Chapter 6
“I always hated that bitch.” Amber shoved a grape in her mouth and chewed. Her jaw movement obvious and exaggerated but necessary to fully project how she felt.
“He is as much to blame.” Mia responded. She’d had one friend in her life and that friend betrayed her. Since then her family were the only people she confided in. Her sister has become her best friend and she wouldn’t have had it any other way.
“I didn’t expect it from him so I can’t say I told you so on that front.” Amber plopped two more grapes into her mouth.
“What are you two conspiring about in here?” Amber’s boyfriend of five years strolled into the kitchen and snuggled close to her.
“Would you help me hide a body?” She turned her attention him, her mouth full of unchewed food.
He pressed his thumb under her chin as a means of telling her to close her mouth. “You’ll scare your sister into thinking you’ve lost all manners since living with me.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead as she chewed and swallowed.
“Well, actually two bodies?” she showed him two fingers and waited for his answer. Mia couldn’t hide the smile on her face. She loved that her sister was getting the love and attention she deserved. They’d both grown up without their mother. She’d died giving birth to Amber. Their father had tried as much as he could with raising two girls but he wasn’t a very openly affectionate man.
“Am I to know the identity of these two bodies?” he gazed at both women.
“Don’t look at me.” Mia raised her hands defensively. “I never said I wanted to kill anyone.”
“Ugh. Why don’t you just stay with us? We can think of the next move then. I am sure Gabriel cannot keep you from Amiyah.” Amber grabbed hold of her sister’s hands and squeezed.
“Our new house is an upgrade. You and Amiyah would have your own separate rooms.” Nathan shrugged and smiled.
“I already owe you guys so much for watching Amiyah while I’m out three times a week.” Mia patted her sister’s hand.
“Speaking of, I gotta get going, my session starts in twenty minutes.” She glanced at her watch. “If anything happens—“
“We’ll call you.” Nathan and Amber said in unison.
“She loves us, she’ll be fine.” Nathan encouraged and Mia exited their house.
“Funny running into you here.” Mia spun around at the familiar baritone. Her pulse spiked at the sight of Harvey Regal in black sweat pants and a grey t-shirt. She was suddenly, acutely aware of her own dishevelled appearance.
“Mr. Regal.” She took two steps back, her sensory organs threatening an overload. She took one deep breath. The magnitude of which she was certain he noticed. However, he made no indication of his awareness.
No one had the right to be this sexy! Her subconscious has risen from her 3 year slumber.
“You’re not stalking me are you?” Harvey noted her recoiling at him and made a mental note to be careful approaching women late at night. He hadn’t realised he could scare someone.
Mia laughed hollowly, the images of herself eavesdropping on a conversation about him resurfacing in her mind’s eye. She certainly had no business indulging in a conversation that revolved around the topic of her being a potential stalker. She couldn’t live with that on her subconscious.
I can. That nagging voice in her head was open to anything unconventional.
“I didn’t catch your name the last time we met.” Harvey spoke again. At this point the weight of carrying the conversation made him feel unwanted. It was an old sensation. One that he hadn’t felt since he was a teenager. It was clear to him that she wasn’t interested in anything he had to say.
“It’s Mia Evans.” She responded, clutching her water bottle to her chest. She didn’t even realise that he didn’t even know her name. She felt doubly foolish for the amount of attention she afforded a man who didn’t even know what to call her. Although, it wasn’t something she should be stunned by. It was obvious that Harvey Regal didn’t stick around enough to care about the little things.
“Is this your gym?” He looked back at the building he was just about to enter. Ignoring the signs of her wanting to escape him. He didn’t want her to leave just yet. Her cheeks were flushed and her hair untidy. The sight stirring feelings in him.
“It is.” She responded with a smile.
“Haven’t seen you here before.” He said the first thing to pop into his mind. He didn’t remember the last time anyone made him work this hard to facilitate a conversation.
“The times don’t seem to match up. I just finished and you look as though you are now about to head in.” she responded politely.
“A valid point.” Harvey nodded. There was nothing else he could say. The conversation had come to a natural end.
“Are you heading home?” she’d already began taking steps to walk away.
“Actually, after a workout session I usually go for a coffee at that shop right down the street. That’s my safe space.” Her eyes had lit up and her voice carried with it emotion. He remembered why he couldn’t get her out of his head. It was those small moments where she dared to show herself rather than some basic simulation.
“Have a good one, Mr. Regal.” She said turning on her heels. It was Mia’s decision to walk away, after all she didn’t know what to say to Harvey.
Harvey inwardly groaned. Mia was walking away from him and he couldn’t find in it himself to let her go. “Mia!” he called out after her.
Mia turned around. Relief and terror washing over her in equal parts as she stared at Harvey walking towards her.
“Do you mind if I join you?” he was dangerously close to her.
Mia gazed in all different directions. “Weren’t you about to work out?” her eyes widened.
“Eh, it’s leg day. Not a fan.” He countered. “Plus I don’t think one day will set me back too much.” He shrugged and her eyes were chalk full of his bare biceps. Seeing them outlined in a two full lines of fabric was nothing compared to her view now.
“I don’t know if that’s a good idea. I am your sister’s teacher.” Why are you giving him reasons to leave? Her subconscious screamed.
“Is that why you’ve been so eager to run away at the sight of me?” Harvey realised that his lack of attention probably had less to do with him and more to do with her internal issues.
Eager to run away at the sight of him? Mia wanted to laugh at the misconception. She found herself being drawn in by this man. The single thought of his fingers had kept her up the last couple of nights and she couldn’t believe that he’d thought that she wanted to avoid him. At the very least she was relieved that he didn’t rightly guess the reason for her apparent lack of interest.
“I am not sure if it would result in any issues.” She played along. This was a better narrative for him to believe.
“If you are capable of separating your personal life from your professional one, then I see no issue.” He commented. “This is of course your call. I will happily obey.” There was a dangerous glint in his eyes and Mia doubted that this man ever obeyed a single person in his life.
We’d be open to obeying him though.
She shook the scandalous thought away and smiled. “Follow me then.”
“Happily.” He responded and fell in step beside her. Mia felt giddy, Harvey’s presence beside her felt natural. It was a long time since she’d been this close to a man and felt unthreatened.
“It’s this coffee shot right here.” She pointed and they walked in. Harvey held the door for her and she smiled awkwardly.
“Where do you want to sit?” Harvey looked down at her. Mia’s heart raced. She had barely noticed which tables were empty and which were full. Her senses filled with other sensations.
“A seat by the window?” She offered. It was her usual routine to sit by a window and stare out at the world whenever she was alone. Something told her that that wasn’t an option this time around.
“There is one there.” He took hold of her wrist, the feel of his palm against her naked flesh hot. His touch sent trickles of warmth up and down her arm, all radiating from that one core spot. He led her to a table.
Mia couldn’t ignore the stares he received. Women openly turned their heads as he walked by, giggling and laughing with their friends.
“Is it always like this?” Mia couldn’t take her eyes of some of these women as she sat herself opposite to Harvey.
Harvey followed her line of sight and immediately turned back at her.
“I think you’ll have to recommend me something off this list since this is your pick.” He completely ignored the question, and the massive amounts of attention he was getting.
Mia dropped the topic. She discussed her favourite drinks and they ordered instantly as the waiter came around.
“So, how do you spend your free time? Apart from trying to intimidate twelve year old boys of course.” She wrapped her hands around herself. Her wrist still throbbing from his touch. She tried to attach her focus elsewhere.
“Oh wow, that caught up to me pretty fast huh?” he cleared his throat. His eyes glued to her lips. She had this habit of keeping them in a straight line, controlled and stiff. He was starting to realise that all of her emotions cumulated in her eyes.
“Guess that personal and professional lines sometimes do overlap.” She countered and he smiled.
“I sometimes have too much audacity in a situation.” His best bet was to admit that he had been to forward in thinking that his demands would have been satisfied.
“Well, you know what they say, the first step in fixing a problem is acknowledging that there is one.” She cocked her head to the side. “There may be hope for you yet, Mr. Regal.” She’d reached out and touched him. She regretted it moment the palm of her hand covered his knuckles. His entire body went still and his head lowered. The humour in her veins dissipated and was replaced with self-loathing.
She slowly tried to retract her hand but he flipped his wrist and he was holding onto her now. Mia sucked in a breath.
“I prefer to Harvey. Everyone calls my father Mr. Regal, it sounds so off to me.” His thumb began rubbing circles in her hand.
Mia nodded. Unable to think or breathe.
Their table began vibrating and Mia instantly pulled her hand out of his grasp and checked her bag. “It’s mine.” He declared. “Please excuse me.” He said, answering the call.
“You are kidding me?” he leaned back into his seat, threw his head back and laughed.
“I told you, uncle Scott, that car wouldn’t last a week.” Mia could sense the pride in his voice. She couldn’t keep her eyes off him.
“I’ll come get you. Mom and Dad are on their date night, he won’t pick up any calls.” He laughed again, reminding the caller to send him their location. He hung up the phone and shoved it in his pocket.
“I am sorry, my uncle bought this antique car and got the most ridiculous idea that it would run without some TLC. I have to go pick him up.” Harvey explained and yet he made no attempt to leave.
“Oh my!” Mia exclaimed. “Is he alright?”
“He’s fine.” Harvey laughed. “Probably ran out of gas or something. I am pretty sure none of the gauges are accurate.”
“I am really sorry, I feel bad about leave.” He leaned closer towards her. The face of the table their only barrier. “It’s no issue. Your uncle needs you.” She assured him.
“Can I give you a ride home?” he offered.
“No, I would very much like to enjoy my quiet time here for a bit before I head home.” At the same time their orders arrived.
Harvey took his to go, footing the bill despite Mia’s fervent disapproval. He slid of his seat and looked down at her. She gave him a warm smile.
“Would you like to see me again, Mia?” he asked, watching the smile slowly fade into a straight line.
“I-uh.” She didn’t know how to answer.
Say yes you dim-witted fool! Her subconscious had had enough of her indecisiveness.
“You don’t need to answer now.” He pulled a napkin from the table, fished around his bag for a pen and wrote down his number. “For when you decide.” And he was gone.