Page 83 of Not So Fast
“Yes!” they replied in chorus.
“He sometimes wears a fake mustache when he doesn’t want fans to spot him.”
* * *
Busted.
Xander was so freaking busted.
And he did not care that Mia had effectively neutralized his ability to ever wear a fake mustache again. He started for the front of the room, his eyes trained on Mia. On either side of him, people started to mumble, then talk, and that wave of awareness spread across the room as everyone turned to stare at him. Every last one of them.
But he didn’t care. All he wanted was Mia.
* * *
Mia laughed when Xander tore off his fake mustache and winced slightly. God, it had to have hurt. She shielded the microphone with her hand as he walked right up to her.
“We’re still recording,” she said. “Do you want to let me sign off before we talk?”
“I love you so much, Mia. And the last few days without you have been murder. So, no, I don’t want you to sign off. I want you to kiss me.”
The crowd erupted in a chant. “Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!”
Mia was certain her face was one thousand shades of crimson.
Xander cupped her elbow with his hand, looking down at her with his hypnotic blue eyes. “Come on, Mia. You’ve got to give your fans what they want.”
Mia’s heart felt like it might burst out of her chest. She dropped the microphone on the floor. It made a terrible screech. She did not care. All she cared about was Xander. He was the only thing she could think about. He wrappedher up in his arms and she did the same and they fell into a kiss that felt limitless. Like it had no boundaries, no beginning and no end. It was the kiss she’d always wanted, with the guy who might not be perfect but who wasperfectfor her.
Xander pulled his lips back slightly, leaving a whisper of a space between them. “Is it weird that we’re kissing and everyone is cheering us on?”
“I’d say it’s weirder that this is how you’re meeting my mom.”
“Oh. Blimey. She’s here. You introduced her, didn’t you?” he asked with every bit of panic the question deserved.
Mia nodded, their lips still so close. “I did. She’s in the front row.”
“I suppose I have some explaining to do.”
“It’s okay. It’s a long weekend. You’ll have plenty of opportunity.” She then remembered she was still recording. Oops. She broke free from Xander’s embrace and grabbed the microphone. “Due to the unexpected arrival of Xander Bishop, this is the end of this extremely haphazard episode ofNot So Fast. Thank you for listening. If anyone wants a selfie and an autograph from Xander, start forming a line.”
The room erupted in chaos, but Xander rushed right over to Mia’s mom. “Mrs. Neal, I presume?”
She smiled wider than Mia had ever seen her smile. Hell, Mia hadn’t realized her mom had that many teeth. Four words from Xander and she was already smitten.
“You presume correct. Now can we take a photo together?”
Xander turned to Mia. “Can you do the honors?”
“For you and my mom? Anything.” Mia snapped the picture, which was flat-out adorable. Mia would need to blow itup and frame it and hang it in her apartment. But she realized there was something else she wanted to tell Xander.
“Hold up, everyone. I just need one more second with Xander.” She pulled him aside. “I just need you to know. I don’t just love you, Xander. Ilovelove you.”
He unleashed his soul-melting grin. “Good. Ilovelove you, too.”
“Like I don’t ever want to say goodbye unless it’s for a very short, predetermined time, and even then it needs to be a real goodbye with kissing and nakedness and sweating.”
“I’m all for sweating it out with you, Mia. And I just assume this means you’re coming with me to the rest of this season’s races?”
