The One That Slipped Away Read online

  “There are many events where I may only send a donation, but this is not one of them,” Ethan said.

  Mr. Smith shook his hand then opened his arms wide in a half circle. “Well, let me introduce you. Everyone this is Ethan Haughton.”

  Mia blinked a few times praying she didn’t have a full-on panic attack.

  Fortunately, no one seemed to notice her internal meltdown. Jeremy continued to make individual introductions. “You’ve already met Phillip, his beautiful wife, Melody, and my gorgeous wife, Candace.” He went around the table until he came to Michael and Mia. “Finally, this is Michael Collier, the young man I told you about. Both Jeremy and I, along with your team, will be working closely with him on the Mason deal . . . and his fiancée, TaMia Jamison.”

  Everything happened in slow motion; Mia turned around only to stare into an intense pair of familiar slate gray eyes. She couldn’t miss the gorgeous blonde hanging off his arm either.

  Chapter 3

  Mia was an arm’s length away, and when she turned around, it was akin to the wind having been knocked out of him. Ethan could literally reach out and touch her, and almost did, just to confirm that she was real.

  It was like something from a movie. Everyone seemed to fade to black. All he could see was the most beautiful woman in the world staring back at him.

  How many times had he imagined what a reunion between them would be like? Never in a million years would he have expected it to be tonight. If her face was any indication, she appeared to be just as surprised to see him as he was to see her.

  Mia cleared her throat and tried to recover as quickly as possible before curious glances became even more so. Before she had a chance to say anything, he did. “It’s been a long time, Mia. Good to see you again.”

  Michael looked between the two of them. His smile frozen. “You two know each other?”

  Mia attempted a carefree response, but it came out a little more forced than she would have liked. “Harrison . . . I’m sorry.” She blinked rapidly and shook her head. “You always hated that name. I mean, Ethan.” Mia laughed nervously. “Ethan and I knew each other in college.”

  He had hated the name Harrison but not when it came from her. No one could say it like she could. He also loathed that he’d been reduced to only someone she’d known from college.

  Harrison clenched his jaw. He knew it probably wasn’t the right thing to do but couldn’t help himself when he responded. “If I remember correctly, I think it was a little more than that, Mia.”

  Her face turned a unique shade of red while her stomach hit the floor.

  Harrison wasn’t going to stand there gaping at her like a fool either. Instead, he dragged his eyes away and focused his attention on the people he’d hired to negotiate the Mason deal, especially Michael Collier. He gave the man a quick once over and immediately disliked him. “Michael is it?”

  Michael was pissed. Harrison wasn’t the only one sizing up the other. His male instincts wanted to smash Harrison’s face in, but that wasn’t the right move in front of his bosses. Instead, he lifted his chin a little higher and responded in a professional but cold voice. “Yes, I’m Michael Collier.”

  Harrison smirked. “I hope you’re up for closing this deal.”

  Michael made direct eye contact. “I’m confident I can handle it.”

  His tone was such that Mia wasn’t sure if he was talking about the job or something else.

  Harrison lifted the corner of his mouth in a half-smile. “I’m sure Smith & Stern can get it done.” As if an invisible force pulled him back to Mia, his gaze returned to her. “It was a pleasure, and I look forward to seeing you again.” He gave a nod to Michael and walked away.

  Mia heard Jeremy’s wife lean over into his ear and whisper. “That was intense.”

  Intense wasn’t even the word for it. Minutes after Harrison had gone, Mia still couldn’t catch her breath or face Michael. She needed a minute to get herself together. Mia excused herself and made a mad dash for the bathroom. Luckily, there was no one there except for herself. She leaned against the back of the door and closed her eyes. “Breathe, Mia. Just breathe.” After she inhaled and exhaled a couple of times, she felt a little more in control. Mia was still hot, so she went over to the sink. When she looked into the mirror, her face was more than a bit flushed. Mia splashed a bit of cool water on her cheeks in the hopes that her outside didn’t reflect the disoriented mess she was on the inside.

  Unfortunately, Mia couldn’t spend the rest of the night in the bathroom. She gave herself a few more minutes to get it together. Mia dreaded it, but she would have to give Michael an expanded explanation, leaving out as much as she could. If she didn’t go out soon, she wouldn’t be able to explain that encounter away so easily.

  Once Mia felt more in control, she grabbed her purse from off of the sink and opened the door to leave, only to come face to face with Harrison Ethan Haughton.

  His penetrating gaze was unnerving. “I hoped I would have an opportunity to speak to you alone.”

  “W-why?” she stuttered. “It’s been years. After all of this time, whatever there was to say doesn’t matter.”

  Harrison’s pensive stare never wavered. “You never gave me a chance back then.”

  Mia’s hand went to the base of her throat. “I never gave you a chance? That’s all I ever gave you,” she whisper-yelled before putting her hands up. “Harrison, the bottom line is I left for a reason. You never reached out for a reason. It was a long time ago, and we’ve both moved on with our lives.” Her anxious eyes looked around him hoping no one found them together. “I’ve got to get back.”

  Mia attempted to walk past, but he caught her by the arm. She looked up into his eyes, and her knees went weak. How was it possible, after all of this time, that man still had that kind of effect on her? It was something nobody else had been able to duplicate.

  His voice was low, almost desperate. They’d been transferred back to that time long ago. “I reached out after you left, but you didn’t want to hear what I had to say.”

  “What are you . . . it doesn’t matter. We are past explanations at this point.”

  Frustrated, Harrison raked a hand through his hair. “If I could go back in time to change things, I would.”

  “But, we can’t. It’s foolish to waste time wishing for things we can’t change.” Mia couldn’t believe the emotion rising up within her. “I’ve moved on. Didn’t you hear? I have a fiancé.”

  “I heard.” His attempt at keeping calm wasn’t working. Harrison lashed out. “It looks like you’ve finally got the man your parents always wanted you to have.”

  Her eyes flashed with anger. “You will not stand here and try to turn the tables on me. Not that it matters, but it wasn’t me that messed up. It was you. So, you don’t get to stand here and play the victim!”

  Harrison had the decency to be embarrassed. “You’re right, and I’m sorry. I never meant to hurt you and tried to reach out to make things right.”

  She was incredulous at how much he was trying to rewrite history. “Reach out? When? I certainly don’t remember that.” Mia was angry at herself because her eyes started to fill with unshed tears. She would blink them back or die trying. There was no way she would shed one more tear over this man.

  “I tried Mia. You wouldn’t accept my calls. I went to your house to see you, but you wouldn’t see me, and after I’d exhausted every way to reach you, I resorted to sending you a letter in the mail. It came back, return to sender.”

  Mia stared at him in disbelief. She whispered, “That’s not true. I remember a lot of things from back then, but I never knew you to be a liar. When did that start?”

  “It’s true. Every word.”

  Mia wouldn’t allow herself to give a thought to any of his excuses. “None of it matters. I’ve got to go.”

  Harrison didn’t want to let her leave. “Can we meet tomorrow and talk?”

  In a disbelieving voice, she responded. “About wha
t? It’s been six years; there’s no point.”

  She was right. It had been six years, but seeing her tonight, he felt that no time had passed at all. He’d always promised himself if he ever got Mia in the same room, he would convince her to at least hear him out. Harrison took out a business card from his inner suit pocket and scribbled his personal cell phone number on the back. “Please, call me to set something up.”

  Mia was going to be sick. Her voice was strangled. “Why?”

  Harrison was determined. “Closure.” He handed her his card.

  Mia stared at his hand before finally reaching out to take it. “You don’t deserve it.”

  “Maybe not, but I’m asking. Please.”

  “I won’t make any promises.” She had no intention of meeting with Harrison, but it seemed to be the quickest way to get back before anyone became suspicious or caught them talking—and to all of Michael’s questioning glances.

  Chapter 4

  The rest of the evening went by in a blur. Physically, Mia sat right next to Michael, but she wasn’t fully present. Her mind was racing. It was a miracle she had managed to smile on cue and nod at all the appropriate moments.

  Michael hadn’t said one word to her after she returned from the ladies’ room. Not until they got into the limo, and it was just the two of them.

  He laid his head on the back of the headrest and closed his eyes. Michael pinched the bridge of his nose. “That was an interesting show you and Mr. Ethan Haughton put on, my bad, Harrison.”

  Mia didn’t know what to say. This conversation should have been about letting him have it for announcing an engagement she hadn’t agreed to. Mia had every right to be angry, but she’d also embarrassed the hell out of Michael.

  She expelled a breath. “Michael, I’m sorry about tonight. If I embarrassed, you—“

  The simmering anger in his voice was unmistakable. “If?” He never even opened his eyes when he addressed her.

  Mia’s emotions were all over the place. She used her fingers to rub her temples. Her head was pounding. “You have every right to be angry, and I can’t apologize enough but—“

  “Aaagghh!” He yelled into the darkness and balled his hands up into fists. “Please tell me how I’m supposed to work with this man when he probably knows how my girlfriend tastes and what she looks like naked. The bastard had no problem flaunting it in my face.”

  “Now I’m back to being your girlfriend because I thought I was your fiancée? I don’t know, I’m confused. It’s hard to keep everything straight in my mind.” She blurted out the words before she could stop herself.

  “The man was staring you down like a tasty little morsel right in my face, in front of my boss and co-workers! You. . .” He could barely contain his rage. “You couldn’t seem to close your damn mouth!”

  “Michael—“

  He continued as if Mia weren’t trying to speak. “What makes it even worse, I couldn’t even hit him for disrespecting me, Mia! How the hell am I supposed to deal with that and work with this man?!”

  She reached out to calm him, but he pulled away before she made contact like he’d been scalded. Mia owed Michael an explanation. “We were together a long time ago. I was shocked to see him.”

  “Shocked? Are you sure that was all because it seems to me like there was a lot of unfinished business between the two of you.”

  She sighed. “Harrison and I didn’t end things well. It was painful and devastating. That was a gut reaction you saw. Nothing else. You can’t honestly hold my response against me?”

  Michael finally opened his eyes and pierced her with a steely glare. “No, I can’t hold your past against you, but you and I both know it’s not just your past is it?”

  “W-hat? You’re being ridiculous. I haven’t seen or talked to Harrison in six years.”

  “And, what about Autumn?”

  “What about her?”

  “Are you kidding me or are you saying he’s not the father?”

  Mia stuttered. “I-I never told you he was her father.”

  “You didn’t have to. If Autumn didn’t have his eyes, then your face just now would have given it away. You’d make a lousy lawyer. My only question is—do you plan to tell him?”

  Mia dropped her gaze. Her voice was so low it could barely be heard. “I don’t plan on seeing him again.”

  His eyes narrowed. “I’m a lawyer. That’s not the question I asked.”

  She responded more forcefully. “No. I don’t plan on telling him.”

  He lifted an eyebrow as if he didn’t believe her. “Are you sure about that?”

  Mia looked up into his questioning eyes. “I’m not a liar, Michael. I said no, I mean . . . no.”

  He stared at her for a long time trying to determine her truthfulness before speaking again. “I won’t let you continue to dangle me around like a fish on a hook. I’ve asked you to marry me too many times to count, and you continue to brush me off. I think we’ve been together long enough for you to know if you want this relationship or not. Regardless, I can make you a promise; you won’t ever make me look like a fool again.”

  “I’m not trying to make you look like anything.” Mia tried desperately to control the frustration in her voice. Michael wasn’t a parent. He couldn’t fully understand. “It’s not just about me. Are you ready to be a father? It’s a huge responsibility. Do you even want to be one? Because at the end of the day, I’m a package deal. You don’t get me without her.”

  His nostrils flared. “Don’t throw this back on me. I have no problem stepping up to the plate.” Michael would have preferred to marry someone without children, but he wanted Mia for more reasons than one. He was now more focused than ever to make her his wife.

  He’d always understood that Mia came with a daughter. But now, he knew that it wasn’t just any random person’s daughter, but Harrison Ethan Haughton’s. The man who’d just humiliated him in front of all of his peers. There was no way he was going to let him get away with that.

  Michael poured it on thick. “Autumn is already like a daughter to me. I would never have asked to marry you if I wasn’t ready for the responsibility.” Michael knew what Mia wanted to hear, and said exactly that. What woman didn’t want to at least think a man would love her child like his own, whether it was true or not?

  Mia couldn’t help but wonder if Michael words were truthful. He always said the right things, but his words never seemed to mirror what was reflected in his eyes, which left her feeling as if she couldn’t trust him. “I just need a little more time.”

  He turned on all the charm and gently caressed her cheek with the back of his hand. “I can give you a little more time, but that’s all, Mia. I’m ready to build a life with you, but I won’t wait forever.”

  “I wouldn’t expect you to.”

  Michael could tell by Mia’s body language that he was wearing her down. Sooner rather than later, they would be announcing an official engagement. He pulled her into the crook of his arms and cradled her there.

  Stiffly, Mia rested her head on his shoulder.

  If Harrison wanted to play a game of who’s the man, Michael was determined to show him how it was played. For him, it was now game on.

  Chapter 5

  After Michael dropped Mia off, she was emotionally exhausted and went straight to bed. It was too bad she couldn’t fall asleep. The Sandman was likely on vacation because she tossed and turned until the next morning.

  Not long after the sun came into view, Mia got up for an early morning run. She’d hoped to clear her mind before having to pick up Autumn from her parents. Not only did it not calm her nerves, but she was just as confused as before.

  The mere thought of Harrison finding out about her was terrifying. Then, there was Michael. What was she going to do about him? Did she love him enough to want to get married? The fact that she was even asking the question spoke volumes.

  The pro-Michael voices in her head thought she was crazy. The man seemed devoted, he was
good with Autumn and got along great with her parents. The problem was other voices were drowning those out.

  Mia tried to convince herself that her indecision was because she didn’t want to repeat the mistakes of the past. No man was perfect, which was true, but something else was holding her back, and she couldn’t quite put her finger on it.

  She pulled up to her parent’s home. Her mother’s silver Mercedes was parked in the circle driveway, and her Aunt Renee was parked right behind her. It was always good to see her aunt. She was a calming force in the midst of Hurricane Avery.

  Mia used her key to open the door and walked inside. She followed the aroma of eggs and bacon into the kitchen. When her stomach growled, Mia realized she hadn’t eaten and was apparently right on time for breakfast. She pushed through the double doors that led to the kitchen. Her Aunt Renee was sitting at the breakfast table with her mother and Autumn.

  Mia plastered a smile on her face that she didn’t feel. “Good morning.”

  Autumn’s eyes, a deeper shade of gray today, lit up when she saw her. Her curly, sandy blonde hair bounced up and down as she ran from the table to make a mad dash for Mia’s knees. “Mommeeee!” She wrapped her little arms around her mom. Mia bent over and hugged Autumn tight, peppering her head and face with kisses.

  “I missed you so much. Did you have a good time with Grammy?”

  Autumn hunched her shoulders. “Yeah, we had fun. We watched movies but only the ones where I’d finished reading the book.”

  “Good. You’ll have to tell me all about it when we get home.” Mia took a seat next to her Aunt and placed Autumn in the chair on the opposite side.

  As if she were still a child, her Aunt captured her chin between her fingers and stared her only niece in the eyes. “Did MiMi have a wild night? You look tired.”

  Once Mia’s Aunt finished her inspection, Mia picked up a plate and filled it with eggs. “It was a little long and exhausting.”

  Avery Jamison lifted her coffee to her lips and stopped short of taking a sip before glancing over at her sister and daughter. “She’s too young to be tired. How was the benefit?”