I’m about to unlock my door when I hear Mila’s voice.
Smiling, I turn around just as she crosses the road. Her beauty hits me with full force.
She huffs, stopping within arm’s reach. “I have a situation.”
“I’m intrigued.”
“It involves my mum, so you can say no. In fact, the way she is right now, you should definitely say no. Just go inside and pretend you didn’t see me. This didn’t happen. I’m not here.”
“Mila.” I step forward and grab her hand as she turns away. I pull her close. “You can’t say that and run. What does your mum need?”
She places her free hand on my chest, and I’m sure she can feel my racing heart. “The wine fridge isn’t working.”
“Okay…”
I reluctantly drop her hand, suppressing the urge to kiss her in the street. She doesn’t stop touching me, though, and it makes me want to throw her over my shoulder and take her inside.
“Would you help us move it, please? Mum thinks the plug isn’t in properly.”
“All right.”
“It’s heavy.”
“Really? I assumed you just couldn’t be bothered to try.”
She laughs, running her hand down my chest before finally moving back. “Well, that, too.” She holds her hands up like I’m supposed to know what that means as we cross the road. “Nails!”
“Right. I love the feel of them cutting into my skin. Never really looked at the colour.”
“Reid Walker, if the neighbours heard that. Also, I’m going to use this gorgeous red manicure to grip your arse while you fuck me later.”
My chest tightens. “Mila…”
She looks over with innocent eyes that wouldn’t fool anyone. “Yes?”
“I don’t care about this fridge. I’ll take you back to mine.”
Laughing again, she takes my hand and tugs me towards her house. “There’s plenty of time for that later, stud.”
I walk into Mila’s house with my hand in hers, like it’s the most natural thing. This isn’t the first time I’ve been in here, but it is the first time she’s touched me in public. Up until now we’ve been strictly business outside of my house.
My hand is released when we get inside, though. I’m assuming for her mum’s benefit.
“Reid,” Dawn says, smiling warmly when I walk into her kitchen.
“I hear you have a wine emergency.”
“It’s getting warm,” Mila says. “Very bad.”
I glance at her, trying not to make my feelings for her too obvious. Though I feel like every time I look at her, my eyes are shouting I love you. Mila seems to be the only one who doesn’t see it.
Dawn stands back. “It’s under here, and it’s a total bitch to move.”
She moves out of the way when I walk past.
“He’s not limp,” she whispers to Mila. I look over my shoulder to see Mila scowling and mouthing something to her mum that I imagine would turn the room blue.
Mila turns to me and smiles. “I’m sorry.”
“I don’t think that’s something you need to apologise for.”
Dawn points to me. “See, he knows. No one wants a limp—”
“Mother! Go and drink in the living room. Or better still, go to the pub. A pub in France.”
“You can’t kick me out of my own house, love.”
Dawn makes me understand Mila a lot better.
“You know what? We should just order a new fridge. Come on, Reid, let’s go.”
My heart beats faster. “Rude, Mila. I said I would help.”
I don’t want to leave yet. Dawn is telling me more than Mila does. Her reactions to her mum are eye-opening.
“You’re not my fucking handyman, Reid.”
“I don’t know. I’ve been your mechanic, taxi, editor, and mentor.”
She grits her teeth harder. “This was a mistake, though. My mum has a big mouth.”
Dawn laughs, clearly enjoying Mila’s discomfort as much as I am.
“Reid, please.”
“Mila, it really is rude to throw your gentleman friend out of the house when he’s come to our rescue,” Dawn says.
“I swear to all the gods, if you keep calling him my gentleman friend, I’m going to get myself emancipated.”
How often do I feature in their conversations? I’d take a seat to enjoy this if I didn’t have to walk past Mila to get there.
“No need to be dramatic, darling.” Dawn turns to me. “Do you find her a tad dramatic at times, too? When she was five, she used to hold her breath until she passed out to get her own way.”
“Nope. This isn’t happening. Reid, we’re leaving right now.” Mila grabs a bottle of wine off the island and holds her hand out to me.
In front of her mum.
Dawn smiles like she’s just won the lottery. “The fridge isn’t even broken, but thanks for coming, Reid.”
Chuckling, I take Mila’s hand and let her pull me out of the house.
“Oh, fuck’s sake, Mum!”
I throw my head back with laughter.
“She is such a meddling twat!” Mila rants as we step outside.
“You can’t call your mum a twat.”
“Did you see what she did in there?”
“Yes. Your mum wanted to get me over.”
“Yeah, she’s a meddling little… ugh! I hope that fridge breaks now. As if!” She holds up the bottle in her hand. “This is my last one. The rest is hers, and I hope it goes warm and tastes like vinegar.”
I open my door, and Mila storms in ahead of me. “I guess you’re staying this afternoon?”
She looks over her shoulder on her way to my kitchen, no doubt off to help herself to a wine glass. “Oh, I’m moving in.”
Don’t tease me. “Oh, really? Do I not get a say in this?” I ask, following her.
I lean against the counter and watch her pouring wine into two glasses. “No, you don’t. You’re getting sex, and I’m awesome to live with.”
“I’m not sure. I’ve seen the future you and it’s very meddling.”
“You’re being a smartarse and smartarses don’t get laid.”
“Tell that to my year group in high school.”
She spins on her heels. “What were you like in high school?”
I shrug. “Much like this, I suppose. I had a decent circle of friends, but I wasn’t willing to be someone I’m not to get ahead.”
“I find it interesting that you think being popular is getting ahead?”
“Isn’t it? You can be the best author in the world, yet someone popular with no desire to be a great writer can type shit and outsell you. High school was no different. The students with morals and an authentic personality were constantly overlooked.”
“What was her name?” she asks.
“Who’s name?”
“The girl who overlooked you in high school.”
You, for the last nine years. Only it wasn’t in school.
“That’s not what I meant. I had a girlfriend back then. She was as sweet as can be.”
“What happened?”
I shrug. “We grew up and grew apart. She dumped me a month before we left.”
Mila takes a few steps closer to me. “What a bitch.”
“She’s married now, I hear.”
“Was that a dark day for you?”
Laughing, I shake my head. “She’s not the one who got away, Mila.”
“Good to know you’re not pining over an ex.”
I raise a brow. “And you?”
“Well, you know all about Liam, and he’s definitely not the one who got away. He’s the one I should have thrown away a long time ago. There were a couple of others I dated, but nothing at all serious.”
Stepping closer to her, I can almost feel her pulse spiking from the way her eyes widen a fraction.
“Was she your first? The girl from high school,” Mila asks.
I nod. “Yes.”
“Did you love her?”
“I suppose. At the time, I thought it was everything. I’m not saying that it wasn’t real or we weren’t capable of those emotions but…”
Her eyebrows pull into a frown, showing her impatience. “But?”
“She wasn’t the right one. I couldn’t get lost in her.”
“That’s what you want?” she whispers.
“Isn’t that what everyone wants?”
“I suppose.”
“Next weekend. Are you… Do you want to come to my parents’ house? Phoebe and Callum will be there with Lexie.”
“Your birthday.” She bites her lip. “You want me to come?”
“Sure. It’s just for one night.”
“All right,” she says, and her hands land on my chest, stealing my breath.
“Mila…”
Her hands glide down to my belt.
“I like talking to you, Reid. I like that you always have something to say. I like that you listen to me, and you’re interested in what I have to say, too. Most of all, I love the way you worship my body with your hands and mouth. And when you push inside of me—”
Her mouth lands on mine and, fuck, I’m lost.