“David, this has to stop. You can’t keep buying me things,” his mother said flatly, and that caught his attention.
“Why not?”
“Oh, for heaven’s sake, enjoy your money. Go buy something fun for yourself.”
He had, he thought. He’d bought himself a fiancée, but not being an idiot, he didn’t say that out loud. “Mom…”
“I’m serious, David. If you want to give me something, make it grandchildren.”
Dave shook his head as a woman with two kids, one of them howling as if he was being tortured, went past. Kids? No, thank you. “Cars are easier. Just enjoy the Lexus, Mom.”
“How can I when I know you’re spending your money on me?”
“I’m doing it for myself,” he said, knowing just how to get gifts past his too-proud-for-her-own-good mom. “I worry about you and if you’re in a safe, new car, that’s at least one thing I don’t have to worry about.”
She sighed on the other end of the phone and Dave knew he’d won this round. His mother had worked her ass off taking care of him and seeing that he got all of the opportunities she could manage. And if he had his way, she’d be treated like a damn queen now. Even if he had to fight her to make it happen.
“I don’t know where you got that hard head of yours,” she said in a huff. “But I’m out of time to argue with you. I’m meeting Cora for dinner, so I’ve got to run.”
“Me, too. I’ve got a dinner date.”
“Ooh.” His mother’s radar instantly went on alert. “Who is she?”
Dave grinned. “Have a good time, Mom.”
“Fine, fine.” Exasperation coloring her voice, she said, “You’re an evil son to not tell me about this woman, but you have fun, too.”
Still smiling, he hung up, stepped into Claire’s and headed directly to the bar, knowing that Mia would be there waiting for him, since he was late. That thought wiped the smile from his face. Dave didn’t do late. He was always on time, always in control, and the fact that that control had started slipping the minute he got involved with Mia hadn’t escaped him.
He scanned the bar quickly, thoroughly, and didn’t see her. Had she stood him up? Changed her mind about the whole thing? Well, damned if he’d let her back out now, he told himself. They had a plan and they were going to stick to it, even if she…
He caught a woman’s gaze in the wide bar mirror and his breath left him in a rush. It was her. Mia. And she looked…amazing.
Mia was, quite unexpectedly, Dave told himself, the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. How could this stylish, sophisticated brunette sitting alone at the bar possibly be Mia? Where was the tidy bun at the back of her neck? The unadorned eyes and the naked lips? Admiration mingled with desire inside him and frothed into a dangerous mix. He took a moment to catch his breath, and to enjoy the view. Her legs looked impossibly long in her sleek black slacks and he found himself wishing she’d worn a damn dress so he could get a good look at those legs.
He had to wonder if that glance they’d shared in the mirror had displayed the hunger in his eyes. Damn, he hadn’t had a rush of pure, unadulterated lust like this in— Hell, he couldn’t even remember the last time he’d wanted anyone this badly.
If he hadn’t already decided to seduce her into his bed, seeing her tonight would have made the decision for him. He was hard and eager and ready to say screw dinner and just whisk her back to the ranch. Unfortunately, he thought, she was going to take some convincing. Still, there was nothing he liked better than a challenge.
“Mia?”
She blinked, and her eyes lost that faraway look and focused on him in the mirror. Her lips curved and his groin tightened.
Damn, it felt like a fist to his chest. Amazing what a woman could do to a man with a single look and a knowing smile. Were her eyes always that big? he wondered. Were they really so deep it seemed he could dive into their depths and drown?
“Dave?” Her voice shook him. It was deep, filled with concern. “Are you okay?”
Get a grip. “Yeah. Fine. Just…” His gaze swept her up and down. “Stunned. You look beautiful, Mia.”
She actually flushed, and until that moment, Dave would have bet cold hard cash there wasn’t a woman alive who could still do that.
Something fisted in his chest and breath was hard to find. He had to regain the upper hand here. Fast.
“Hope you didn’t wait long.” Not an apology, he assured himself. Just a statement.