours ago.

  “I’ve never, well, I’m not one to kiss and tell, but we didn’t make it past first base and he had me in a puddle.”

  “Is that a euphemism for—”

  “Yes,” she cut off Grace. Already she’d divulged more information than she normally did. Her hookups were fodder for their book nights.

  I met a guy at a bar. We were dancing. One thing led to another. He’s nice. We may go out again.

  Twice, three times, maybe. But seeing a guy more often than that, and anywhere other than at a bar with a group of friends could be misread as a dating ritual, which she avoided at all costs.

  There was no reason for her lack of interest in a boyfriend or relationship. Her parents were happily married, and now her brother, as well as her friends. The idea never occurred to her.

  She was living life, having fun. When she was ready to settle down, she would. Besides, the type of guys she hung out with were not boyfriend material anyway. She wouldn’t be hanging out with them if they were.

  “Sweet. Was it couch or bedroom sex?”

  Mia ran her tongue across her teeth and contemplated keeping mum on the rest, but she really needed to talk it out, to sort the mess going on in her head. Grace could be annoying at times, but she was pretty level-headed when it came to stuff like this.

  She’d tell Mia to let it go, which was exactly what she wanted—needed—to hear.

  “Kitchen.”

  “Kitchen sex is fun,” Jenna chimed in.

  “You’re married to a chef, of course he’s going to be extra creative in there. Have you girls ever made love in the loft of a barn?”

  “Seriously?” Mia couldn’t picture Grace climbing a barn ladder in her heels, or risking getting her outfits dirty. However, marrying a farmer had changed her. For the good.

  “So, your guy. Is the kitchen his thing, or were you both too hot and heavy to move it to another room?”

  “Something like that.”

  “Do you like him? Is that why you look so ... confused?” Jenna was perceptive as well.

  “Sometimes I like him, and other times it’s like he’s a totally different person. Someone I really don’t like. And yet, the guy I had sex with is the one I haven’t particularly cared for.”

  “Oh, an enemies to friends romance. Those are hot right now.” Grace liked to read the more angsty romances, while Jenna preferred the sweet. Mia was somewhere in between.

  “I wouldn’t call him an enemy. It’s why I went over, to thank him for being so sweet.”

  “Thanked him with sex.”

  “I didn’t start it.”

  “And he said You’re welcome with sex.”

  “Something like that.” Mia sighed again. “Before we ... did it, he made it clear it was just about sex, and I readily agreed.”

  “That’s good, I guess,” Grace said.

  Mia looked to Jenna for reassurance. Her eyes turned down at the corner, showing her disapproval.

  “You ladies having a party without me?” Lily came up behind them, startling Mia. She’d been so lost in her story that she didn’t hear the bell ring.

  “Mia’s telling us about her sex life.”

  Lily held up her hand with a smile. “I’m good, thank you. Just as you don’t want to hear about your brother’s and mine, I probably shouldn’t hear the kinky details of my sister-in-law’s.”

  “Please, no oversharing about Ty.” Mia stuck a finger in her mouth and pretended to gag.

  “No offense taken.” Lily laughed. “On another note, were you able to find Agent Thorne’s house yesterday? How did your meeting go?”

  Grace gasped. “You little slut.” Her lips turned up into a wicked grin. “You had sex with Lily’s FBI agent.”

  “You what?” Lily screeched.

  Mia closed her eyes, wishing for a miracle. That they’d all vanish into thin air. Or better, that she would. But the noises around her clamored on at the same time.

  “I can’t believe it.”

  “That’s so hot.”

  “Oh, honey, you really like him.”

  Mia’s eyes popped open at Jenna’s words. “I don’t like him, like him.”

  “You said you were talking about your book. Doing research.”

  “She was doing research of another kind.”

  Mia shot Grace a dirty look. She returned it with a smirk and a shrug.

  “We need to talk. Outside.” Lily headed to the door, not waiting for Mia to argue.

  She followed her to a bench and sat beside her.

  “I’m sorry.”

 
“Are you? And why? Are you sorry for me? For you? About this entire situation? I don’t get it.” Lily rubbed the heels of her hands into her forehead. “Thorne is a man of few words and even less emotion. I don’t see how such a stoic man can even... I don’t get this, Mia.”

  “He’s different when he’s with me.” Sometimes. “Like I told you that morning you and Ty came storming up my apartment stairs, we have a connection. I know about his childhood, his family stories. He loves talking about the ocean. It’s like a secret passion he’s had buried under the FBI persona, and I love that I’m able to get him to smile. To ramble on about—”

  “Ramble? Thorne? Are we seriously talking about the same person? I mean, he’s been a life savior to me. Literally. He gave me this new life, this town, the spa, and I feel safe when he’s around, but he doesn’t ramble.”

  “He does with me,” Mia said softly. Except for sometimes when he had his stupid FBI hat on. Or rather, lack of hat. No, actually, the hat was part of his undercover gig so really, he could totally ramble and still be FBI.

  Her heart—no, her heart was not involved in this—her head, and all her sexual spots were so confused.

  “Is Jenna right? Do you have feelings for him?”

  “I don’t want to. This is why I’m so confused. Why I came over to talk to Jenna about it. No offense, but it’s really weird talking to you about sex now. Not only because you’re like a big sister to me now, but also because Ryan is, well, he was yours first.”

  “He’s never been—”

  “I know. That’s not what I mean. But you’re a priority of his. He’s been looking out for you for years. I feel like the pesky little sister now. The one who gets in the way and screws things up.”

  Shit. She flicked the elastic around her wrist. No more complaining. First it was the poor me with her jobs and possible career, now it was her love life.

  “I guess it’s not really up to me if something is going on between you and Thorne. I just don’t want you to get hurt. He’s not staying here. Once his job is done, he’ll be back in New York, or wherever he goes when he’s not babysitting me.”

  “I know.” Which was why having sex with him wasn’t a bad idea at the time. No risk of attachment. No time to get attached.

  “Oh, honey.” Lily pulled her in for a hug. “I’m sorry I snapped at you. This is your business and has nothing to do with me. I just want you to be happy. Writing children’s books and working at the library and in your mom’s bookstore has changed you. I love seeing you excited about this passion of yours. If Thorne can make you happy as well, then go for it. But I don’t want you to get hurt either.”

  That was what she was afraid of. She’d lied to Ryan yesterday. It was more than sex. So much more.

  TONIGHT’S BOOK CLUB had only been in progress for twenty minutes, and she was already drunk. They’d talked a little about their read and picked a new book for next month.

  An hour into the meeting, Lily drove Mia home and gave her a glass of water and two ibuprofens.

  “I guess it was just sex.” Mia made herself another margarita. “Or something like that,” she mumbled to herself.

  “Are you sure you don’t want me to stay with you tonight?”

  “Hell no. Then Ty would come too, and I don’t want to see his ugly face. I don’t want to see another man for as long as I live.” She knew she was being overly dramatic.

  Blame it on asshole Thorne for ignoring her for eighteen days. Eighteen days after they had sex—damn good sex—in his kitchen and not a single word.

  Not. A. Single. Word.

  No text. No phone call. No more packages. And it wasn’t as if he couldn’t locate her. He had his super secret agent access to locate and stalk her all he wanted, yet he hadn’t shown his face. Either one.

  She hated how he affected her writing as well. The first ten days were the worst. She did her usual routine: took charge of story hour at the bookstore on Tuesday, volunteered at the library on Wednesday, waitressed Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and was available for whatever on Sunday and Monday.

  Those days she wrote. Well, not for those first ten days. She’d lost her mojo. It took Ben and Alexis’ daughter Sophie at story hour to bring some light back into her life.

  “Mommy and Daddy said you are writing a book about sea otters. Can you write a book about a princess sea otter?”

  No matter how hard Alexis tried to keep Sophie from becoming girly, she adored dressing up in skirts and dresses.

  A princess book. Mia could totally do that. For the past week she read as many princess books as she could tolerate until she had an idea for an ocean princess that wasn’t a mermaid.

  A seahorse princess story. She managed to plot out the basic outline and even visited Sophie at the winery to ask her opinion. Brainstorming with a four-year-old had its challenges.

  The little diva requested that the seahorse princess be named Sophie. Done. And the prince Ben, like her daddy. Done. And they eat strawberry ice cream with sprinkles and go to dance class and eat marshmallows for dinner.

  Somehow Mia would figure out a way to incorporate all of those demands into her book. If she didn’t, she didn’t think Sophie would even remember them by the time the book came out. If it ever did. At this rate, she’d be in college.

  “You shouldn’t have any more to drink,” the voice of reason said from across the table.

  Somehow they ended up sitting at her little dinette set, Lily with her mug of tea and Mia with her fourth, possibly fifth, margarita of the night.

  “Don’t you worry your pretty little head about me.” She patted Lily’s hand. “As soon as I’m done with this baby, I’m hitting the sheets. Alone. As always.” She downed the rest of her drink and slammed the empty plastic cup on the table.

  “I can hang around for a bit if you want.”

  “Nuh uh.” Mia used the table to help her to her feet. “I’m good. You go home to my brother and live your fairy tale life.”

  Lily’s sweet face dropped.

  “Shit. I didn’t mean it like that. I’m sorry. I’m just pissed.” And a little hurt. She dropped back down to her chair and banged her forehead to the table.

  “I’m sorry he did this to you. If I thought it’d help any, I’d call him up and read him the riot act.”

  Mia lifted her head. “You’re too cute. I’m sure you’re a vicious one when your temper’s in a tizzy, but I can’t picture you going ballistic on anyone.”

  “Don’t cross my path.” Lily narrowed her eyes. “Seriously, though. You really like him, don’t you?”

  “Not really.” Or at least she didn’t want to like him.

  “If you didn’t like him, it wouldn’t hurt so much.”

  “I wouldn’t call this hurt. Pissed. Annoyed. Angry. Mostly at myself for falling—” She extended her arms and crossed her fingers in a T. “Not falling. Falling for the trap. You said Thorne didn’t show any emotion. I see that now. What I...” she almost said the word, “liked about him, well, it turns out that’s not the real him. My bad. Still, we had sex. A simple ‘Hey, was it as good for you as it was for me?’ message would have been nice, though.”

  “If there’s anything I can do, just name it. Anytime.” Lily got up and gave her a hug.

  “You’re doing it. Thank you for not saying ‘I told you so.’”

  “Had I known you were attracted to him, I would’ve warned you ahead of time and could then claim I told you so, but I didn’t know and couldn’t warn you otherwise.”

  “That’s fair. Thanks for coming over, Lils. I’m good. Really.” She stood up to give Lily the hug she deserved. “Tell Ty I said all men are pigs, and if he ever hurts you I’ll cut off his balls.”

  Lily chuckled. “I’m pretty sure you’ve given him that message before. It’s one I doubt he’ll forget.”

  Mia walked her to the door and locked it behind her after Lily left.

  “Big Sexy. Turn off the lights.” Alexa had been a great investment, or rather,
Big Sexy as she named the device that did whatever she asked. Within reason. Play music, turn on and off the lights, report the weather, call Mom. When she got tired of Big Sexy, she’d get herself a cat.

  A bottle of ibuprofen, a gallon of water, and a solid eight hours and she’d be as good as new.

  It took nine hours and only four ibuprofen to get her through the night. She had a ten o’clock meeting with Carter at The Sunrise Diner to draft out her author website.

  Something Lesley Canton, the published author who’d been mentoring her, said she’d need if she wanted to take her writing career seriously. A shower and three cups of coffee later, she slid into a booth by the window and waited for Carter.

  “Hey, hun. Meetin’ someone today?” Scilla turned over the mug on the table and filled it with coffee.

  “Carter. Business meeting, so we may eat up your booth space for a bit.”

  “No worries. The breakfast rush is over. You two take your time.” The bell on the front door chimed, and she looked over her shoulder. “He’s here now. You two gonna eat something too or just the coffee?”

  “I’m famished. Not sure about farm boy, though.”

  “Hey, gorgeous.” Carter kissed Scilla on the cheek, an instant stain of red formed where he’d kissed her.

  “You sweet talker. Don’t know how someone as charming as you is still single.” She eyed Mia and shook her head. “Nothing against you, sweetie, but you’re not for Carter. He needs someone more...”

  “Not like him,” Mia joked. It was a fact. The two of them were too alike to ever have anything romantic happen between them. Good friends and they had each other’s back.

  “You know you love me.” He winked at Mia and slid in the booth. “All the women love me.”

  “Oh, the stories I’ve heard about you, Carter Marshall.” Scilla fanned herself with her hand.

  “All true.” He grinned, and his whole face lit up. He was a cutie, that was for sure, just not for Mia.

  “You stop now.” Scilla waved her hand at him. “You be having breakfast this morning too?”

  “What are you having?” he asked Mia.

  “I’ll take a breakfast sandwich on a bagel with bacon, and a side of fruit.”