Mia’s head shot up, a fierce gladness gripping her. ‘Good for you. Women shouldn’t have to put up with violence at the hands of men.’
Carla twisted her hands together. ‘It’ll create a media circus, though.’ She eyed Mia uncertainly. ‘And the reason for our argument will come out—which means you’ll be spotlighted in the media too.’
‘Me?’
Carla reached out and took Mia’s hand. ‘I know how much you’ve dreaded the media getting hold of the story that you and Dylan are dating. If the thought of publicity freaks you out that much, I won’t go ahead with it.’
Her heart thumped. She waited for dread and fear to fill her, but they didn’t. Why wasn’t she crippled with fear?
The answer came to her in an instant. Ever since she’d been released from jail she’d thought that scandal and losing her job, losing the chance of the quiet life she craved, were the worst things that could happen to her. She’d been wrong. Watching Dylan walk away this morning—that had been the worst thing.
Very slowly she shook her head. ‘It doesn’t freak me out. At least, not much.’ She met her friend’s gaze. ‘You have every right to slay your dragons. I’ll help in any way I can.’
Carla wrapped her in a hug. ‘Thank you.’
* * *
At four o’clock Mia let herself into the Plum Pines office. Sunday was one of the busiest days as far as the general public were concerned—lots of barbecues, picnics and viewing of the exhibits. It was a busy day for the volunteers who helped to run the wildlife displays too, but the administration of the reserve was a strictly Monday-to-Friday enterprise. Which meant she’d have the office to herself.
With a heart that pounded too fast, she switched on one of the computers and then pulled Felipe’s memory card from her pocket. Swallowing hard, she retrieved the image he’d snapped of her.
It filled the screen. She flinched and had to look away.
It’s only a photograph!
She glanced back and tried to study the picture objectively, but after only a few seconds she had to look away again.
Muttering something rude under her breath, she pushed out of her chair and paced across to the far wall. Hauling in a breath, she turned back to the image once more.
Her heart squeezed tight and her eyes filled. Felipe had captured something that attracted and repelled her at the same time. He’d captured something that both soothed and frightened her.
What was it?
In that photo her expression was so unguarded it made her head spin. Was it hope?
She moved back towards the computer monitor to study the image more minutely, biting down on her thumbnail.
Hope was part of it, but...
She reached out and touched the face on the screen.
That smile...
The emotion pulsing through the photograph was joy. It was so present she could almost feel the laughter wrap around her.
Joy? She’d spent so long feeling ashamed of herself, so determined not to repeat her mistakes, she’d forgotten. She’d forgotten she had a lot of good inside her too.
Her hands clenched and unclenched. She’d told herself that she couldn’t have fun and hope and joy in her life because she didn’t deserve them—not after the things she’d done.
But...
She’d made a mistake—a big one—but that mistake didn’t have to define the rest of her life unless she let it. Her heart hammered against her ribs. She didn’t need to shut herself away. She just needed to choose the right path...the right life.
She fell back into the chair, her cheeks wet. There wasn’t a tissue in sight, so she dried her cheeks on the sleeves of her shirt and sniffed rather inelegantly.
‘Right, then.’
She might as well start living that life right away.
She seized the phone and punched in a number.
‘Felipe Fellini.’
‘Felipe, it’s Mia.’
‘Mia, darling—what can I do for you?’
She told him.
After she’d hung up she pulled in a breath and rang Dylan.
He answered immediately. ‘Mia! Is everything okay?’
His caller ID must have given her away.
The sound of his voice made her throat dry and she had to clear it before she could speak. ‘Yes.’
‘I’ve spoken to Carla. Are you sure you’re all right with the publicity that a suit against Andrew will involve?’
She nodded, and then realised he couldn’t see her. ‘I’m sure.’
There was a pause. ‘That’s a surprise.’
She nodded again, more to herself this time. ‘Yes.’
‘What can I do for you?’
‘I was wondering...’ She wiped a damp palm down her jeans. ‘I was wondering if I could invite you on a date next Saturday night. There’s something I want you to see.’
‘Has this anything to do with Carla and Thierry?’
‘No. It’s to do with me.’
‘What time would you like me to pick you up?’
* * *
Dylan’s heart thumped when he knocked on Mia’s door. All week he’d alternated between hope and despair. Hope that this was the new beginning with Mia that he craved. Despair that this would be her way of bringing things between them to an end once and for all.
She opened the door. For a moment all he could do was stare. ‘You look stunning!’
She wore a scarlet dress with a shimmering satin bodice, fitted beneath her breasts. The skirt fell to her knees in a cloud of chiffon that moved as she walked.
She pushed a strand of hair behind her ear. ‘You look very nice yourself.’
He was glad he’d worn a dinner jacket. Especially when her hand fluttered up to her throat, as if the sight of him made it hard for her to breathe. The smile she sent him, though, held a hint of shyness—like a girl on her first date.
This probably was her first real date in nearly four years. Tenderness washed over him.
After she’d locked the front door he held out his arm, ridiculously pleased when she placed her hand in the crook of his elbow. ‘Your chariot awaits.’
For good or for ill, he had a feeling he’d remember tonight for the rest of his life.
‘Where are we going?’
She gave him an inner-city address. He had no idea what was there, but he didn’t ask any further questions. He’d let the evening unfold at the pace she chose for it.
* * *
Dylan glanced out of the car window. Light spilled from the industrial-sized windows of a warehouse. He opened his mouth to ask Mia if she was sure she had the address right, but closed it again when she lowered her window and waved a card at an attendant standing on the footpath. The attendant directed them to a parking spot in front of the warehouse’s huge double doors—the doors were closed except for a smaller door inset into one of them.
He switched off the ignition and turned to her. ‘What is this?’
‘I—’ She broke off and hauled in a breath.
That wave of tenderness washed over him again, threatening to crush him. He reached for her hand. ‘Are you nervous?’
‘A little.’
‘Of me?’
‘Yes.’
The word whispered out of her and something blossomed in his chest. Hope. And it took firm root. ‘You don’t need to be nervous about me, Mia.’
He was hers. All hers. He didn’t tell her out loud that he loved her, but he pressed a kiss to her palm, knowing that if she wanted to see it his love for her would be written all over his face.
Her gaze travelled over him and her breath snagged, her gaze catching on his mouth. Hunger and need chased themselves across her face. An answering hunger roared through him.
&
nbsp; ‘Oh!’ Her hand tightened in his. ‘You can distract me so easily!’
The grin inside him built. ‘Excellent.’
‘Before you distract me further, I want to show you something. And then I want to talk.’
‘And then can I distract you?’ He waggled his eyebrows.
She gurgled back a laugh. ‘Perhaps. If you still want to.’
He’d definitely still want to.
Without another word, he pushed himself out of the car and went around to open her door. She took his arm.
‘This—’ she gestured to the building in front of them ‘—is something of a first. Felipe has been prevailed upon to give the people of Newcastle a preview of his up-and-coming Sydney show.’
Dylan’s stared at her. ‘Who prevailed upon him?’
She moistened her lips. ‘Me.’
She had?
Before he could ask what that meant, Felipe came towards them, arms outstretched.
‘Darlings!’ He kissed them on both cheeks in flamboyant greeting. ‘I’m honoured to have you as my guests. Come!’
Dylan’s head whirled as Felipe gave them a personal tour of some of the most amazing photographs Dylan had ever seen—his commentary both entertaining and revelatory.
Dylan glanced at Mia. She’d contrived this for him? Because she knew he appreciated art and photography? His heart gave a giant kick. Nobody had ever arranged anything so perfect for him in all his life. It had to mean something.
‘And this, darlings, is the pièce de résistance! The jewel in my crown.’
Felipe led them around a screen to an enormous photograph positioned on one of the warehouse’s end walls.
Mia!
He took a step towards it and Mia’s hand slipped from his arm. It was the photograph of Mia! Her joy, her laughter and her love greeted him from the wall and he almost stopped breathing.
His every muscle tightened. He swung back to her, hands fisted at his sides. He’d lost the ability to be charming. Everything had been stripped away except raw need. ‘What does this mean?’
Mia glanced at Felipe, who put a key into her hand.
‘Lock up when you’re done.’
She nodded her thanks.
It was only then that Dylan realised they were alone in this magnificent space. The show had been for him alone.
Mia didn’t speak until the clang of a door informed them that Felipe had left. She moistened her lips. ‘Are you cross that I gave Felipe permission to use the photograph in his exhibition?’
‘Cross? No.’ He glanced at the photo again and searched himself. He didn’t feel disappointment either. Only wonder. ‘I just want to know what all this means.’
‘It means I’ve finally realised you were right.’
She moved to stand beside him and gestured up at the picture, though he could only look at her—the flesh and blood woman.
‘That is the person I should become. It’s...’ She met his gaze. ‘It’s the real me.’
Her admission stunned him.
‘I’ve realised that I deserve to be happy. More to the point, I’ve realised I want to be happy. And I’ve realised that being a field officer and leading a quiet life won’t make me happy.’
She glanced at the photo and then at him.
‘You make me happy, Dylan.’
He stared at her, humbled by the vulnerability in her eyes.
‘I... I couldn’t be happy until I forgave myself for my past.’ Her hands twisted together. ‘I know I’ve hurt you, and I’m so sorry for that. Truly. I’m hoping I haven’t hurt you so badly that you can’t forgive me. I’m hoping—’
He didn’t let her finish. He kissed her instead.
The shock of his assault made her wobble on her heels, but he wrapped an arm about her waist and pulled her close, steadying her. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back.
When he lifted his head her eyes glittered and her chest rose and fell. And then she smiled, and it was just like the smile in the frame behind her—full of joy and love.
‘That felt an awful lot like a you-still-love-me-too kiss.’
He stroked his fingers down her face. ‘I will always love you.’
She took his face in her hands. ‘I promise I will look after your heart and be the best person I can for you.’
He stared into her eyes, humbled all over again. ‘Nobody has ever made a more meaningful vow to me. I’ll cherish it forever.’
A cheeky smile peeped out. ‘Good, because I’m also going to ask you to give me a job. I quit Plum Pines yesterday.’
He gaped. She just grinned back at him, so delighted with herself that he had to laugh.
‘I don’t want to be a field officer, and I don’t want to be an events manager either. I just want you to give me a regular office job so I can put myself through a psychology major at university. I want to be a counsellor.’ She lifted her chin. ‘I think I have something of value I could offer to people.’
He ran his hands up and down her back, revelling in the way it made her shiver. ‘How about I gift you the opportunity for full-time study as a wedding present?’
She went very still and Dylan held his breath.
‘You want to marry me?’ she whispered.
Very gently he took his arms from around her and, gripping both her hands, went down on one knee. ‘Beautiful Mia, will you do me the very great honour of becoming my wife?’
Tears shone in her eyes. When she nodded, they spilled onto her cheeks.
He rose and she threw her arms around his neck. ‘I can’t think of anything I want more than to spend the rest of my life with you, Dylan.’
He laughed for the sheer joy of it, swinging her around. ‘How does November sound? We have a wedding going begging. We might as well use it.’
She eased back. ‘What on earth are you talking about? Carla and Thierry have made up and—’
‘They flew out to Vegas yesterday.’
She gaped. ‘No!’
‘So... November is ours if we want it.’
An enormous smile spread across her face. ‘It’s...perfect!’
He glanced at the photo on the wall and then down at her. ‘No, Mia, you’re perfect.’
She touched his face, her smile radiant. ‘We’re perfect. Together.’
He couldn’t top that, so he kissed her instead.
EPILOGUE
CARLA AND THIERRY bundled Mia out of the limousine and whisked her straight inside the small marquee that had been set up especially for her benefit—to shield her from the press and allow her a chance to freshen up.
As they’d only driven from her suite at an inner-city hotel with glorious views of the harbour to Plum Pines Reserve—a drive of less than fifteen minutes—she didn’t really see what kind of freshening up was required. Unless she was supposed to try and quieten the excited dervishes whirling in her stomach. She had no chance of stilling those. She wasn’t sure she wanted to.
Perhaps she should try and tame the grin that made her face ache? But she had no hope—nor desire—to do that either.
Carla, stunning in her hot-pink bridesmaid’s dress, crouched down to adjust Mia’s skirts.
Mia laughed ruefully. ‘I went overboard, didn’t I? I look like an oversized meringue.’
‘You look gorgeous.’ Carla continued to fluff up the skirts. ‘Your dress is beautiful.’
The moment Mia had clapped eyes on the confection of raw silk and pearl beading she’d fallen in love with it. Apparently when she had said that she meant to live life to the full rather than hide in the shadows she’d meant it.
She hugged herself. ‘It is beautiful.’
‘I can’t wait to see Dylan’s face when he sees you.’
Today, nobody could mistake Mia for anything other than what she was—the bride, the centre of attention, the belle of the ball marrying her prince.
Those dervishes whirled faster and faster. Her cheeks ached from smiling. She lifted her chin. She wasn’t ashamed of her joy. She wanted to share it with everyone.
She turned to find Thierry surveying her with his now familiar unsmiling gaze.
He nodded. ‘You look stunning.’
She wriggled with excitement. ‘I feel stunning. I’m so happy I think I could float off into the atmosphere.’
For the briefest of moments Thierry smiled, and it tempered the severe lines of his face. When he smiled, she could see why Carla had fallen for him.
She touched his arm. ‘Thank you for agreeing to give me away.’ He hadn’t hesitated when she’d asked. He’d agreed immediately.
‘I’m honoured.’ One shoulder lifted. ‘I’m starting to think I’d do anything you asked of me.’
From behind him, Carla sent her a wink.
Thierry frowned. ‘You’re sure we’re okay?’
She rolled her eyes. ‘I swear to God, Thierry, if you apologise to me one more time we’re going to fall out.’
He shuffled his feet. ‘It’s just... I’m really sorry I misjudged you.’
Given his background, and the hardships his father’s choices had forced on his family, Mia couldn’t blame him for his reservations where she’d been concerned.
‘As I misjudged myself, I can hardly blame you for doing the same. But it’s all in the past now, and that’s where it’ll remain. It’s time to move on.’
That was her new motto and she’d embraced it with gusto.
She reached out to take Carla and Thierry’s hands. ‘You’re my family now—my sister and brother. I can’t tell you how fortunate that makes me feel.’
Carla’s eyes filled. Thierry cleared his throat a couple of times.
Mia blinked hard. She would not ruin her eye make-up. She wanted to look perfect for Dylan. ‘So that’s a yes—we’re very okay.’
On impulse, they all hugged—before Carla tut-tutted and said something about crushing Mia’s dress.
An Unlikely Bride for the Billionaire Page 18