Running Away (Finding Your Place Book 2)

by Rebecca Barber

“It’s who you know!” I tapped the end of her nose with my finger, earning me another mega-watt smile.

  “You heading back to work anytime soon?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Oh.” I was an asshole. I saw the sadness cross her beautiful face and it made my heart soar. She didn’t want to me to leave just as much as I didn’t want to walk away. It was a fucking fantastic feeling. They didn’t make drugs that could get you this high.

  I spotted Kenz looking lost and waved my arm, trying to catch her attention. When I did, I knew my time was running out. “Come home with me,” I blurted out before I had a chance to even think it through.

  Mia eyed me warily.

  I regretted my poor choice of words.

  I wished I could take them back.

  “Okay,” she answered, barely audible.

  You could have knocked me over with a feather. She’d agreed to my ridiculous request. I’d thrown it out there without a single thought and she’d said yes. Maybe the girl was a few sandwiches short of a picnic. I wasn’t about to point that out, though.

  “Really? You don’t have to. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I want you to, but don’t feel pressured…” She cut off my ramblings with a kiss that said it all. There was fire and passion and more heat than I could have ever dreamt of. And believe me, the dreams I had where Mia was involved, they made a volcano look like a birthday cake candle. When she pushed her tongue into my mouth, I crushed her body against mine, needing to feel all of her.

  “Okay, you two. Keep it PG! There are innocent eyes around.”

  Mia pulled back slightly and instantly I missed her warmth. “Sorry, Mum!” Mia apologized sassily, adding a roll of her eyes.

  “Hell, don’t be. I’ve waited a damn long time to see you happy.”

  Mia flushed under Kenz’s words. Behind me, I heard raised voices and drama starting to unfold. I hated that I knew what it sounded like without even turning around. I wished I could ignore it. I really did. But I couldn’t. It just wasn’t how I was built. “You ladies all right?”

  “Perfect.”

  Mia’s smile was devastating.

  When I heard a table get knocked over, the voices in my ear started booming as the commands and instructions came quick and fast. Pressing a swift kiss to her lips, I said, “Don’t go too far!”

  By the time I reached the idiots, they were both covered in what had been their drinks, and the stench of stale beer hung heavily in the air. There was a scantily-clad woman squawking in an irritatingly high pitched wail. The desire to gag her was almost too much. One guy had a split lip, while his friend was sporting a reddened cheek. No doubt a few punches had been thrown and words said, but I didn’t give a shit. I didn’t have the time nor the energy to put up with drunken morons tonight. Together with the three other bouncers who’d descended from the shadows, we led the two men through the club and out onto the street before sending them on their merry way.

  For a moment I watched as they wobbled down the street, one walking into a light post as he went. Clearly, they’d had too much to drink and just needed to cool off. Hopefully the couple of hundred metre walk to the taxi rank in the frigid night air would sober them up.

  “Thanks, Derek,” a deep voice said as a heavy hand clamped down on my shoulder.

  “Just doing my job.”

  Needing a moment to myself, I walked around the corner and lent against the brick building. I was sick of this shit. I didn’t want to do this forever. I refused to be the seedy old man, standing at the door of a night club watching girls young enough to be my daughter shake their asses all the time, flirting, trying to get inside. Fuck that. That life wasn’t for me. It seemed as though my decision was made. It was unexpected and caught me off guard. As soon as the thought settled though, the anxiety that had taken up residence in the pit of my stomach eased. That was the moment I knew it was the right decision for me. Now I just needed to tell the two most important women in my life. Zoe and Mia.

  Chapter 26

  Mia

  I was hot and horny, a dangerous combination. Watching the way Derek dealt with the drunks shouldn’t have turned me on, but I couldn’t help it. The moment he arrived on the scene, everyone else seemed to step back and wait for his instructions. He didn’t take any bullshit from anyone. He dominated the space, and I let out the breath I’d been holding. It wasn’t just me he possessed with a simple look or a few well-chosen words. Within minutes the table was back on its legs, the offenders had been frog marched out the door, the overly emotional if not slightly intoxicated woman was silenced, and tonight’s performance was over.

  “So…”

  I looked at Kenz. She had mischief written all over her face. “If you have something to say, just spit it already!”

  She threw her head back and cackled like a hyena. I’d never been so grateful for the horrid Bieber music that was blaring in the club than I was in that moment. “You guys were looking awfully cosy.”

  “Your point being?”

  “You ready to head out?”

  I tried to keep my face neutral, but I don’t think it succeeded. From the moment I’d agreed to Derek’s startling request, I’d been not looking forward to this. Kenz wouldn’t judge me. It wasn’t her style. She knew my history and she knew me well enough to know I wouldn’t have agreed to it if I wasn’t sure.

  “Actually…”

  “Yes?”

  She knew. The bitch already knew. It was written all over her face. Her eyes were alight with trouble and her smile was slightly evil. The bitch knew, yet she was still going to make me say it. Make me fess up.

  “Umm…I was…”

  “Yes, Mia? You were going to what?”

  I felt the sweat bead on my forehead under her scrutiny. There was nothing I hated more than being put on the spot. “Derek’s asked me to go home with him.”

  The smile that consumed Kenz’s face resembled the Joker from the Batman movies―wide, crazy, slightly maniacal. It took her a moment to calm herself down; when she did, she wrapped my hands in her own on the table between us.

  “Do you want to? Just because he asked doesn’t mean shit, Mia.” Gone was the teasing and taunting, replaced with genuine concern. I found myself nodding softly. “Are you sure?”

  “Yeah, I am. I know it seems…well, it seems fast, but…”

  “Mia, stop! You don’t have to explain shit to me. Or anyone else, for that matter! If you’re happy, if you want this, then fuck, I say go for it! I’ll even cover your classes for you tomorrow.”

  “You’d do that?” I was honestly shocked. I’d expected a safe sex lecture or Kenz to insist on some weird kind of check-in schedule to make sure I was okay. Instead, she’d told me to go forth and conquer.

  “Absolutely! You mightn’t think you’re ready for this, but you are. I have no doubt in my mind. So go, Mia. Be happy.”

  I didn’t give her a chance to keep talking. Instead I climbed out of the booth and wrapped my arms around her. Somehow her words and her faith in me managed to silence some of my demons. For the time being, anyway. Even if she didn’t know it and I refused to acknowledge their existence, those demons were there. They always were. Haunting me. Taunting me. Tonight though, tonight I needed them to fuck off and let me be a normal twenty-something woman. Or at the very least, pretend to be.

  “Come on. I’ll walk you out.” I pulled Kenz out of the booth, linked my arms through hers, and together we headed towards the exit.

  An hour later I was back in the booth, my feet propped up on the seat, my eyes barely open, and I was regretting staying. I was tired and anxious and starting to shake. Sitting there sipping my water, I watched as slowly but surely the club started to empty. As much as he could, Derek stayed close, chatting to me, and whenever he was needed elsewhere, it didn’t escape my notice that one of the other bouncers seemed to hover within reach.

  “You ready?”

  Derek’s voice shocked me out of my sleepy haze. I hadn’t seen him heading
back in my direction, but nevertheless, there he was. Even through my tired, half closed eyes, I couldn’t help but be impressed. “Absolutely!”

  “Let’s get out of here then.”

  I found my feet, and before I had a chance to object, Derek’s huge hand settled on the lower part of my back, causing a warmth to spread through my body. I hated that I liked it. I shouldn’t. I shouldn’t want it. But fuck me, I did.

  “Don’t you have to help lock up or something?”

  “Not tonight.”

  I looked up and caught the half smile tugging on his lips. His damn kissable lips. There was more to the story but I didn’t want to push. Not right now. Tonight, I didn’t want to think. I just wanted to enjoy living in the moment. I could worry about the rest tomorrow. Future Mia could deal with it. Derek opened the door, ushered me out into the night, and led me down the street. We walked silently side by side until the moment his truck came into view. I felt myself stiffen at the sight and Derek must have felt it too. Without a word he was suddenly holding on a little tighter and staring down at me with trepidation in his face. Forcing myself to breathe again, I marched forward, determined.

  Derek unlocked the truck, opened the door, and waited until I was in before softly closing it. As he dashed around the other side, not once did his eyes leave mine. Part of me was convinced he was terrified that if he looked away for even a moment, I’d vanish. The truth was, as nervous as I was, I wasn’t going anywhere. I was exactly where I wanted to be.

  Once Derek was beside me, he fired up the ignition and turned the radio on low. Neither of us spoke. I didn’t have anything to say. Instead, I dropped my head back against the headrest and let my tired eyes flutter closed. I just needed a minute. A moment to myself to mentally prepare myself for whatever was coming next. It wasn’t that I was afraid of Derek. Sure, I was afraid of what he could do to me, to my heart, but instinctively I knew he’d never do anything to hurt me. At least not intentionally. Now I just had to get my own wayward thoughts under control.

  “Mia! Mia!” I felt a warmth on my cheek and I could smell his minty breath as my eyes cracked open.

  “Mmmm.”

  “Come on, Tinkerbell. Let’s get you into bed.”

  My heart took off. I was barely awake, but my pounding heart was.

  With trembling fingers, I undid my seatbelt and hopped out. Derek must have sensed my nervousness, or perhaps he was just worried about my complete lack of coordination. Wrapping his warm arm around my shoulders, he guided me up the front step and into the house.

  I gulped.

  Loudly.

  I waited for Zoe to appear.

  Thankfully, she never did.

  Instead, Derek took my hand and led me through the dark house.

  Chapter 27

  Derek

  She was nervous. She was trembling. Gone was the smart talking, confident, sassy firecracker I’d come to know. She’d been replaced with this shaking, quiet girl. It was seriously pissing me off. I didn’t want to be the reason she was like this. I didn’t want her to be afraid of me. Fuck, that was the last thing I wanted.

  Rubbing my forehead, I tried to push away the negative, heavy thoughts. It wasn’t easy, but I was determined. This was supposed to be exciting. Yeah, nerves were normal, but not like this. This was insane. Beneath my arm, Mia felt tiny. The protective caveman in me was bellowing loudly. I was going to look after my Tinkerbell. All the X-rated thoughts I’d been imagining since the moment she stepped through the doors of the club vanished, replaced by the need to protect and comfort her. It wasn’t like me. Not usually. But I’d be full of shit if I pretended that I wanted anything more from her right now than to wrap her in my arms and hold her ‘til morning.

  Entering my bedroom, I was shocked by how afraid Mia seemed. I knew she wasn’t as tough as she’d like everyone to believe, and I was desperate to know who or what had caused that, but I had no idea she’d be this frightened. Unwrapping my arm from around her, I flicked on the lamp on my beside and moved towards my dresser. This night was not turning out how I’d hoped initially, but sleeping with Mia in my arms wasn’t a bad consolation prize.

  “Here you go.” Mia quirked her eyebrow at me as I placed a pair of black boxer briefs and a well-worn grey shirt in her hands. “Bathroom is through there. Why don’t you get changed so we can get some sleep?”

  Stunned. It was the only word that could describe the strange look that crossed her face. I’d shocked her and damn, it felt good. Without saying a thing, she shuffled off to the bathroom and shut the door with a click that echoed through my head. Pushing down my own excitement, I quickly turned down the covers and ran my eyes over my room. Thankfully, I wasn’t a messy slob like most guys I knew. I hadn’t planned on bringing Mia home, but that didn’t mean she needed to find my dirty socks or jocks on the floor.

  Knowing I was running out of time, I changed my shirt as quick as I could and stripped off my work pants, changing into my cotton pyjamas. Usually I wore them around the house, never in bed. I rarely slept in clothes, so tonight would be uncomfortable at the best. But if it was a choice between wearing clothes and sleeping with Mia in my arms or sleeping naked and alone, there was no decision. Tossing my socks in the hamper, I kicked my shoes in the cupboard, only to spin around and come face to face with a sight that stole my breath.

  Mia was sex on legs.

  Don’t get me wrong, she looked stunning in her own clothes, and the jeans she’d had painted on, the way they cupped her ass, had me thanking the gods of denim, but standing at the end of my bed, her face scrubbed clean, my shirt hanging down to her knees and my boxers in her hand, I was lucky I didn’t fall on my ass.

  “S-something wrong with the shorts?” I stuttered, my mouth feeling as though it was stuffed with cotton wool.

  “No. Why?” She had a sneaky smile on her lips and I was forced to recite my multiplication tables to try to control my traitorous body.

  “They’re in your hand.”

  “They’re too big. The shirt is fine, though. Which side do you want?”

  I groaned. She was going to be the death of me. Knowing she was barely an arm’s length away, wearing only my shirt and possibly a skimpy pair of panties, had my dick twitching.

  “Ummm…”

  Words didn’t come. It was bullshit. I felt like I was fifteen again―something I definitely didn’t want to remember. Especially not now.

  “I’ll take the right then.”

  I was frozen where I stood. Mia strode across the room, the lamp light doing delicious things to her legs. I scrunched the forgotten boxers in my hand before balling them up as I watched Mia crawl into my bed and settle herself against my pillows.

  “You going to stand there gawking all night or are you joining me in here?”

  The damn minx was taunting me. Teasing me. And I’d be fucked, she was doing a bloody good job of it too. Without a sound, I climbed in beside her, took one last look, and switched off the lamp. It took all my strength to stay on my side of the bed and not drag her into my arms. As it was, her scent was everywhere, and it was enticing as hell. I clenched my fists and held my jaw firm while I concentrated on my breathing. Beside me I could feel Mia wriggling.

  “Fuck it!” she whispered, full of annoyance.

  A moment later she grabbed my arm, pushing it out of her way before settling herself with her head on my chest and her arm draped low across my stomach. “You all right there, Tinkerbell?”

  “I am now.”

  “Okay.”

  Without hesitating, I leant down, kissed the top of her head, earning me a satisfied moan as she snuggled even closer. I didn’t want her to move her arm another inch. I was already scared of her running, and if she dropped her arm any lower, there wouldn’t be any doubt about her effect on me. Silently, I breathed her in. I couldn’t help but be on edge. My greatest fear right now was that Mia would wake up in the morning regretting this. Then I reminded myself that she was in my home. In my bed. Tucked
up against me. It was her choice. She wanted to be here. Now I just had to make her want to come back again. And again. And again.

  For a few torturously long moments I stared into the darkness, my mind whirling a million miles an hour. When Mia’s breathing steadied, I allowed my eyes to close and sleep to carry me away.

  I squeezed my eyes shut. It was early. Way too early. I felt like I’d only been asleep for ten minutes. I needed to pee desperately, but there was a weight on my stomach I didn’t recognize. With a groan, I pried my heavy eyes open and rubbed my face with my hands. I was not a nice person in the morning before coffee. In fact, before caffeine, I should be avoided at all costs.

  When my eyes fell on a bubbly blonde straddling my hips, all thoughts of coffee were gone. My whole body was now wide awake and paying attention. I would have been embarrassed if I hadn’t been so shocked. I should have been. Mia was still here. I’d forgotten she stayed over. It was definitely a great way to start the day.

  I could feel the smile tugging at my lips. “Morning, Tinkerbell.”

  “Hi.”

  She looked beautiful. She was beaming, and the cheeky grin on her face made her look even younger. She needed to get off me or she was going to get a very unwelcome surprise. “Someone looks happy this morning.”

  “I am happy.”

  The groan escaped my lips before I could stop it. “Want to climb down, cowgirl?”

  Her forehead crinkled and disappointment flooded her eyes. I’d never met someone with such an expressive face. Every emotion was written all over her mesmerizing features. She was a book I was dying to read. Right now though, I needed the bathroom. She made no attempt to move. Reluctantly, I grabbed her by the hips, my fingers loving the feel of her bare skin, and lifted her off before setting her down on the bed beside me. She pouted. Her perfectly pink bottom lip stuck out, she folded her arms across her chest trying to look offended. It didn’t work for her. Not at all. With all the blood in my body heading south in a hurry, all I could think about was how hot those lips would look wrapped around my rapidly hardening cock. Needing to put some distance between us, I leapt from the bed and crossed the room in three long strides. As I pushed open the bathroom door, I couldn’t stop myself from turning back. Immediately I regretted it. She was sitting cross-legged exactly as I left her, and peeking out from beneath my shirt was the sexiest black lace thong I’d ever seen. Running my hand through my hair, I retreated to the safety of my bathroom before I pounced on her.