Chapter Nine
Jordan
I told Mia that I’m cleaned up from the person I used to be. That I’m responsible now. Yeah, right. I don’t gamble anymore, but…
If she knew the reason why I’d stopped gambling, she would think I was the lowest of the low.
I try to be responsible, try to keep out of trouble, but it just seems to follow me everywhere I go. Or maybe I just attract it.
No maybe about it. I absolutely do.
Even after everything that has happened, I still bring shit to my dad’s door.
I hook up with a married woman, thinking solely with my dick, and the pissed off husband shows up at the hotel.
I was beyond relieved that Dad was out when he turned up. Even though he found out about it later, I was glad he was out of the loop. I don’t want him getting into any more shit because of me. He’s already lost so much at my hands.
Not that he’d ever say that. He would never blame me a day in his life. Dad never makes me feel like a disappointment, but I know I am.
Thankfully, the angry husband fiasco didn’t culminate into a kick-off—and that was thanks to Beth and her ability to calm angry men down.
But I can’t keep doing shit like that.
Problem is, I don’t know how to be good. Gambling’s out of the question, so women it is. I need to keep my mind busy when I get the urge for the tables, which is often.
Fucking helps with that. So I fuck often.
I just have to be careful of the women I choose to screw as I don’t want anything I do coming back on my dad.
So, definitely no married ones. And no guests at the hotel – meaning no Mia Monroe.
My list of reasons to stay away from her just keeps growing.
She’s a guest at the hotel. She has more baggage than JFK. But mainly, because she is too damn good for someone like me.
Nothing good could come of Mia wrapped around me. Well, something good would come of it—pun totally intended—but after the physical high, reality would bring me crashing back down to earth.
She deserves better than I could ever give her.
And I’m doing well, I think. I’ve been around her for a good while now. Yeah, I know what you’re thinking, it’s been less than a day in her company. But trust me, this is some kind of fucking record that I haven’t tried to hit on her.
My only slip up was in the car earlier when I flirted with her. But that was nothing compared to how I usually go for it.
I just couldn’t resist. And the look on her face … so goddamn cute. Her cheeks turned pink, and she looked surprised and embarrassed. You’d think no one had ever flirted with her before, but looking like she does, I find that very hard to believe.
We’re back at the hotel, and I’m in the kitchen making us some coffee. After we’d finished lunch at the diner, there was still an hour to kill before I have to pick Dozer up, so I brought Mia back to the hotel and downloaded the info I found. I printed the details off while Mia went to change out of her torn t-shirt.
She gave me my shirt back before she went to change. I’m not ashamed to say I smelled it once she’d walked away.
It smelled amazing. Total jerking off material.
Seriously, if Mia Monroe were a bottled scent, I’d spray it all over my pillows. And my clothes. Hell, I’d spray it on myself.
When she came back from changing, she was freshly showered, and her hair was still a little damp, vanilla scent floating around her. She was wearing a pale pink tank top and ass hugging jeans, and my cock nearly sprang from my jeans. She looked fucking gorgeous.
It took me a good few minutes to get my head working properly before I could sit down with her and start looking over the details. She’d seemed quiet while I talked her through what I’d printed off, so I left her sitting outside on the porch, thinking she maybe needed a few.
Hence the reason I’m in here making coffee.
I figure she’ll just be processing things. I can’t begin to imagine how it must feel to know that your mom abandoned you.
I’ve never been abandoned, but dying mothers I have down to pat.
My real mom, Abbi, died in childbirth. She had a heart problem that they didn’t know about, and the stress of giving birth to me killed her.
She wasn’t married to Dad. They were young, in a steady relationship, but my dad hadn’t kept it covered, so nine months later it was hello Jordan.
After Abbi died, Dad raised me alone with the help of my grandpa. When I was two, Belle, my step-mom who I always refer to as mom as she’s the only one I ever known, came back to town, and her and dad got back together. Dad and Mom were childhood sweethearts. Mom left town to go to college, but Dad stayed here and went to the police academy. Before she left they broke up, and that was when he met Abbi and had me.
Mom died four years ago, and he hasn’t looked at another woman since.
Dad has had such a rough time in his life. He’s lost two women he loved. I think losing both of them has killed his faith in love. Totally understandable.
And that’s why I stay single. I only bother with a woman when I need to get laid.
The phone starts to ring. “Golden Oaks.”
“Hey son, how you doing?”
“Hey Dad, I’m good. How’s Grandpa doing? He driving you crazy yet?”
He laughs. “Of course. You know your Grandpa. How are things at the hotel?”
“Yeah, good. We’ve got a guest staying at the moment. She’s here for two weeks.”
“She?” Silence. “You’ve got a woman staying there right now?”
“Yes, Dad.” I sigh.
“Is she alone?”
“Yep.”
“How old is she?”
“I don’t know, around my age, maybe a few years younger.”
“Does she have a boyfriend?”
“Jesus, Dad.” I sigh again. “I don’t know her relationship status—” A lie. “—because I don’t need to. I’m not gonna touch her, okay? She’s not my type.”
That one is a small lie. Mia isn’t my usual type. She’s so much more.
“Every girl is your type, Jordan.”
“Not every girl!” I scoff. “I would never sleep with an ugly girl. Jeez, give me some fuckin’ credit, Dad.”
“Jesus, Jordan, do you have to cuss so much?”
“Yes, I fucking do.”
How do parents have the ability to turn you from a grown ass man into a teenager in the matter of seconds?
“So, she’s ugly then?” he says, starting in again.
“Who?” I play out.
He lets out a loud sigh. “The girl you have no intention of trying to get into bed.”
“Well … no, she’s not what I would call ugly…”
He laughs. Loudly.
It really pisses me off.
“Look, I know you think I’m a fuck up, and I know that’s my fault, but I am fully capable of keeping my hands to myself. I’m staying away from this girl. She’s a guest. End of.”
“Whoa, calm down, son. First off, I do not think you’re a fuck-up. You hear me? I just worry about you. Parent’s privilege. I just want you to be happy, but you always seem to look for happiness in all the wrong places. More so recently.”
This is getting a little deeper than I like. I don’t do deep. Especially not with my dad.
I lean my arm against the wall and rest my forehead on it.
I blow out a breath. “I’m fine, Dad. I’m happy. Look, I have to go. Say hi to Grandpa for me, will you?”
“Sure.” He sounds resigned, and I’m glad. I don’t want this conversation to go on any longer than necessary. “Take care, son. Speak to you soon.”
I hang up the phone, then realize I forgot to tell him about Dozer’s accident. Whatever. I’m not in the mood to call him back right now. I’ll tell him later.
I take our coffees outside. Mia is sitting at the table. Her sunglasses are off, and she’s leaned back in her chair, head tilted, staring up at the sky.
I watch her for longer than I should.
Her head comes up suddenly, and she catches me staring.
Acting like there is nothing weird about me staring at her, I smile and walk over, putting her coffee on the table in front of her.
“Thanks.” She smiles up at me, and it feels like I just got punched in the chest.
That is seriously starting to drive me crazy. Not the smiles … no, those are awesome. It’s my reaction to them that’s pissing me off. My reaction to her.
I take the chair across from her. Settling back, I take a sip of my coffee and set it down.
“Any idea where you want to start?” I nod at the papers in front of her.
Mia takes a sip of coffee, her eyes watching mine over the brim of the cup. “I thought maybe I would start with the Anna that lives in Farmington. That’s the largest town, right? Because I thought if I were her and I was getting away that’s where I would go. Or maybe go to another state altogether, so I’d be harder to find.”
Her lips downturn. I feel a pang of … I don’t know. All I do know is I really don’t like to see her sad.
“Think positive, Mia. Start with what we have and go from there.”
Her eyes lift. “You’re right. I’ll drive out there tomorrow—”
“We,” I emphasize.
I could really do without going to Farmington. I’ve avoided that place like the plague since what happened with Dad. But I can’t let her go there alone. And the likelihood I’ll see anyone I don’t want to see, during the day, is slim to none.
The likes of me only come out to play at night.
Mia places her cup down. “You don’t have to come with me. You’ve helped me enough already – and you have the hotel to run.”
Leaning back, I cross my leg over my other and rest my ankle on my thigh. “If you haven’t noticed, we’re not exactly busy. You’re my only guest, so call this the all-inclusive package.” I grin so that it doesn’t come off as creepy.
She laughs.
Good sign.
Her eyebrow lifts, and she starts pulling on that damn lip again. “So … what does this all-inclusive package entail?”
Hmm. She’s flirting with me. Interesting.
Very. Fucking. Interesting.
“Nothing specific. It’s more of a try and see kind of thing.”
“Right.” She hasn’t taken her eyes off me.
I’m really liking the direction this is going. I shouldn’t, but I can’t help myself. I have Mia’s interest, and I’m not letting go until I know what it means.
My breathing has picked up, so I take a quick sip of my coffee to cover it, but don’t take my eyes off her.
“But part of that package does mean I’m coming with you tomorrow. I really don’t think it’s safe for you drive out there alone.”
A little frown dimples between her brows, and a fire lights in her eyes. It’s sexy, but I know I’ve pissed her off. I had this going in a good direction, but I just had to open my big mouth and ruin it.
She folds her arms across her chest. It pushes those perfect tits of hers up; tits that I’m trying really hard not to look at.
“Jordan, I drove across seven states alone to get here. I can manage a drive out of town.” She sounds pissed off, and her lip has jutted out. I can’t help but chuckle.
She’s so goddamn adorable. I’m tempted to throw all caution to the wind, and take her face in my hands and kiss those beautiful lips of hers.
“I get it,” I say, covering up a smile. “You can take care of yourself. But just humor me. Remember, I grew up the son of a cop, I know about the bad side of women driving alone long distance. Jeez, just knowing you did that to get here makes me feel like I’m going to break out in hives. And that wouldn’t be pretty. You don’t want to be responsible for making me look ugly, do you? Like the kind of ugly that scares small children.” I pull a face, and she smiles.
I’m playing, because I don’t want to knock the self-confidence and independence she so clearly needs to exert—the confidence that bastard took away from her the instant he laid a finger on her.
But I also can’t let her go there alone.
She looks down at the table and runs her fingertip along the groove. I’ve already gotten familiar with the face she pulls when she’s thinking something over, and she’s wearing that look right now.
She lifts her head, looking at me intently. “I don’t want to be the one responsible for spoiling that nice face of yours, so … okay, you can come.”
“You think I have a nice face?” I tilt my head to the side, grinning.
Of course, I caught that. And of course I want to know the answer. Mia is the only woman I’ve ever had to question as to whether she finds me attractive or not.
She’s so hard to read that it’s impossible to tell what she’s thinking most of the time.
It’s fucking with my head, to say the least.
Her face has gone as red as I expected it would. I’ve never met a girl as shy as she is.
I’ve never met a girl like her, period. She’s so different. Unassuming of anything, mainly herself. She has no clue just how fucking awesome she actually is, but I want her to know. I just wish I knew how to tell her.
“Uh, um, well…” She runs her fingers through her hair, and keeps her eyes fixed on the coffee in front of her. “You have a nice face. You know, as faces go.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.” I smile. But what I actually feel like doing is breaking into a fucking dance. “You have a nice face too, Mia. Really nice.”
I hear her quick intake of breath, and I notice the flush on her chest. She’s affected by me.
A-fuckin-men!
“Thank you,” she says quietly, biting down on a smile.
“You have a serious problem with that.”
“What?” Her eyes flick up to mine, the warmth instantly dying.
I hold off the frown I feel knowing why she reacts like she does – suspicious of what I say and do. But it doesn’t mean I have to like it. What that asshole has done to her, how he has broken her confidence … and I don’t even know the half of it. I’m just praying that the black-eye was the whole of it and nothing more.
“Saying thank you. You say it all the time,” I tell her.
“Oh. Good manners … they were drummed into me.” The light heartedness in her voice doesn’t match the look in her eyes.
If I hadn’t been watching closely, I would have missed how her eyes dimmed, but I didn’t, and now it’s stirred an uncomfortable feeling in my gut.
There is more—more than the black-eye from the douchebag ex of hers. And now I’m fucking fuming.
I want to know the rest … need to know so I can help her. But I can’t ask her outright, I don’t want to upset her like I did before, so I’ll just have to wait until she’s ready to tell me.
If ever.
“You don’t need to use good manners around me.” I lighten my voice, trying to bring her back from wherever she’s gone. “If you haven’t noticed, I don’t have any.”
She gives a half-smile. “I don’t know, you seem to be pretty well mannered around me.”
I raise my eyebrow. “I cuss. A fuck of a lot.”
She laughs. The sound eases through me.
“You do cuss a lot, but I find it refreshing.”
“My cussing is refreshing? There’s a new one. You’ll have to tell my dad because I’m pretty sure he’d disagree. Apparently, cussing in front of guests is a big no-no,” I say with mock-confusion, lifting my shoulders in a shrug.
I don’t know what it is that sets her off, but she throws her head back and starts to laugh. A real honest to god belly laugh. And it’s just such an awesome, beautiful sound that I can’t help but laugh too.
Clutching her stomach with her hand, she attempts to catch her breath. She sweeps her bangs back.
Her blue eyes are glistening.
She looks like poetry. Like the sky on a hot summers day. Like the ace in the hand I need to win.
Okay, I’m guessing you get the picture.
She looks beautiful.
“You’re funny.” She smiles. “You make me laugh.”
Hold up. Clarification needed. I don’t mind being the class clown, but not the village fucking idiot.
“Funny ha-ha, or funny peculiar?”
She leans forward, elbows on table, chin in hands as she purses her lips. I feel like I’m being appraised. I can’t say a woman has ever looked at me this way before. Or left me hanging on a question. I feel a bit rattled, to be honest.
“Funny ha-ha,” she finally says.
Well, thank fuck for that.
“You’re quick, straightforward, and you don’t mess around. It’s refreshing.”
“Now, if I didn’t know better, I think you were calling me common…” I tease.
She drags her lip back with her teeth and her eyes flash me a look. It’s seriously hot.
“You’re anything but common.”
“I’ll take that as another compliment.”
“It was meant as one.” I notice that her voice has dropped a few octaves lower. That her breathing has hitched slightly and that the flush is back, curving the tops of those amazing breasts of hers.
There’s a tangible heat moving between us. It’s taking everything in me right now, to hold back and not make a move on her.
Fuck, I want to make a move, and the way she’s looking at me…
She wants me.
Trust me, I know one thing well, and that’s when a woman wants me. And Mia wants me.
I meet her eyes again, and I’m swiftly reminded of the bruise on her face.
Crash and burn.
She’s too fragile.
She’s been through too much. I’m not the kind of guy she needs.
Shoving the chair back, I get to my feet. Mia’s eyes dart up. I’m pretty sure I see a flash of disappointment in them. It both, buzzes and sours my mood.
Fucked up, right?
“Time for me to pick Dozer up.” I glance at my watch as though to confirm this fact to her.
“Would you mind if I came along? I’d really like to see how he’s doing,” she asks in that sweet ass voice of hers.
It invades my head like a physical presence.
I want to say no because I could do with the time to clear my mind of her, and what I want to do with her … to her.
I even open my mouth to say no. But, of course, I say yes.
One look into those stunning blue eyes of hers and all my sense flies out the window.
Then she smiles, and I’m fucking done for.
I can’t even blame this one on my cock as he hasn’t even shown up for the party.
***
The drive to the vet is quiet. Mainly because I can’t think of a damn thing to say to her. This is a foreign concept to me. I’m never without something to say to a woman, but right now I’m rattling around inside my head trying to understand what is happening here.
Why is Mia affecting me so much?
Maybe it’s because the unknown is eating away at me.
Putting the sex aside—yes, I did just say that, unbelievable, right? See this is what she’s doing to me. The thing is, I actually like talking to her. She’s smart. And fun. I’m hot for her, and I want to spend time with her.
Never. Happened. Before.
And I don’t like it.
This girl is going to slowly drive me crazy, I can feel it.
Maybe I should just have sex with her and get it over with, be damned the consequences. She’s definitely hot for me; I could tell before. Maybe if I just…
“—wasn’t that the turn for the vet?”
“What?” I come to at the sound of Mia’s voice.
“I think you just missed the turn to the vet.” She points over her shoulder.
I cast a quick glance behind me, and see that I have indeed missed my turning because I was thinking about her.
“Shit, yeah,” I mutter.
I check the road is clear and spin the car around, heading back the way I just came. I take the turning and pull up outside the vet.
There’s no one behind the desk when we enter the building, so I ring the bell on the desk.
Penny appears from behind a door. “Hello again.” She smiles brightly. “Dozer’s all ready for you. If you want to take a seat, I’ll bring him right out.”
I sit down beside Mia, but I feel restless. I’m not exactly sure what it is that’s making me restless. Maybe it’s because I’m hyped up on sexual tension.
“Are you okay?” Mia asks.
I follow her eyes to my tapping foot.
“Oh, yeah, fine.”
“Are you worried about Dozer?” She smiles softly and touches my arm with her hand.
My body electrifies from her touch. I can barely think straight from the heat burning my skin.
Seriously, what the fuck is that?
“Who?” I mutter.
She looks confused.
I open my mouth, but close it when Penny comes out with Dozer. “Here he is.”
Dozer limps toward me. His leg is in a cast and he has a pissed off look on his face. He’s wearing one of those huge cones around his head.
I have to bite back a smile. Poor bastard. He’s really been through the wringer.
“Hey, buddy.” I walk over to him and crouch down. “How you doing?”
He grunts and scuffs the cone against my shoulder.
“How long does he have to keep this on for?” I stand up, taking his leash from Penny.
“See how he goes. Dr. Callie only put it on as he was chewing at the cast.”
“See Dozer, leave your leg alone and the cone can come off.”
He gives me a dirty look, then yanks his leash from my hand and limps over to Mia.
I watch them, the way she welcomes him over, no fear. Dozer is a big dog, and people are usually wary of him, but not Mia. Not even when he drops his huge head on her lap, awkwardly shuffling around with the cone, drooling on her jeans. She doesn’t falter, just gives him the attention he wants.
Dozer is never this friendly with people he doesn’t know. Generally, he gives them a wide birth. He’s always been that way, and I’ve put it down to whatever happened to him to make him land on our doorstep.
But Mia did care for him after his accident; she showed him a kindness that most people don’t have in them. It will have pre-warmed him to her, and Mia is hard not to like. I know that all too damn well.
I watch her scratching his ear, cooing over him, and he’s freaking soaking it up. Lucky bastard. What I wouldn’t give to have her hands on me right now. Seriously, I’d take an ear scratching if it meant her touching me.
A broken leg is starting to sound quite appealing at this moment in time.
Mia suddenly lifts her eyes from Dozer to me like she can hear my thoughts, and catches me staring.
Her blue eyes peer curiously into mine. I know I should look away, but I don’t…
I can’t.
A smile slowly lifts her lips. The light coming in through the window, behind her, frames her perfectly. She looks like an angel. The most beautiful thing I have ever seen.
Punch. To. The. Chest.
I feel like I can’t breathe.
“If you can just sign these forms for me, and settle up the bill,” Penny says, pulling my attention from Mia.
“Sure,” I say, rubbing at my sternum.
If this keeps up, I’ll be having a heart attack way before my time.
With a nod, I follow her over to the reception desk. I hand Penny my credit card, trying not to think of how the hell I’m going to pay it off after these vet bills drain it, and sign the two forms she hands to me.
I glance over my shoulder, and catch Mia staring at me. She’s definitely checking me out. My ass to be exact.
She looks away when she realizes I’ve caught her out.
I can’t help the happy fucking glow I feel. I’m grinning like a stripper at a frat party.
After I’ve finished signing forms, and spending money I don’t have, Penny gives me a small bag containing Dozer’s medication.
“These are for his pain. Give him one, three times daily with food, and we’ll need to see him back here in a month’s time to check how that leg’s healing. Only give him a light dinner tonight as his stomach will still be tender from the anesthetic. You can take the collar and leash home with you. Just return it to us when you have time.”
“Thanks, I’ll bring it by tomorrow.”
I make the appointment for four weeks time, and slip the appointment card into my wallet along with my credit card. I shove the medication in my pocket as I make my way back to Mia. Dozer is still making doe eyes at her.
Even my dog is crazy about her.
Not that I’m crazy about her.
No fucking way.
Absolutely not.
Never. Ever.
“Ready?” I reach down for Dozer’s leash.
Turning his head, he knocks my hand away with that huge cone he’s wearing and puts his leash in his mouth, holding it out for Mia to take.
Nice, Dozer. Blowing me off for a chick. I think he forgets who feeds him.
Taking the leash from his mouth, she rubs his head.
She gazes up at me, a smile pushing the corner of her mouth. “Is it okay with you if I walk him out to your car?”
“Doesn’t look like you’ve got much of a choice.” I grin in the direction of Dozer’s wagging tail. “I think you’ve got an admirer.”
She giggles. It’s one of the sexiest sounds I’ve ever heard.
“Well, Dozer wouldn’t be a bad admirer to have, but I think I’m just a new face to get some attention from. Not that I imagine you ever struggle for attention,” she says to Dozer. “Handsome boy that you are … aren’t you … yes, you are.” She smooshes his face in her hands, and I actually find myself jealous of my dog.
I’m jealous of my dog.
I really need to get laid.
“Let’s go.” I shove my hands in my pockets, then head for the door and out to my car.
I help Dozer in the back seat. Turning, I find Mia hovering behind me as he settles himself.
“Should I sit in the back with him again?” she asks, biting her bottom lip.
Jesus, I want to bite that lip. Lick it. Suck it. Fuck it.
I see Dozer’s head lift, and his ears prick up. “Nah, he’ll be fine. You’ll have more room up front here next to me.”
“Okay … if you’re sure.”
I see Dozer’s head drop on a grunt.
I hold a smile back as I watch Mia walk around the car and climb in the passenger seat. But as I’m getting in the car, I can’t resist giving Dozer a smug grin.
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 pussy 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 fuck 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 fucking 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 asshole 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 fucking 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.