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“I’m supposed to wash my hair tomorrow night but I guess I can put it off if I need to.” I laugh up at him.

“Fucking hell.” He helps me off the counter. “You’re going to keep me on my toes.”

“You can bank on it.”

CHAPTER FOUR

MICK

I spend a restless night staring at the goddamn ceiling. Fucking hell. I can still see her. The way she looked at that table, tilting her head back and laughing for the motherfucker.

I really wanted to walk straight to her booth and drag that asshole out the door to rearrange all those vowels in his last name. Except I knew if I made a scene, I’d drive Mia further from me. So I sat there at the bar silently seething until they finally fucking got up and left. By the time I left that fucking restaurant, I knew I had to make a move.

At dawn, I drag myself out of bed, head pounding, every muscle in my body protesting the sleepless night.

After taking a hot shower, I dress and drag my ass to the kitchen for some much-needed coffee.

I stand in my kitchen, drinking the first cup, already mapping out everything I need to do for tonight.

This dinner needs to be perfect. Fuck. It’s going to be a long goddamn day.

Seven long hours later, I drive through Seattle on my way to Mia’s place. Motherfucking hell, my pulse is banging like it’s game seven overtime. I pull up in front of her building, slam my car into park, and head for her door. My fists clench at my sides, adrenaline burning hotter with every step. Fuck. I can’t wait to see her.

I knock on the apartment door and hold my breath waiting for her to answer.

The door opens and I almost swallow my goddamn tongue. She's wearing a deep plum dress that clings to every luscious curve. Her dark, curly hair is pinned up, but a few loose strands escape to frame a face that looks entirely too kissable for a public setting. She has that unhurried swagger that always makes my pulse spike, a mix of confidence and something softer that she only lets me see.

"You're early, McLinden," she says, her blue eyes dancing as she looks up at me.

"I couldn’t wait another second to see you," I say, taking her hand. Her skin is warm, and the contact sends a familiar jolt straight to my gut. “You look beautiful, baby.”

“You don’t look too bad yourself.” She smirks up at me and my cock turns to stone in my pants as I fight the urge to kiss her smiling lips.

Fuck it. I give up the fight and pull her close for a quick kiss. Before I lose control completely, I pull back and place my forehead against hers. "Ready?"

"As ready as I’ll ever be," she smiles up at me. I thread my fingers through hers. Fuck, her hand is so goddamn small in mine. Perfect fit. There's no way I'm letting go. Not tonight. Not fucking ever.

"Let’s go, baby," I murmur, and I can’t resist kissing her one more time. Just a quick press of my mouth to hers, but it sparks all the way through me, like she flipped the breaker on my self-control. I want her. I want her so much I can barely see straight.

She laughs, head tilted back, a couple of those curls shaking loose, and damn, I want to bury my hands in that hair and mess it all up. But I don’t. Not yet. There’s time for that later. Tonight, I play the gentleman. Or at least try to.

Outside, my car is parked at the curb and I open the passenger door for her, steadying her as she climbs in, my hand catching her waist. She’s soft, warm, and for a second, I almost yank her back out and take her right here against the side of my goddamn vehicle.

Christ. Focus.

I shut the door, round the front, and drop into the driver’s seat beside her. Fuck me. That dress is a hazard. No way in hell I’m making it through the night without tearing it off her.

Her perfume fills the car in seconds. Lavender and something uniquely Mia that’s got my pulse hammering. My hands flex on the wheel as I try to focus on not immediately mauling her before we even make it to dinner.

She glances at the dash, then at me. “You haven’t told me where we’re going for dinner.”

I take her soft hand in mine and bring it to my lips. “I know I haven’t.”

“Let’s try this again.” Her soft fingers tighten in mine. “Where are you taking me for dinner?”

Damn, she’s cute when she’s bossy. I shoot her a look. “I heard Tesoro Nascosto is pretty good, so I thought we’d try it out.”

“Sounds good to me.” She leans back in the leather seat and glances out the window. “Now, that wasn’t so hard was it.”