He pressed his lips against hers, and she threaded her arms around his neck.
She leaned into the kiss, then backed away.
She fiddled with the buttons on his sweater. “You know, you are a truly spectacular kisser.”
He chuckled and trailed kisses along her bare shoulder. “You make it easy. You should wear shirts like this more often.”
“You want a glass of wine?” she asked.
He shook his head and gave her another light kiss. “I should get going.”
“Why?”
His eyes pierced her. “Because I like you. A lot. And to me that means more than just falling into bed because we think our time is limited. I want to know you first.”
He slipped out the door.
Mia collapsed on the couch, utterly defeated. This required a phone call.
“Hey, sis, what’s up?”
Mia could hear kids shouting in the background. “I’m alone.”
Vi was quiet for a moment. “What happened?”
“You tell me. I don’t know what the hell I did wrong. I can’t even do a stinking fling right.”
“Hang on. Let me go find a quiet spot.” Vi muttered something to someone else, and the sounds of kids chattering faded. “Kay, tell me everything.”
Mia reiterated what happened that night, down to his sweet, but misdirected dismissal.
“Awwww. That’s so sweet. Are you sure this is the guy you sent me the picture of? Guys like that aren’t usually so sentimental.”
“Vi. I’ve got less than a week with him, and he’s acting like we’re going to be together forever.”
“You’re trying too hard. Just let things happen naturally. For real. You are making way too big of a deal of this. He sounds absolutely amazing. Go with it. If he starts talking about the future, dream with him. You never know. This time next year, he might be sitting around dad’s fireplace with all of us.”
“I’m not delusional. This isn’t going anywhere.”
“How do you know? You’re gorgeous, smart, funny, and amazing in every way. Give yourself a chance. He seems to like you, so let him. And who cares how far it goes.”
“Yeah, and find him in bed with another woman.”
“Not all guys are like that.”
“Just the ones I date.”
“You’re being a whiny brat. Go to bed and cheer up. You are in a beautiful place with a beautiful man. Enjoy it.”
Mia groaned. Vi was right. She was always right. “Okay. I’m gonna go read a book and look forward to tomorrow.”
“Atta girl. I’ll talk to you later. Love you.”
“Love you too.”
Mia hung up but was still pretty wound up, so she texted Frankie.
You around?
Sorry, love, off tonight.
Have a good night.
Well, crap. Now what? She put on a hoodie and took a walk anyway. She found the stairs and meandered on down. It was late, and the lobby was pretty empty. Loud laughter came from the bar.
She glanced over. All of Tristan’s friends sat around a table, but he wasn’t there. Jessica caught her eye and waved her over.
“Hey, girl.” Jessica scooted over in the booth and patted the area next to her. “What are you doing down here alone?”
“Yeah,” Seth said. “I thought you and Tristan were out on some romantic date.”
Mia blushed. “We were.”
Liz raised her eyebrows. “Did it not go well?”
“I don’t know. I thought it did, but he turned down a glass of wine and ran back to his room afterwards.”
Seth frowned. “That doesn’t sound like Tristan. At all. It’s weird, cause he totally lied about us. We were partying in his hot tub, not skiing tonight.”
“Why would he tell me you were skiing?” She didn’t want to fall for another liar and cheat.
“Because he wanted a date alone with you and didn’t want you to feel guilty about taking time away from us.”
Warmth flooded Mia’s chest. She’d never dated someone so considerate before. “So why did he bail?”
“I don’t know. I’m gonna call him.”
“No.”
“Relax. I won’t tell him you’re here. Want me to put it on speaker?”
“No. You don’t have to call him.” But it was too late.
Seth held the phone to his ear. “Hey, man. So I saw your hot redhead on her way to the gym. Why isn’t she with you?”
Mia wondered if Tristan would spot the lie. It was way too late for anyone to head to the gym, but if Tristan asked, she’d just say she couldn’t sleep.
Seth went quiet for a moment. His smile fell, and he let out a breath.
“Are you sure?” He paused again. “Well, be careful. We’ll see you tomorrow.”
He set the phone on the table, and no one said anything, but everyone stared at Seth.
“It’s time to be real with you.” Seth leaned forward, his face dead serious.
Mia knew this was too good to be true. Something happened, and Tristan decided she wasn’t worth pursuing. Even for a silly fling.
“What do you mean?” She swallowed, unsure of what was coming.
“So, we’ve all known Tristan for a long time. Years. He just told me that he’d fallen hard, and he was going to do this the right way.”
“No effing way,” Conner said.
“It’s about time.” Jessica patted Mia’s arm. “Good thing we all like you.”
“I’m not sure I understand,” Mia said.
Grayson put down his burger. “Tristan and I were super close before Delilah got sick. We lived in the same building in New York City. He was caring and the life of the party. Then she was diagnosed with cancer, he moved to the Keys, and he stopped talking to me after she died. It’s only been in the last couple of years that he’s even invited me to these shindigs. We’d still see each other at our annual get-togethers, but he usually left me off the ski invite list.”
Grayson swallowed and dropped his eyes. He fiddled with his drink for a moment before continuing. “Delilah was my twin sister. He couldn’t stand looking at me. But I’m not the only one. He withdrew from everyone. Women were only good for one thing. Now he’s talking about falling for you.”
Grayson shoved his burger into his mouth, and Mia eyed the rest of them. Seth smiled at her. She should have been embarrassed that they all knew she would have let him sleep with her, but she wasn’t. She felt at ease with the whole crowd.
Jessica cleared her throat. “Not only that, he’s warmer toward us. I don’t know how to explain it, but he’s softer somehow, and that’s only the last couple of days. He would never have been that forthcoming on the phone to any of us even two weeks ago.”
Mia stared at her red nails with green tips that she’d had painted earlier in the day. She didn’t know how to respond to anything they said. She didn’t want to. She couldn’t open up her heart. She’d been hurt too many times.
Maybe she would see him after the New Year, and maybe she wouldn’t. She wasn’t going to let herself hope. Maybe he was just rebounding. Sure it’d been six years, but if she was the first woman he cared for longer than a romp in bed, this wasn’t going to last.
Jessica nudged her. “How do you feel about him?”
Mia let out a breath. She didn’t want to offend his friends. She liked them too much.
“I don’t know. I mean, I do like him, but I’ve been hurt a lot too. Quite frankly, he scares me. I’m not sure I’m ready to be that vulnerable.”
Seth leaned across the table. “Take it from all of us, he has a lot more to lose than you do.”
It was so presumptuous of them to think that they knew her past. They knew nothing.
“How do you know what I have to lose?”
“I won’t see my buddy’s heart broken again. Look at how long it took him to recover from Delilah. If he’s even recovered.”
Mia clenched her fists, her nails biting into her palms. She couldn’t believe th
eir nerve.
“You have no idea what I’ve lived through, and if you did, you’d know that I would never hurt Tristan.” She stood quickly and rushed from the table.
Behind her she heard Liz’s voice. “Way to go, Seth. You’ve offended the one girl who might actually have a shot at making Tristan happy.”
“Whatever.”
She was halfway across the lobby before Jessica grabbed her elbow.
“Damn, girl, you can run.”
Mia shrugged her off. “I get it. You guys don’t want to see him get hurt, but you don’t know me at all. I might not have lost a husband, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have pain.”
Jessica followed her into the elevator. “I know. That was Seth talking, not the rest of us. And he’s trying to protect Tristan. What happened to you?”
“I’ve just never been in a healthy relationship before. All of them ended badly.” She surprised herself admitting this.
Jessica snorted. “Tell me about it. Don’t even get me started on my ex. But these guys are not bad guys. I’ve been a part of their group five years now, and every single one of them is a class act. I don’t know Tristan that well because he keeps his emotional distance, but he’s not going to hurt you.”
They stopped in front of Mia’s door. “I appreciate it, I really do. But I won’t put myself at risk. Tristan and I will do our thing for now, but there are no guarantees for the future, and I refuse to let myself hope.”
Jessica gave her a tight smile. “We’ll see.”
The next morning, Mia got out of the shower and put on the silk robe the room came with. She brushed and blow dried her hair. A cacophony of barking and growling came from the other side of her door.
She cracked the door open and found Sera pressed against her door and Frankie shushing her.
“Sorry, Miss Mia.” He looked up guiltily.
“Geesh, Frankie, we’re way past Miss. I’ll take her.” Mia reached for Sera’s leash, but Sera scooted past her into the room. She cowered behind Mia’s legs.
Frankie glowered at the dog. “Tristan is in the shower I think. I’ll let you into his room if you bring this devil back.”
“Sure.”
“Come on, girl.”
Mia didn’t even have to grab Sera’s collar. She just followed Mia to Tristan’s room, but she wouldn’t go in until Mia went in first. Mia shut the door. She should go back to her own room, but now that she was here, she was going to run with her sister’s advice. She was wearing only a robe. Maybe Tristan wanted to take things slow, but she didn’t. Not when they only had a few days together.
“Tristan,” she called.
No answer. Loud music blared from his bedroom, and the sound of running water floated out.
Hmm.
Maybe she could make him breakfast or something. She padded over to the fridge and found eggs, ham, and cheese. Omelets it was. Food was a quick way to a man’s heart. Well, that and a fairly loose robe.
Sera sat next to her, and Mia slipped her small pieces of ham.
“What are you doing?”
Mia jerked her head up and found Tristan standing in the entry to the kitchen in a pair of black silk boxers. Water glistened on his washboard abs, and she dropped her eyes. So much for being bold.
“Frankie couldn’t get Sera back in, so I offered to help. Then I found your fridge. I’m making omelets, if that’s okay.”
He came over and wrapped his arm around her waist, and kissed the back of her neck. “That’s more than okay. You seem to like to cook.” A chill shot all the way through her to parts she’d thought deadened after Drew’s betrayal. They’d certainly been waking up since she’d been around Tristan.
“I do. It calms my mind and gives me something to do with my hands.”
He continued to kiss her neck, and she forgot what she was making. “You look sexy when you cook,” he said.
She giggled. “If you keep doing that, the omelets are never going to get done.”
He slipped a hand under her robe and grazed the edge of her ribs. “I’m not really that hungry.”
The door flung open.
“Shopping day,” Jessica called, barging into the room. Liz followed along with the five guys.
Mia froze, and Tristan dropped his hand.
“Oops. Did we interrupt something?” Jessica asked, giving Mia knowing eyes.
“Yes,” Tristan growled.
She put her hands on her hips and grinned. “Too bad. You can finish that tonight. We’re going shopping. Go get dressed. We’ll eat on the way. We brought coffee.”
“And muffins.” Liz held up a bag.
Mia let out a breath. “Have fun. I’ll see you later.” She spun around and gave Tristan a quick kiss on the lips, her cheeks still flushed from his touch.
“You’re going with us,” Liz said.
“I don’t really like shopping.” After what happened last night with Seth, she wasn’t sure she wanted to spend the whole day with them.
“That’s too bad,” Jessica said. “You’re part of our Christmas this year, and you have to go shopping with us. We have to get pajamas for Christmas Eve and outfits for Christmas dinner.”
She met Seth’s eyes, and he gave her one of his signature smiles. “Yeah. Mia’s part of our Christmas crew this year.” He must’ve forgiven her. She was relieved. But she still hated shopping.
“What are you shopping for?”
“Whoever is with us at Christmas gets matching pj’s and we stay up late listening to Christmas music and drinking on Christmas Eve. Then we do a formal dinner on Christmas Day.”
They weren’t her traditions, but she was glad they had their own. Still. She didn’t have the money for designer pajamas and formal dresses. She didn’t know how to bail politely. Seth would think it was because she wasn’t ready to commit to Tristan.
“I’m really not a part of this. You guys go. Tristan, I’ll see you tonight.”
She gave Tristan a quick kiss on his cheek and made a beeline for the door. She raced to her room and leaned against the door breathing heavily. She just wanted her own family. She should be sitting in her kitchen making cookies with her sister. The tears came without warning. She felt so silly.
This wasn’t the same. She and Tristan were hardly family. They were just a fling. At least that’s what she was trying to convince herself of. But in spite of trying to keep her distance, he was creeping into her heart. Him, Sera, and his friends.
A soft knock came from the door a few minutes later. She pretended like she couldn’t hear it, but she knew who it was.
“Come on, Mia,” Tristan called. “I know you’re in the there. If you don’t let me in, I’ll call Frankie, and you know he’ll give me a key.”
Damn. That wasn’t an empty threat. Frankie was far too free with those room keys.
Mia opened the door. Tristan stood there, fully dressed and looking like an Italian playboy.
“I’m not going.” She crossed her arms.
He pushed his way into the room. “Why not? You wanted to make new Christmas memories. These are our traditions. Try them out.”
“You know I don’t have the money.”
He laughed, and she wanted to smack him. She and her father counted every penny. He threw money around like it was nothing, and she didn’t want him to think he could buy her off with expensive gifts.
“You’re not buying anything. Conner and Jessica always buy the pj’s, and I buy the alcohol. Everyone provides something. You can bring cookies, and they will be appreciated and loved. I promise.” He reached for her and tugged her close. He dropped his lips to her ear. “As for the dress, I’m going to buy one that is very easy to get off.”
She sucked in a breath. Suddenly, all her doubts disappeared. Damn her hormones.
But if she didn’t go with them, she would be alone for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. She would have to accept that their traditions were not her own.
Tristan planted his lips on hers. “Now get d
ressed so we can go. Jessica is getting impatient. This is an all-day event, but fun.”
Mia thought for a second longer and then escaped into her room to get dressed. She’d lost this battle, but she wasn’t sure that was a bad thing.
Chapter Twenty-One
Tristan watched Mia with the girls. They got along well, and she laughed a lot. His heart beat a little faster every time she looked at him.
“Dude, you’re drooling.”
He whacked Seth on the shoulder. “Shut it. You’re just jealous.”
“Totally. But stop staring. It’s creepy.”
They perused the pajama section in Macy’s. This wasn’t Tristan’s favorite part of shopping. Jessica wouldn’t let anyone else make decisions, and she’d pick up something loose and comfortable for the girls, and only buy pants for the guys. They were required to go shirtless. She always said it was the closest she’d ever get to Chippendales.
“Found em,” she called. Mia and Liz gave her a thumbs up, and Jessica didn’t even bother looking at the guys. Typical.
The pants had reindeer all over them. Which was a step up from Santa Clauses last Christmas. One of these years, she might buy something with taste.
Tristan stepped up behind Mia and slipped his hand into hers. “Come on, let’s go find you a dress.”
“Uh, that’s a job for girls,” Liz said, her hand on her hip.
“Then why did we even come?”
“Because you guys have to hold the bags. Duh.” She giggled, and Tristan wondered if she’d slipped peppermint schnapps into her coffee before they came. Liz was not usually so giggly.
Mia leaned into him and put her finger on his forearm. “It’s okay, Liz. I’d like Tristan’s opinion.”
“Suit yourself.” She dropped her voice and whispered something to Jessica, and they both broke into a fit of giggles.
He led Mia away, wondering what the joke was.
“Hey, Tristan,” Liz called.
“Yeah,” he turned. He had a feeling he was about to find out.
“No sex in the dressing room.”
Mia’s face flamed, and Jessica and Liz dissolved into laughter.
Christmas and Commitment (Omega Mu Alpha Brothers Book 6) Page 11