I loved him. God, how I loved him. But I would do what I needed to do.
Come Monday, I was going to look for a boyfriend.
The distant beeping in my ear stopped when an arm reached over my body, and then came back around me. I snuggled deeper into the body, smiling absently at the way his arms tightened around me.
This was the way life should be.
This was not the way life should be.
My body jerked awake. The sun was already shining and the damn birds were chirping happily. I grabbed my phone and, blinking sleepily, checked the display. But nothing happened.
Oh, God. My phone was off. I never turned my phone off. If my phone was off, then my alarm was off too. “Shit,” I whispered, jumping out of bed and running into the kitchen to check the time on the oven. It read 9:15 a.m. My eyes widened in shock as I shouted, “Fuck!”
From the bedroom, Quinn groaned. “Quiet, Mia.”
My eyes narrowed in a dangerous glare. I rushed back into my bedroom and asked in false calm, “My phone was off. I never turn my phone off, Quinn. Why was my phone off?”
He grunted, pulling a pillow over his head. I heard a mumbled, “I don’t know. Be quiet, baby. I’m tired.”
My eye twitched and my jaw set. “I vaguely remember beeping, Quinn. I didn’t get rid of the beeping, so by process of elimination, you got rid of the beeping. FYI, that beeping was the goddamn alarm!” I finished on a shriek.
I pulled open the curtains, ran past the bed, and pulled the covers off Quinn then ran into the bathroom and started the shower. I threw my clothes off, tied my hair up, and stepped inside. About a minute later, I stepped out and rushed around my room, wearing only a pair of panties, throwing open my closet and reaching for a bra. After I secured my ladies, I threw on a pair of black pants and a cream-colored camisole.
I turned to the bed and screeched, “Get up, Matt!”
His body jerked and he blinked sleepily as he responded with an all too sexy sleep-rough voice, “Take the day off. We can stay in bed, watch movies.” He peeked over at me and grinned. “I’ll peel your clothes off with my teeth.” Then he snapped his teeth together sexily, the sound making my skin crawl with want.
But being that I was already annoyed, I responded in anger. “Something you learned on the job?”
As soon as it was out, my heart sank. His eyes narrowed at me in confusion. “It’s just work, Mia. So what if you’re late? They’ll get over it.”
I scrubbed a hand down my face. “My boss is not a nice person. You know this. I’ve told you this. It’s not like I’m partner and can’t get fired. I’m in my first year. I’m practically disposable. And I like where I work.” I didn’t like the way I was talking to him, but when I was irritated, you did not want to mess with me. I softened my tone and pleaded, “Can you please drive me to work?”
He must’ve known I was serious, because he slid out of my bed wearing nothing but his boxers, adjusted his morning wood, dressed quickly, and then walked over to me. His hands came up and he cupped my cheeks gently, pressing a kiss to my forehead. “I’m sorry I turned off your phone. I don’t even remember doing it. Won’t happen again.”
I clutched at his tee and moved to rest my forehead on his chest. I murmured into him, “I just don’t want to lose my job is all. Sorry I’m being a raging bitch.”
He squeezed me and I felt his body shake with laughter. “C’mon, princess.” He released me then handed me the sweater he’d bought me. “Put that on. Let’s go.”
I slipped the sweater over my head and it felt even better on. It was soft and light, but warm. I loved it.
As soon as we got into the car, I stole the mirror to apply light makeup, then writing off my hair, pulled it into a high ponytail. Quinn turned to watch me at every light, smiling fondly. When he looked at me like that, I could almost believe he wanted me as much as I wanted him, that he wanted me in a long-term setting. But he’d told me himself, he didn’t want more.
I lightly applied gloss to my lips just as the car slowed to a stop. Looking Quinn in the eye, I grinned. “Well, that was a fun morning.”
He smirked. “I honestly don’t think we could top it.”
Thankful for his light demeanor, I leaned over the seat and pressed a soft, closed-lipped kiss on his mouth. When I pulled back, his lips held my mark, made with gloss. My eyes smiled as I wiped it away with my thumb. “Thanks for the ride.”
He inclined his head on a single nod and I stepped out. Just as I moved to close the car door behind me, he spoke. “Mia?” I turned to look at him and he uttered a sincere, “You look beautiful.” He eyed the amazing sweater. “It really was made for you.”
Before I could respond, he pulled the door closed and drove away. I stood there in surprise, watching him leave.
Matt Quinn knew what to say to a woman to make her day.
I would miss that most of all.
Tiptoeing into the office seemed like the best way to avoid a good old ass kicking by the dragon lady.
Ella caught my eye as I passed and whispered, “Where have you been? Are you okay?” Her eyes drifted to my sweater and she whisper-hissed, “Oh, my God, that sweater is incredible, Mia.”
I whispered back excitedly, “I know, right? Oh, and I’ve been here the entire time.” Then I winked. Ella lifted her brows and smirked. We both knew it. I wouldn’t get away with being late.
The very moment I sat at my desk, I started to log in, when I heard her. “Mia, where have you been?”
I shut my eyes tight and sighed. Standing, I tried to explain, “I’m so sorry, Mrs. Dietrich. My phone was switched off and I never switch my phone off, so the alarm didn’t go off, and I had to get a ride here.” I laughed humorlessly. “It wasn’t the best morning I’ve ever had. I got here as fast as I could.” I added mentally, Please don’t fire me.
Addison looked over me, her eyes searching my face. “You look a little flushed. Maybe you should sit down a minute.”
My head snapped up.
Huh?
“I-uh…” I sat.
She perched herself on the edge of my desk. “Is everything all right?”
I blinked in confusion. “Um, yeah. Apart from my being late, that is.”
She waved a hand at me. “We’ve all been there, right?” Then she smiled, and I almost swooned at the sight. “As long as you’re okay, that’s all that matters.”
Addison stood. “Well, I’ll let you get back to work.” She walked away a short while before turning back and adding on another smile, “Oh, and Mia, that sweater is to die for.”
She turned and walked into her office, closing the door behind her. The office was silent as I muttered a weak, “Thank you.”
Slowly, I turned to Ella, who was standing, mouth agape, matching my own. I shrugged at her as if to ask, What the hell was that? Her brows rose and she gently shook her head as if to reply, No freaking idea, dude.
I turned back to my computer and got the hell to work before Addison decided to change her mind and fire me.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Quinn
“What are you doing?” I yelled into the cab of my car.
Harry responded on speakerphone, sounding slightly baffled, “It’s morning. And you’re awake. It’s morning and you’re awake. What gives?”
I would not be explaining that I spent the night at his sister’s. That would be cause for a busted lip, and I’d understand it if he did. I wouldn’t even hold a grudge. “I had an early one and woke up at the crack of dawn. I’m hungry.”
Harry snorted. “You’re always hungry. The pier?”
I grinned. “You know it. If you get there first,” which he always did, “order the French toast and a latte.”
“Got it.”
I hung up and drove to the pier to have an early breakfast with my pal, Har.
Harry watched me carefully as I ate my French toast. I always asked for a banana and peanut butter on the side. There was a method to the madness though. You needed to smear the toast with peanut butter, top it with sliced banana, and then drown the fuckers in maple syrup. It would always and forever be my favorite food.