Page 76 of Apparently, I’m Trouble

He kept his gaze on the wall behind me as he said, “This is my practice, Mia. Of course I can.”

My mouth felt dry as I thought of his hands on me, and I turned to stare down the hallway as he spoke.

“I didn’t look at Loretta’s schedule today, and I should have. If I knew she wasn’t going to be here for your appointment, I would’ve arranged someone else. But you’re here, and I’m… available. I can treat you.”

“This is ridiculous,” I muttered. Fucking universe strikes again.

He cleared his throat, and my gaze swung around to watch it move.

“It’s all right, Mia. I won’t do anything you don’t want me to do.”

That was the problem, though. I wanted him to do things. Things that could get both of us into a lot of trouble. But what else was I going to do? Walk out of here and risk another injury? He was a professional–he’d worked on me before. Maybe this would be fine?

“Well, at least I’m wearing underwear today.”

My joke came out as more of a whisper, but the lift of his lip told me he’d heard. I wanted to know what he was thinking then. I almost asked.

But thankfully, he saved me from myself as he gestured down the hall again. And this time, my feet moved.

Chapter 30

Theo

If I’d known this was going to happen, I could’ve prepared for it. I could’ve asked someone to cover for Loretta. I could’ve asked Mario to call her. I could’ve at least fucked my hand to take the edge off.

But no.

I was about to have Mia almost naked on a massage table, and I was going into it without a plan.

I was so fucked.

She walked ahead of me now, her steps fast and focused, and I couldn’t shake the feeling she was putting distance between us. But after what I’d said the last time we were together; I wasn’t surprised.

I was lucky she was here at all.

I didn’t trust myself to be alone with her. And now, we were alone. She would take off her clothes, lie in front of me, and let me touch her. There was no way this would end well.

She stopped in front of the massage studio, and I opened the door. Her arm brushed mine as she walked inside, and I tried not to react to it.

The room was dim and cool. Soft music played as Mia trailed her fingers along the massage table. I could hear her breathing–short and sharp–as she fixated on the bottle of oil resting on a nearby shelf.

Before she could run out of the room, I gave her the usual instructions. “There’s a basket under your table. Take off your clothes and shoes, put your belongings in there, then cover yourself with the towel. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

She made a noise that was somewhere between a grunt and a grumble but didn’t look at me as I shut the door.

I stood in the hallway, pressing my forehead against the wood, still gripping the door handle. My muscles were too tight, my pulse thudded in my ears. I had to relax. I forced a breath in, then out.

“This is my job. Right now, she’s just another client.”

Yeah, right. Sure she was.

This was hopeless. But I had to think this through. I couldn’t risk making her uncomfortable. I couldn’t let this thing between us beat me.

I couldn’t afford to lose control.

Chapter 31

Mia