“Really? You’d want to pursue that even knowing that I could be ill? And you seem to forget I have my career here.”
Her possible illness wasn’t even an issue for him. “Yes. Even knowing that.” He sipped his drink and then put his glass down.
Mia held her glass between her hands, watching the golden liquid rather than looking at Matt. “I don’t know if it’s possible. With Ryan out of commission, I have to take over the company again. Nobody else has the experience I have. That’s going to take some work to pick up again. Plus with what I already do, I don’t know that I can give you anything at this stage.” She tossed back her drink and put the empty glass down. “I’ll say goodnight now.” Mia stepped over and went to kiss his cheek.
Matt moved his face and caught her full on the lips. His hand went around the back of her head and held her while he tasted the whisky on her tongue. Mia’s eyes fluttered and then closed as if she had no will of her own. Her arms snaked around his back, one moving up to the back of his neck to toy with his hair.
He was lost in her kiss. Lost in the moment that promised so much if only they could find a way to make it work.
* * *
Mia pulled away, her heart pounding. What had she done that for? Telling him there wasn’t time for him in her life and then kissing him senseless. What a foolish thing to do.
Fire burned in his eyes and she regretted leading him on but it was done now. She had more to think about than her own feelings. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for that to happen.”
He wiped a finger over her swollen bottom lip. “But it did and I, for one, loved it. I knew there was something between us and that just proves it.”
She broke away from him, hating that he was right. She wanted him more than she was prepared to admit, even to herself. But she didn’t have time for a romance, not now. Not until Ryan was well on his way to getting better and she had the business under control. What the board chose to do to replace her uncle was up to them. In the meantime, she had to step up and keep the company afloat.
“The timing is all wrong, Matt.”
He smiled. “What if the timing was all right?”
She frowned, not understanding his play on words. “I have to go and sleep before I fall at your feet. We’ll talk tomorrow. Night.” She walked away, aware that his eyes followed her every step.
Mia went into her bedroom and shut the door. How the heck was she going to keep it together? Seeing Ryan like that, so weak and helpless, tore her apart. When he came out of hospital, she was going to make him retire. There was no question about it. Mia wasn’t about to lose the only relative she had left—not even for a business she adored.
She paced up and down the carpet a few times, arguing with herself before giving up. He’d argue; he always did. Ryan thought he knew better and maybe that was true where business was concerned but this was different. This was personal and her heart was involved. That trumped anything as far as she was concerned. The big question was, how was she going to manage things when he left?
She stripped off her clothes, threw them into the basket in the bathroom before standing under a scalding shower. Once she was dry, dressed in an old T-shirt and panties and in between the sheets, she closed her eyes and willed sleep to take her but her mind wasn’t ready to give up. Scenarios where he refused and came back to work plagued her. Even as she drifted off to sleep, the what ifs kicked in.
The following morning she opened her eyes, stared at the face on the pillow next to her and froze. When had he gotten into her bed? She tried to think but her mind was mush after yesterday followed by the worst sleep she’d had in ages. Oh how she missed the sound of the ocean already.
His lips curved into a smile. “You were having nightmares.”
“I was?” Stupid question. She knew it before the words were out of her mouth. She’d dreamed of Ryan sitting in the boardroom as a skeleton, yelling at her for wanting it all, even to the detriment of his health. She shuddered before smiling at Matt. What a sweet guy—but she already knew that.
He opened his eyes and grinned at her. “You were. I couldn’t settle you so I lay down and held you and you calmed down. Figured if either of us was going to get any sleep, I should just stay right here.” He lifted a hand and brushed her hair from her eyes.
“I’m glad you did.”
Mia licked her lips and stared into his eyes, losing herself in the deep pools of warmth. “Matt …”
“Yeah?”
She inched closer, pressing her lips against his. Matt’s hand slid around her waist, sliding down to cup her hip. Mia slid a leg over his and moaned as she devoured his mouth. All the pent up emotions of the last few days erupted into a lust-filled burst of energy she had little control over.
“Are you sure?” Matt’s words came out raspy as his fingers dug into her scalp.
“Yes.” She ran a hand up his back, the tension in his muscles rippling under her fingers. She needed him more than she’d thought possible and refused to overthink it in case she talked herself out of
