Trouble (15 page)

I can’t even blame this one on my cock as he hasn’t even shown up for the party.

***

The drive to the vet is quiet. Mainly because I can’t think of a damn thing to say to her. This is a foreign concept to me. I’m never without something to say to a woman, but right now I’m rattling around inside my head trying to understand what is happening here.

Why is Mia affecting me so much?

Maybe it’s because the unknown is eating away at me.

Putting the sex aside—yes, I did just say that, unbelievable, right? See this is what she’s doing to me. The thing is, I actually like talking to her. She’s smart. And fun. I’m hot for her,
and
I want to spend time with her.

Never. Happened. Before.

And I don’t like it.

This girl is going to slowly drive me crazy, I can feel it.

Maybe I should just have sex with her and get it over with, be damned the consequences. She’s definitely hot for me; I could tell before. Maybe if I just…

“—wasn’t that the turn for the vet?”

“What?” I come to at the sound of Mia’s voice.

“I think you just missed the turn to the vet.” She points over her shoulder.

I cast a quick glance behind me, and see that I have indeed missed my turning because I was thinking about her.

“Shit, yeah,” I mutter.

I check the road is clear and spin the car around, heading back the way I just came. I take the turning and pull up outside the vet.

There’s no one behind the desk when we enter the building, so I ring the bell on the desk.

Penny appears from behind a door. “Hello again.” She smiles brightly. “Dozer’s all ready for you. If you want to take a seat, I’ll bring him right out.”

I sit down beside Mia, but I feel restless. I’m not exactly sure what it is that’s making me restless. Maybe it’s because I’m hyped up on sexual tension.

“Are you okay?” Mia asks.

I follow her eyes to my tapping foot.

“Oh, yeah, fine.”

“Are you worried about Dozer?” She smiles softly and touches my arm with her hand.

My body electrifies from her touch. I can barely think straight from the heat burning my skin.

Seriously, what the
fuck
is that?

“Who?” I mutter.

She looks confused.

I open my mouth, but close it when Penny comes out with Dozer. “Here he is.”

Dozer limps toward me. His leg is in a cast and he has a pissed off look on his face. He’s wearing one of those huge cones around his head.

I have to bite back a smile. Poor bastard. He’s really been through the wringer.

“Hey, buddy.” I walk over to him and crouch down. “How you doing?”

He grunts and scuffs the cone against my shoulder.

“How long does he have to keep this on for?” I stand up, taking his leash from Penny.

“See how he goes. Dr. Callie only put it on as he was chewing at the cast.”

“See Dozer, leave your leg alone and the cone can come off.”

He gives me a dirty look, then yanks his leash from my hand and limps over to Mia.

I watch them, the way she welcomes him over, no fear. Dozer is a big dog, and people are usually wary of him, but not Mia. Not even when he drops his huge head on her lap, awkwardly shuffling around with the cone, drooling on her jeans. She doesn’t falter, just gives him the attention he wants.

Dozer is never this friendly with people he doesn’t know. Generally, he gives them a wide birth. He’s always been that way, and I’ve put it down to whatever happened to him to make him land on our doorstep.

But Mia did care for him after his accident; she showed him a kindness that most people don’t have in them. It will have pre-warmed him to her, and Mia is hard not to like. I know that all too damn well.

I watch her scratching his ear, cooing over him, and he’s freaking soaking it up. Lucky bastard. What I wouldn’t give to have her hands on me right now. Seriously, I’d take an ear scratching if it meant her touching me.

A broken leg is starting to sound quite appealing at this moment in time.

Mia suddenly lifts her eyes from Dozer to me like she can hear my thoughts, and catches me staring.

Her blue eyes peer curiously into mine. I know I should look away, but I don’t…

I
can’t.

A smile slowly lifts her lips. The light coming in through the window, behind her, frames her perfectly. She looks like an angel. The most beautiful thing I have ever seen.

Punch. To. The. Chest.

I feel like I can’t breathe.

“If you can just sign these forms for me, and settle up the bill,” Penny says, pulling my attention from Mia.

“Sure,” I say, rubbing at my sternum.

If this keeps up, I’ll be having a heart attack way before my time.

With a nod, I follow her over to the reception desk. I hand Penny my credit card, trying not to think of how the hell I’m going to pay it off after these vet bills drain it, and sign the two forms she hands to me.

I glance over my shoulder, and catch Mia staring at me. She’s definitely checking me out. My ass to be exact.

She looks away when she realizes I’ve caught her out.

I can’t help the happy fucking glow I feel. I’m grinning like a stripper at a frat party.

After I’ve finished signing forms, and spending money I don’t have, Penny gives me a small bag containing Dozer’s medication.

“These are for his pain. Give him one, three times daily with food, and we’ll need to see him back here in a month’s time to check how that leg’s healing. Only give him a light dinner tonight as his stomach will still be tender from the anesthetic. You can take the collar and leash home with you. Just return it to us when you have time.”

“Thanks, I’ll bring it by tomorrow.”

I make the appointment for four weeks time, and slip the appointment card into my wallet along with my credit card. I shove the medication in my pocket as I make my way back to Mia. Dozer is still making doe eyes at her.

Even my dog is crazy about her.

Not that I’m crazy about her.

No fucking way.

Absolutely not.

Never. Ever.

“Ready?” I reach down for Dozer’s leash.

Turning his head, he knocks my hand away with that huge cone he’s wearing and puts his leash in his mouth, holding it out for Mia to take.

Nice, Dozer. Blowing me off for a chick. I think he forgets who feeds him.

Taking the leash from his mouth, she rubs his head.

She gazes up at me, a smile pushing the corner of her mouth. “Is it okay with you if I walk him out to your car?”

“Doesn’t look like you’ve got much of a choice.” I grin in the direction of Dozer’s wagging tail. “I think you’ve got an admirer.”

She giggles. It’s one of the sexiest sounds I’ve ever heard.

“Well, Dozer wouldn’t be a bad admirer to have, but I think I’m just a new face to get some attention from. Not that I imagine you ever struggle for attention,” she says to Dozer. “Handsome boy that you are … aren’t you … yes, you are.” She smooshes his face in her hands, and I actually find myself jealous of my dog.

I’m jealous of my dog.

I really need to get laid.

“Let’s go.” I shove my hands in my pockets, then head for the door and out to my car.

I help Dozer in the back seat. Turning, I find Mia hovering behind me as he settles himself.

“Should I sit in the back with him again?” she asks, biting her bottom lip.

Jesus, I want to bite that lip. Lick it. Suck it. Fuck it.

I see Dozer’s head lift, and his ears prick up. “Nah, he’ll be fine. You’ll have more room up front here next to me.”

“Okay … if you’re sure.”

I see Dozer’s head drop on a grunt.

I hold a smile back as I watch Mia walk around the car and climb in the passenger seat. But as I’m getting in the car, I can’t resist giving Dozer a smug grin.

Honestly, the look he’s giving me right now … I think if he could flip me off, he would.

Yep, you lost that round, Dozer.

I turn the ignition, feeling pretty satisfied with myself that I’ve got Mia sitting up front with me…

Then it hits me.

I was just in a pissing contest with my dog.

There are no words.

No. Fucking. Words.

I put the car in drive, heading for home.

I’m actually starting to think Mia has got some magical power, and that’s what’s making me act out of character. Like voodoo or some shit.

It has to be. There is no other logical explanation for the massive pussy I’m turning into.

All I need to do is get myself away from Mia for a few hours, stick my dick inside some chick, and I’ll be back to myself in no time.

Except I can’t tonight with Dozer being hurt.

Tomorrow.

Definitely tomorrow.

I’m going to go and pick up the hottest chick I can find, and bang her – multiple times.

I’m going to fuck Mia Monroe right out of my head.

I’m happily smiling to myself at this idea, when that annoying Taylor Swift song “I Knew You Were Trouble” starts to play on the radio.

I’m just about to turn it off, when Mia starts to sing along softly, so I leave it playing.

Jesus, her voice is one of the sweetest sounds I’ve ever heard.

I listen to her the whole song through. My skin is practically vibrating when she’s finished. Who knew that song could sound so good?

I reach over and turn the radio down.

“You like Taylor Swift?”

“What?” She blushes. “Oh, yeah, she’s okay. I just really like that song. Probably not your kind of music though, huh?”

“Not really.” I smile.

I want to touch her so very fucking badly in this moment.

“I’m sorry,” she says quietly.

I quick a glance at her. “What are you apologizing for?”

“For singing. I do it sometimes without realizing. I know I have the worst voice ever, and it must have really hurt your eardrums listening to me.” She laughs, but it sounds unnatural, forced. Not like that awesome sound I heard earlier.

Another quick glance. I notice her body language is off. Her hands are wrapped around herself, almost in protection.

Tension prickles me like knives.

“Who told you that?” The asshole ex told her. I really want to punch that prick in the face. Repeatedly.

She glances down at her jeans and start picking lint off them. I can feel her drawing into herself and away from me. I don’t like the feeling one goddamn bit.

“Oh, no one told me. I just have ears, you know?” A shrug, another fake laugh.

“Well your ears are off. I think you have a great voice, Mia. Really awesome. I enjoyed listening to you sing.”

I can feel her eyes on me, so I meet them. I’m yanked in and speaking before I realize.

“What are your plans for tonight?”

What the hell am I doing?

Surprise flickers through those gorgeous blues. Then she lifts her slender shoulders and tilts her head. “Oh, uh, I was just gonna grab some dinner, then read myself to sleep.”

“You wanna have dinner with me?”

Why can’t I stop talking?

Mia’s eyebrow lifts, and the way that sounded
finally
reverberates inside my head.

Jesus that sounded like I was asking her out on a date.

I don’t date. Ever.

What am I doing? Asking her to eat with me when a minute ago I was planning a ‘fuck Mia out of my head’ strategy.

Rectify! Rectify!

I swallow down, hard. My eyes now fixed firmly on the road ahead, I moronically stammer out, “I, uh, just meant that I was gonna be cooking myself some dinner, so I can make extra for you if you want? Or not. Whatever.”

Smooth, Matthews. Real fucking smooth.

There’s one of her long pauses before she speaks. “That would be great, Jordan. Thank you.” Her voice is so stilted and quiet that I don’t even risk a glance to see the expression on her face.

Someone kill me now. Please.

I hear Dozer snort a sound in the back.

I’m half tempted to turn around and tell him to piss off, but I’m guessing Mia already thinks I’m a moron, so I skip it.

Instead, I reach over and turn the radio back up to fill the awkwardness. And let’s just say, the drive back to the hotel is as quiet as the ride out.

Chapter Ten

Mia

Why do I feel so disappointed?

I didn’t want Jordan to ask me to dinner, but when he corrected his offer, all I felt was disappointment. It’s stupid. I’m stupid.

Of course he’s going to offer me dinner. He’s a nice guy. I know he said the hotel doesn’t provide evening meals, and he’s probably being polite because I’m the only guest, but I can’t let him feed me for free. I’ll have to make sure he adds the cost of the meal to my bill. I’m sure he will anyway, but I’ll have to make sure.

Look at me, crushing on the first guy who’s nice to me. It’s ridiculous, even for me.

I just need to concentrate on what I’m here for—finding my mother, getting some answers, and moving on with my life. Starting fresh.

We’re back at the hotel now. I’m standing by the archway watching Jordan as he settles Dozer onto the sofa. He even turns on the TV for him.

I have to suppress the smile I feel. And the zap of attraction that hits me.

He really does think the world of Dozer. He’s a lucky dog. Minus the car hitting him, that is.

I follow Jordan through to the hotel kitchen after he’s finished settling Dozer.

I take a seat on a stool by the kitchen counter.

“I’m not the best chef…” he says over his shoulder, heading for the refrigerator.

“Sounds promising,” I quip.

I’m surprised at my own boldness. This isn’t natural for me, and not how I speak around men at all. I’m always guarded, thinking over my words before I speak.

I had to be. One slip up could cost me badly.

But with Jordan it’s easy to slip because everything with him feels natural.

He turns slightly, looking affronted. “Hey! I’m not bad. I make a mean Green Chili. I’ll get the ingredients in and make it for you another night, but for tonight, just name anything you want—that I have the ingredients for—” he grins, “and I’ll make it.”