The restaurant was lovely, and Mia's stomach was growling, letting her know she'd probably be able to put away an entire steak, no matter how large the cut she received. But she was also nervous. Beau was acting strange, and it left her unsettled. Was he contemplating telling her he didn't want to see her anymore, until she quit her job?
They spoke about nothing in particular while looking at the menus. Even after they'd ordered and their food had arrived, the conversation was nothing like it usually was. Normally, they could find a plethora of topics to talk about, but today... nothing seemed to be of interest to either of them. It wasn't until they were both done eating and the table was cleared that Beau reached for her hand, and she gave it to him.
His palms seemed slightly sweaty as he fumbled for words-not at all like the Beau she was used to spending time with. "Listen, Mia, I want to talk to you about what I said last night, and what that might mean for both of us."
She opened her mouth to attempt to stop him but then stopped. As much as she didn't want to make him uncomfortable, she also wanted to hear what he had to say. "Go ahead," she said quietly.
He took a deep breath and said, "I meant what I said, Mia. I'm so sorry if that makes you uncomfortable, but I'm not going to try and hide it. I know it may seem soon to you. It probably is... but that doesn't change it. I've dated women for different lengths of times-a few weeks, months, even almost a year-and never felt the same about any of those women as I feel about you. I am in love with you. And I want you to be my girlfriend."
Mia sucked in air and held it for a few seconds, not sure how to respond. She was flattered, that was for certain. Never in her wildest dreams would she have ever thought a man like Beau could fall in love with her. He was so sophisticated, so debonair, and she was just a simple small town girl who hadn't even finished college. His money floated to mind for a second, but then she pushed that thought aside. No, she wouldn't have dreamt a billionaire would've fallen in love with her either, but that didn't matter. Beau was so much more than his money.
Once she'd consider what she had to say to him for a few moments, she said, "Beau, I can't tell you how much that means to me. Thank you, truly. I won't say that I feel the same, only because I'm so confused at the moment, but I definitely love being with you. There are so many things about you that I do love, if I'm not actually in love with you at the moment, it wouldn't be hard to let me fall. Except...." She had to stop. How did she tell him she wasn't quite ready to let go of his brother?
She didn't have to tell him. "Except for Sam. You're not ready yet, are you? You still have feelings for him?" The look on his face was enough to break her heart.
Mia sighed and ran her free hand through her hair. "It's not that simple, Beau. It's not that I have feelings for him, exactly."
He shook his head and made a noise that was somehow a cross between a sigh and a groan. "You just like the things that he does to you that much? I don't understand it, Mia. Isn't it... demeaning?"
"No, it's not. I can't explain to you why it isn't, Beau. But it's not like that. He makes me feel... like I'm someone else. Like the shy, quiet, modest woman I've always been isn't me. I can be whoever I want to be when I'm with him." She knew the words she had chosen didn't do her feelings or the reality of the situation justice. She just wished she could've made him understand even more.
"What if I could do that?" Beau asked, leaning in toward her. "What if I could do at least some of the same things he does? I mean, I'm not going to be able to..." he lowered his voice and looked around the restaurant before he continued, "spank you. But... I can do other things."
Mia couldn't help but smile at him. He was highly skilled in the bedroom. Maybe he could do some of the same things as Sam. But he wasn't Sam. There was just something about the way Sam looked at her, the way he excited her deep inside, she didn't think Beau could ever replicate. Maybe no one could. "I don't know...."
"Let me try."
She raised an eyebrow, staring at him for a moment. "But I can't tell you what he does."
"That's okay. I know enough. Let me try and see if I can make you feel the same way, Mia, at least enough that maybe you can let him go. I'm not saying right away-but soon."
"What about my job?"
"There are other jobs. If you don't want to work for me, you'll find something else. I'm happy to help you do that. I know you don't want my help, but I can get you another job in a matter of days, as soon as you're ready."
Mia thought about the other job she'd seen the listing for. She could do that-if they'd hire her. She didn't want Beau's help, though. "I'm not sure, Beau...."
He reached for her other hand. "Please-Mia. Please?"
Thoughts of going back to his house and having him do the sort of things to her that Sam did in his office came to mind, and she squeezed her legs together tighter beneath the table. "Okay," she said. It was worth a shot. How she would break free of Sam, she wasn't sure, but if Beau could convince her she didn't need his brother anymore, maybe she and Beau could finally have a happily ever after.
Beau signaled for the check, and Mia sat as patiently as she possibly could, waiting for him to pay and then call for the car. When he took her hand to lead her out of the restaurant, an excitement began to bubble up inside of her, the kind she felt every morning on the way to work, when she wasn't sure what might happen that day. She doubted Beau even had a pair of handcuffs in his house, but she was willing to find out. There were other ways to restrain someone, after all.
He opened the door for her, and she climbed in. Beau went around and got behind the wheel, driving off as quickly as he could, her hand in his. She wished he'd brought the limo because thoughts of his mouth on her body had her breathing hard before they even reached the first stoplight.
Beau turned and smiled at her, and Mia grinned back at him, hoping he could learn a few new tricks. At least she might have a good time finding out.