Читать книгу Six Hot Summer Nights - Leslie Kelly - Страница 15

Mia had wanted to feel those lips on hers again but never thought she would. So she’d lied when she said she didn’t want anything. She couldn’t very well tell Bronson she wanted him again, could she? He was so skeptical of her, and if she wanted that family she’d dreamed of, she’d have to take it slow and make him see she was the real deal.

As Bronson’s hands slid up to cup the sides of her face, Mia realized that’s exactly what she wanted. She wanted to see where this attraction would lead. He couldn’t very well deny that he was physically attracted to her … she could feel the evidence.

Mia wrapped her arms around his neck and gave in to the kiss as Bronson changed the angle. She arched her back, pressing her sensitive breasts against his solid chest.

What had happened to make him turn from being so irritated at her to devouring her in her kitchen?

Mia eased back. “What was that for?”

Dark eyes filled with desire stared back at her. “You may not need anything, Mia, but I do. I’ve tried to keep my hands off you. I’ve tried to keep my distance because I didn’t want to complicate anything with this pregnancy, but I can’t.”

Really? Was this a game or was he sincere?

“But you don’t believe me.”

Bronson rested his forehead against hers and sighed. “I want to, God do I want to. I want this baby to be a Dane.”

Mia’s heart clenched at the battle he waged within himself. And he’d admitted his fears aloud—that shocked her. His frustrated tone and moment of vulnerability revealed more about his state of mind than he’d probably intended.

She reached up, grasping his biceps. “Then let yourself believe and I swear to you, you won’t get hurt.”

At least not about this. About Anthony being his biological brother … that wasn’t her secret to tell, and she could only pray her loyalty and vow of silence didn’t blow up in her face.

Bronson stepped back, shoving his hands in his pockets. The muscle ticked in his jaw as he glanced out the French doors to the hot-tub area. “All I can offer is a physical relationship, Mia. I have nothing else to give a woman at this stage in my life. I promise if this child’s mine, I’ll love it beyond measure. But if you’re under the impression that you and I can forge a relationship—much less a marriage—we can’t.”

She hadn’t been under that impression. Of course, that didn’t stop her from hoping and dreaming for a family of her own. But she wouldn’t push—that’s not how she wanted to obtain her family. She would hold out for love.

So while spending more time with Bronson might exact a toll on her emotionally, she was willing to take the chance because she believed there was so much more than physicality to explore between them.

“I just want us to get along for the sake of the baby,” she told him. “If anything happens between us, physical or otherwise, we’ll deal with that when the time comes. For right now, this baby is my main concern. Not your needs and not mine.”

Bronson’s eyes came back to her. “You’re going to be a great mother.”

Mia’s throat tightened, and her belly fluttered. She was going to be a mother. What she wouldn’t give to be able to go to her own for advice right now.

She could get through this on her own. She had no choice. Although she had a feeling that getting her heart involved with Bronson was going to lead to a bigger heartache than she could ever imagine.

After three weeks of life getting back to normal, Mia thanked God every day that her morning sickness didn’t rear its ugly head. Nausea occasionally followed her around like an unwanted friend, but other than that, she felt fine. Bronson had called and stopped by, but nothing intimate had even come close to transpiring again, and her hormones were screaming for one more touch.

Just as Mia was turning off her computer for the day, Olivia stepped into her office. “Do you have a minute or do you need to go?” she asked.

“I’m in no hurry. I’m just going home to try a new recipe I saw in a magazine.” Mia sat back down in her chair. “Something wrong?”

“Not at all. I want to commend you for how well you’re handling this pregnancy, considering my son’s doubts.”

Mia really didn’t want to get into what she and Bronson discussed. Working with the grandmother of her child while wanting Bronson more in her life could get a bit awkward.

“I’m not trying to pry,” Olivia said, as if reading her thoughts. “But I do want to offer some money to help with the baby’s furniture, clothes, whatever you want to buy.”

Mia came to her feet. “Oh, no. I’m not taking any money, Olivia. What you pay me is more than enough, and I’ve been setting some aside in my savings for anything this baby may need.”

“I didn’t think you’d take it, but I had to offer.”

“No, you didn’t. I will be just fine and so will the baby, no matter what Bronson decides.”

Olivia crossed her arms over her bright orange silk tunic. “Well, I don’t care what my son or you say, I will be spoiling my grandchild, so you tell me when you decide on furniture or a nursery theme. I have a wonderful designer, if you’re interested.”

Mia laughed. “I hadn’t even thought that far ahead yet.”

“Oh, yes, you have.”

“Okay, maybe I have,” Mia conceded. “But not much. I want to find out the sex of the baby before I decide on the colors. And I’d really like to do everything myself.”

Olivia shook her head. “Stubborn and independent. My son has his work cut out for him. At least say you’ll hire someone to paint. You don’t need to be smelling those fumes.”

How could anyone not love this woman? She was so caring, so take-charge, so motherly.

“I promise.”

Olivia moved around the side of the desk and came within a foot of Mia. “I have to tell you this because I’m a mother and because I love my son and have come to care about you like family. Don’t let Bronson’s attitude deter you if you want him in your life.”

“Pardon?” Olivia wasn’t really going to attempt her hand at cupid’s bow, was she?

Olivia laid a gold-ringed hand on Mia’s arm. “This baby has scared him more than he’ll ever admit. The last time … it didn’t end well. There are things you don’t know, and it’s his place to tell you if he chooses. I just don’t want you to think everything is as it seems with him.”

“I won’t pry into his past, Olivia.” Mia smiled, touched that this Hollywood icon valued her family more than anything else. “Right now we are getting along for the sake of the baby. What I want, what he wants, doesn’t matter.”

Olivia cupped Mia’s cheek. “Oh, my darling, you’re so wrong. You’re a unit whether you like it or not. Everyone’s happiness counts. Don’t shove your own desires aside, especially now when you need people in your life.”

Mia knew she needed people. She’d never wanted to need anyone, but she had to think realistically and see that she was out of her league here. She would need help and guidance with this child.

“I’ll let you know about that painter,” Mia said, hugging Olivia.

Mia left her office and walked out through Olivia’s as she always did. The summer evening breeze wasn’t quite so stifling tonight, and Mia lifted her face to the sky, feeling confident she was heading in the right direction with her life.

For now there was no turmoil, or not as much as there had been, and that suited Mia just fine. She hated drama—ironic since she loved working in Hollywood.

As she walked along the wide concrete path back to her house, she resisted the urge to call Anthony. She wanted to share her good news with him because they were friends, but she didn’t want to add any more issues to his home life.

She also wished she could talk to him about broaching the delicate subject with Olivia. The guilt she carried was pointless since she couldn’t say anything. How she wished she could go back to that day in Anthony’s office and not open that file he’d had on his desk. Why did she have to uncover a secret that had been buried for decades?

“Good evening.”

Mia squealed, jumping back with a hand to her heart. “Bronson! You scared me to death.”

If she hadn’t been so lost in thought, she would’ve noticed him sitting on her porch looking sexy as ever. Of course, he’d show up out of the blue. That’s what he did. Oh, he called every morning, but with his crazy work schedule, which changed from day to day, she never knew when he’d make a surprise visit.

“I didn’t mean to scare you.” He came to his feet and took her hand as she ascended the steps. “Were you lost in thought?”

Yeah, thinking about your brother.

“Something like that,” she told him as she fished out her key from her bag. “How long have you been waiting?”

“Just a few minutes.”

She led him inside, turned off the alarm and set her purse and keys on the foyer table. “I was just going to fix dinner. You hungry?”

A slow, cautious, sexy smile spread across his face. “Starving. I’d help, but the cook always kicked me out when I was a kid. So maybe I’ll just observe.”

Mia laughed as she toed off her heels and headed toward the kitchen. “I can turn on the TV if you’d like to watch something.”

She moved toward the flat screen on the wall between the breakfast nook and the kitchen.

“No, I’d rather have conversation or silence. My brain is on overload right now.”

Mia didn’t question what was wrong. He didn’t want to do personal and she could live with that … for now. But he was here, wanted to stay for dinner. Something drew him to her and she wasn’t going to question it.

She pulled one of her cooking magazines from her stack beside the fridge and turned to the earmarked page. As she bustled around the kitchen pulling out ingredients and double-checking the list, she was hyperaware of his presence. He didn’t say a word, but the shuffling of his rolling up the sleeves of his white dress shirt and the smell of his masculine aroma filled her kitchen.

“Feeling okay today?” he asked as she preheated the oven.

“I’m fine. I can’t wait until the ultrasound.” Mia pulled out a mixing bowl and stared across the island at Bronson. “I just want to see her.”

“Her?” he asked, raising a brow.

Mia laughed. “I go back and forth using her or him. I don’t care what we have.”

Bronson’s shoulders tensed.

“Sorry.” Mia cringed as she turned to get a pan. “I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”

Silence settled in once again as she mixed and poured everything into the baking stone. Once she had the dish in the oven, she wiped her hands on a towel and turned to Bronson.

“That has to bake for about an hour. Do you want some wine or a drink?”

“No, I’m good.”

Mia couldn’t take it another minute. She just had to uncover the truth Olivia spoke of.

“I know it’s not my place to pry, but I need to know about your ex-fiancée and the baby.”

Bronson’s eyes turned dark as he jerked his gaze to hers. “No, you don’t. There’s nothing that concerns you.”

Mia wet a rag and wiped off the counter. She needed a prop for her nervous hands. “Actually, it does involve me, considering you’re hesitant about everything because of your past. Your ex-fiancée is always in the room with us, whether you realize it or not.”

“Leave it alone, Mia.”

For once she was not going to back down. “You know all about my life. You know why this baby means so much to me. I want to know why this baby scares you to the point that you can’t even discuss it without tensing up.”

Bronson came to his feet, running a hand through his stylishly messy hair. “I don’t know why you think now is the time to rehash all this.”

“I’ve been wondering for a while, Bronson, and today your mother—”

He jerked around. “My mother? You’ve got to be kidding. Did she tell you I loved that child, that his name was chosen and that I could hardly work for all the anticipation surrounding my upcoming marriage and baby?”

Mia tossed the rag into the sink. “She just said that—”

“What?” He threw his arms out to the side. “She said what? That my ex-fiancée was sleeping around behind my back and the baby wasn’t mine? Oh, and did she tell you how I believed the baby belonged to Anthony?”

Breath caught in Mia’s throat. Anthony the father? That couldn’t be. He loved his wife more than anything and was fighting to save his marriage.

She placed her palms on the island and stared into his tormented eyes. “Oh, God, Bronson. I had no idea.”

“No, but you had to push and push until I gave in. Well, congratulations. Now you know my secret.” He muttered a curse. “I don’t know how that wasn’t leaked to the media.

They all assumed we split over her losing the baby, that the stress was too much.”

Mia remembered reading that, hearing those rumors. Now she understood why this DNA test was so important … especially considering the rumors about her and Anthony and after he’d seen them talking in Cannes.

“That’s why you don’t believe me,” she whispered. “All of that in your past, added to my history with Anthony, has stacked the deck against me and instantly put you on guard. In Cannes, even, you probably thought I was working for the enemy. You slept with me with all these hateful thoughts in your head. I swear, Bronson, I never even entertained thoughts of sleeping with Anthony.”

Mia turned, holding a hand over her slightly rounded stomach. She didn’t want any of this ugliness to touch her baby.

“Maybe dinner was a bad idea.” She kept her gaze down, her body facing away from him. She couldn’t look him in the eye right now. Not when she knew so much hurt was swimming in hers. “I honestly didn’t meant to hurt you, to make you relive that nightmare. But I can’t be around someone who believes everything I say is a lie.”

Bronson’s hands came up to her shoulders. “Dinner isn’t a bad idea at all. I want to spend time with you, Mia. I didn’t mean to yell at you. I just wanted you to see where I’m coming from.”

Mia allowed those strong hands to turn her around, and she studied those eyes that showed so much emotion. It was probably a good thing he was on the other side of the camera. No way could he ever hide his true thoughts.

“I see a lot of pain,” she told him, smoothing the line between his brows. “I see a man who wants to hope and is afraid to. If you’ll look back at me, really look, you’ll see we aren’t so different.”

And then she did something she’d been dying to do—even with the accusations, the lies, the uncertainty.

Taking control of the situation, she rose on her bare toes and kissed him.