It was a demonstration to me that I didn’t belong here.
“Game, set, match, Mia,” he said softly, extending his hand out over the net like I should shake it.
I knew everyone was looking on. Probably Franny too. So, I swallowed my pride and gritted out, “Good game, Mr. Knight,” as I walked up to him and shook it.
The electricity in our touch was still there, the way my blood pumped with a heat I shouldn’t have, and the sizzle I shouldn’t feel on my skin was almost too intense. I tried to pull my hand away, but he held me there for a second longer.
“That last hit was in fury.” He searched my face.
“What?” I whispered.
“You heard me. Tell me why.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I shook my head. Was he asking if I was jealous? If I didn’t want to see him with other women? I would never admit to that. “We should get Franny out of the sun.”
“You used to play. Why did you stop?”
“Injury.”
“You don’t seem the type to just quit.” He still held my hand hostage, trying to find out more about me than I would ever tellhim. My quitting shifted my whole life and my whole makeup. It wasn’t something I would share with just anyone.
“Maybe I just wanted to.”
“You’re not good at lying, Mia,” he murmured.
“Good game, Daddy.” Franny bounded up to us. “You’ll win next time, Ms. Darling. Are you guys ready for chicken tenders? They have some on the menu today. My friend told me.”
I nodded, and Jameson let me go to put an arm around Franny.
As we walked through the clubhouse, I reminded myself that Paradise Grove was paradise to everyone except me. I was still getting odd looks and knew these women were making it a point to show I didn’t belong. They flocked to Jameson as we ate and openly glared at me as they did.
I paid them no attention, showing Franny how she could mix ranch and ketchup instead, and we giggled over her adding more ketchup for the perfect pink color.
Jameson Knight, though, here at the clubhouse, was a man in his own element. It was obvious he knew when to smile at all the right times and how to charm each and every person that approached him. The broody personality he had with me never came out.
The way they fawned over him should have been a turnoff, but I saw Jameson more relaxed, like he knew the environment and controlled it well. His eyes flicked toward the door every now and then though, like he was still on guard and mindful to keep Franny safe as she ate her chicken tenders.
When another woman finally walked away, Franny sighed and rolled her eyes. “Daddy is very popular. Our neighbor Olive said all the girls know himvery well.” She emphasized that, and I immediately lifted a brow at him.
“Is that what Ms. Olive says now? What’svery wellmean, Mr. Knight?”
He didn’t seem to want to answer that, and he didn’t have to. I shouldn’t have even asked. Instead, he pointed to my plate. “Eat.”
“I’m not really hungry.” The women flirting and smiling and trying so hard had turned my stomach. The fact that I couldn’t control my last smash on the court irked me too. I should be able to control my feelings with him and remain passive. That’s all I had to do.
“Eat now, or I’ll make sure to come to your room later and serve you a meal privately, Mia.” There was that broody, cold tone.
I picked up a chicken tender and pointedly took a bite. “Happy?”
“Good girl,” he said, and I almost choked on my food.
What the hell?
He patted my back like we were just having normal conversation, and I glared at him but stiffened as I saw a man walking toward us. Both Hades and Archer stepped in his path. Jameson saw it too and was quick to tell us, “Time to go.”
The man shoved a letter into Hades’s chest and said, “Well, he shouldn’t be here then. Make sure he gets it.”
When we were safely in the car, Hades handed Jameson the note through the window, and I caught a glimpse of a symbol on the front.
