Page 57 of She’ll Steal Your Heart
And Mia broke into the most luminous smile. “It was, wasn’t it?”
Lauren nodded breathlessly.
“I tried so hard to fight it,” Mia murmured.
“Why?”
“Because I haven’t been with anyone since my divorce. You’re the first new person I’ve kissed in eighteen fucking years. Everyone says to start casual, that rebounds don’t last. And you’re so important to me, Lauren. I don’t want to hurt you or damage our friendship.”
Lauren gulped at the honesty in her words. “I hear you. I was fighting it too. I need to get my life back on track before I can even think about dating anyone. I mean, I still have this felony charge looming over me.”
Mia’s gaze was steady. “You know that doesn’t bother me, as your friend or…if I’m more than a friend.”
Lauren did know that, but it didn’t make all her troubles magically disappear either. “Eliot called while you were out. The room is officially mine. I move in next weekend.”
Mia’s eyes shut, and she gave her head a little shake that made a strand of hair fall across her face. “I don’t want to talk about you moving out right now.”
Lauren grinned as she reached out to push Mia’s hair behind her ear. “Okay.”
“But we probably should talk.” Mia sucked in a breath, meeting Lauren’s gaze.
“Yeah, because I have an important question.” Lauren cocked an eyebrow. “What was it like, kissing someone new after so long?”
Mia groaned, and the sound seemed to reverberate in Lauren’s overheated body. “It was…different. Exciting. To be perfectly honest, it made me question whether I’ve been missing out, like maybe I should have kissed you a long time ago.”
Lauren gulped, momentarily rendered speechless.
Mia straightened, taking Lauren’s hands in hers. “I’m so conflicted. I want you so much. I can’t even look at other women lately because the only woman I want to look at is you. And that kiss…well, it was exceptional, and now all I can think about is kissing you again. But I can’t help feeling that I’m putting our friendship at risk if we take this any further.”
“It’s a risk,” Lauren agreed. “But I think it’s a risk we’ve already taken. It seems like we both tried our best to ignore the chemistry, and we failed. Honestly, part of me can’t even believe we’re sitting here having this conversation, that you actually came home and kissed me tonight. You’ve totally blown my mind here.”
Mia’s expression turned coy. “Had you thought about it, then? Kissing me?”
“God, so many times. I’m embarrassed to tell you how many.”
Mia exhaled, her gaze dipping to Lauren’s lips. “I refused to let myself look at you that way for a long time. I was too aware of our age difference and feeling like I needed someone casual—temporary—for my first relationship after Kristin.”
“Age isn’t an issue, at least not for me,” Lauren told her. “I’m pushing thirty, hardly robbing the cradle.”
“And wise beyond your years.” Mia brushed a hand against Lauren’s cheek.
“There’s probably some truth to that,” Lauren agreed. “I had to grow up fast for Craig’s sake.”
“Yes, you did.”
“The rebound thing isn’t ideal,” Lauren admitted. “I think the percentage of rebound relationships that go sour is pretty high.”
Mia’s expression fell, and she nodded. “Probably.”
“But statistics aren’t people. They aren’t us. Real life is messy and complicated, and I think you and I could be wonderful together.” She’d halfway talked herself into a relationship with Mia before reality came crashing back in. “But…what if I go to jail?”
Mia shook her head. “You aren’t going to jail.”
“But—”
Mia pressed a finger against Lauren’s lips. “You won’t, butifyou did, I would wait for you, okay? I’m here for you, whether we’re in a relationship or not, whether you go to jail or not. I’m here.”
She sounded so calm, so sure, and Lauren couldn’t breathe, because no one had ever said anything like that to her before. No one had been there for her, not even Craig, because he’d been too busy fighting his own demons. She exhaled roughly as tears spilled over her cheeks. “Mia…”
