Beat of the Heart (Runaway Train, #2)(84)

“Well, I don’t know about that, but you’ve certainly been busy,” he mused.

I pulled away to shake my head. “I can’t believe Dee called you.”

“He’s worried about you and the decisions you’re making.”

With a wince, I said, “I guess you know about Dev.”

Pesh nodded. “Yes, he told me he was trying to convince you to come back to him.”

“You don’t sound like you think that’s a good idea.”

“That’s because I know it’s not.”

My brows shot up in surprise. “What?”

Pesh exhaled a ragged sigh before resting his hands on my shoulders. “I know you and Dev were together a long time. Our family will always love you and owe you a tremendous debt for getting him back on track after those wayward years.”

“Cut to the point, Pesh.”

He smiled. “Dev is my baby brother, and I love him. But I know in my heart he doesn’t now or will ever deserve you, Mia.”

I gasped at his admission. “Seriously?”

“He’s always chased after what he couldn’t have, and once he got it, he wasn’t satisfied. He tried for months to get me to fix you two up, but I refused.”

“You never told me that.”

“At the time, I didn’t think you were ready to date after what had happened with Jason. Now I think it was something greater telling me to keep you apart.”

I groaned. “That would have been really nice to know three years ago. It could’ve saved me some heartache, you know?”

Pesh grimaced. “I realize that now. It’s the reason why I’m here today. This musician…what’s his name?”

“AJ,” I murmured.

Pesh nodded. “This AJ wants you to be with him, doesn’t he?”

“I’m going to kill Dee,” I muttered through gritted teeth. At the same time I wanted to throttle him, I couldn’t ask for a more faithful, loving friend than Dee.

“Don’t be mad at him. He loves you—just like I do. He also knows what you’ve been through in the last year might be clouding your judgment.” Pesh’s expression grew sad. “Better than anyone, I know what grief can do to you, Mia. After Jade’s death, I lived a dream-like existence for the last two years. I made decisions that weren’t really me—decisions that my emotional torment caused me to do. I don’t want you to make the same mistakes as I did just because you lost one of the most important people in your life.”

“That’s very sweet of you.” I then pursed my lips at him. “Does your faulty decision making have anything to do with that pregnant chick you wanted to get with?”

Pesh laughed. “Maybe a little. But wanting to be with Emma could never be deemed as a ‘faulty’ decision.”

“You’re not still after her, are you?”

“No, I’m not. We both realized we weren’t right for each other—that we were in love with other people. Now we’re just really good friends—like we were truly meant to be.”

“What is it with you Nadeen men and being hot for women who are pregnant with other men’s babies, huh?” I teased.

He shook his head. “You and Dev aren’t the same thing as Emma and me—you two had a long history together.” He rubbed my cheek tenderly. “Maybe it’s that pregnant women have a glow about them—a beauty that burns bright from inside, like the life growing within them. You’ve always been beautiful, Mia. But you’re truly breathtaking today.”

“Thank you, but somehow I think you might be fibbing considering I have puffy eyes and a red face from crying,” I scoffed.

Pesh smiled. “None of that matters. What truly matters is the heart inside the person. And I know yours has such great love within it.” He gave me a pointed look. “But it doesn’t truly beat for my brother, does it?”

“No, it doesn’t.”

With a wink, Pesh replied, “No, it follows a different drummer, doesn’t it?”

“Yes, it does,” I replied with an absolute certainty I hadn’t had possessed before.

Taking my hand in his, he brought it to his lips. After he kissed it, he said, “Now do you have your answer?”

“Yes, I do,” I whispered.

“Good. I’m glad to hear it.” He pulled me into his strong embrace.

As I squeezed him tight, I said, “You’re like my fairy godmother or guardian angel, you know that right? You’re always swooping in to save me.”

He chuckled. “I think I like being a guardian angel better than a fairy.”

I laughed as I pulled away. “I think so, too.”

“So you’re going to go to him now?”

“As soon as I can pack my bag, I will. That’s if I can actually drive home being a bundle of nerves.”

Once again, Pesh took my hand. “Come on. Your fairy godmother will take you home and get you packed. Then I’ll take you to AJ’s.”

My eyes widened. “Really?”

“Of course.”

I couldn’t help my bottom lip from trembling. “That’s so sweet.”

“Before you cry, I have my ulterior motives.”