Honestly, the look he’s giving me right now … I think if he could flip me off, he would.
Yep, you lost that round, Dozer.
I turn the ignition, feeling pretty satisfied with myself that I’ve got Mia sitting up front with me…
Then it hits me.
I was just in a pissing contest with my dog.
There are no words.
No. Fucking. Words.
I put the car in drive, heading for home.
I’m actually starting to think Mia has got some magical power, and that’s what’s making me act out of character. Like voodoo or some shit.
It has to be. There is no other logical explanation for the massive pu**y I’m turning into.
All I need to do is get myself away from Mia for a few hours, stick my dick inside some chick, and I’ll be back to myself in no time.
Except I can’t tonight with Dozer being hurt.
Tomorrow.
Definitely tomorrow.
I’m going to go and pick up the hottest chick I can find, and bang her – multiple times.
I’m going to f**k Mia Monroe right out of my head.
I’m happily smiling to myself at this idea, when that annoying Taylor Swift song “I Knew You Were Trouble” starts to play on the radio.
I’m just about to turn it off, when Mia starts to sing along softly, so I leave it playing.
Jesus, her voice is one of the sweetest sounds I’ve ever heard.
I listen to her the whole song through. My skin is practically vibrating when she’s finished. Who knew that song could sound so good?
I reach over and turn the radio down.
“You like Taylor Swift?”
“What?” She blushes. “Oh, yeah, she’s okay. I just really like that song. Probably not your kind of music though, huh?”
“Not really.” I smile.
I want to touch her so very f**king badly in this moment.
“I’m sorry,” she says quietly.
I quick a glance at her. “What are you apologizing for?”
“For singing. I do it sometimes without realizing. I know I have the worst voice ever, and it must have really hurt your eardrums listening to me.” She laughs, but it sounds unnatural, forced. Not like that awesome sound I heard earlier.
Another quick glance. I notice her body language is off. Her hands are wrapped around herself, almost in protection.
Tension prickles me like knives.
“Who told you that?” The ass**le ex told her. I really want to punch that prick in the face. Repeatedly.
She glances down at her jeans and start picking lint off them. I can feel her drawing into herself and away from me. I don’t like the feeling one goddamn bit.
“Oh, no one told me. I just have ears, you know?” A shrug, another fake laugh.
“Well your ears are off. I think you have a great voice, Mia. Really awesome. I enjoyed listening to you sing.”
I can feel her eyes on me, so I meet them. I’m yanked in and speaking before I realize.
“What are your plans for tonight?”
What the hell am I doing?
Surprise flickers through those gorgeous blues. Then she lifts her slender shoulders and tilts her head. “Oh, uh, I was just gonna grab some dinner, then read myself to sleep.”
“You wanna have dinner with me?”
Why can’t I stop talking?
Mia’s eyebrow lifts, and the way that sounded finally reverberates inside my head.
Jesus that sounded like I was asking her out on a date.
I don’t date. Ever.
What am I doing? Asking her to eat with me when a minute ago I was planning a ‘fuck Mia out of my head’ strategy.
Rectify! Rectify!
I swallow down, hard. My eyes now fixed firmly on the road ahead, I moronically stammer out, “I, uh, just meant that I was gonna be cooking myself some dinner, so I can make extra for you if you want? Or not. Whatever.”
Smooth, Matthews. Real f**king smooth.
There’s one of her long pauses before she speaks. “That would be great, Jordan. Thank you.” Her voice is so stilted and quiet that I don’t even risk a glance to see the expression on her face.
Someone kill me now. Please.
I hear Dozer snort a sound in the back.
I’m half tempted to turn around and tell him to piss off, but I’m guessing Mia already thinks I’m a moron, so I skip it.
Instead, I reach over and turn the radio back up to fill the awkwardness. And let’s just say, the drive back to the hotel is as quiet as the ride out.
Chapter Ten
Mia
Why do I feel so disappointed?
I didn’t want Jordan to ask me to dinner, but when he corrected his offer, all I felt was disappointment. It’s stupid. I’m stupid.
Of course he’s going to offer me dinner. He’s a nice guy. I know he said the hotel doesn’t provide evening meals, and he’s probably being polite because I’m the only guest, but I can’t let him feed me for free. I’ll have to make sure he adds the cost of the meal to my bill. I’m sure he will anyway, but I’ll have to make sure.
Look at me, crushing on the first guy who’s nice to me. It’s ridiculous, even for me.
I just need to concentrate on what I’m here for—finding my mother, getting some answers, and moving on with my life. Starting fresh.
We’re back at the hotel now. I’m standing by the archway watching Jordan as he settles Dozer onto the sofa. He even turns on the TV for him.
I have to suppress the smile I feel. And the zap of attraction that hits me.