Mia had to laugh. He wanted her, she knew that. Heck, they couldn’t be in the same room together for more than five minutes without leaping at each other. But desire wasn’t love and want wasn’t need.
“You’re wrong.”
Alice shook her head. “There’s a shiny new SUV parked out front that says different.”
“The car?”
“It’s more than a car, honey.” Alice sat up, reached out and took Mia’s hands in hers. “Remember, a few weeks ago, David had a new car delivered to my house.”
“Yes, but you’re his mother.”
“And he loves me. Worries about me driving a car he doesn’t think is safe.”
“He hates my car,” Mia murmured.
“So he replaced it with a much safer one. And if he didn’t love you, why would your safety matter to him?”
“I don’t know….” She’d like to believe that. But how could she?
“It’s David’s way, Mia,” Alice was saying. “Ever since he was a child, he’s had trouble with the word love. But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t feel it.”
A tiny kernel of hope settled in the pit of her stomach, but Mia couldn’t put too much faith in it. Because if she did and Alice was wrong, her heart would be crushed beyond repair.
* * *
Loud music pumped out of speakers. Orange and black streamers and balloons hung from the ceiling, drifting with the movements of the crowd. Dry ice near the punchbowl sent clouds of vapor into the air. Vampires danced with angels, zombies loitered near the buffet table and a princess stole a kiss from a troll.
All in all, the TCC costume party was a rousing success. The club wasn’t just celebrating Halloween this year, but also the opening of the new day-care center. So much fuss had been made about the center over the past few months, it was a wonder anything had gotten done.
But Mia had already taken a tour of the new day-care center and she was impressed with the place. Glancing into the large, well-appointed room, she saw lots of tiny tables and chairs for the kids. Bookshelves were stocked with row after row of wonderful stories. There were cribs for infants and on one side of the room small easels were set up, ready for little artists to paint their masterpieces.
“Isn’t it wonderful?” A woman’s voice spoke up from right beside her and Mia jumped. She hadn’t noticed anyone approach.
The woman was a few inches shorter than Mia, with jaw-length blond hair and brown eyes that were sparkling with excitement.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I didn’t mean to sneak up on you. But I saw you looking in at the day care and couldn’t resist coming over.” She held out one hand. “I’m Kiley Roberts, and I’ll be running the center.”
“Mia Hughes. It’s nice to meet you.” Mia shook her hand and said, “I was just thinking how impressive it is that the center has come together so nicely despite all the battles.”
“Oh, I know.” Kiley sighed a little. “I’m glad it’s all settled and over. My little girl, Emmie, can’t wait to start coming here.”
“How old is she?”
“Two,” Kiley said, “and she’s the light of my life.” She paused, spotted someone walking into the center and said, “Excuse me, I should go direct another tour.”
Mia nodded as the woman moved off, practically dancing with excitement for the opening of the center. She envied Kiley Roberts, Mia realized. Kiley had a plan. A future stretched out ahead of her, and she had a child. A family.
Smiling wistfully, Mia turned away from the center, walked over to the open doorway into the main room and looked out over the gathered crowd. She spotted Dave across the room at the bar, standing beside Nathan Battle. The two men laughed at something and Mia’s heart twisted in her chest. Dave looked wonderful as an Old West outlaw. Dressed almost entirely in black, he looked dangerous and sexy. A lethal combination, as Mia knew only too well.
As if he could feel her gaze on him, he turned, met her eyes and gave her the half smile that never failed to tug at her heart. God, how she would miss him.
He left Nathan, made his way over to her through the crowd and when he stopped directly in front of her, he said, “Did I mention that you make the most beautiful saloon girl I’ve ever seen?”
Her costume deliberately went along with his. Her dark blue satin dress was trimmed with black lace at the bodice and the hem of her full skirt. She wore fishnet stockings, black pumps and her upswept hair had blue feathers tucked into the mass.