Page 19 of Prove Me Wrong (The Sunburnt Hearts #5)

Chapter Fourteen

NOAH

L eaning against the doorframe, I watch Mia's pretty, pouty lips part as she stares. I take in her effortless outfit, but my eyes linger on the familiar bow in her hair. It’s as if it’s an extension of her. I have to admit that they add to her natural cuteness.

Mia’s throat works before holding up the cardboard tray of coffees. “I wanted to pay you back for yesterday,” she admits with flared eyes that sparkle silver in the morning light like sunshine reflecting off a lake.

They’re utterly hypnotic, drawing me closer each time I look at them.

My smile grows, and I watch her eyes flicker down to my lips before moving back up to my heavy gaze, sending a jolt right to my chest.

“I said that you didn’t need to pay me back, Grey. I was happy to bring you one.”

She bites her lip, and I hate that it makes me feel hot all over. Such a small movement, but it has such a big effect on me.

“I know, but I thought while I was there that I should get you one. And Jade,” she adds quickly, her freckled cheeks blushing a pale pink.

Grinning, I pull myself off the doorframe, uncrossing my arms to rest one on the open door. “I was just about to sit down to watch today’s race if you want to join me?” I ask in a smooth tone .

Mia’s cloudy eyes drop to the coffees in her hands, and I see her brain ticking, contemplating what I’ve asked.

“I can explain the rules to you. Show you what it’s like. Who better to learn from than a professional driver?” I quirk, and watch her pupils dilate.

“Okay,” she lets out, and I feel the warm wash of relief flow over me.

“Come in then.” I move aside to let her through.

Closing the door, I lead her into the living room, and Jade giggles when she recognises Mia’s face, holding up her arms. “Ia.”

Mia reaches down and picks her up, pulling my daughter onto her waist. “Hi, little lady. I hope you like babycinos.”

“Who doesn’t like froth?” I comment, and see her cheeks darken. My mouth gapes open. “You don’t like milk froth?”

Biting back a smile, Mia shakes her head.

“Wow…” I breathe out with widened eyes.

She snorts a laugh, and it’s one of the best sounds I’ve heard in my life, second to Jade’s giggles, of course. “I prefer my coffee cold. It just tastes better in my opinion.”

My head shakes as Mia sinks her teeth into her bottom lip, making my manhood twitch. She sits on the couch, placing Jade on her lap to snuggle.

Turning on the TV, I sit down on the other end of the couch and raise the volume. “What other things should I know about you? Honestly, I should have asked before I hired you as Jade’s babysitter. They could be deal breakers.” I smirk at the last part. She definitely heard me.

Silver eyes slide to mine, and I can’t help the grin that consumes my entire face. “What do you want to know, thirty-four?”

My tongue pokes the side of my mouth before I dive right in. “Favourite music? ”

She answers instantly. “Classic rock.”

My eyebrows lift in surprise. “Didn’t expect that, but definitely have to agree.”

“It’s unbeatable,” Mia adds with a small smile.

“Colour?”

“Green,” she murmurs.

“Same,” I say and nod my head towards my daughter. “I didn’t have one before Jade was born, but I say that green is now.”

Mia’s smile grows as she looks down at Jade, who has chocolate powder and froth stuck to her top lip. “Also, her eyes,” she whispers before looking up into mine. “And yours.”

Air gets stuck in my throat as I realise Mia’s flirting with me for the first time. I knew she liked my eyes. If she likes them half as much as I adore her grey eyes, then I’ll be a lucky man.

“Food?” I continue, ignoring the tingling in my fingertips, trying to gain my attention.

She’s silent for a moment, thinking, until she answers, “Burgers. Specifically beef with pickles.”

“Really? Pickles?”

Mia just sniffs a laugh. “I love pickles. Sinnett and I can’t eat burgers without them. The saltiness makes the burger.”

Laughing at my horrified face, I shake it, ridding the thought of her liking pickles. How gross .

“What’s yours then? Since you find my favourite food repulsive,” she quips. I like seeing her this relaxed around me.

“Lemon squares.”

Grey eyes widen as I chuckle. “Lemon squares?”

“Specifically your gran’s,” I add, and her smile pulls wider. “She does make good ones. ”

I’m off the couch a second later and race into the kitchen to snatch the container off my bench. I drop it on the coffee table beside our drinks and rip off the lid to show her my stash. Mia leans forward and softly gasps. “They’re all for you?”

Nodding, I slide back on the couch, half a foot closer to her. “I may have a slight obsession.”

She nods in agreement. “I understand. My obsession is caffeine.”

Smiling, I take a lemon square and devour it in two bites.

Mia watches with amusement. Sipping on her coffee, she looks to the TV to see the cars lining up on the grid. There are forty-six cars this season, and my team drivers are starting in fourth and fifth position. Moving to the edge of the couch, my eyes focus on the screen as they start moving.

“It starts with a formation lap. Basically, to assess the track and to warm up the tyres,” I begin.

Peering over, Grey’s gaze is locked on the screen as she watches in awe. “There are so many cars,” she murmurs, and a snicker escapes my throat.

“Yeah. There’s a lot this season. There are two cars per team, so two drivers a race.” I look back to see the cameras following the leader of the group, Carmichael.

We watch the formation lap, and then the lights flash off and the race begins. My pulse rises the second they take off, and I can almost feel the heightened energy I sense when I’m inside the car. The smell of rubber tyres, petrol and leather as I speed down the straight.

My eyes are glued to the screen when the camera moves to the inside of a car.

It’s focused on Carmichael as he maintains first position.

The cabin is decked out in straps, poles, buttons and caging.

Carmichael has on his purple helmet and matching race suit.

The camera angle makes it look both airy and claustrophobic at the same time .

“You drive in that?” The words tumble from Grey’s lips as she stares at the screen.

I sniff a laugh, leaning back into the couch. “Yeah. You get used to it, though.”

“But there’s just so much going on. Surely that is not comfortable.”

“It’s not meant to be comfortable, it’s to keep us protected, Grey,” I say in a low tone.

My eyes watch her shocked expression before she glances in my direction. The tingling sensation grows as I hold her gaze before she breaks it, blinking away.

Leaning over, I take another lemon square and my coffee before watching the drivers.

Engines rev as multi-coloured cars covered in stickers overtake each other on the straights. I hold my breath when Daniels overtakes someone on a corner, and I smile.

“Wow,” Mia says breathlessly as my hands dig into the couch cushions.

“Yeah, it’s thrilling.” My words are light yet heavy.

Gazes on the TV, we remain silent, watching side by side until Jade pushes her cup off Mia’s lap, spilling bits of milk on the floorboards. Jumping up, Mia is already standing with Jade in one arm and the cup in the other. “I’ll clean it.”

“You don’t have to. Let me,” I insist.

Grey eyes meet mine as she smiles gently. “It’s fine. She only spilt a little bit. I’ll just grab some paper.”

Mia leaves the room while tickling my giggling daughter. I grin, leaning back into my couch. I hope she doesn’t feel as though she has to do work while she’s here, because that’s definitely not what I’m expecting of her. I want her to feel as comfortable here as she does in her own home .

I’ve seen her reluctance; although, it has gotten better the more she’s gotten to know me. And thank God because I’m starting to think that I want her here more. Not just as my daughter’s babysitter, but because I enjoy her company a lot.

When she returns, I notice that she’s closer to me.

Our shoulders aren’t touching, but I can feel the vibrations emitting from her body like a magnet trying to connect with me.

Biting back a grin, I savour the feeling of her closeness, getting used to the sensation of her warmth beside mine.

Her jasmine scent tickles my nostrils, soothing my beating heart.

For lunch, I make some chicken sandwiches that we eat at the coffee table together. Mia tells me more about her piano playing, which I am waiting patiently to listen to. How she studied graphic design because she inherited her grandad’s art skills, and how she prefers reading over watching TV.

I agree with her on the last one.

“Reading is so therapeutic, but sadly it takes me ages to get through a single book,” I murmur as we sit on the floor. Jade is between us, colouring on poster paper and definitely not staying within the lines. She loves it, though.

Mia pulls her knees up, hugging them to her smaller chest. “I’m a slow reader. Takes me a week to finish one book.”

“A week!” I exclaim, and Mia just sniffs a laugh. “Try a month, at least.”

Her dark brows pull together. “Really?”

“When you have a kid, you don’t have much time for yourself apart from when they’re asleep. And even then, I have to spend time cleaning and washing clothes.” My hand runs down the side of my face .

I watch her lips roll, a small dimple appearing in the corner, making me smile. “Yeah. That does sound hard, but you are doing a really good job, thirty-four.”

Jaw slackening, my mind wanders back to the last conversation with my parents in the hospital.

You can’t raise a child on your own. You shouldn’t keep her, Noah. She will ruin your life.