thirty-four
Mia’s heart was assaulting her rib cage, and her palms were suddenly sweaty. She sat upright on the Adirondack chair as the back door opened. She didn’t turn even as she heard the swish of feet through the grass.
She hadn’t had time to process that her ex-fiancé was here, in North Carolina. At their honeymoon destination.
Wesley stopped at the corner of her chair, a safe distance away.
“You’re a little too late to carry me across the threshold.” It was only then that Mia looked at him.
He was still as handsome as ever, but her heart didn’t flutter as it once had at the sight of him. He’d had a haircut since she’d last seen him—the last time she’d Googled him—and he wasn’t exactly dressed for summer at the lake.
Wes gave a rueful smile. “Save it. Your boyfriend beat you to the punch.”
That realization gave her a ping of satisfaction. “Well, what did you expect? A welcome party?”
The words sounded a little bitter, but if Mia were honest, there was no real animosity rooting them. She’d come a long way in the last few weeks, she realized. And that was a good feeling.
“Can I sit down?”
“Suit yourself. What brings you all the way out here?”
He perched on the edge of the chair next to hers. “I was on set in Ashville for a few days. I saw you were here at this inn—or at least, had been—and thought I’d try and catch you.”
That wasn’t really what she’d meant. Their breakup had been pretty sudden. And other than a brief conversation, during which she’d thrown her engagement ring at his chest, they hadn’t communicated.
She wondered briefly if he wanted her back. But no, he’d never wanted her to begin with. He already had everything he’d ever wanted: leading roles, steady income, and fame.
“You came on our honeymoon alone?” His voice was filled with bemusement.
“I needed to get away, for obvious reasons. And you know I’ve always wanted to come here.”
“Right, your family. It’s a nice place. Maybe a little quiet.”
“I happen to like it that way.” And so had her grandparents.
“You look well, Mia.”
“Thank you. Aren’t you going to ask me about Jax?”
Somebody was feeling defensive.
“I don’t need to ask. You’d never go after a married man—I’ve said as much to the press.”
Not that she needed his validation, but it was rewarding to hear him say it. “Why are you here then, Wes? I think we said everything that needs saying.”
Wes chuckled as he ran a hand through his hair. “Actually,yousaid everything you wanted to say. I kind of just stood there and took it.”
“Oh, is that how you remember it?”
Wes raised his hands. “I didn’t come here to fight, Mia. You threw out a lot of accusations, and you didn’t give me a chance to explain. I’d like that chance now if you’re willing to listen.”
He always had known how to defuse a situation. Except that night he’d broken up with her. She’d been pretty much undefusable.
Well, what could it hurt to hear him out? He’d come all this way, after all. She hitched a shoulder. “All right. Have at it.”
He set his elbows on his knees, staring out over the lake. “I keep remembering those things you said to me. That I was just using you to advance my career. And the longer I sat on those accusations the more I felt I had to talk to you. That’s not true at all, Mia. I mean, I’m truly grateful for what you did for me, but that’s not why I was with you. The feelings I had for you were real. I was in love with you. That’s the only reason I was with you, and when you called that into question the night we broke up—”
“The nightyoubroke up. Call it what it was—there’s no press here.”
