“No, that was humiliating to say the least.” David released a long drawn-out breath.
So this was why her father had come. Not to see her. Not to make amends. But because he’d been embarrassed, and he wanted to ensure Russ didn’t bother him again.
Mia’s chest tightened, the pain nearly unbearable.
“I can understand her thinking badly of me,” her father continued. “I deserve it. People she’s run into since she’s been back tell me what a fine woman she’s turned out to be. I can’t reconcile that with her sending Russ to interrogate me.”
“She didn’t. I did.” Ryan’s voice, sure and strong floated up to Mia.
Surprised that Ryan joined the other men, she crept closer to get a look at them.
“I don’t understand,” her father said.
“You never have.” Ryan clamped his hands on his waist. “The two of you have the only valid motives to want her gone, but she would never ask Russ to talk to you. Even when Russ blamed her for the terrible things going on around here.”
“Are you kidding?” David gaped at her father. “Russ thinks Mia is involved in all this?”
“Not as much now, but he’s considering it.” Ryan ran a hand over his head. “Look. We’re here for a nice dinner. What say, for one night, we forget the past and try to get to know the incredible woman Mia has become? You owe her at least that much.”
Tears at Ryan’s kindness threatened to break free. True, he was taking charge, making things happen on his timeframe and in his way, but he was doing so with pure compassion and caring for her.
She swiped a thumb under her eyes and headed for the stairs. No matter how her father and David behaved tonight, she wouldn’t hide from them anymore. She would do her best to reconcile with them. If they rejected her, it would be the last time she would put herself out there for them to rip the rug from under her feet.
* * *
After dinner, Ryan held the passenger door for his truck open, and Mia climbed in. He was amazed at how well the evening turned out. He didn’t know when Mia had decided to give her father a chance but she had. Sure, their dinnertime conversations were filled with stilted meaningless chitchat and hard to watch, but Ryan saw them both trying to find common ground.
Feeling like whistling over the success of the night, he ran to the other side of the truck and climbed in. He cautioned himself to cool it. To quit pushing as hard as he had in the last few days and let her choose the topic of their conversation.
He slipped the truck into gear and eased onto the highway. They rode in silence for several miles before she started to fiddle with the handle on a camera gadget bag sitting on the seat between them.
“Have you taken up photography?” she asked.
“Me? Nah. Chuck borrowed my truck to get supplies for the documentary crew, and the director called him to do some filming before he could get all of his things.”
“Hope he doesn’t mind if I snoop.” She tugged on the bag’s zipper and removed a camera. “Wow. This is top-notch. He must’ve dropped a bundle on it.”
Ryan glanced at her. “I forgot you were once into photography. Are you still?”
“I haven’t done much with it since high school, but I still keep up to date on cameras. Would love to have a digital SLR, but this one is around two grand for just the body.”
Ryan laughed. “SLR? English, please.”
“Oh, sorry. SLR is single lens reflex.”
“Right.Muchbetter explanation.” He laughed again.
“Basically, it means when you look through the lens you see exactly what will be captured.” She held the camera up and aimed it through the window. “Maybe when I get back to Atlanta, I should take this up again.”
Get back to Atlanta.She said it with such enthusiasm, as if this was the best present she could receive. Not for him. He hated the idea of her leaving. They’d just started to get to know each other again. If the creep threatening her was caught, the two of them could spend time together this next year. As friends. Maybe more. Once all danger had been removed, and he didn’t need to worry about losing her.
But what if her heart wasn’t free? What if there was a guy in Atlanta and that was really why she wanted to go home? He didn’t want to spoil the mood, but he had to ask. “Is there a boyfriend waiting for you there?”
“No one special.” Her tone was laced with a hint of melancholy, and she ended with a sigh.
Maybe shewasfree.
He glanced at her. “I’m surprised no guy has snapped you up by now.”
