Page 137 of Devious Love

She frowns, poking her tongue into her cheek. “What do you mean? Why?”

“We need to talk, and this seemed like a good way to get you to listen to me.”

With a harsh chuckle, she shakes her head. “Leave it to you to decide for me, even when it comes to something as insignificant as going to the spa with my friends.” She tsks. “It’s good to know you haven’t changed.”

“Mia.”

“Can you please stop the car?” I shake my head, and she rolls her eyes. “I won’t run away. I need to work, and I’d have more space in the back seat.”

With a dip of my chin, I pull into a parking lot. She jumps out, slips into the backseat, and immediately, she’s back at work.

“I’m taking you to my place,” I tell her.

“Whatever. Just let me do my job.”

Before we’ve even hit the highway, she’s on another call, and that’s how the rest of the ride goes: me driving silently, her hopping on calls, typing furiously.

The silver lining? She didn’t say she wouldn’t listen to me.

CHAPTER 40

you are my inevitable

DOMINIC

Age 27

September

At the thresholdof my house, Mia hesitates, her posture tense, her arms folded over her chest. And when she looks at me, she purses her lips tighter. She’s even more annoyed now than she was when I told her I was taking her back to Monterey.

“Come on in.” I splay a hand over her lower back and guide her inside. “I just want to talk. You’re free to leave anytime you want.”

“What if I want to go now?”

I chuckle. “In that case, I’d ask you to give me just a few minutes first.” I hover closer, my face inches from hers. “Please, Mia, come inside.”

With a huff, she finally steps into my house. Just inside the door, she scans the living room: the black sectional with throw pillows, the dark wood coffee table, the shelves, and the big TV on the wall. When she finally looks at me, her expression is guarded.

“What? Not what you expected?”

“Actually…it’s very you.” The corners of her mouth twitch. “And it’s an upgrade from your apartment. Bigger. Neater.”

I shrug. “The shop is doing well. I saved like crazy for the down payment.”

“You never thought about moving back in with Mom and Allan to save money?”

“Never.” I place my hand on the small of her back again, guiding her further into the room. “Did you live with Luke?”

The way my skin burns when I touch her should be studied. There’s no fucking way it’s normal. But when she doesn’t pull away, that heat settles into something bearable.

“Yeah,” she says, lowering herself onto the couch. “His apartment near the Duomo is beautiful. Though, after graduation, I moved out. It was time.”

“Did you like living on your own?”

“Um…sure.” She looks around the space, as if cataloguing every detail. Her gaze lingers on the helmet on the bar before she focuses on me again, and her head tilts. “Are you just going to stand there, or are we going to talk?”

I chuckle. “Just thought I’d get drinks, maybe some sandwiches if you’re hungry.”