“No parent juststopsloving their child.”
Mia released a bitter laugh at Wyatt’s on point observation.
“He died when I was sixteen, and at his will reading I found out that he wasn’t my biological father. My mother had an affair with the pool boy one summer, fifteen years her junior, how cliché.”
“That’s not an excuse,” Wyatt said in determination, wiping a tear rolling down Mia’s cheek.
“Not everyone is as lucky as your father, Wyatt,” Mia whispered. “Not everyone is as lucky as you.”
“Mia…” Her name was a shuddery exhale, followed by a trembling kiss that stole her breath away. “What happened after the reading?”
“I wanted to find the pool boy, but my mother blew me off, said he was a seasonal worker that moved on and never came back, shethinkshis name was Anton, though she doesn’t understand why I even care.” Mia rolled her eyes in dismay. “My father left me this house and enough money so I can live comfortably while focusing on my academics, under the provision I live in London. My mother hates this city, so he knew if I were here, she’d never see me. I assume it was his bit of revenge for her many infidelities.”
“Or his way of looking out for you by distancing you from her,” Wyatt said, his eyes full of warmth rather than the pity Mia was expecting.
“Maybe.” Mia dropped her head back onto Wyatt’s chest, trying to push down the feeling of comfort that washed over her under Wyatt’s soft and caring gaze. “It hasn’t stopped her from sending eligible suitors my way over the years, trying to guilt me back to Paris and marry me into a titled family.”
“Has shemetyou?” Wyatt asked with an incredulous tone, and Mia swatted his arm. “I’m serious, you’rebarelyduchess material, Prickly Pear.”
Mia planted her palms on Wyatt’s chest and pushed herself up to glare at him in amusement. “Well, lucky for me, you aren’t exactly aduke, now are you?”
“No.” He laughed, a warm and deep rumble that ignited a bubbling joy in Mia’s chest. “I am definitely not a Duke, I’m a Jenkins through and through.” Then he leaned forward, planting a soft kiss on Mia’s lips before whispering in a voice full of sincere gratitude. “Thank you for telling me all that.”
“Thank you for listening,” Mia said against his lips, pulling him closer, deepening the kiss.
Wyatt’s palm smoothed up her back until he was cupping her nape, their eyes meeting. For a brief moment, something unspoken passed between them.
And just like that, Mia realized that she no longer hated Wyatt Jenkins, and that she hadn’t hated him for some time.
Revelations and Betrayals
Mia
Mia yelpedin surprise when she was suddenly pulled back onto the bed.
“Wyatt,” she scolded with a laugh, trying to wriggle free from his warm embrace. “I have a meeting with Herbert, I need to get ready.”
“All this targeted squirming isn’t convincing me you want to be released,” Wyatt said in a groggy voice, pressing his hardening length against her back.
It was tempting, but Mia was already cutting it close.
“Sorry, mon Bête, you’ll have to handle this one on your own.” Wyatt sighed dramatically but flopped onto his back, releasing Mia from his hold.
Mia hurried to the bathroom, and by the time she was showered and primped, Wyatt was already gone from the bedroom. She found him sitting at the small breakfast table in her kitchen, reading the newspaper with a stern expression while drinking coffee.
It was a scene she was both accustomed to and couldn’t get used to, Wyatt as an integral part of her home life, but Mia was surprisingly comfortable with the direction their relationship had taken.
Things had changed between them after the banquet, a silent understanding that they were attempting a different course of action than the one they had initially opted for.
Once Mia had stopped fighting Wyatt at every turn in the lab, he released the reins of control and gave her more free range and managerial power. True to his word, all Wyatt ever wanted was an ally to work with as his equal. And, while Mia had come to terms that she no longer hated Wyatt, she struggled to label their relationship. Nothing had changed except more open discussions of their life outside the confinements of the lab and the bedroom, but they were still a well-kept secret and Mia preferred it stay that way.
“Is the world any better today?” Mia asked the same question she’d been asking every morning when Wyatt sat down with the paper.
“No.” Wyatt smiled without looking up, and Mia waited for his daily dose of positive news tidbits. “Though grape prices have dropped.”
“It does not say that.” Mia marched the short distance and peered over Wyatt’s shoulder only to find he wasn’t teasing her. “I hate grapes.”
“How can a wine enthusiast hate grapes?” Wyatt asked,again, folding his newspaper before looking up at her with amusement. “You look amazing. Should I be jealous of your teatime date with Professor Flinch?”