Chapter Twenty-Five
Mia couldn’t hear Koi’s words, but that didn’t keep her from understanding the depth of his devotion and love for Tally, it was written in every nuance of his body language. The hope and sincerity in his eyes were so stark, Mia had to blink back her own tears to continue capturing their special moment. She’d broken down and sobbed when he’d asked her to take pictures as he proposed. Knowing she’d get a chance to present Tally with another set of pictures felt like a second chance. This time, the photos would reflect a new beginning rather than tearing apart the other woman’s hard-fought efforts to rebuild her life.
She knew she’d gotten some amazing pictures, but the one of them walking hand in hand toward the brightly lit gazebo was already her favorite. Seeing them silhouetted against the lights was symbolic of the bright future that lay ahead of them, and for just a moment, she was filled with an overwhelming sense of longing. She might not know what the future held for her, but Mia vowed if fate handed her the chance to stay with Brock and Tucker, she wasn’t going to let it slip through her fingers.
Joining the party, Mia was happy to sit to the side, watching as Koi and Tally accepted the congratulations and best wishes of their friends. She’d never experienced the level of friendship playing out in front of her and part of her longed for those deep and enduring connections. Her family’s wealth had been isolating, but necessary in a country being torn apart by warring cartels. She felt a pang of sadness; watching the country she called home slowly change into something barely recognizable was heartbreaking. Warm fingers caressing the side of her face broke through her moment of melancholy.
“What put that sad, wistful look in your eyes, baby?” The concern in Brock’s chocolate brown eyes pulled her fully back to the moment, and she smiled though she doubted he was fooled.
“I’m sorry, I got lost for a minute. I don’t want to bring any sadness to Tally’s joyful moment.” He nodded, but she knew the topic would be revisited. She’d never met men more adamant about knowing what was going through a woman’s head that the Doms she’d met. When she was finally able to look away, she met Cameron Barnes’ intense gaze. Did the man ever simply look at someone? Or did he always peer into the depths of the other person’s soul?
Cameron’s knowing assessment wasn’t intrusive, but there was no mistaking it for anything other than what it was either. When she unconsciously leaned against Tucker’s shoulder and grasped Brock’s hand under the table, a smile ghosted over Cam’s lips, and he gave her an almost imperceptible nod of approval. The moment was broken when a commotion on the path leading to the gazebo drew everyone’s attention.
Turning to see what everyone around her was smiling about, Mia grinned when she saw Lilly West striding down the path, a bright smile lighting up her beautiful face as her husbands steadied her on the uneven surface. She navigated the cobblestones in three-inch heels as if it was little more than a minor inconvenience.
Mia met Lilly several days earlier and had immediately fallen in love with the vivacious woman who apparently adopted everyone remotely attached to Prairie Winds. As she watched the Wests approach the gazebo, her attention turned briefly to the couple following them, and she gasped in surprise. Mia stood so quickly, her chair teetered precariously before Tucker reached behind her to keep it from toppling over.
“Grandpapa?” Her feet were moving before the question had finished echoing in her mind. As she approached, Mia was stunned by the change in the only member of her family who hadn’t been taken from her too soon. The man facing her looked completely different from the one she’d known in Colombia.
Gone was the gruff exterior and the harsh look of a man whose life was mired in a cutthroat business he was continually trying to navigate with as much integrity as possible. As an adult, Mia had finally been able to see how difficult his life had become. In place of the hardened shell of a man stood one exuding warmth, his arms spread wide, waiting for her. Running into his warm embrace, she was overwhelmed with his open display of emotion. Mia could count on one hand the number of times he’d shown her even the smallest gesture of affection in public, but this time, he’d been ready and waiting for her.
“My sweet, Mia, I’m so happy to see you. Knowing you’d escaped safely was the biggest relief of my entire life.” When she pulled back, unshed tears glistened in dark eyes so much like her own, and it seemed the pain of the past and emotional distance between them melted away in the time it took him to whisper, “I love you so. I’d have never forgiven myself if Joseph hurt you.” Her grandfather sighed, his eyes moving to her side, and she was surprised to see Cameron Barnes standing next to her.
“As usual, Cam’s timing is impeccable. I’ve never known exactly how he does it. I tried to tell your grandmother he was a demon, but she always swore his halo was untarnished.” The laughter that surrounded them brought a glare from Cam which was completely lacking in any semblance of commitment. The two men embraced, and Mia was struck by the realization they knew each other far better than she’d been led to believe. Casual relationship my ass.
The woman who’d been walking hand in hand with her grandfather smiled at Mia, a light-pink blush staining cheeks creased with the lines of laughter and a life well lived. She looked nervously at Lilly who gave the other woman a reassuring pat on the arm just as Lucia Mendez turned his attention back to her.
“Ellie, I’d like to introduce you to my single greatest accomplishment, my granddaughter, Mia. Mia, this is Eleanor Wishcoff. Ellie and I were quite an item once upon a time.” Now it was Mia’s turn to blush. Geez, there were some things she just didn’t want to think about where her grandfather was concerned. He must have read her thoughts because he laughed out loud, and Mia stared at him in wide-eyed wonder.
“I haven’t heard you laugh since before grandmother died.” Her heart squeezed, and she was grateful for the warm arm that came around her shoulders. Tucker. She couldn’t begin to express how sweet the sound of her grandpapa’s laughter was or how grateful she was to the woman who’d obviously enchanted him. Pulling the surprised woman into a crushing hug, all Mia could manage to get out was a halting, “Thank you.”
When she finally released the poor woman, Mia was laughing and crying at the same time, overcome with relief, gratitude, and love. While Cam and Lilly introduced the pair to everyone, Mia found herself surrounded by Tobi and the other ladies she’d met at Prairie Winds. Tobi hugged her fiercely and smiled.
“Damn, sister. You don’t do things half-assed, do ya?”
Mia’s confusion must have shown because the other women rolled their eyes and laughed. CeCe stepped forward and explained.
“Let me interpret for our little Texas hellion. She means you’re facing a lot of changes in a really short period of time. The part she hadn’t gotten to before laying the slang on you was that we’re ready and willing to help in any way we can.”
Jen McCall leaned in and whispered, “Of course, our help usually involves margaritas and various levels of shenanigans, depending on who made the drinks and how well supervised we are. But we’ve got your back even if there’s no booze. Probably.”
Mia couldn’t hold back her laughter and it felt remarkably liberating.
*
Tucker watched as one emotion after another raced over Mia’s pretty face. She was being steamrolled, and there wasn’t a damned thing he could do about it. Yet. When Lucia Mendez asked to speak with her alone, he and Brock had both shaken their heads. She belonged to them and neither he nor his brother planned to stand back and let her face her grandfather alone. It was clear Lucia Mendez wasn’t the same man she’d known, and after their conversation with Cam earlier today, they knew she wasn’t in any physical danger, but that didn’t mean the elderly man couldn’t hurt her soft heart.
Brock sat on her right, taking her small hand in his as Tucker settled on her left, placing his hand gently against the small of her back. Lucia let his gaze flicker between them for several second, studying them closely before smiling.
“My darling Mia, I’m happy to see your young men appear to be as devoted as Cam assured me they would be.”
“Grandpapa, I don’t think you asked to speak with me to discuss my… rela… frie…”
Tucker shook his head when it became clear Mia didn’t have enough confidence in their relationship to call it that. He felt her tremble against his side and decided he wasn’t going to wait until later to dispel her doubt.
“Mr. Mendez, my brother and I are committed to protecting Mia, but we also want her to remain in the United States with us. Our relationship is just beginning, but rest assured our interest in her goes far beyond just being her bodyguards. Even though we seem to be facing a challenge convincing her, I’m confident we’ll get there, eventually.” Hopefully, before she gets on a damned plane.
*
“I’m leaving Colombia, Mia.”
She stared at her grandfather in utter disbelief. Tucker’s public declaration had surprised her, but her grandpapa’s words made her head spin.
“As I was being wheeled from my home into the waiting ambulance, I wondered if I was dying, and I realized it wasn’t going to be much different from the way I’d been living since I lost your grandmother. I loved the challenge of building a business that made me more money than I’d ever dreamed possible, but what good is money if you don’t share it? Money isn’t meant to lay in vaults for decades when it could benefit so many others.”
Mia had been begging him for years to set up a foundation that would serve the medical and educational needs of the people of their home country. She argued education was the best way to keep the young boys from being lured into the cartels, and healthy children held the key to the future of their beautiful home. His chuckle drew her attention, and she felt her cheeks flush.
“I see you are remembering our heated discussions, but I want you to know, I was listening. Even when you didn’t believe your words were getting through this thick head of mine, they always echoed with truth.”
When his eyes flickered to where Ellie stood nearby, Mia’s heart melted when she saw the love that had been missing for far too long. He took a deep breath and returned his attention to her.
“Mia, I’m selling the banks, the estate, and most of the other properties I’ve acquired. It was wrong of me to try to force you into a life you were never suited for. I want you to know the joy of doing what fills your heart and soul with joy. I want you to fall asleep at night knowing you’ve given everything in you to further your dream. But most of all, I want you to know what it’s like to love and be loved. Your heart is too big to be kept hidden behind brick walls and iron gates. Denying the world the opportunity to see itself through your eyes would be a travesty. The future belongs to those who can see themselves as others see them and adjust their sails to steer in the right direction.”
Mia’s head was spinning so quickly, she was grateful for Brock and Tucker’s grounding touch. How had a few pictures changed so many lives so much? If the picture of Senator Tyson could set all this in motion, how much more could I do in the future?
A deep male chuckle beside them pulled her from her musing. “You have to love a woman who speaks their thoughts aloud.” Kyle West’s expression was equal parts amusement and indulgence.
“It’s one of God’s gifts to men, otherwise we wouldn’t have a chance in hell of knowing what was going through their complicated minds.” Kent stepped up beside his brother, giving her a quick wink that made her giggle and brought growls from both Brock and Tucker.
“I’m pleased you’re asking yourself those questions Mia because my brother and I would like to discuss how your skills could be used by the Prairie Winds teams.”
She felt Brock and Tucker stiffen beside her, making Kent and Kyle both laugh.
“Don’t worry, sweetness,” Kent grinned at her, “we’ll deal with your men.”
“And we’ll help. My friends and I are formidable allies, and we’ll help you all we can.” Tobi stepped around her husbands, giving Mia the moment of breathing room she needed. Tobi introduced herself to Mia’s grandfather, and looping her arm in his, walked him away to introduce him to the others gathered around.
Staring blankly at her grandfather’s retreating back, Mia felt the brush of a warm breeze caress her cheek and smiled. Her grandmother had always reminded her the brief kiss of the wind was a kiss from heaven. The warmth that filled her heart settled her, and she felt her soul re-center itself as all the possibilities spread out in front of her started to shine like new coins.
“I made myself a promise on the ship that I wanted to experience everything I could. At the time, I thought it was just about the pleasure and learning about the Dominant/submissive lifestyle I’d read so much about. But now? Now, I want to amend that promise and add as many experiences and adventures as I can. I want to know I’ll never feel as though I sat on the sidelines and watched as my life played out around me.” She took a deep breath and sighed before continuing. “But most of all, I want to make a difference. I want others’ lives to be a little better because I tried.”