Neighbors with Benefits (Anderson Brothers, #2)(42)

A sharp elbow to her ribs broke the moment. “Mind out of the bedroom, girl,” Sue whispered.

The other guys sat, but Michael remained standing. As she looked from him to Jason, she was struck with how different they were. She used to think Jason shone like a bright light. Now, next to Michael, he resembled a flickering fluorescent tube compared to a theatre spot. And the spot, at that moment, narrowed to a tight focus on her. And it was thrilling.

As he approached carrying a bag, it became hard to breathe.

“Hi, Sue. I hope you don’t mind if we skip out a little early, here. I have to take care of some business and we need to go walk the dog.”

“Oh…” she glanced past them to the bar, where Jason and Mark were starting their third beers. “Sure. No problem. The rehearsal dinner—”

“Is at five at the Four Points Restaurant. We’ll be there on time.”

“Of course you will. It’s a rare man who can keep Mia on track.”

There was a slight twitch of a muscle at his jaw, but his expression remained neutral. “I’ve never known her to be late for something that matters.”

Both of Sue’s blond eyebrows rose in surprise.

Kelli laughed. “I guess that’s why Jason always bitches about how you were never on time for your dates.”

Not sure whether to be mortified or delighted, Mia held her tongue.

Leaning close, Sue stage whispered loud enough for Kelli and Michael to hear, “I like him, Mia. Hang on tight.”

Pain shot through her chest. He wasn’t really hers to hold. As convincing as he was as her fiancé, she’d almost let herself believe something beyond that weekend was possible. But it was just a dream. Still, a girl could dream… and perhaps make the best of the situation given.

He held out his hand and she slipped hers in it. To her surprise, he pulled her closer and kissed her. It wasn’t the deep, probing kiss he’d delivered for Jason’s benefit. It was publicly appropriate, but even as brief as it was, it rocked her to her toes.

“Hang on tight,” Sue had suggested. Maybe she should do just that.





Chapter Fourteen


“Wait here,” Michael said when they reached the porch of the B and B. Dropping the bag in a chair, he disappeared inside and returned shortly with Clancy and a paper grocery sack.

The air was still cool, but the sun was out and as bright as Mia’s mood. For the first time in a long time, she felt like things might actually turn out okay. Clancy thought so, too, if his tail wagging at warp speed was any indication.

After passing her the leash, he picked up the other bag and gestured for her to lead down the steps. “So, where are we going?” she asked.

“It’s a surprise.”

He turned right at the sidewalk and she fell in step beside him, Clancy bounding along between.

“The last time you had a surprise, it didn’t go over so well.”

“This one will.”

She tried to peek in the bag closest to her, but he moved it to his other hand, grinning.

“How can you be so sure?”

“For the moment, at least, I’m working on blind intuition and impulse, rather than logic and advance planning.”

“Working from your heart, not your head. Like me.” When he came to an abrupt stop, she wished she could pull the words back, but his face gave no indication of his mood. She heaved an internal sigh of relief when his dimples appeared.

“Exactly.”

After another block, he turned left onto the beach footpath. As the walkway transitioned from pavement to sand, he stopped and set the bags down, then unlaced his shoes.

She almost danced in a circle. Stuffy Michael Anderson was going to walk barefooted in the sand. After carefully placing the first in one of the bags, he removed his other shoe and sock and put them in, too. Then he rolled up the cuffs of his pants. Not wanting to discourage him, she unzipped her boots, rolled off her socks and stuffed them inside the boots quickly.

“We’re going to walk on the beach!” she all but squealed. “I love the beach.”

“I know.”

When they reached a spot halfway to the waterline, he stopped and looked around, seemingly satisfied. Then, he pulled out what appeared to be the blanket from on the bed at the hotel, unfolded it, and spread it out on the soft, white sand. Clancy wasted no time tamping around in a circle to stake out his spot in the center of the blanket.

And then the full impact of what was happening hit her. He had truly listened and was trying to give her what she had said she wanted. He’d planned a picnic on the beach. For a moment her eyes stung and her vision blurred. No. She was not going to cry. Blinking rapidly, she turned away from him and acted like she was letting the wind blow her hair back.

“I didn’t know how hungry you were or what you preferred, so I ordered a bit of everything.”

When she had it together enough to turn back around, she couldn’t believe it. A dozen or so paper containers were laid out, which made her stomach growl. But the most delicious thing on the blanket was Michael. He’d rolled up his sleeves, and his dark hair was ruffled from the wind and glowing with gold and red highlights in the sun. He looked young and carefree and sexier than anything she’d ever seen—no longer the driven CEO with the weight of the world on his shoulders since childhood.