I still couldn’t believe she was a virgin. Why hadn’t I worked it out before? Now that was a dumb question. How the hell was I supposed to have worked that out?
She was always so secretive and avoided me every chance she had, right up until the wedding. And to admit she fantasised about me all those years. Hell, that was a shock. For years, I thought Mia just had a teenage crush on me which she grew out of once she went to university. I was wrong.
Since we were working together, we were both too busy verbally sparring. Mia was particularly adept at keeping me at a distance. She guarded her emotions around me. I had asked her out to lunch, coffee and even a drink at my pub but she never let her guard down. If I wasn’t careful, I’d end up blowing any chance I had left with her. Instead, she went out to lunches and lattés with that new accountant, Brandon. Damn, I was jealous of the young guy.
I’d been drawn to Mia since the day I first met her when I accidently hit her in the face with the football. It was her fiery attitude and quick wit which had sucked me in. Every time after that when we came into contact, she’d push me to the very limits of control without even trying. She could pull emotions out of me I never knew I even possessed. One minute she’d have me laughing over her antics and arguments with her brothers, and the next I was ready to take her to bed. But I kept my distance for years, convincing myself I was way too old for her. If our age gap bothered her, she sure didn’t show it. Mia was anything but frivolous and nothing like my ex, that was for sure.
It was time for me to explore all her secrets. I still wasn’t ready for a relationship but Mia knew that, so I was even more eager to pursue her. Max and Marco wouldn’t like it, but I was going to being honest with them all from the start.
I buzzed my intercom. “Winter, can you come in here? I need you to make sure everything is perfect for those three days up in Port Douglas.” She was in my office within seconds.
“Okay, what is it this time? I’m pretty sure I’ve covered all bases. You do realise you’ve reminded me about this convention every day for the last few weeks. Anything else you need me to do, or should I say anything new?”
“Don’t be a smart arse,” I chastised her. “You know I want this to run smoothly.”
“Oh, yes, I sure do. What I don’t understand is what has taken you so long? I thought the two of you had it in the bag at the wedding. And that was almost a month ago.” She shook her head. “You are losing your Adonis touch.”
“Ha, very funny.”
“Look, I’ve known you for years, Zane, and I don’t want Mia to get hurt. She’s not at all like the women you’ve dated in the past. She’s special.” Winter walked back to her desk, leaving me thinking about how special Mia really was.
While some women filled their lives with meaningless bullshit like manicured fingernails and expensive clothes, Mia only concerned herself with her work and family. She had an understated beauty and a straightforward attitude which I admired. For an heiress to the Brunetti fortune, she was simple, wearing very little makeup and simple clothes. Winter had kindly informed me Mia rarely dated, which pleased the hell out of me. When she’d gone out with Brandon, all I wanted to do was beat the crap out of him for stomping on my territory. After the way I let her go the night of the wedding, I had no right to Mia. She could date anyone she wanted, but soon I would change all that. By the end of the convention, the only person she’d want to date would be me.
Chapter Eight
MIA
I read the same sentence several times before I finally gave up and put the magazine down. My heart just wasn’t in it. The only thing on my mind was how much trouble my big mouth had gotten me into this time.
Three days alone with Zane, in Port Douglas, Queensland. Could I be any more stupid? What the hell had possessed me to agree? He’d challenged me, and I never could resist a challenge. Zane knew me too well; he knew I’d accept the minute he told me I was scared.
After meeting with Zane, I couldn’t focus on work at all. I tried to think of ways to try and get out of going with him but I came up with nothing. Did I really want to back out? Part of me did because yes, I was scared! But if I did, it would mean I couldn’t handle being alone with him and then he’d win. I was way too competitive and I also wanted to prove it to my brothers I could do it.
The house was so quiet and felt so big without my parents there. Marco, as usual, was dropping in every few nights to see if I was okay. Between him, Milan and Max and Jada stopping by, I rarely had a night to myself. I got back to my magazine and tried to push Zane out of my head. I was halfway through the Lose Five Kilos In Two Weeks article when I heard the intercom of the electronic gates beep.