Page 95 of Devious Love

That I’m not worth fighting for.

Fuck. I shouldn’t let my mind go there. I blink and fix my focus on Miles. “How about dinner?”

He smiles. “I could eat.” As he walks past me, he says, “You could’ve just said you wanted to see Mia. I would’ve gone with you either way.”

My body is soattuned to her, I spot her the second I walk in. The place is crowded and noisy, the low music piped in through the speaker barely audible over the loud conversations and laughter. But it all fades away when I set my sights on her.

She’s taking an elderly couple’s order. Her smile is radiant, warming me from the inside out. The uniform is nothing special, but on her? It looks incredible. The beige dress fits her like aglove, and the small white apron tied around her waist is hotter than it should be. The skirt is short, exposing her long, tanned legs. Her hair is pulled into a little bun on top of her head, a pencil tucked behind her ear.

She’s beautiful, and she’s all mine. I can’t take my eyes off her.

Chuckling, Miles nudges me toward a booth. “You’re so fucking obvious.”

I slide into one side. “I have nothing to hide.”

Across from me, he smiles. “I like the way you act around her, the way you talk about her. It’s nothing like it was with Remi or any of the girls I’ve seen you with.”

“I’m not the same guy I was in college.”

“Or maybe you’ve finally found the right girl.”

While we wait for our food, all I can do is watch Mia. She moves from table to table, taking orders, smiling and laughing with her customers. She makes it look easy…but it’s not.

Last time she came over, she fell asleep within minutes of putting on a movie. Another time, she stayed up all night working on a sketch she promised a new client. Studying, working, freelancing. I have no idea how she finds time for it. She should be home after class, relaxing and spending time with her friends, working on designs for fun, not busting her ass in a place like this just to have her own money.

I’ve mentioned my concerns and offered her money so she can quit waitressing, but she gets upset every time. I want to help, but I don’t know how.

“Hey, hey.” She stops at our table. “My favorite customers.”

“I’m your favorite too?” Miles bats his eyelashes at her.

She snorts. “You are.” Then, she places one hand on the table and leans forward, eyes level with his. “But if you hurt my best friend, you’ll end up on my shit list in the blink of an eye.”

“Your best friend?” I glance from her to Miles and back again. “Chiara?”

She lifts a shoulder and straightens. “Maybe it’s Jeff.”

Miles coughs. “Look, Jeff is handsome, sure, but I don’t swing that way.”

Her melodic laughter infuses me with a warmth that makes me grin. I wrap my arm around her waist and pull her onto my lap. With her hands on my shoulders, she smiles softly. Then, she inches forward and presses her lips to mine for the quickest kiss.

“I missed you.”

“I missed you too.” I tighten my hold on her. “Any plans for tonight?”

She shakes her head. “No. I have to finish an essay and submit an art project before midnight, so I’m headed home after my shift.”

“Your man here showed me your designs.” Miles sits back, crossing his arms.

Mia tenses a little in my lap, her expression nervous.

“I had no idea you had that kind of talent.” He grins widely, eyebrows quirking.

A relieved smile breaks out across her face. “Thank you.”

“And he told me his secret. I can’t believe he hid it from me and not you.”

“A secret?” She looks at me, lips tugging down.