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But she’d craned her neck and atching Tara and Ford walk across the yard toward them Perfect Now everyone was here to witness this

Mia earing sweats--his, he was relieved to note--and her hair was piled precariously on top of her head She had a sleepy-eyed look to her, one that he kneell Normally, the heavy-lidded look was accompanied by a sweet yet sexy-as-hell smile as she woke up, stretched, and then climbed all over him

She’d clearly just very recently woken up--hopefully not with the tall, dark, and attitude-ridden Carlos, as still standing too close at her back

Nick wanted to be alone with her to talk, but apparently she didn’t have ESP because she looked at hiestured to the couple who’d just crossed the yard "I’ you met my parents, Ford and Tara"

They shook hands Nick noted that they atching hiuarded sympathy

"And you’ve met the rest of my family?" Mia asked him as she swept a hand toward the B&B

Nick nodded

"And Carlos?"

Carlos sent Nick a narrow-eyed glance that said, You screwed up

There was no doubt

Nick’s life had been only what he hadresponsible for his own ehtly But he hadn’t slept for two days now, and his control was slipping big-ti s before--no holding back--this was a bad sign

"We need to talk," he said

She arched a brow "You came across the country to talk?"

"I came for you Look," he said, all too aware of their company, "I know I suck at this, but can we talk? Please?"

It , but her eyes seemed to warm "Okay"

Nick let out a breath and eyed their avid audience pointedly, but not a single one expressed any e Finally, one of the aunts took ht, show’s over," Maddie said, soft-spoken though her voice was laced with steel as she turned and gave the entire gang a shooing motion

To Nick’s relief, everyone actually listened to her and began to ainst the porch railing and leaned on it, staying right at Mia’s back

"You’ve had a long trip," Mia said to Nick "Though why you ine"

"I was hoping we could discuss that Privately" This last word he directed at Carlos

Carlos didn’t ht, she was going to turn him down

"It’s a really busy day here," she said "There’s last-s, and the rehearsal dinner, and I have to help"

"I’ if she wants you to leave," Carlos said, and set aside the shovel

Nick stared at him "This is none of your business"

"Did I say that to you when you waited like a vulture in New York to swoop in and pick at the bones?" Carlos asked

"Oh, for God’s sake," Mia said "This is ridiculous Both of you need to--"

"She wascloser He could feel Mia’s surprised reaction at this, and couldn’t blame her It was the first tis for her He was surprised as hell, too But oddly enough, it felt natural

And right "She’s mine now," he said

"Hey," Mia said with a frown, "I’m--"

Carlos stepped up to Nick so that they were toe to toe "You need to go I’ to pick at the bones this time How’s that?"

"You have a real problem," Nick said

"Yeah," Carlos said "It’s you" And he punched hiht was just what he needed, and the next thing he knew, he and Carlos were in a tangle, rolling around on the ground, fists flying

Carlos landed a few good hits, but so did Nick In fact, he was getting the best of the fight when they were suddenly blasted with icy water

He and Carlos rolled away fro for breath Nick swiped dirt and water from his face and blinked as an old lady came into view She was in a pink velour sweat suit hite sneakers, and she was holding a hose

"That’ll do it every tiht "Thanks, Lucille," she said Then, with one long, hard glare at both Nick and Carlos, Mia stormed inside the B&B and sla into place was unmistakable

Lucille tossed the hose aside and brushed off her hands "Hello," she said to Nick "Nice to allery down the street" She looked at Carlos "You two are good now? No more silly boy stuff?"

"Yeah," Carlos said and sat up, rubbing his jaw "We’re good"

Nick sat up, too, rubbing his aching ribs as he nodded

"Great," Lucille said She pulled a cell phone from her pocket and snapped a picture of thelanced at Carlos "She for real?"

"Unfortunately"

"You going to tell me what the hell that was about?" Nick asked

"Does ita careful breath, he rolled to his feet "We are done, right?"

Carlos gave hi look "Depends on how stupid you are"

Nick shrugged He tried hard not to be stupid, but apparently where Mia was concerned all bets were off Wet, dirty, and off center, he walked around the B&B until he ca up to the wraparound porch and a sliding glass door, which was thankfully unlocked

Inside, Mia sat on the couch with her s on a word puzzle "I have a problem," she said when Nick walked in "I need a three-letter word for asshole, and I don’t know if it’s M-E-N or Y-O-U"

"Either, no doubt" He walked over and crouched in front of her, his hands on her thighs as he looked into her face "Am I too late, Mia?"

Chapter 6

Mia was startled by Nick’s question "That’s an odd thing to ask," she said carefully, "for a guy as too afraid to coirl he’s been with for six months"