Dare to Trust (6 page)

“I’m not lying.” Jason kissed her.

She pulled away. “I’m sure that’s a line you give the women you sleep with.”

He looked wounded from her statement. “You make it sound like I’ve had dozens of women. I haven’t, Mia.” His blue eyes were piercing through her. “And I’ve never told another woman I’ve loved her. Just you. The other women---they were casual sex.
You
are special. You’ve blown my world apart, Mia. I’ve fallen in love with you, whether you like it or not.” He waited for a response but she stared at Jason blankly. Was she in some sort of shock? “You don’t have to say anything,” he told her.         

“I----“Jason covered her mouth with his, kissing her deeply.

“You need to get some sleep,” he finally told her after pulling away. Mia nodded and settled down into the bed, closing her eyes.

She awoke a few hours later. Mia could tell from his breathing that Jason was awake. Mia rolled over and snuggled her body against his. She felt him drape his arm across her waist. “I love you,” Mia whispered. She didn’t see the wide smile that broke out on Jason’s face.

Jason woke early the next morning, letting Mia sleep. He had a quick cup of coffee and decided to go for a run. As he ran along Storrow Drive and the Charles River, Jason’s mind kept revisiting last night. He knew it had been a shock for Mia to hear him confess his feelings for her. Hell, it had been a shock to him, too.  But the look in her eyes and to hear Mia say that she was in love with him---well, Jason had never even considered words could have such an impact. He couldn’t believe after a few short months, he was completely in over his head---he knew he would be forever in love with Mia. She belonged with him…to him.

His mother had been sitting on the granite steps that led up to the brownstone when Jason returned. “You haven’t answered my calls,” Jannifer Howard announced to her son. “I taught you better manners than that.” She stood, her elegant frame decked out in a caramel colored pant suit. As always, her hair was styled to the nines.

“Sorry.” Jason unlocked the front door and took in a breath. Mia was still asleep upstairs---he hoped---and his mother didn’t know that Mia existed, let alone now lived with Jason. His relationship with Jannifer was always difficult; he hadn’t quite yet figured out how to explain it all to Mia. As he and his mother stepped into the foyer, Jason eyed Mia’s purse and hoped his mother wouldn’t notice it.

“I thought you didn’t bring you’re his women here,” Jannifer said as she glanced from the purse to Jason’s guilty face. “You should think about having a family, not sleeping around.”

“I don’t sleep around,” Jason answered with agitation in his voice. He ran a hand through his hair and took in a deep breath, preparing himself for his mother’s reaction to what he was about to tell her. He didn’t get the chance. Mia came down the stairs dressed in only panties and the t-shirt Jason had discarded on the floor the night before. She smiled when her eyes met his until she noticed the visitor. “Shit,” Jason mumbled under his breath. This was not at all how he had pictured his mother and the woman he was in love with meeting for the first time.

“And who is this?” Jannifer asked, her tone condescending as she noticeably eyed Mia from head to toe.

“Mother, this is Mia Hitchcock, my girlfriend. She lives here.” Jason’s eyes narrowed and locked with his mother’s. “Mia, honey, this is my mother, Jannifer.”

“Ms. Howard,” Jannifer quickly corrected her son. “Do go put some clothes on, darling. You don’t want to catch cold,” Jannifer sarcastically told Mia. Her eyes narrowed on the girl as she took a good look at her. Jason had chosen a beauty. Maybe her son was finally getting serious about marriage and a family? Jannifer couldn’t help but wonder if the girl had any decent upbringing or pedigree.

Mia had never been more mortified in her life. She didn’t know what she should do. She certainly was speechless. Unsure, she disappeared into the study. Jason followed her. “I am so sorry, baby. I never expected her to be here today. And she never comes over so early…” He was praying his mother hadn’t just screwed up what he had just decided was the most important thing in his life.

Mia couldn’t wipe the look of surprise off her face. “She is certainly…something,” she finally said. “You didn’t tell her about me.”

“No.” Jason hated the look of hurt that flashed in Mia’s eyes. “You just met her, can you see why? I wasn’t sure how to explain it to her.” He let out a big sigh. “I told you that I haven’t lived up to her expectations---I knew she wouldn’t take to you. Because I chose you and love you. I knew it would be a disaster when you two met.” He leaned down and kissed Mia. “I love you, Mia. And I didn’t want you to have to deal with her.” He gave a nervous laugh. “She had my wife picked out.”

“Your wife?”

“Yeah. Obviously, not you. So you see, anyone else wouldn’t be good enough in her eyes. And you are smart, sexy and beautiful. And I love you.” Jason kissed her again. “I’m sorry.”

Mia wrapped her arms around his neck and returned the kiss. She felt sorry that Jason’s mother didn’t seem to realize what a loving, caring son she had raised. “Is she staying? Because if she is, I need some clothes.”

Jason shook his head and let go of Mia. “I’m gonna go get rid of her and we can pick up where we left off…last night.” He gave her a boyish grin before heading back to the foyer.

“I’m going,” his mother informed him as he approached. “I hope you know what you’re doing, Jason. There are a lot of gold diggers out there.” Before he could respond, Jannifer left.

Jannifer didn’t interfere with the relationship nor did she embrace Mia. She wanted to see her son married and settled down with a family, not living with someone. And Jannifer went out of her way to relay that message to Jason anytime she could.

At first, Mia tried to become friends with Jason’s mother. Mia invited Jannifer out to lunch and a day of shopping. It had been a disaster and Mia had returned home at the end of it, clearly upset. Jason had tried to warn Mia against it, but she hadn’t listened.

“So how was it?’ Jason asked from the kitchen when he heard the front door open. Mia appeared and grabbed a beer from the fridge. Jason watched her for a few moments as she grabbed the bottle opened and removed the cap from the bottle, taking a long drink of the beer. Mia barely drank and certainly never in the early afternoon. Jason knew the day had not been a good one.

“How did you grow up living with her?” Mia demanded. “Do you realize how negative and condescending she is?!” Mia took another drink. “She hates me,” she told Jason. “She told me you are wasting your time with me.” Mia took in a breath, let it out and gulped more of the beer. “She thinks you’re horny and you are going to get sick of me.” A look of hurt crossed her face and Jason could see tears forming in her eyes. He silently cursed his mother, knowing how brutal and hurtful that woman could be. “She called me a gold digger. Accused me of seducing you for your money.” Jason started towards Mia, intending to take her into his arms but she stepped back. “You were right---she does have your wife picked out for you. Someone with the proper bloodline and heritage.” Mia was beyond upset. Jason wanted to throttle his mother.

“Baby, she’s a bitch. I warned you.” Jason gently took Mia into his arms. She didn’t resist and as soon as her head rested against Jason’s solid chest, the sobs started. “Shh…Mia, please don’t cry baby.” Jason rubbed a hand up and down Mia’s back in an attempt to console her. “She can’t deal with the fact that she can’t control me, Mia. She was wicked to you today only because she knew it would hurt me too.” He held her until her tears stopped. Finally, she pulled away and looked up at Jason. “I’m sorry,” he told her.

“I should have listened to you.”

“She shouldn’t have treated you like that. I shouldn’t have to warn the woman I love to stay away from my own mother.”

Jason called his mother later that night. “How could you treat her like that, mother? I am in love with her! You had no right!”

Jannifer scoffed into the phone. “I was just trying to save her a little heart ache, Jason. Let’s be real. You’re going to grow tired of her. The hot sex doesn’t last forever and then you’ll be looking for a proper wife and mother to your children.”

Children? Jason had decided long ago that he wasn’t going to have any. His upbringing had been sad and desolate; he wouldn’t chance subjecting any child to that. “Stay out of my life, mother,” Jason warned. “I’m not going to let you hurt Mia again.” And from then on, their relationship became even more strained.

The first few years together were busy and happy, both in and out of bed. Both careers were demanding and both involved working all hours. When Mia and Jason weren’t working, they were together. Jason continued to show Mia Boston through his eyes. By the end of their first year together, Jason had exposed Mia to just about every tourist attraction, museum and sporting event Boston had to offer. And occasionally, he loved whisking her away on extravagant, romantic trips.

Just before their first Christmas together, Jason arranged a long week-end in the Caribbean for the two of them. Mia had been thrilled with the ocean-front suite. For four days and three nights, they had alternated between frolicking on a private, sandy beach and spending time exploring each other in the huge canopied bed overlooking the waves.

For Valentine’s Day, Jason picked Mia up at the hospital and the next thing she knew, they were at Logan airport. Jason had handed her a change of clothes and told her he had packed her a bag. It wasn’t until they were in the airport terminal that Mia realized Jason was flying off with her to Paris. She had never been to Europe. Although the trip had been short, only three nights, Jason had assured Mia had seen the Parisian highlights and plenty of romance.

He had even made a visit home to see her family romantic and exciting. Mia had been dreading the return home to Sarasota, Florida, but had no choice. Her younger sister, Jill, was getting married. Mia had only recently told her parents about Jason. And he been charming and easily won them over.

“It’s very nice to meet you, Mr. and Mrs. Hitchcock. Mia has told me so many great things about you and her childhood,” he had lied as he had shaken her father’s hand and kissed her mother’s cheek.

Surprisingly, Mia had enjoyed the reception. After the rituals of the cake cutting, garter throwing and first dances, Jason had monopolized Mia. He had gently grabbed her hand and led her to the dance floor. He was graceful as he danced with her, his body pressed against hers, his strong arms encircling her, their fingers intertwined. Mia had felt cherished there in his arms and had known she didn’t belong anywhere else.

“That will be is some day,” Jason had whispered into her hair as everyone’s attention was on the newlyweds. He bent down and brushed his lips against Mia’s. “I love you.”

Her grasp on Jason tightened as she smiled. “I love you too.” Although she wondered if they would get married. Jason and she had never seriously discussed marriage.

Their schedules had allowed them only to stay overnight and he made sure it was memorable. After the wedding, Jason had checked Mia into a suite at the Ritz-Carlton. He had poured champagne for her as they sat on the expansive balcony, overlooking the city and the dusky blue waters of the Gulf. After, he had carried her into the master bedroom and slowly peeled away the cocktail dress Mia had worn to the wedding and made love to her. The following morning as the sunlight poured into the suite and she felt Jason wrapped around her as they awoke, Mia had been sure her night had been far better than her sister’s wedding night.

***

As Jason had stood on the brownstone’s granite steps, watching Mia’s car pull away, he had been in denial. Although she had told him numerous times she was leaving, he hadn’t believed it. Hadn’t listened. When he had held her this morning, begging her to stay, it had started to become real. She had shaken her head, tears in her eyes, as he had pulled away from his embrace. “I need to go,” she had whispered and walked away from him.

She had been gone almost a week now. He had been tempted countless times to call her. His anger stopped him every time
.
It hadn’t taken long for the hurt to mingle with almost hating her.
After the past two years together, how the hell could she just abandon him like this? Why did she do this?
Jason was convinced they could have worked it out.

The brownstone was quiet, massive, and the rooms empty. Jason ripped off is tie and threw it on the couch of the study, unbuttoning the top few buttons of his dress shirt. It had been a long, tiring day that had started shortly after 4 am when he and Grimes had been summoned to a double homicide.

He poured a shot of scotch and sat on the leather couch. As he sipped, he closed his eyes and thought of running his fingers through Mia’s thick hair and kissing her soft lips. Nope, although he had tried over the last several days, he couldn’t hate her. His resolve of not calling disappeared as Jason was desperate to hear her voice.

“Hey,” he started after Mia answered her cell. “How are you?” He had no idea what to say to her.

“Hi Jason.” Right away, he noticed the unemotional, flat tone in her voice. The call felt awkward. It was so good to hear his voice... but Mia reminded herself that she was finished with him---she had made peace with that decision on the drive to Maine. It was for the best. “I was just getting ready for bed.”

He imagined her in her comfortable t-shirt and jogging pants. “Are you settled in? Feeling okay?” he asked. He had recognized the beginning of annoyance in her tone. She didn’t want to talk to him.