MiaBack in the days before I turned twelve, my life was beautiful. We weren’t well-off. In fact, my parents always worried about money, about how we were going to pay off that next bill, how we’d have enough to put food on the table. But it was a worry we shared, a combined effort to make ends meet, and we were happy.My parents had been childhood sweethearts and were married straight after they’d graduated college. They had loved each other dearly, and they had cherished me and my brother Andy with all their hearts.Yes, my life had been beautiful back then, before that fateful summer day when a truck drove into our car on Interstate 93 as we made our way back to Mystic Spring, when both my parents’ lives were abruptly snatched from this world.I felt tears sting my eyes as I stared up at the ceiling, watching the shadows of the room playing about. My chest tightened with sorrow at the thought of my parents, at the thought of how unfair the world was.“Mommy?” I remembered my eleven

MiaAs I went down the stairs, I smelled coffee and bacon. James must have been cooking breakfast again.I found him in the kitchen transferring crispy bacon from a frying pan onto plates.“Good morning, sunshine,” he said, eyeing me with interest as I descended the last few steps.The word sunshine tugged something deep within my heart, and I felt weak in the knees.“Morning,” I replied as I hopped onto a barstool.He poured me a cup of coffee.“Thanks,” I said.“You’re welcome,” he stated, smiling.He appeared to be in a fine mood after what happened in the bedroom only twenty minutes ago. I eyed him with interest, too, as I raised the hot cup of coffee to my lips. I noted his dark hair was wet and that he had on a pair of jeans and a simple T-shirt. Despite the fact he wasn’t in a suit, he still looked handsome as hell.After the thorough examination of his person, I decided he must have had a cold shower to cool himself down as I’d suggested. Oddly enough, I felt a little disappoi

JamesMia Donovan, the naive girl from the small town of Mystic Spring, with a contagious smile and sexy body, was a hot mess. Her long dark hair rested luxuriously over his naked skin, draping over him like a seductive lover. Her face was snuggled at the nape of his neck while her naked body lolled on top of him with a sort of careless abandon any man would find alluring.She was still breathing heavily, exhausted from their unexpected morning sex. Well, unexpected on her part. For James, however, he’d known since he’d made the offer for a contract that morning sex with her was part of the deal. Honest to God, what man wouldn’t want to make love to such a beautiful, luscious body? The body that had innocently, seductively enticed him since the first time he’d met her? The body that obeyed his every command?Sex with Mia Donovan was definitely amazing, and James hadn’t had that in a long time. Not, in fact, since his first time with his ex-wife Whitney when he had been twenty-one, aft

MiaWhen next I woke up, my body was so heavy I didn’t even have the energy to raise my head. I gazed up at the ceiling in confusion, my mind numbed.Where am I? I asked myself.I noted the sun was just setting on the west side of the room. The orangey glow gave out a most beautiful picture of the city.I groaned and wondered why I felt so tired. Then everything came back. The hard sex I’d had with James today.Wait. Was it still today? I bit my lip, and my mind quickly flicked to my brother. I was supposed to see him today. Had we missed the appointment?I turned over, and that was when I realized I was naked and my long hair was damp. I made myself sit up, my body protesting wholeheartedly, screaming in pain.“Hey,” came the masculine voice at the door.I widened my eyes at the handsome man standing there. James had a smirk about his face that made my belly tingle.“Hi,” I managed. I felt my mouth was as dry as dust, and I was thirsty as hell.“Hungry?”I nodded and added, “And very

JamesIt had been fifteen minutes since the plane was airborne, and the moment they were allowed to take off their seat belts, Mia took off in the direction of the sofa. Now James watched her as she sat there crossed-legged and enjoyed another set of treats. This was mostly sweets with an assortment of cupcakes and cake slices.It was odd that since he’d met her, his mostly sober world seemed to have change a little, especially when she was around. It was odd, too, that he enjoyed watching her, and even now was no different. Though he’d admit she seemed oblivious to his attraction toward her.“Do you want some?” she asked from the distance, a piece of chocolate cake in her hand.He chuckled. “No, thanks.” Then his phone rang.Mia returned her attention to her cake while he reluctantly paid attention to his phone.“Hey, what’s up?”“So you’re going to Las Vegas?” Scott asked in greeting.James wondered how Scott had found out. After all, he hadn’t told anyone about the plan. It was onl