She takes off with the guy, leaving just Mia and me at the table.
‘Thanks for saving me,’ she says. ‘As soon as I felt Gary’s leg touching mine under the table I had to do something so he’d know I was with someone.’
‘He was touching you under the table?’ I ask, my anger rising as I think of that jerk touching her.
‘He moved away when he saw me put my arm around yours.’ She turns to me. ‘I hope you don’t mind.’
‘Not at all.’ I lean down to her and talk in her ear. ‘Feel free to use me however you like tonight.’
She slowly backs away.
‘Sorry,’ I say. ‘I didn’t mean—’
‘No, it’s fine.’ Her smile turns flirtatious, along with the tone of her voice. ‘I was just surprised. You seem so .?.?. polite.’
‘Polite doesn’t mean I’m .?.?. well, I’ll let you finish that thought.’
She takes a sip of her drink, then turns to me. ‘Tell me more.’
‘More what?’
‘Tell me more about you. So far I’ve learned that you’re an amazing coach and that your family owns a very famous orchard. I’m already impressed and I’ve known you for less than an hour.’
‘I’d rather know more about you. I don’t even know where you live.’
‘Madison. I’m going to grad school at the university. I have one semester left.’ She lets out a sigh. ‘This is my last weekend to have some fun and relax before hitting the books again. Monday’s the start of another semester, my busiest one yet.’
‘Madison, huh? That’s not that far from Haydon Falls. Well, it’s over an hour but—’ I shake my head. ‘Never mind. I’m getting ahead of myself.’
‘Are you seeing anyone?’ Mia asks.
‘I go on dates, but I don’t have a girlfriend. How about you? Are you seeing anyone?’
‘I was, but we broke up a few months ago.’
I’m staring into her eyes, knowing I should look away, but I can’t. She’s got beautiful eyes, a deep brown color with specks of caramel. There’s kindness in her eyes, which I know sounds strange, but it’s what I feel when I look at them. Like she’s a kind person with a big open heart.
‘Hey, everyone!’ Noah says over the microphone. The noise in the room quiets down. ‘I just want to thank you all for coming and hope you have a good time tonight. We’re doing the toasts after dinner before cutting the cake, so be sure to stick around. Free booze for the toast if that makes a difference,’ hesays with a laugh. He takes his seat at the head table. I’m so far back in the room I can barely see him. There’s so many people here, I probably won’t even talk to him tonight.
‘Want another drink?’ I ask Mia, noticing hers is empty.
‘I could have another,’ she says as she watches a woman walk by. ‘What a beautiful dress.’
‘Yours is better,’ I tell her, my eyes going to her dress. It’s black and fitted to her body with tiny straps at the top and ending just above her knees.
‘I’ve had this forever,’ Mia says, looking down at her dress. ‘I’ve probably worn it to at least three weddings.’
‘It looks great on you.’ I put my arm around her as Gary comes back.
‘They’re out of the vodka I wanted,’ he says as he sits down. ‘I hate these damn weddings. I don’t know why I keep going to them.’ He downs whatever drink he got, then stares at the waitress as she serves the table next to ours.
Mia moves closer to me, turning so her back is against my chest. I keep my arm around her and gently rub my hand over her bare shoulder. She looks up at me and smiles.
I wish I knew what was going on here. Are we just pretending to date or is this real? It feels real. I feel like we’re a couple, not two strangers who just met. Why am I feeling this way with someone I barely know?
Chapter 2
Jason
