Running Away (Finding Your Place Book 2)

by Rebecca Barber

“I brought her home.” A sweet, soft voice from the direction of the kitchen scared the shit out of me and I hauled Zoe behind me without a word. Someone else was in our home. Since I’d moved in, no one else had stepped foot in our home.

  When my eyes landed on a dishevelled Mia, I remembered to breathe. She looked like shit and completely gorgeous at the same time. She was here. In my house. And Zoe had allowed it. The cynical bastard part of me wanted to stick my head out the window and check the sky for flying pigs. Having someone here, someone other than Zoe and me, was weird. Frighteningly weird.

  “I tried to call, but it kept going to voicemail, so Mia and one of the other instructors, Mackenzie, brought me home. I thought Mia could stay for dinner and then you could drive her home on your way to work?”

  There was hope in her voice tinged with nerves. Looking down at her, I was trapped in her eyes and knew instantly there wasn’t anything I wouldn’t do for this girl. I already knew it, but seeing the faith and optimism in her eyes reinforced it. Without a doubt, this girl had me on my knees, and I had no hope of getting up any time soon, if ever. No wonder Spencer was so pussy whipped. With one look this girl could completely unman you. At least she did me.

  “Sounds good.” I smiled, tucking Zoe under my arm and looking over at Mia.

  This was the progress I’d been praying for. I wasn’t naïve enough to believe it, but damn, I could hope.

  She had questions. Many, many questions. Every move I made was scrutinized, but so was Zoe’s. Something more had happened this afternoon, I knew it. The girls had a secret and I’d let them keep it. For now.

  “What’s on the menu?”

  “Cannelloni?”

  “Spinach and ricotta?”

  “Would I do anything else?” Zoe beamed up at me and everything felt better. Somehow when she was smiling, life was just easier. “Do you eat spinach and ricotta cannelloni, Mia?”

  “Honestly, I don’t know. I’ve never tried it, but I’m game.”

  “Great. Why don’t you two relax while I get started on dinner? You start at eight, right, Derek?”

  “Yep.”

  “Okay then.”

  “Sounds good, Princess.”

  I heard Zoe shuffle off and cupboards in the kitchen start banging before silence fell, only to be broken by her calling out, “Oh and Derek? You might want to put a shirt on!”

  Fuck! I’d forgotten all about the fact I didn’t have one on. Mia was looking at me cautiously, but she didn’t seem to mind all the exposed skin, which I’ll admit made me puff out my chest a little more.

  When I came back into the lounge room, I couldn’t help but stare at the sight in front of me. Mia was curled up in a tiny ball in the recliner with her head on the armrest and her eyes closed. I wasn’t sure if she was asleep or awake, but with her eyes closed it gave me a minute to just admire her. She was damn gorgeous, but she came across like she had no idea. There was something about her lean, lithe figure that I couldn’t shake from my mind. When I’d seen her at the gym, I couldn’t help but think she was hot, then at the club my eyes were glued to the denim-clad ass even before I knew who it belonged to, and now snoozing in my recliner, wearing not a scrap of makeup and without even trying, she looked more delicious than ever.

  Tearing my eyes away―I didn’t want her to think I was some sort of weird creeper―I headed into the kitchen to check on Zoe, and more importantly, my dinner. When I’d first moved in with Zoe I thought, stupidly, living with a chick would be awesome. She’d cook, clean, and do all the shit I hated doing. Somehow, I’d confused moving in with a woman with moving in with Zoe. That girl could literally burn water. But over time, while she’d been basically living like a hermit, Zoe had taught herself to cook. Now we ate decent meals most nights. She still couldn’t bake for shit. Each time she craved chocolate cake, which was about once a month, she tried. Each time she ended up standing in a cloud of smoke, cursing the oven more pissed off than ever. Either it was flat or dry or not cooked in the middle or burnt to a crisp. She persisted, though. And I had to admit, I admired her for it.

  “Need a hand?”

  “Nope,” she answered quickly, popping the ‘p.’

  “Sure?”

  “I’m sure. Go hang out with Mia, Derek.” And like that I was dismissed.

  Mia sat up as I made my way back into the lounge and plopped into the sofa. “I can change the channel if you want,” I offered. I didn’t want to, but I would.

  “Don’t you dare!” she declared adamantly, pulling herself upright.

  I wasn’t really sure what the hell was going on, but five minutes later, Mia was going off like a firecracker, swearing like a sailor. I wasn’t sure if Mia was aware that the umpires couldn’t hear her, but she was dishing out less than constructive criticism with every passing second. This girl obviously loved her football. Leaning back in the chair, I watched her watch the game. It was far more interesting. It was a shit game. I don’t even know why I had it on, really. Something to do, I guess. It was two bottom of the ladder teams, both seeing who could make the most stupid rookie mistakes. Sometimes when I watched football this bad I wondered how they justified their ridiculously large paychecks. Even I could play better than this. Okay, maybe that was going a tad overboard. I’d probably give myself a heart attack just running the length of the field these days. That reminds me, I need to sort my shit out and get back to the gym. The last thing I needed was a beer gut.

  “Are you fucking blind? He had hold of his shirt!” Mia screeched. She was like a banshee. It was entertaining as hell to watch. Right up until the moment that Zoe announced dinner.

  “Dinner’s ready,” she sung out from the kitchen.

  Mia’s face fell.

  She went completely pale.

  I was at her side, her elbow in my palm before I had a chance to think about it.

  “Shit, Mia, are you…okay?” It was a fucking dumb question. As soon as it left my mouth I knew that.

  “I…I just acted like…like that. And I’m not at home,” she admitted, dropping her head, trying to hide.

  I couldn’t hold back the laughter that bubbled up my throat and exploded. It felt good. Maybe too damn good. I watched as Mia blushed a bright red. It suited her and made my pants tighten uncomfortably.

  Wrapping my arm around her shoulders, I led her towards the kitchen, where the smell of melted cheese and garlic were calling me and making my stomach grumble loudly. “Don’t even worry about it, Firecracker. Usually Zoe’s the one acting like that around here.”

  “What’s usually Zoe?”

  “The one providing the expert football commentary.”

  “Ugh! Don’t even get me started.”

  After heaping pasta onto the plates, we all sat down and dug in. It was nice. Easy. Drama free. It felt good. Somehow, I had Zoe sitting on one side in her usual chair, and Mia on the other. Twenty minutes was all it took for the plates to be cleared and the food devoured. Mia’s appetite shocked the shit out of me. For a tiny little thing, she could sure put it away. It was refreshing. The last girl I’d taken out, other than Zoe obviously, had ordered some kind of vegan salad with no dressing, then proceeded to pick even vegetables out of it, declaring them too high in carbs or some crap. Honestly, barely five minutes into the meal I zoned out.

  “Zoe, that was…wow!”

  “Thanks.” Zoe accepted the compliment but I could tell it made her uncomfortable. They always did. No matter how many I dished out, she still cringed every single time.

  I burped loudly.

  I didn’t mean it, it just kinda snuck up on me and happened.

  Zoe dropped the plate she’d been holding, sending the cutlery clattering to the floor before exchanging shocked glances with Mia. Then the girls broke out in a fit of high pitched giggles.

  “You’re such a pig, Derek!”

  I couldn’t argue even if I wanted to.

  “Shit!”

  “What’s up?”

  “I gotta head to w
ork soon.”

  “Oh, okay.”

  “Look, can you be ready to head out in about twenty?”

  “Sounds good.”

  Mia smiled at me and all the blood left my head on a one-way trip south. It was a good thing I was already headed for a shower. A very good thing. A cold shower was exactly what I needed. I couldn’t be walking around work like an overly horny eighteen-year-old thinking about nothing but getting my dick wet. Fuck, it had been too long.

  I told Mia twenty minutes and I took every single one of them. Sure, fifteen of them were spent under the icy water, dick in hand, picturing Mia’s little body. I craved the released. Fuck, I needed it. And when it hit, it hit like a frigging freight train. It helped. A little. Right up until the moment she climbed into the front seat of my truck and shut the door.

  Trapped in the cab with her was both heaven and hell. Her scent was intoxicating. I don’t know what it was, but it was overwhelming, as was the urge to lick her from head to toe. Glancing across at her, I watched as she stared silently out the window, twisting her hands in her lap. Her fingers were like the rest of her…small and delicate, but even they looked strong. At one point, they been coated with dark purple polish but it had been chipped off now. Mia was biting down on her lip with determination, her eyes unwavering. I wanted to say something, but I had no words, and that wasn’t like me. Usually I couldn’t stop the useless bullshit from dribbling from my mouth.

  My jaw opened, but nothing came out. Feeling like the loser I was, my mouth gaping, I snapped it shut. My fingers itched to reach out and steady hers, but instead I tightened my grip on the steering wheel. I’d be surprised if there weren’t finger prints on there tomorrow.

  Chapter 10

  Mia

  I wasn’t an idiot. I knew Derek wanted to say something. Break the silence. I knew I should say something too, but I didn’t know what I was supposed to say. I don’t remember the last time I was alone with a guy. The moment I settled in the car and closed the door, my heart bolted, taking my mind with it. It was too much. Too many thoughts all at once. It was too much for anyone to deal. Especially me. Instead, I said nothing. I focused all of my attention out the window trying to look blasé. I knew it was stupid and childish, but I didn’t know what else to do.

  “You okay over there?”

  His deep voice shocked me. I’d seen him open his mouth a few times and had been waiting for him to say something but it never came, so when he finally did, he caught me completely off guard.

  “Y-yeah,” I stammered, my throat suddenly drier than the Sahara.

  “Those thoughts look pretty heavy. Need some strong shoulders to help carry the load?”

  Spinning in my seat, the seatbelt almost strangled me. How the fuck did he know? I hadn’t said anything. Earlier, he’d seen me act like a complete idiot ranting and raving at the television, then I’d gorged myself like a pig before going silent on him. Yet here he was, seemingly unrepulsed and reading my mind.

  “It’s okay, Mia. You don’t have to talk, but you look like you need someone to listen.”

  “I’m…I’ll…it’s…fine.” Could I be any more pathetic? I really didn’t think so. I squeezed my hands together so tightly it hurt. But it was a good hurt―it distracted me. It slowed the thoughts bouncing around inside my head. Glancing down in my lap, I noticed the tip of my thumb was turning white under the pressure. Derek must have noticed because his huge paw clamped down and swallowed my hand in his.

  I waited for him to pull away.

  He never did.

  He just held tight as he turned the corner.

  He punched a few buttons on the steering wheel. I was surprised a few seconds later when the sound of a ringing of the phone filled the cabin. I hadn’t even noticed the Bluetooth connection.

  “Derek, my man!”

  “Hey Jason.”

  “What’s happening? You on your way?”

  “Actually, something’s come up.”

  There was an authority in his voice that I didn’t recognize. It was intimidating as hell. It left no room for argument, but strangely enough, it made me feel safe. For a long time, nothing had. No one had. I didn’t like being bossed around or told what to do. I was always in control. In the driver’s seat. I didn’t do passenger well. And I was the worst backseat driver you could imagine. I mean, you wouldn’t wish me on your worst enemy. There was something about Derek, though. Something I didn’t quite understand. Fuck me, I wanted to. Perhaps that’s why I felt so protective of Zoe. We were cut from the same cloth.

  “You okay?”

  “I’m fine.”

  “Zoe?”

  “She’s okay.”

  “All right then.”

  “Will I see you tomorrow?” I could hear the hope in his voice. Derek must be bloody good at his job. I couldn’t imagine being able to ring your boss barely half an hour before you were supposed to start just to say you weren’t coming, and them barely saying two words about it. It was odd.

  “I’ll be there.”

  “Okay then.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Let me know if you need anything.”

  “I will,” Derek lied as he hung up. I knew he had no intentions of asking for help. It was written all over his stoic face.

  “You didn’t have to do that,” I said, and I meant it, feeling all sorts of guilty.

  Derek didn’t say a word. He didn’t even look at me. The guilt gnawed at my stomach and I felt like shit. Why would he have done that? Called in sick for someone he barely even knew. I mean, it wasn’t like I mattered. He didn’t even have to care about me. When he pulled the truck over and killed the engine, I swear to God my heart stopped.

  “Get out.”

  I wanted to object, but my mouth was dry, and his voice was commanding, but strangely enough, not a bit intimidating.

  I watched as he unbuckled his own seatbelt and slipped from the vehicle before I had a chance to say anything. When he vanished, I felt my whole body burning up. Fear paralysed me. I’d never been so terrified in my life. Okay, maybe that was a slight exaggeration, but still. It was my own stupid fault. I was the idiot who’d gotten in a guy’s car, a guy I’d known for a few hours, and driven away with him. I was digging through my bag, trying to get to my phone, or pepper spray, whichever I found first, when the cool night air hit my face. There he was, leaning casually against the frame looking as sexy as hell with a confused, if not slightly bemused smirk on his face.

  “Well?”

  “Wh-what?”

  “I’m waiting, Mia.”

  “For?”

  “You to get your cute butt out of my truck.”

  He winked. I wanted to hate him, I really did. But for some reason, that wink, that one little gesture, as insignificant as it may have seemed, melted away my fears, and I was no longer afraid. His presence was dominating and I should have felt trapped, but I didn’t. Slowly, I reached down, undid my seatbelt, and climbed from the truck, landing just inches from his feet before looking up. Straight up. He was huge. Fucking gigantic. I couldn’t help but feel insignificant.

  He reached out and dropped his humungous hand on my shoulder and trailed it down my arm until his fingers wrapped around my own. Thankfully, I don’t think he noticed the trail of goose bumps he left in his wake. Pressing the keys into my hand, he smiled a half smile that did something to my stomach…something I didn’t quite understand.

  “What?”

  “You’re driving.”

  “Huh?”

  “You. Are. Driving. Get in.”

  “Don’t be stupid, Derek,” I admonished him. I couldn’t drive his vehicle. It was fucking huge. And his. And I wasn’t driving it. Not tonight. Not ever. No way. Nuh uh.

  “Stupid, hey?”

  “Come on, you know what I mean.”

  “Mia, you’re driving. Come on. Get in and drive us somewhere. Anywhere. I need a beer. So take me somewhere I can get a cold one.”

  It was official. I was an
idiot.

  I had been so caught up in the way his lips were moving, not necessarily even hearing the words coming out of his mouth I hadn’t even noticed him manhandling me out of the way so he was now in the open door and I was left standing in the cold. I didn’t even notice until he dropped into the seat and shut the door between us, leaving me standing there in the gutter, my mouth gaping with the keys dangling on my fingertips.

  “Shit head!” I muttered as I kicked a non-existent rock before stomping around the back of the truck and clambering into the driver’s seat. Fuck, this thing was huge!

  It took me forever, or at least it seemed like it, to get settled and adjust everything. Part of me felt like a bitch, but the other part, the bitchy part, thought good! If Derek was going to insist, practically force me to drive his beast, then he could spend twenty minutes later on resetting the mirrors and the seat and every other contraption on this thing that moved.

  “Anytime now, sweetheart,” he taunted.

  “I’ll go when I’m ready.”

  “I’m sure you will. I’m just wondering how many birthdays I’ll have missed by the time that happens.”

  Asshole thought he was funny. His chuckle reverberated through by body and heated parts of me that had no right whatsoever being anything other than icy cold. I had to get this car moving and now. The longer I sat here idling, the more chance I had of getting myself in one hell of a lot of trouble. Trouble I didn’t need and desperately wanted to avoid. Trouble named Derek Cartwright.

  “What fun trouble he’d be, though…”

  “Did you say something?”

  “Shit!”

  Fuck! Shit! Ass! I hated when I did that. Sometimes, more often than not, I forgot myself. Forgot where I was and what I was supposed to be doing. Forgot conversations were happening in my head rather than out loud and sometimes words slipped out. Or sentences. Or occasionally whole conversations.

  “Nothing important. Ready.”

  “Is the Pope Catholic?”

  “Let’s hope I don’t scratch this thing,” I joked. Well, at least I made it sound that way. The truth was somewhere in the middle. I really did hope I didn’t scratch it. Or dent it. Or crunch the crap out of his gears. I was likely to do any or all of them.