Mia dropped her spoon into the bowl with a clang then smiled. “Bossy.”
Ryker took her dishes to the sink. “Get used to it,” he said in a lighthearted tone. It was good to see she had a sense of humor.
The condo had two bedrooms, so Ryker took the guest room. He made sure that Mia had everything she needed, then said, “I’ll be right here. If you need anything, just yell. I’ll leave my door open.”
“Okay,” Mia said. “And…thanks.”
Ryker went to the other room and stripped off his shoes and jeans. He stayed partially dressed, in case he needed to go into action quickly. Although he doubted there was much chance of a break-in. The condo was on the top floor with only one door.
He cleaned up and then stretched out on the bed. It had been a close call, but Mia was safe. He’d have to watch her more closely. He’d underestimated her ex-husband’s vindictiveness, but he was up to speed now, and didn’t intend to let the guy gain any advantage.
Mia had struggled with stuff like this on her own for years, for her entire life, really—if he considered that she’d been raised in foster homes. She was an amazing woman who had come close to falling through the cracks in society.
There were no provisions for young girls without parents who couldn’t learn like other students. It must have been rough. Ryker wanted to hold Mia in his arms, to tell her how much he respected her. And to tell her more than that.
He didn’t know what he’d tell her. But deep emotions bubbled up from below the surface. If he didn’t watch it, he’d feel much more for Mia than he should. He needed to stay focused on her protection. It had been a while since he’d considered sharing his life with a woman.
And he couldn’t believe that he’d thought of doing so with Mia. She was a woman he could love, whom he could care for. But it wasn’t going to work. His heart was permanently broken, and had shown no signs of healing, in all these years.
Plus, Mia was an independent woman. She wasn’t looking for a man to hook up with. Just the opposite—she was trying to get away from the last one. Under the circumstances, it was best to go to sleep and forget about her—but his heart ached.
*****
At breakfast, Mia was cheerful. She’d been able to shower and dress on her own. “I wrapped my arm in plastic. And the pain is less.”
“That is good news.” The doorbell rang, so Ryker went to answer it. He was expecting Caleb, who handed him a duffel bag and a sack of groceries.
“You good in there?” Caleb said.
“Yep, Mia is recovering. Text if you need me. I’m going to stay close to her for now.”
Ryker returned and unloaded the groceries. “I got some supplies for us. And a change of clothes.”
Mia’s eyes widened. “More ice cream? You’re going to fatten me up.”
“We’ll see about that.” Ryker watched her scramble some eggs. “I thought I was taking care of you.”
“And you do it well,” Mia said. “But I’m not an invalid. I tend to get into trouble, I admit. But I’m able to whip up some eggs and toast.”
Over the meal, Ryker pried more details out of Mia about her ex. He needed to know all he could about his adversary. He had to get the upper hand, so the more he knew, the better.
Mia drank the rest of her orange juice. “I screwed up marrying James, but I did one thing right. We didn’t have children. I was convinced that we should be together for a year or so before taking on that responsibility.”
“It is good that no kids are involved.”
“James is greedy and self-important,” Mia said. “He would have been a lousy father.”
Ryker drank his coffee and listened.
“Looking back, I’m sure that James was interested in my company,” Mia said. “My start-up was just beginning to take off, so my attorney advised me to have him sign a prenuptial agreement.”
“I bet that went over well.”
“James didn’t like it, but there wasn’t much he could do about it,” Mia said. “He was being charming and didn’t want to blow it. Of course, I didn’t see that then. The only way he can tap into the financial success of my company now is through marriage. If he could wheedle his way back into my life, he’d take control.”
Mia continued, “But once this divorce is final, he’s out of luck. He can’t face that. He wants to take it all, and he would have, if I hadn’t come to my senses.”
“No wonder he’s so bent out of shape,” Ryker said. “And I imagine it’s a blow to his ego, as well. I’m beginning to catch on, see what kind of person he is.”
“That’s a good way to put it,” Mia said. “James will see losing me as a failure.”
Ryker took her hand, and she squeezed it. “I am glad you’re with me right now. This is a rough period.” Then Mia looked into his eyes. “What about you? I don’t see a ring on your finger. Have you ever been married?”
Ryker’s gut twisted. The guilt was powerful. “I was married, but my wife Amy died.”
Mia was quiet.
“I met her after I joined the Navy, and we married,” Ryker said. “She was the love of my life, and I missed her so much when I was away. We never had kids either. We were married for five years and planned to have a family when I got out.”
Ryker looked into Mia’s eyes, finding empathy but not pity. “Amy died while I was on deployment. I wasn’t here. I should have been with her.”
“How did she die?”
“My wife was hit by a drunk driver. She was killed on impact,” Ryker said. “And I didn’t even get the satisfaction of making the bastard pay for his crime. His car went over an embankment, so he didn’t survive the crash either.”
“Ryker…that must be so hard for you.”
Mia had no idea the magnitude of the sadness that consumed him. Every day since his wife had died, Ryker had agonized about what he could have done to prevent it, or how he should have been home. But none of it mattered. The past couldn’t be changed. He had to live with it.
Chapter 7
That night in bed, Mia thought about Ryker. He’d been so good to her. It had been the first time a man had taken care of her, and it took some getting used to. With her arm propped up on pillows, she was almost able to fall asleep, but not right away.
It hadn’t escaped her notice how much enjoyment Ryker got from watching her eat ice cream. He was going to buy gallons of the stuff at this rate. Mia tried to comprehend that his pleasure was because of hers. That was something new.
With her husband, it had all been fake. James had smiled and cajoled, but he’d quickly shifted from the loving persona to the self-centered man he truly was. Mia should be on guard, and she was, but Ryker was different.
Mia could tell that his attitude was authentic. She’d learned about clues to deception, and he didn’t exhibit those. He was a study in a good-hearted, honest man. She hadn’t known that such a male existed, at least not for her.
She’d met men, even Griffen, her manager, whom she trusted. But not personally, not enough to have an intimate relationship. Dating was fine, but other than James, she hadn’t bonded with any man or wanted anything more—until she met Ryker.
He had gotten under her skin and was working his way into her heart. That thought was frightening. She was used to threats and attacks, so had learned how to fight back. But she had no defense against Ryker’s kindness. She closed her eyes to block him out of her mind, but the feeling in her heart didn’t go away.
For the moment, Mia was safe, but how long would that last? She had protection, yet it might not be enough. James was acting like a madman, which was an appropriate description. She remembered how he’d treated her, how shocked she’d been when he’d given in to his temper.
James had tried to put that on her, claimed that she caused him to react that way. What was amazing was that she believed it at first, so attempted to alter her behavior. But it had been a lie. It hadn’t taken long for her to see that he was manipulating her.
Jus
t like he wanted to do now.
If he could bully or scare her into cooperating with him, then he would win. Yet he hadn’t realized that wasn’t going to happen. She was over him for good, saw him for the man he was. All she wanted to do was get away—with her company and her life.
*****
For the next few days, Ryker stayed close. He catered to her needs, despite the fact that she knew he had better things to do—and told him so. He claimed he didn’t, that taking care of her was the most important thing. After a while, she began to believe that he meant it.
Ryker drove her to the office as soon as she was able to return. Mia couldn’t argue, since she didn’t have her car yet. She’d need to buy another one, but the insurance hadn’t come through. It didn’t matter so much, since she felt better being escorted.
It had been bad timing to be away from her company. Fortunately, Griffen and Iris had kept things going. But there were some items on the agenda that only Mia could handle. She spoke with edgy investors regarding their investments.
The distribution progress wasn’t fast enough, and confidence had waned. The news about Mia being held at gunpoint and robbed, followed by being injured from a car bomb, only worsened sentiment. She did her best to restore faith in Mental Magic and its new learning program.
Griffen caught her up on recent events. “The Board of Education is balking,” he said. “A meeting needs to be set up. If that stalls, we’ll have serious issues.”
“I’ll arrange something,” Mia said. Her life had been a series of disasters. Yet she’d done one right thing by creating the software. The technique used in the program had been the one that had saved her, allowed her to learn in a new way—and it would save others. It could be the hope for children with issues like she’d had.
There was big money on the line, and Mia couldn’t fail. She called a meeting with her staff to remind them of their greater purpose. The reason investors had backed the company was due to the carefully prepared business plan. The idea was to start locally, then expand, eventually distributing internationally. The potential was exciting, but only if they made it through this crucial period.
It was important to think big and to profit fast. Delays could drag the company under. Mia assured her team that she had no intention of letting that happen. She looked over at Griffen, who nodded at her. She had to make her words true; she had to ratchet up the effort and get the job done.
It was early afternoon before Iris came to her office. “I’m starving. All these negotiations and pep talks are wearing me out. Come on, let’s go eat.”
Mia could certainly use lunch. The coffee and eggs she’d had for breakfast weren’t enough. “We can eat at the café around the block. And don’t be surprised, but I have transportation for us.”
Iris widened her eyes. “A hunky SEAL?”
“Yep, this time it’s Caleb, because Ryker had some matters to attend to.”
“Other than you?” Iris said. “I’m shocked.”
Mia playfully punched her shoulder. “Oh, come on. I know what you’re thinking. You’re making way too much of Ryker playing nurse to me.”
When Mia got to the parking lot, Caleb was ready. To his credit, he didn’t give her a hard time about not accepting his rides before. That was just as well, since she’d learned how important protection could be. Until James went away, she’d err on the side of caution.
Over lunch, Mia talked to Iris about her messy divorce. “These past years have been a nightmare.”
“And it’s crunch time,” Iris said. “If James has any tricks he hasn’t used, he’ll try them now. He’s nearly out of time.”
“I’m glad you understand,” Mia said. “It would make more sense for him to try to sweet-talk me. But that’s not James. What drives him only he understands, because I don’t. I stopped trying to figure him out long ago.”
“Your experience makes me glad that I’m single,” Iris said, then took a sip of her iced tea. “I wish they’d hurry up with those sandwiches. A woman could starve to death.”
As if the waiter had overheard, he appeared with the meals. Iris lifted half of her turkey sandwich and took a big bite. “I might survive the afternoon.”
Mia thought of Ryker and the grilled cheese sandwiches he’d made the day before. Why was it that everything was a reminder of him? Then her phone vibrated, and she hoped that he was checking on her.
But it was James calling. “I’m going to take this,” Mia said. “I have to give this bastard a piece of my mind.” She went outside to take the call.
“You have a lot of nerve,” Mia said. “Just what do you think you’re doing?”
“I don’t know what you mean,” James said. “I’m calling to try and talk to you…again.”
“How can I make myself any clearer? I don’t want to talk to you about anything.” Mia grimaced when a pain shot through her arm. “And you hurt me, you creep.”
“I don’t know what you mean,” James said. “I’m trying to fix things between us.”
Always the liar, the pretender. Mia couldn’t take it. “It isn’t going to happen. Just leave me alone. You scare me.”
“You should be scared,” James said, “because if you aren’t nicer to me, I’ll have to do something I’d rather not do. But you appear to be forcing me into it.”
That line again; she was always the one making James behave the way he did. Mia was about to hang up. Speaking with her ex had been a bad idea.
“The Board of Education is considering your proposal for implementation,” James said.
Mia gripped the phone.
“With all that’s been happening to you lately, it’s difficult for the board to have confidence,” James said. “I might have to affirm their doubts and tell them exactly why they shouldn’t do business with you.”
“That is just wrong.”
“Oh, is it?” James said. “What’s wrong is you divorcing me. Till death do us part, remember?”
And there it was: Mia’s biggest mistake. James was on the board and held an executive position. He was respected, and his coworkers paid heed to his opinions. It seemed they weren’t aware of his true nature. He was an upstanding citizen, a man of character.
“Don’t do it,” Mia said. “Think of those children, the ones who need the program. It’s about learning, about education, about giving them a chance. Don’t let your feelings about me take away their ability to learn, an opportunity for a decent future.”
“It didn’t help you any,” James said. “You should be glad that I take an interest in you, that I married you. It’s more than you deserve.”
Mia put her hands over her eyes. James was seething; she could hear it in his voice.
“You’re an orphan,” James said. “You had no place in life until you met me, and I took you on out of the goodness of my heart. Don’t talk to me about your precious software. It didn’t help you. You’re still the same stupid bitch that begged me to marry her.”
Tears poured down Mia’s cheeks. The call ended. She was too choked up to speak anyway. It wasn’t because James had demeaned her. She was used to that. It was because she saw the chance to help so many young students slip away. Failure loomed, and it broke her heart.
Mia wiped away the tears. She was furious. James had reminded her why she didn’t want to hook up with any man. He’d shattered her trust and got perverse pleasure from stomping on her self-esteem. No more bad experiences. It had to end.
She went inside to find Iris finishing her meal. “Oh, God…what did he say?”
“He’s just…insane,” Mia said. “I don’t know how far he will go to stop me.”
Iris glanced toward the front of the restaurant. “Caleb is hovering by the door. He must have seen you talking. James is going to have a difficult time getting to you with all that muscle behind you.”
“He doesn’t need to get his hands on me,” Mia said, then shared what the conversation had been about.
“He wouldn’t?”
> “Yes, he will, so we have to contact our friends on the board,” Mia said. “Somehow we have to make them see what he’s doing.”
“Which reminds me, aren’t we going to the school this afternoon?”
“Yes, I hadn’t forgotten.” Mia had supported after-school programs, even visited students once a month to help.
Lunch was over, so Mia let Caleb know where to drive them next. She looked forward to interacting with the elementary school students, especially one young boy.
Eddie was eight years old. He was small for his age but very bright. He was clever and funny. Mia adored him and opened her arms for a hug when she spotted him. “It’s good to see you.”
“Are we going to play games?” Eddie had big brown eyes and curly brown hair. She’d known him since before he’d entered school. The boy had trouble learning, and he had another strike against him: James was his uncle.
James didn’t care about his sister’s only son. But it was worse than that. He was embarrassed by him, couldn’t stand it that the child needed help—as if that somehow was a bad reflection on James. He’d abandon his own flesh and blood, rather than be associated with a boy who had a learning disability.
“Yes, we are going to play,” Mia said. “And I have a new game for you.”
Eddie’s eyes shone. “Hey, Iris. Are you going to be there too?”
“You bet I am.” Iris took his hand to lead him to the classroom. “I have a few things to learn, too, so I’ll join you.”
Mia had learning tools on a disc that she’d brought with her. She couldn’t officially distribute her software, but she could use it. The methods aided Eddie, and it was rewarding to see him discover that he wasn’t stupid as he’d so often been told.
The key to the games, as Eddie called them, was that they were more visual. Visual learners had trouble with written words. Her tool used a wide array of colors and set up codes the child could more easily remember. It was a method that made sense to Eddie, as opposed to him struggling to learn the standard way.
At the end of the day, Mia and Iris met the team for drinks and dinner. Everyone had been working hard, so deserved a break. Griffen made a toast to the team, stating with pride about how they were together in this and would come through. Nothing worthwhile was achieved without struggle.
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