“I don’t eat cookies.” He kept eye contact, like he was challenging her or something.
She wasn’t about to back down now that she’d regained some of her backbone. Something in his gaze made her bold. “I’m sorry. Can I bring you something else?”
He dropped his eyes and shook his head. “You should go.”
His face, so defiant before, now seemed forlorn. Maybe Frankie’s idea had been better than hers—not that she’d actually have sex with Tristan. “I’m really sorry. If I could change things, I would.”
“Well, you can’t,” he snapped.
Tears pricked her eyes. She wasn’t sure what she thought would happen when she walked outside, but she hadn’t expected him to be so rude. She had hit him, and it was clearly her fault. If she’d been paying attention, he’d still be allowed to ski with his friends.
She stormed away from the hot tub, trying not to slip on the deck. She wiped the tears away before they could freeze to her face. The door handle to the suite wouldn’t open, and one of the other guys, Adam maybe, opened it for her.
The tears came freely even though she was trying to hide them.
“You okay?” he asked.
She shook her head and pushed past him.
“Hey, Mia,” Jessica called from behind her, but she didn’t stop. One of the dogs darted in front of her, but she dodged him and wrenched the door open. Embarrassed and angry, she fled to her own place.
So much for putting herself out there. Christmas this year wasn’t going to be anything but miserable. She’d been delusional.
Chapter Eleven
The door opened again, and Tristan rolled his eyes. If that woman was back to convince him she could help with one more thing, he was going to lose it. He looked forward to this every year, and now he’d be stuck in his room, alone for the next two weeks while his friends were skiing and having fun.
Was he being dramatic? Probably, but he didn’t get to see his friends that often.
Adam and Conner headed his way, both in swimming trunks and beers in hand. Conner handed him one before climbing in.
Adam punched his shoulder. “I thought about knocking you upside the head but didn’t want to make your concussion worse.”
“Thank you, I think. What’d I do?”
“You made the pretty redhead cry.”
Tristan took a swig of his beer. He hadn’t seen her tears, and he hated making women cry. Though it happened more often than it should’ve because he often misjudged their intent. “She’s the one who hit me.”
“No shit,” Adam said with a chuckle. “No wonder she’s baking you cookies. Which are amazing by the way. What did you say to her?”
“I told her to go away.”
“Why?”
He was acting like this was no big deal.
“Did you not hear what I said? She hit me with a car and gave me a concussion. She could’ve killed me.”
Conner shrugged. “But she didn’t.”
“So I’m just supposed to be her friend? We didn’t even really talk before.”
“Oh, come on. Gorgeous single woman in the suite next door, and you’re telling me you didn’t talk to her.”
Tristan’s lips twitched. “Yeah, so maybe I did, but she reads books.”
Adam creased his eyebrows. “Is that some sort of code for lesbian?”
Conner rolled his eyes. “No. Tristan has this theory that women who read books are looking for serious relationships, and women who don’t are cool with one-night stands.”
It wasn’t a theory. It was fact. Conner never tested it though because he was always a relationship guy.
Adam guffawed. “No offense, dude, but that is the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard. Besides, everyone here is on vacation. No one is looking for something long term. Seriously, she feels guilty. Think about it. If the tables were turned, wouldn’t you do the same thing?”
Tristan thought on his words. He would do the same thing, but it didn’t change the facts.
“She should feel guilty.” He could hear himself, and he knew he sounded like a pouty brat.
Conner set his beer on the edge of the tub. “I know you think that, but you gotta let that go. Think about it. If Sera bit someone, or if you injured someone while skiing, you’d do everything you could to make it up to them. She’s just doing the same. At least let her know you don’t totally hate her, so she can enjoy her vacation too.”
“Why? I can’t enjoy mine. Seems like a fair trade.” He regretted the words as soon as they came out. Even if he did mean them.
“You’re acting like a baby.”
“Maybe.”
Tristan sipped his beer and watched the people zipping down the slopes. He didn’t like feeling angry about his situation, but he wanted someone to blame.
Conner was right, though. If he spent the next two weeks blaming Mia, he’d make himself miserable. And he didn’t just want to sit around feeling sorry for himself. But he deserved at least one day to sulk, and the guys weren’t even going to let him have that.
This was no fun anyway. He had the whole day to enjoy with his friends, and here he was pouting in his hot tub. He had to get over himself, or they would all avoid him the rest of the trip, and that was the last thing he wanted.
“You’re right. I’ll go apologize tomorrow, and I’ll stop being so grumpy.”
Adam reached for a towel. “No, dude, you’re going to apologize now, otherwise you’ll be thinking about it all day. I’ll go get her.”
Tristan stood, but Adam pushed him down. “Nah, you stay here. We’ll send her back out.”
“Why?” He needed to put on some clothes. He knew what effect he had on her. She wouldn’t look him in the eye. He was proud of his physique, but he needed to be able to have a coherent conversation with her so she understood why he was upset. He’d use Sera too.
Mia liked her. He should probably go over to her suite on his own so everyone else wasn’t eavesdropping. Why was he still sitting here?
“The snow’s starting to fall. You got the whole brooding sexy guy thing going on. Trust me, this is the right place.” Adam threw a towel at Conner. “Let’s go.”
Tristan thought this was a bad idea, but he didn’t want to argue with them. He was still not firing on all cylinders. Add some heavy-duty pain pills and a beer, and he was definitely influenceable. He didn’t give a damn though.
Mia was gorgeous and maybe, just maybe, he’d get more out of this than just an apology.
Chapter Twelve
Mia flung the door open, expecting Frankie with her double chocolate cake. She planned on eating her sorrows away. Instead, she stared at Liz and Jessica with one of the dogs. But it wasn’t Sera. This one had slightly different colors.
“Can we come in?” Jessica asked.
“Sure.” Mia didn’t want to talk to them, but it would be rude to send them away. They walked in and sat on the chairs, and Mia sank onto the loveseat. The dog jumped right next to her and laid her head on Mia’s shoulder.
Liz chuckled. “We brought Nona because she has a thing for crying women.”
Mia scratched Nona behind the ears. “I’m not usually one of those.”
“Was Tristan an ass?” Jessica asked.
“No, not really. I deserved it.” She was so stupid for thinking a plate of cookies would make everything better.
“So he was an ass. What’d he say to you?”
“It’s not really what he said. Did you know that I was driving the car that hit him?”
“No. For real?” Liz giggled. “You’ve got guts girl. What made you come over? If I ran over someone, I don’t think I’d ever be able to face them again.”
“I was trying to apologize.”
It was a stupid idea. She could see that now. But she couldn’t stand the thought that he might hate her. No one hated her. She was the sweet school librarian, enemy of no one. Well, at least until Drew, but that hadn’t been her fault. This was.
She’d messe
d up before, but she’d always been able to rectify her mistakes.
“Maybe you should’ve waited a few days,” Jessica said. “He’s upset because he can’t go skiing. This is one of those trips they all live for. These guys are tighter than family, and they only see each other a few times a year. Not everyone makes it skiing, but they all try. This was the first year that almost all of them were going to be here.”
“How many are there?”
“Ten.”
“Wow. And the dogs?”
“Ten of them as well.” Jessica raised her brows and laughed. “Blake is the only one not coming, and that’s how you scored this room.”
Mia sighed and let her head drop against the couch cushion. She messed this up.
“Just give him a couple more days and try again.”
“I’ve already butchered it. I mean, I get it. I’d be pretty pissed off if I were in his shoes.”
“He’ll get over it. Tristan’s a good guy. Maybe we’ll try to plan something in a few days together. You can apologize again, and we’ll make sure he’s prepared for it.”
Mia looked back and forth between the girls. They both reminded her of Vi. This was something she would’ve done. Mia missed her sister. “Why are you guys being so nice to me? I’ve never even met you before.”
“You ran out of the suite crying. It’s girl code to comfort. And now I’m in total awe that you can run over a guy and bring him cookies the next day. You and I are destined to be friends,” Jessica said.
“For real,” Liz said. “Even if Tristan decides to stay pissed at you the rest of the trip, you’re doing girl stuff with us.”
“I was just trying to make amends. I don’t like people being mad at me.”
Another knock sounded at the door, and Liz jumped up to get it. Mia turned on the couch so she could see. Adam stood there wrapped in a towel, dripping wet.
“You got a bathing suit?” he asked, looking past Liz at Mia.
“Uh, yeah.”
“Tristan wants to talk to you.”
Mia gulped.
That escalated fast.
Chapter Thirteen
Tristan couldn’t stop the jealousy as he watched the skiers fly over the powder. He should be out there feeling the bite of the wind on his face. But then he could fall and jar his head even more, possibly resulting in permanent damage. He scowled. It didn’t matter, he should still be out there on the mountainside.
Inviting Mia back was a bad idea. He should’ve never listened to Conner and Adam. Especially after his pain pills mixed with a beer. The doctor had told him not to drink, but he wasn’t going to let the injury take away all the good things about vacationing.
He didn’t know what to say to her. She took away the only chance he had at forgetting his sorrows, of forgetting the pain of his wife’s death. Before she died, Delilah was the darling of the group. The guys loved her. She doted on everyone.
Not only that, he and Delilah had dated all through college. He didn’t know how to be with his friends without her. So, he always found things that made it easier. Anything with adrenaline worked. Now Mia took that away as well, and he had to watch all of them with their new wives.
It was excruciating. Mia hitting him was just an accident, and all his pain wasn’t her fault, but it was easier to blame her than to focus on his pain.
The slider door opened, and he didn’t move. He had to apologize for being an ass. He let out a breath, mentally rehearsing what he would say. I’m really sorry for being a jerk. Forgive me? That would be the easiest and fastest way. Oh, and he’d offer to let her stay and hang out this afternoon. The girls would probably like her, and then maybe he wouldn’t have to talk to her.
He spun around, and his breath caught in his throat. She was sliding off a robe. Underneath she wore a green bikini that barely covered her ass. Her skin was milky white with a scattering of freckles, and her deep red hair was up in a messy bun. She hung the robe next to his and turned around.
Heaven help him.
“The guys told me that I had to come join you.” She dropped her eyes and stared at her feet.
“Sure, come on in,” he managed to choke out. She moved with ease and grace.
He didn’t move any closer to her. He couldn’t. Not unless he planned on taking her in his arms and running his hand along that flat stomach of hers.
She slid in. The water covered all but her shoulders, and it made him a little more coherent, but not much.
“I’m so sorry I hit you,” she said. “I feel so bad.”
“Stop. You already apologized. I’m sorry I was a jerk. I was just feeling sorry for myself. I really look forward to this trip every year. But anyway, accidents happen. I could’ve just as easily gotten the concussion by taking a bad spill on the slopes.”
Wow. He was impressed with his ability to get that much out. She played with the bubbles in front of her, her fingers long and thin, with a French manicure.
“Thanks. That means a lot. I don’t do guilt well. If there is anything else I can do to make it up to you, please let me know.”
Yes. Stay and forget you have your own hotel room.
Holy hell. What was he thinking? No. He had to get her away from him before he said something he’d regret. This woman would get into his head. He could already feel it starting.
The slider opened again, and two giggling women spilled out, followed by the five guys with a case of beer.
“Party in the hot tub,” Seth hollered so loud that even the skiers on the slopes could probably hear him. Music blared from the speakers on the balcony. David’s playlist, Tristan assumed, because it was country music.
Conner made a face. “Oh, hell no. I’m changing that.”
He ran back into the suite.
Everyone else made a beeline for the tub. Seth settled on one side of Mia and David on the other.
“Apologies for not introducing myself properly earlier,” Seth said. “I was in the middle of kicking Grayson and David’s ass. Priorities, you know. But I’m Seth.”
He held out his hand, and Mia took it.
“We’ve already met,” Mia said, and Tristan chuckled. Seth must’ve had no memory of last night, not that he’d be embarrassed, but he’d be upset that he didn’t remember Mia. Seth furrowed his brow.
Tristan cleared his throat. “You were hitting on her pretty hard last night.”
“I didn’t say anything dumb, did I?” he asked with a chuckle
“Define dumb.”
Seth gave Mia one of his signature grins. “Can we start over?”
“Certainly,” she said with a giggle.
The tub was only meant for six, and by the time Conner squeezed in between Jessica and Liz, Mia was practically sitting in Seth’s lap.
Jealousy rose up Tristan’s chest. It was stupid, but what could he say?
Beers were passed around, but Mia didn’t take one.
“You don’t drink during the day?” David asked.
“I’m more of a wine girl. I don’t like beer.”
“Fair enough. Where are you from?”
“Small town Iowa. Janesville.”
“And why are you here alone?”
“My dad and his new wife are on a cruise, and my sister took her family to Disney World, so I thought I’d get out of town. I’ve never actually been on a vacation before.” She didn’t meet his eyes.
Tristan’s mouth dropped. “Anywhere? As in, this is the first time you’ve been out of Iowa.”
“Yeah.”
“Why?” The world was such a glorious place, from the beaches of Thailand to the castles in Europe. To have never seen any of it seemed unfathomable.
She sighed. “Money mostly. I’m a librarian in a small town. Dad was a janitor for the electric company. We never had anything, but I like my quiet life. Books take me everywhere I want to go.”
“But haven’t you enjoyed your time here?”
“Oh, I don’t know. I could’ve stayed home and read my b
ooks. What difference does it make?”
Seth snorted. “Hello. You wouldn’t have met us if you were still in Iowa. There are cool people in the world. You need to meet them. Though after us, the others are going to be a disappointment.”
“See. This is the only vacation I ever have to take.” Her eyes twinkled.
Seth put his arm around her, and Tristan swallowed the guttural growl he wanted to let out.
“You just wait,” Seth said. “We’ll show you how life is really meant to be lived. You’ll get the travel bug after this. But you have to promise to only go with us.”
“I’m not going to be able to afford another trip. I didn’t even pay for this one.”
“We’re all loaded. We will pay. We’re going to show you the world.” Seth was laying it on thick.
Tristan had to stop himself from crossing that tub and forcibly removing Seth. He looked away from Mia and met Jessica’s knowing eyes. That woman was way too observant.
Jessica wiggled her eyebrows, and Tristan glowered at her. She just laughed.
This was better anyway. Mia would be nothing but trouble. Something told him that she would get into his head. Let Seth have her.
Chapter Fourteen
Mia woke early the next morning and flung open the blinds. The sun was bright, and the snow practically blinded her. She felt hopeful this morning. It’d been a long time since she hung out with a group of fun people. Oh, who was she kidding? She’d never hung out with people like that. She had a few girlfriends that she would go out to dinner with occasionally, but everything in her life had been quiet. Well, aside from Drew, but she’d been trying to block that out.
Last night,. the boys had doted on her, but she wasn’t interested in them. Well, except Tristan, but he kept his distance. She figured he was still mad at her, and she couldn’t blame him. She would make it up to him but wasn’t sure how.
She dug in her bag and found a good book, the fourth in a series. She settled in and lost herself among the familiar characters.
Around lunch, she was halfway through the book, and she set it down and opened her fridge. Her mind wandered to Tristan. He was probably eating alone. All his friends were skiing, and he was stuck in his room. That, she could fix.
Christmas and Commitment (Omega Mu Alpha Brothers Book 6) Page 5