Mia

Nine hours later, Mia's feet hurt so badly she could barely walk, but she didn't care. She barely felt it. She was on top of the world. She couldn't stop smiling, even though her face ached. She was fairly sure she wasn't going to stop smiling for at least the next week.

“I had a wonderful time with you tonight,” Ethan told her as he walked her out of the theater. She held onto his arm less for stability and more because he was half carrying her. Mia and high heels were not friends.

“Thank you so much, Ethan,” Mia told him. “I don't know how I would have done it without you. You sure know how to work a crowd.”

Ethan grinned. “That's why Carter pays me the big bucks,” he told her. “Here's your ride home.”

He brought her to the side of a long black limo. The street was quiet since everyone else had long ago gone home. Not even the bars were open anymore.

“Thank you again,” she said as the driver came around to open the door for her. “And thank you for donating, too. It means the world to me.”

He chuckled. “After listening to you rave about how amazing these kids are and how far even a dollar would go to help them, how could I not donate something?” He gave her hand a squeeze. “I had a great time. I'm actually glad I got to go to this, but don't tell Carter or he'll get all jealous.”

She nodded. “Mum's the word, got it.”

The driver opened the door, and Ethan helped her inside. “Have a wonderful night,” he said as she slid inside.

“I will,” she replied. She paused and grinned at him. “And I'll tell Laura you say hello.”

Hope and fear filled his face at the same time, making him look like he was either going to be sick or start dancing in the street. She couldn't help but laugh a little as he quickly regained control and glared at her. There was definitely something going on between those two. She didn't know what, but she had a feeling she would find out eventually.

The driver shut the door, and Ethan shook his head as he walked away. Mia chuckled to herself and relaxed back against the seat, closing her eyes. Now that she was in a dark, quiet space, she was suddenly exhausted. Talking to hundreds of people was a lot of effort.

“I take it things went well?” a voice asked in the darkness. It was a voice that Mia knew and loved.

“Carter!” she exclaimed, opening her eyes. He was sitting near the driver, hidden from view of the door. “What are you doing here?”

“Making sure Ethan doesn't steal my girl,” he replied. “Do I have to go challenge him to a fight at noon by the flagpole?”

“He was a perfect gentleman,” Mia assured him, sliding on the black leather seat to sit next to him. He held open his arm, and she leaned into him, instantly relaxed by his touch. “I think he's got eyes for someone else. You have no reason to be jealous.”

“He got to spend all evening with you dressed like this,” Carter replied, looking her over. “How can I not be jealous?”

“Because it was your idea?” Mia offered. She snuggled into him. “Besides, even if he had been interested, I'm not on the market.”

Carter's arms tightened around her, and his chest swelled beneath her cheek. She smiled, knowing that her words made him happy.

“Tell me how it- hold on, I was supposed to get this call an hour ago.” Carter pulled out his vibrating phone from his pocket. “Carter.”

The voice on the other end said something, but Mia couldn't hear what it was.

“That's not negotiable,” Carter informed whoever was on the phone. He listened for a moment, and his face hardened. A change came over him, and suddenly he was no longer the easy-going horse owner and car designer. His voice went cold and sharp as he transitioned into the billionaire businessman. “And what did you tell them?”

Mia sat with her head on his shoulder, trying not to eavesdrop. This was obviously a business call, and as she wasn't an employee, she didn't feel quite right about listening to it, but she didn't have much of a choice.

“That isn't an option,” Carter said. “You have two choices here, either take my deal as is or don't. This isn't a negotiation.”

The easy softness that she was used to hearing in his voice was gone. He was all business. Yet, he still cradled her against him with the utmost care. He was two people, as Mia realized most people were. The lover and the businessman. The lover and the fighter. The man and the money.

The person on the other end said something, but Mia was fighting to keep her eyelids open. Now that the party was over and she no longer had to be “on,” she was exhausted. A full day of work in addition to working a party was more than she was built to handle.

“You've made the right choice,” Carter said into the phone, his voice warm again. “We'll talk again tomorrow to work out all the details. Goodnight.”

He clicked his phone off and carefully slid it into his pocket. With his hand now free, he brushed a strand of hair from her cheek with such gentle care it made her heart smile.

“Good phone call?” she asked, closing her eyes as he stroked her hair.

“Yes,” he replied. “And how about you? How was the fundraiser?”

“Amazing.” She stifled a yawn as she sat up to look at his face. “I can't thank you enough for this. Ethan thinks we raised over two million dollars for the foster charity tonight, and I can't tell you how much that means.”

“It means two million dollars?” Carter shrugged.

She chuckled and settled back into her spot on his shoulder. “No, it means that these kids get some real opportunities. It's such a great place to start.”

He gave her a gentle squeeze. “I'm so glad you're happy. It was a good fundraiser?”

“Carter, it was perfect.” She sat up and kissed his cheek. “You truly outdid yourself. I don't know how you created such a perfect atmosphere and got all those people to come. It was more than I ever could have dreamed of. Thank you so much.”

He smiled. “You're happy, so I'm happy. That's all I wanted.”

“Deliriously happy,” she assured him with a yawn.

“Here,” he said, patting the spot on his shoulder for her to place her head. “You rest. I'll make sure you make it home safe and sound.”

“That sounds good,” Mia said, resting her head. Her eyelids were so heavy that she could barely keep them open. “Thank you so much for this, Carter. It gives me hope that maybe I can start my own non-profit.”

“You would be amazing at that,” he told her, smoothing her hair against her temple. She sighed with contentment.

“Someday,” she murmured, enjoying the idea. She had this beautiful idea of opening up a camp to help foster kids, but until today, it didn't seem feasible. After today, she felt like she could do anything.

“You had a busy night,” Carter told her. “Close your eyes and rest.”

“Okay,” she said with a jaw-cracking yawn. She nestled down into his shoulder. He pulled a jacket up over her shoulders to keep her warm. She didn't open her eyes, but the jacket was soft and smelled like him. He was so comfortable as a pillow that she was asleep before she knew it.

She dreamed she was dancing with Carter at the fundraiser. She wore her beautiful dress, and he was in his ranch jeans and t-shirt, but everyone was clapping and cheering as they danced. All of her foster kids were there, dancing along with them. They all had new shoes and backpacks and smiles as big as the sky. It was a beautiful dream.

As their dance ended, she woke up to him carrying her into her apartment. She stirred long enough to realize where she was before falling back asleep in his arms as he took care of her and put her into bed. He took off her shoes and carefully pulled off her dress before tucking her under the sheets with a gentle kiss on her forehead. She fell back asleep and continued to dance with him in her dreams, dancing the magical night away with her prince charming until morning.