Neighbors with Benefits (Anderson Brothers, #2)(13)

“So what do you do?”

Jason sat up straighter. “Oh, I work on Wall Street.”

“For whom? I’ve never heard of you.” He handed Mia the wine and kissed her hand as she reached for it, causing a whole passel of butterflies to launch into flight in her belly, fluttering so wildly that she felt a little queasy.

“Well, I’ve only recently started work there. I’m a runner right now, but I’m working my way up.” His voice trailed off slightly as Michael sat next to Mia, scanning her from head to toe as if he could eat her up and as if no one else were in the room. Jason cleared his throat. “What do you do, Michael?”

“I dabble in a lot of things.” He ran his finger up the outside of Mia’s knee and she sucked in a breath. His fingers were cool from handling the drinks, but the chills skittering up her spine had nothing to do with temperature. “Beautiful things.”

Holy crap. Maybe Gladys had the right of it. Maybe she needed to pay a visit to Mr. Anderson’s fun house herself. Her body was in countdown mode on the launch pad. Ten…nine…eight… No! Houston, we have a problem, she warned herself. It’s all a show. She angled away from his fingers.

He stood and pulled a card out of his wallet. “Here’s what I do, Jason. Feel free to give my office a call. Maybe we can meet for lunch.” His phone rang, and he pulled it out and grimaced. “If you two will excuse me for a moment, please. I need to take this call from the security desk. I’m expecting the groomer any minute.”

“Oh, did you take Clancy to the groomer I told you about?”

He winked. “Of course I did. I always take your suggestions, sweetheart.” And then he was gone. Leaving her alone with her ex.

Staring at the card in his hands, Jason whistled. “Holy f*ck. Do you know who that is?”

She rolled her eyes. “Of course I know who he is.”

He continued as if she hadn’t spoken, which was his norm when they were dating. He equated her forgetfulness and disorganization with stupidity. What she realized now was that she had begun to believe it, too. “That’s Michael Anderson,” he marveled. “Like, the Michael Anderson of Anderson Enterprises and Anderson Auctions. He’s like…” he lowered the card and stared at her. “How’d you pull this off? How long have you known each other? It can’t have been long. I mean, really, Mia. You and Michael Anderson?”

“I owe you no answers, explanations, or information. I owe you nothing.”

Mercifully, a knock came on the front door and Michael entered the room before Jason pressed her any further. “That will be the groomer. You never told me where you want to go for dinner. We can go anywhere you like, Mia mine.”

Mia mine. He should have been an actor.

“You’re Michael Anderson,” Jason said.

A perfect eyebrow arched. “Yes, I introduced myself as such when we first met.”

“Yeah, but.” He stopped because Michael was no longer paying any attention to him and was speaking with a woman at his door. Clancy, sporting a new blue bow and matching nail polish streaked in between Michael’s feet and launched himself into Mia’s lap.

“Hi, Mr. Clancy Fancy Pants. I like your new ensemble.”

“I see you got that dog you always wanted,” Jason said as Michael shut the door.

“Yeah. Michael is very indulgent.”

“He’d have to be.”

Mia cringed a little inside as she finished the sentence in her head. …to put up with you.

“It was nice to meet you, Jason, but I promised Mia a romantic dinner for two.”

“Oh, sure.” He stood. “So, are you coming to the wedding, Michael? I mean it’s two weeks out and I’m not even sure how serious you guys are, so I might be overstepping.”

“We’re very serious,” Michael said without hesitation.

“Oh, no. Michael can’t take that kind of time off,” Mia interjected quickly. This was a disaster. Michael should have ended this charade after the kiss.

“That’s too bad,” Jason said with a shrug. “I guess it will be up to me to get you places on time, Mia. I’ll take care of her for you, Michael, don’t worry.”

Michael strode to her and held his hand out. She set Clancy aside, placed her hand in his, and rose to her feet. She could feel the tension in his fingers. “I never worry, Jason. I take care of things before the fact, so that worry is not part of the equation. Of course I will be attending Sue and Mark’s wedding. I wouldn’t dream of sending my fiancée alone.”

She opened her mouth to protest, but fell silent when he gave her a look that would wither the strongest will.

Jason stared open-mouthed. “Wow. You’re engaged? That’s… That’s surprising.” When Michael’s expression hardened, Jason backpedaled. “Um, I mean that’s great. She’s a great girl, yeah. Congrats.” He shook Michael’s hand. “Wait until my friends hear I had drinks at your apartment. Can’t wait to hang out at the wedding, Michael.” And without so much as a goodbye, or even a glance at Mia, he left.

As if glued in place, Mia remained perfectly still, unable to look at Michael. What had possessed him to say he was going to the wedding? More than that, why did he have to say they were engaged? She pulled her hand from his.