Mia's Heart (The Paradise Diaries) (10 page)

She
is confident.  I like that. 

She
turns and greets my mother and then her husband, Darius, introduces himself to
me before he gets our bags.  They both move surprisingly quickly for being
older.  And I am surprised again when Marionette tells me that Darius is
the foreman for the olive groves.  They have both worked here for decades,
apparently, and they have no intentions of slowing down anytime soon. 

They
lead us into the massive house and I immediately feel welcomed, like I am
home.  The house is immaculately furnished, but it is cozy even as it is
magnificent and enormous.  It is the kind of place where families live and
thrive.  I feel instantly at ease. 

Marionette
smiles.

“I
have a treat for you,” she tells me with a grin.  “Your favorite.”

I
have no idea what my favorite is, but I follow her anyway.

I’m
trusting that way, I guess.

As
Darius takes our bags upstairs to our rooms, Marionette leads us to the
kitchen. Wonderful smells surround us and I inhale deeply. 

She
hands me a saucer and shoves me into a chair. 

“Your
favorite,” she tells me again as I look at the little fancy plate. There is a
forest green G inscribed on the china rim.  A flaky croissant drizzled in
butter instantly makes my mouth water.  “I make them from scratch,” she
adds proudly.

I
take a bite and instantly am in love with Marionette.  I tell her that and
she laughs. 

“Oh,
you fell in love with me long ago, little one,” she grins, before she pats my
arm and glides away to wipe off a cabinet.  “I’m French.  Everyone
loves me.” 

I
don’t know what that has to do with anything, but it makes me smile
anyway.  I consider that as I look around.  This kitchen reminds me
of a giant farm kitchen, but is filled with every modern convenience. 
It’s comfortable in here.  I could stay in here forever.

My
mother, however, must feel differently. 

“Mia,
I’m going to go unpack,” she tells me.  “If you need me, Marionette will
show you to my room.”

I
nod and watch her walk away.  She doesn’t seem very happy to be here. But
then again, she doesn’t seem all that happy to be anywhere.  I wonder
why.  And then I wonder if I
ever
knew why. 

Marionette
watches me. 

“Your
mother worries about you,” she says quietly.  “I know you don’t believe
that, but it is true.”

I
am startled.  “I don’t believe that?” I ask curiously. “Do my mom and I
have issues?”

It’s
Marionette’s turn to look startled, like a cat who swallowed a canary. 

“Uh. 
Not necessarily,” she says slowly.  “Just typical teenager and mother
things.  Nothing big.”

But
she turns and focuses very hard on cleaning the already spotless stone
counters.  I narrow my eyes suspiciously, but I don’t say anything.
Clearly, she doesn’t want to say anything else. 

“Is
it alright if I go for a walk outside?” I ask her politely.  She turns and
smiles.

“Little
girl, you don’t have to ask permission. This is your home, for as long as you
need it to be.  Feel free to walk anywhere you would like to walk.”

I
smile and impulsively turn and hug her.  She’s the warmest person that
I’ve met so far.  She seems surprised, but she hugs me back tightly.
 Her tiny arms are surprisingly strong.  

“It’s
good to have you here,” she tells me and I swear that her faded eyes are
wet.  But she turns away again before I can tell for sure. 

I
make my way outside through the back terrace doors. 

I
look around and sigh contentedly.  If there was ever a nirvana, this is
it.  Giliberti House is like an oasis in the middle of the country. 
Rolling hills surround us, swaying trees encircle us and the smell of fresh
flowers assails my senses.  It’s an enchanting place.

And
then I hear it.

Whistling. 

A
song with no words and no real melody. 

I
perk my ears and try to find where it is coming from. 

I
walk past the back gardens and over the shady lane leading down to what looks
to be a set of barns.  And then I see him.

Sweet.
Mother. Of Mary.

A
muscular guy with sandy blonde hair is shirtless and there are so many muscles
rippling that I can’t even count them all.  He is working with a gigantic
horse and he is whistling. 

And
I am panting.

Holy
crap.

Do
I know this guy??

I
am frozen as I watch his biceps flex and move.  He looks to be about my
age.  He’s got broad shoulders, slim hips and he’s really tall.  He’s
wearing cowboy boots. 

Cowboy
boots. 

Who
is he??

My
curiosity is firmly piqued, so I decide to just find out.  I approach him
and after a second, he notices me and stops what he is doing. 

And
then he grins a grin so devastating, I think it might stop my heart.

No.
Lie. 

“Mia!”
he calls. 

Holy
crap.  I do know him.  Or he knows me, anyway.  I watch as he
grabs a cowboy hat that is hanging on a fence post and slaps it on his head as
he hops over the fence to the paddock. He reaches me in literally five long
strides and then crunches me in a bear hug.

I
want to die right here, I think. 

In
the safety of his strong arms. 

I
will stay here for the next sixty years and die a happy woman.

But
obviously, after a second, he steps away and I fight the urge to cling to
him.  He feels so safe and warm.  And clearly I am craving
security.  I might want to see a therapist about that.

“You
look great!” he tells me with a grin.  “Your stripes are gone, though.”

I
automatically run my fingers through my hair.  “I know. I don’t... I don’t
remember them.”

Hot
Guy looks pensive. 

“I
bet you don’t remember me, either, do you?” he asks softly.  I am
hesitant, because I really, really wish that I did.  But I don’t.  So
I shake my head.

“I’m
sorry,” I tell him.  “Maybe soon.  They keep telling me that my
memories should come back soon.  I’m starting to hate that word, actually.
Soon.
  It’s so vague.”

Hot
Guy holds his hand out. 

“My
name is Quinn McKeyen,” he tells me as he shakes my hand formally.  “I’m
living here at Giliberti House for the school year.  I’m in the Foreign
Exchange Student program.  I’m from Kansas- which is the state in America
where your friend Reece is from.  Do you remember Reece?”

I
shake my head again.  “I don’t remember anything at all,” I admit. 

He
actually smiles.  “I’m going to have to think of some way to use that to
my advantage,” he says with a wink.  I shake my head. 

“Don’t
even try it,” I laugh.  “Gavin already tried, but unfortunately for him,
he didn’t think about it fast enough.  He told me about the state of my
love life before-hand. That was a little counter-productive.”

Quinn
laughs again.  And I decide that I might not know him, but I freaking love
his laugh.  And his American accent. 

“Are
you a cowboy?” I ask him, eyeing the way that sweat is rolling off his
abdomen.  I fight the urge to lick it. 

Gross. 
Lick sweat?  What is wrong with me?

Am
I a freak?

He
smiles.  “Yes, I guess you could say that.  I like to ride
things.  Does that make you nervous?”

I
stare him blankly. “Nervous? Why would I be…oh.” His meaning hits me like a
truck and I blush.  “I get it.  You like to ride things.” 

I
smile, even though I’m pretty sure my mom would kill me for engaging in this
conversation.  But what she doesn’t know won’t hurt her, right?

“And,
no,” I add.  “I’m not nervous.  I can handle anything.”

“But
you don’t even know who you are,” Quinn reminds me with another grin.  “So
how can you handle
anything
?”

I
love the fact that he doesn’t pussy-foot around me. Everyone else has been and
it has grown so annoying.  I don’t need to be handled with kid gloves. I’m
not going to break.

“True,”
I concede.  “What all do you ride, beside women and horses?”

Quinn’s
dark eyes sparkle.  And I find myself transfixed by that.  His eyes
are such a dark brown, like a rich gourmet chocolate.  I’m mesmerized by
them.

“I
ride four-wheelers, horses, bulls, you name it.  But I haven’t seen any
bulls in Caberra yet, so I’ve settled for Titan.  Dante bought him for
Reece when they were still here.  She told me that I can mess with him.”

He
gestures toward the enormous devil of a horse behind him.  I eye the beast
cautiously. 

“Titan
looks a little dangerous,” I point out.  Quinn only grins. He’s so relaxed
in his worn-out jeans and boots.  He’s like the epitome of country
charm.  I gulp.

“Oh,
I sort of like a little danger from time to time,” he tells me.  “It keeps
things interesting.”

“Oh,
really?” I shake my head.  “It’s all fun and games until you wind up in
the hospital.”

Quinn
laughs.  “I’m very good at handling danger, so don’t worry. 
Everything will be fine.”

“Will
it?” I ask and Quinn nods.

“Yes.”

And
I don’t even know what we’re talking about anymore.  I’ve been distracted
by his handsome good looks and his charm and all of the sexual innuendoes that
have been flying around. 

“Do
you want a ride?” Quinn asks.  I’m startled because I’ve been staring so
hard into his eyes that I wasn’t expecting him to speak.

“On
Titan?”  I stutter.

He
laughs.

“Unless
you have a better idea,” he says with one brow raised.  He patiently waits
for my answer while I die of embarrassment.  I can literally feel the heat
splashing across my cheeks.

“Uh,
no.  I don’t have a better idea,” I stammer.  I don’t know where my
wits have all gone. They seem to be missing in action.  I curse them
silently and order them to come back.  They silently laugh at me and then
run for the hills.  I have rogue wits.

Quinn’s
damned eyes continue to sparkle. 

“Well,
that’s a pity.  If you think of something, let me know.  Until then,
yes, I was speaking of the horse.”

“I
don’t know how to ride,” I tell him.  “At least, I don’t think I do. 
Do I?”

Quinn
shakes his head. “I don’t know. You and I just met awhile back.  Horses
aren’t all that common here in Caberra, though.  So I doubt it.  But
I heard that you’ll be staying here for a while.  Maybe I could teach
you.  We could work out a trade.  You teach me to swim, I’ll teach
you to ride.”

I
stare at him hesitantly. “I don’t know if I remember how to swim.  But if
I do, I’ll be happy to teach you.”

Quinn
throws his head back and laughs.

“Mia,
you are a constant surprise.  I never know what to think with you.  I
like it.  Okay, it’s a deal.  If you remember how to swim, you can
teach me.  And I’ll teach you to ride regardless. Deal?”

I
nod immediately, because the image of me sitting in front of him on that horse,
leaned back against his strong chest between his legs, is enough to give me
heart palpations. 

For
real.

“Deal,”
I agree. 

“Now,
how about I lead you around for a bit on Titan.  I’ll have a hold of his
head the whole time so there is nothing to be afraid of,” Quinn tells me. 
My chin automatically juts out on its own accord.

“I’m
not afraid of anything,” I announce.  And then I’m startled by that. 
I’m not?  Those words came out on their own.  I didn’t even think
about them.  It was Old Mia talking.  Maybe I like her, after all.

Quinn
appraises me and there is appreciation in his eyes. 

“Come
on, then,” he tells me, holding his large hand out.  I take it and he
leads me into the paddock.  He holds his hand out to Titan, who huffs a
big breath out of his gigantic flared nostrils before he steps closer to Quinn.

Quinn
snaps a lead rope into the ring on the halter and I fight the urge to
run.  What was I thinking, agreeing to this?  Titan is
enormous.  And he’s looking at me with the wild eyes of a demon as he
stomps the dirt with his huge demon hoof.

Ohmygod.

I’m
an idiot.

This
horse is a freaking demon.

Quinn
looks at my face and laughs.

“Come
on, Miss I’m-Not-Scared.  It’s alright.”

He
makes a cup out of his hands and motions for me to use it.  I wedge my
foot between his fingers and he boosts me up.  I swing my other leg around
and before I know it, I’m situated on top of the demon.