The place is busier than normal for a Wednesday evening, so I opted for sitting on the patio out back. There’s a gorgeous waterfront view, and also, an entrance to the hotel. I know for a fact that the training session doesn’t let out until six o’clock. Assuming he’s still staying here, he should be arriving any time. He’ll have to walk past the patio where I’m seated at the end. At which point, I’ll give him one more chance—this time, dinner.
“Eating alone, are we?” A voice comes from behind me. A voice that alarms every cell in my body. One I’d know anywhere.
My head jerks around quickly, meeting his gaze. “What the hell do you want?”
“Oh, come on. Now, is that any way to talk to your former fiancé?”
My stomach turns at his words. “Having a fiancé would require an actual proposal. Something I never got. And even if I had, my answer would have been no.” I turn back around and take a sip of my margarita, swiping the tip of my tongue across the beads of salt on the rim.
Pent-up air escapes my lungs at the sound of the chair beside me scraping against the concrete. It’s enough to make my skin crawl because it means Niles is getting comfortable. The waiter walks by and he holds up a finger, calling him over.
“No!” I spit out. “I didn’t ask you to join me. In fact, I’m meeting someone, so if you don’t mind...get lost.” My eyes roll from him back to my drink. I take another sip, letting all the liquid in the glass roll down my throat. Once it’s gone, I slide it toward the middle of the table.
The waiter walks up with an empty tray in his hand. “Yes, sir. What can I get for you?”
“Whatever she’s having. Make it two,” Niles retorts with an aggression behind his tone. He’s so snappy and rude and just a plain asshole. His entire body turns to face me, his knees bumping my outer thigh. It’s when he places a hand over mine that’s resting on the table that I lose it.
Jerking my hand away in a fury, I look him dead in the eye and enunciate each word. “Do. Not. Fucking. Touch. Me.”
It barely fazes him, which pisses me off even more. He smiles, enjoying the fact that he’s getting under my skin.
He tsks. “Since when did they allow such pretty girls to have such dirty mouths?”
“Since dirty men tried to ruin their reputation when the pretty girl wouldn’t marry him.”
Niles sinks back in his seat, letting his legs fall open. “You’re still on that? I’ve told you a thousand times, I had nothing to do with outing your affair.”
“Liar.”
“You can call me a liar all you want, Sunshine, but until you’ve got proof, you’ll just have to take my word for it.”
“I’ll never believe anything you say ever again.” The waiter returns with our drinks and I take a sip, peering over the rim of the glass. Oh no. My heart sinks into my stomach when I see Sawyer walking up. He can’t see me here. If he comes to talk to me now, my cover is blown. He’ll know I’m not Mia Bluff, but none other than the girl he despises, Mira Glasson.
Niles places a hand on my leg and instead of stopping him, I turn my entire body toward him, needing to hide my face.
“Let’s just kiss and make up. Marry me, Mira. The companies will merge and my family will handle everything when your dad is gone. You and Lance will still get everything you were promised—even more.”
“Never. I will never marry you, and I will certainly never love you.” I grit through my clenched teeth, fighting back the urge to slap him. How dare he even mention a time when my dad will be gone? Sure, it’s inevitable, but that’s not his business.
“It’s not about love, Mira, it’s business.”
A glance over my shoulder confirms that Sawyer is gone and I can finally get away from this arrogant jerk. Without even finishing my drink, I push the chair back, straighten my sundress and turn to walk away. I don’t dare give him a second look because then he’ll start talking again, or even worse, follow me.
So much for dinner, and so much for the chance to talk to Sawyer. Niles Tanner loves nothing more than ruining my plans. And, once again, he’s succeeded.
I pass through the dining area to the waiter station and request my bill. Tapping my fingers to the wooden bar, I wait impatiently for the hostess to return. I’m completely thrown off guard, yet again, when I see Sawyer walking up to the bar.
“Mia?” Sawyer says my name in question. “What are you doing here?”
He’s no longer wearing the suit he had on earlier. Instead, he’s donning a pair of gym shorts and a t-shirt and I’m pretty sure my jaw is touching my feet. God, could this guy be any more gorgeous? He has bulging biceps that threaten to rip through the skin, abs that peek through the thin white fabric of his shirt, and toned legs that look like they’ve run for multiple days straight. Everything about his body ignites every cell in mine. “I um,” I lick my lips, catching my train of thought, “just came for a quick drink. Did you come down for dinner?” I can’t imagine he has; he looks like he’s ready to go for a run or to the gym.
“Actually, I was going for a jog and saw you walking in from the patio out back. Are you here alone?” His eyes sweep the room as if he’s expecting someone to join my side.
Fortunately, he didn’t see me with Niles. “Yes. I actually come here often—alone.” It’s a semi-lie. The other night was my first time here in over a year, and I’ve never come alone.
“Sunshine,” Niles says, breathing down my back. My body steels. My heart galloping in my chest. “Let me get that.”
I look at Sawyer who gives me a subtle nod. “You two have a good night.”
And he’s gone.
And I’m one broken nerve away from showing Niles just how much I hate him. The stupid nickname he gave me when I was only seventeen years old. His pretty boy look. String bean legs, and perfectly parted hair. He’s the least attractive man I’ve ever met, and it’s not because of his looks alone, it’s because of his personality. He behaves as if women should bow to him and kiss his pedicured feet.
“No, you will not. Because I will not owe you a damn thing. I’ll pay for my own drink. Thank you very much.” I give him my back and try really hard to pretend like he’s not still breathing down my neck. Even when his nose parts my hairline and I hear him inhale audibly.
“You smell delicious, Sunshine.”
Barf.
“Like vanilla and lavender. Did you do that for me? You know how much I love the scent of vanilla?”
My eyes roll as I swallow down the bile rising in my throat. “Go away.” I’m not sure how much clearer I can make myself. I’m not sure he’ll ever get the hint, though. This has been going on since I was in high school—back when Tanner Enterprises first approached my dad with an offer to merge the companies.
Cold fingers slide across my neck, moving my hair out of the way. His lips shimmy over my ear lobe. “Not until you tell me who that guy was. Is that who you were meeting here? Did I scare him away?”
Enough is enough.
I turn around, wearing a smug grin on my face. Eyes beaming into his, I lift my knee, driving it straight to his balls. “Go fuck yourself,” I whisper in his ear. The hostess returns, handing me my bill. “Thank you.” I snatch it away before shoving it into Niles’ chest. “Thanks for the drink.”