Nothing Ventured Read online

  Or was he just being defensive because he was finally tired of it all?

  It wasn't purely boredom that made him question his own agenda. It was Mia. She was smart, sassy, witty, and driven. The girl exuded confidence and sex appeal. He wanted that. He wanted her.

  "Do you think I'm that superficial?"

  "You're not interested in a commitment. That's why you pick those girls. There's no risk of getting attached. I just don't know why you're afraid to find the right one."

  Chris pulled into the parking lot. "I think what you and Jessica have is great, and I'm really happy for you. I've never found that before."

  "Maybe you just didn't look hard enough. Things with Jess and me happened fast, and there were a lot of curve balls thrown our way. But there was a connection we couldn't ignore, and we knew we were both in it for the long haul."

  Connection? Like what he'd felt with Mia last night? People always said things like this happened when you least expected them. It figured. For the first time in his life he didn't want to walk away, and that was exactly what he had to do.

  CHAPTER SIX

  MIA MASSAGED HER THROBBING HEAD. OH God, why had she drunk so much last night? All that champagne…

  "Morning, Mommy!" Chloe bounded into Mia's room and climbed into bed next to her.

  "Hi, pumpkin." Mia swallowed a groan as she struggled to sit up. Cottonmouth with a vodka aftertaste — what a charming mix. "Did you sleep well?"

  "Yep. Are you okay? You have black stuff all over your face."

  "I got home late and fell asleep as soon as I lay down. I was too tired to take off my makeup."

  "Poor Mom. What are we going to do today?" Her eyes lit up. "Can we go to breakfast?"

  The thought of choking down a single morsel of food was enough to send her flying into the bathroom and clutching the toilet for dear life. "Sure. Why don't you brush your teeth and get dressed? We'll leave in about ten minutes."

  "Yay!" Chloe jumped off the bed and tore out of the room singing "Let It Go" from Frozen.

  One more deep breath. She gingerly swung her legs over the side of the bed and made the colossal mistake of standing. Waves of nausea crashed over her. Screw moving slowly. She ran into the bathroom and locked the door, praying Chloe was still in her room singing at the top of her lungs.

  Before her stomach revolted, she'd had the good sense to turn on the shower. Anything to drown out the noise. After a few wretched minutes, she collapsed onto the floor. The cool tiles felt so good against her flushed cheek. This must be what death felt like.

  Hazy memories from the night before tumbled around in her mind. What the heck did it all mean? Was Chris interested in her? Or was she just so blitzed out of her mind that she'd misread everything he'd said? And how had James missed all of it? He seemed like a pretty perceptive guy. Maybe if he'd been able to drag himself away from his phone for longer than five minutes…

  When Chris had touched her… oh Lord. His fingers had damn near singed her skin. No words had been exchanged in that moment but his desire was plain as day. She couldn't have imagined it. Jesus, what had she been thinking by flirting with him? Encouraging the behavior was just as bad as initiating it. Alex would probably agree. Besides, even if things were different, Chris was the type to go running for the hills if he found out about Chloe.

  Mia dragged herself off the floor and splashed water on her mascara-streaked face. A swipe of a makeup-remover wipe eliminated remnants of the evening before. She pulled her hair into a ponytail after a vigorous tooth-brushing and turned off the shower. Her phone buzzed on the nightstand.

  "Well, if it isn't my long-lost brother."

  "Very funny, smart ass. You do know I work, right?"

  "Don't be so sensitive. I'm just teasing."

  "You don't sound good. What's wrong?"

  "I had a late night out with colleagues and drank way too much. Then I had to deal with more shit from Mom when I got home."

  "You never could hold your liquor. I hope you didn't make an ass of yourself."

  "Ha ha. I was fine, thank you. Anyway, what's up? Do you have a reason for calling or are you just bored and looking for some entertainment at the expense of your little sister?"

  "Actually, I was calling with a proposition, but if you're going to be that way…"

  "Proposition? You've got my attention."

  "Jana mentioned you were invited to some event in San Francisco tonight. Another work soiree."

  "Yes, but I'm not going because there's no way in hell I'd ask Mom to watch Chloe. I'm so angry with her right now I could spit."

  "Let us take Chloe for you. Go and enjoy yourself. You're meeting that guy, Alex, right? How is he? You like him?"

  "Yeah…"

  "You don't sound convinced. What's his problem?"

  "Nothing. It's just… we're taking things slow." And he wasn't Chris Camden.

  "Hang in there, kid. Things don't always click right away. You don't have to marry the guy. Take the night off and try to have a good time. Don't worry about Mom. You know how she is."

  "Yeah, and why is her wrath reserved for me? She never says boo to you. Why am I so privileged?"

  "Stop acting like a victim. Tell her how you feel. Clear the air. It isn't doing you any good to grouse about it behind her back."

  "Thanks. So glad you're on my side."

  "Look, I know Mom is really hard on you, but be an adult and confront her. Don't complain about it and then shy away from the issues. You won't solve anything that way."

  Having a conversation with Susan would be a futile effort. She'd never change, and she obviously didn't care that her relationship with Mia was rapidly deteriorating. They would never see eye to eye… ever. "Can we get back to this proposition? If I decided to take you up on the offer, how would it work?"

  "We'd pick Chloe up from basketball practice, take her to a very delicious and calorie-laden dinner, load her up on sweets, and let her stay up late while you do whatever you're going to do."

  "It sounds tempting. Chloe would have a blast."

  "Guaranteed. So what do you think?"

  "Thanks. I really appreciate it. You guys are awesome. I don't know what I'd do without you."

  "Anytime. We need the practice anyway. See you around four?"

  "Great. I'll meet you at the school. Now I need to get my ass up so I can take my little girl for… " She shuddered. "…breakfast."

  "Take some Tylenol and suck it up. Jesus, weren't you in college once?"

  "Bye!" She clicked off the phone. "Hey, Chloe! You hungry? Let's roll!"

  "ARE THEY DRY YET?" Mia peered at Chloe's bright red toes.

  "I think so. This was a great morning. I had a lot of fun."

  "I'm glad, cupcake."

  Chloe's expression darkened. "Can I ask you something?"

  "Sure. What's on your mind?"

  "Are you upset about the fight you had with Grandma last night?"

  "You heard us arguing?"

  "Yes. I wasn't sleeping when you got home. I heard you yelling at each other."

  "Sweetie, it's fine. Grandma and I just had a… difference of opinion, that's all. Nothing for you to worry about."

  "I heard her say you're not around enough, but that's not true."

  "Grandma just loves you so much she wants to protect you and to make sure you have as much love around you as possible. Always." She was also a complete bitch who couldn't see past her nose, but that was a story for another day.

  "She sounded pretty angry, but I'm not upset about anything. Don't I get a say?"

  "You always have a say. If you're ever bothered by something, I want you to tell me about it. Promise?"

  "Promise." Chloe wiggled her toes. "Can I ask you something else?"

  Mia nodded. Oh God, now what?

  "Do you still miss my dad? Does it still make you sad he died?"

  "Of course I miss him, sweetie. He was a very special part of my life — so smart, sweet, and loving. But even though he isn't aro
und, I still love our life together. Are you upset it's just the two of us?"

  "No. I wish I got to meet my dad, but I know he's in heaven looking down on us. Maybe someday I'll have another one."

  Dammit, was Susan right? Was she really looking out for Chloe's best interests by pushing men away? Lusting after a guy she couldn't ever have — was that just another symptom of her commitment issues? "Maybe you will. Hey listen, how about we go to Jamba Juice for a smoothie?"

  "Really? I'm getting the biggest Strawberry Banana Explosion they have. Let's go!"

  Mia paid for the pedicures, and they walked next door in matching flip-flops.

  "I love the design on my big toes. It's so cool." She pointed at Mia's feet and shook her head. "So boring. Plain old pink. Not even a fun pink."

  "Listen, lady, I can't walk around the office with big old flowers on my bright red toenails. I'm lucky I can get away with wearing peep toe shoes."

  "It's okay, I get it. Boring finance job equals boring toes."

  "That about sums it up." Mia squinted at the menu board. "Hmm, what am I in the mood for?"

  "Let me guess… Pomegranate Paradise?"

  Mia spun around, nearly colliding with Chris. Her heart gave an inexplicable lurch. She tugged at her messy ponytail. Sweats, flip-flops, toe separators. It didn't get much sexier than that. "Am I really that transparent? Or does this getup just absolutely scream Pomegranate Paradise?"

  "Nah, your getup screams something entirely different, like maybe Carrot Orange Fusion. But Pomegranate Paradise is my favorite, and I was curious to see if we were still on the same wavelength."

  Hell yeah, they were. Little hairs on the back of her neck prickled at the realization. "Evidently we are. It's actually my favorite, too."

  "Mom, who is that?" Chloe whispered, nudging her hip.

  "Chris, this is my daughter, Chloe. We were just stopping in for a treat after our pedicures."

  "Daughter? Oh, wow, I didn't know… you look really young to have a… I mean—"

  Mia stifled a laugh. Chris Camden stammers? She bet none of his lady friends had seen him react that way before. "Thanks. I'll take that as a compliment."

  He flashed a smile at Chloe. "Your mom and I just started working together. So tell me, do you love Jamba Juice as much as I do?"

  "I bet I love it more!"

  "Oh yeah? I come here all the time, sometimes twice a day."

  Chloe's cheeks turned pink, and she giggled. "Okay, you win. We only come once a week. But I wish we came every day."

  "I take my nieces here, and they love it too. All the crushed fruit and yogurt really gets them nice and crazy. My sister hates me for it." He grinned at Chloe. "What grade are you in?"

  "Fourth," Chloe answered, her response accompanied by an uncharacteristic hint of shyness. Mia bit her lip to keep from smiling. How about that? Her little girl had a crush. Those dimples could charm ladies of all ages.

  Once they got to the counter, Chris ordered and paid for the drinks. He handed them to Mia and Chloe with a flourish.

  She grasped the cup, her fingers grazing his. Neither pulled away. The devilish glint in his eyes sent tingles racing down her spine. Breathing suddenly became a chore, and a commanding voice exploded inside her head. Drop the cup! Bury every craving! Run as fast as you can! But her body vehemently refused to oblige. All the reasons why they could never be together swarmed her brain; the biggest one was staring at Chris with a look of adoration on her face. But dammit, that spark was so powerful. It was impossible to ignore.

  "Thanks." Chloe smiled, her large blue eyes shining.

  "You're very welcome." He looked at Mia. "Any big plans for tonight? Are you hitting the town with your fancy pedicures?"

  "Hardly. My brother and sister-in-law are babysitting so I can go to an event in San Francisco."

  "Sounds cool. Work-related?"

  It could be a great networking opportunity for LazerShark. Or was she grasping at straws to see him again? Mia met his gaze and hesitated. No, no, no, not a good idea. How would Alex react to her bringing another guy? Susan would be all over her if she found out.

  "Well, kind of. Some of my old clients will be there." Yes, old clients and the guy she was dating.

  "Do you need a plus one or what?"

  A tingling sensation swept up the back of her neck. "I'm already a plus one, but it would be good for you to meet some potential investors, if you'd like to go."

  "Great. What's the address?"

  "It's at Broadway Studios." Why didn't he press her about the plus-one comment? She chewed her straw as he typed in the venue name. Maybe she was the one barking up the wrong tree.

  "Thanks for the invite." He glanced at his watch. "Shoot, I'm late. Nice meeting you, Chloe." The mischievous gleam reappeared. "I'll see you later, Mia."

  Mia pulled out her toe separators and tossed them into a nearby trashcan, mentally reviewing her closet. It was just plain wrong for her to be so excited about seeing him, especially since she'd be with Alex.

  But that didn't yank her from the delicious daydream.

  "He's really nice. I like him, Mom."

  Mia clasped Chloe's hand and bit her lip. "Yeah, me too."

  CHRIS SHOOK HIS HEAD as he drove, still dumbfounded by the exchange. So she had a daughter. He never saw that coming. No wedding ring. Could there be a dad somewhere? Wait, why was he even wasting his time wondering? A kid was just one more reason to steer clear. Yeah, so clear he practically strong-armed her into inviting him to that event. And what about the plus-one comment? She could be seeing someone for all he knew. Since when did he need to beg for dates, especially with women who'd made their ambivalence toward him crystal clear? Sure, the chase was fun, but he had too many other things on his plate, like LazerShark, the whole reason he'd been thrown together with Mia in the first place. Dammit. Could he even conjure up a single thought that didn't involve her? He raised the volume on the stereo, trying to focus his attention on anything other than how hot she looked in sweats of all things.

  It was a good thing James and Jessica were in Napa. He didn't need the third-degree from his best friend, although he was sure there would be some choice comments flung his way when James returned.

  His cell phone buzzed. Kate. He'd been so eager to see Mia again that he'd forgotten about his actual date.

  "Hey there. I'm so excited for tonight."

  Chris ran a hand through his hair. "Listen, I'm really sorry, but I need to cancel. I have to go to an event tonight to meet with some investors." It was true, for the most part.

  "Oh, really?"

  He hated that voice. Leading her on was just cruel. He wasn't a complete prick, and she deserved someone whose mind wasn't flooded with carnal thoughts of another woman. "Kate, the other night was a lot of fun. I don't want to hurt your feelings, but I think we—"

  "It's okay, I get it." Her clipped tone dripped with disdain. "I was good enough for you to take home but not good enough to take out. Well, fuck you, Chris. I won't be your doormat." The line went dead.

  "Jesus, didn't I make it clear I wasn't looking for anything serious? Was that really necessary?"

  Mia's face popped into his head again, and he slammed his hand on the leather steering wheel. "Why? Is it because I know I can't have her?"

  Nope. It was because he still wanted her.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  MIA SQUINTED AT THE TINY PLASTIC contact lens in the palm of her hand. Was it inside out? The burning sensation confirmed her suspicion. A few more squirts of the saline solution, and she was finally able to pop it back into her eye. Her eyes begged for the dark-framed glasses sitting on the dresser, but vanity won out.

  She swiped at the tears streaming down her cheek. Her phone buzzed and Jana's name flashed on the screen. "Hey, is everything okay?"

  "Umm-hmm. I'm calling because Chloe mentioned something very interesting that I just had to confirm."

  "Oh, she did?"

  "Yes. She said you met a very handsome wor
k friend at Jamba Juice named Chris, and you asked him out on a date. Did our little girl get that right? Because if she did, you've got a whole lot of blanks to fill in for me."

  "That's not exactly how it happened." Mia ran a strand of hair through the flat iron and jumped as the plate singed her ear. "Dammit!"

  "Burned your ear again?"

  "Ugh, yes. You know how much I hate this primping crap."

  "Stop changing the subject. Tell me about your date. And then tell me how your real date is going to handle it."

  "Ha ha. Alex and I aren't even going together. I'm meeting him there. And I thought it would be good for Chris to come because it's such a sports-driven event. He can meet a lot of influential people. Totally above-board."

  "Bullshit."

  Mia let out a frustrated sigh. "What do you want me to say? I'm attracted to Chris, but he's not the guy for me. I'm not going to mess things up with Alex. I'm happy with him."

  "How do you think Alex will react?"

  "It's professional. Alex shouldn't feel threatened, and I'm sure Chris will be just fine on his own."

  "Sounds like you're getting pretty dolled up. What are you wearing?"

  Mia bit her lip. "The, um, black corset dr—"

  "The one I just made for you? I'm sure that little number won't send the wrong message at all." She snickered. "Oh well, since Chris can't taste a sample, you may as well give him something yummy to look at."

  Mia combed her fingers through the shiny, stick-straight locks and smiled. Maybe his reaction was one tiny, little reason she'd chosen that dress, not that she'd admit it to anyone. "Sure, who wouldn't appreciate a little eye candy?"

  CHRIS TOOK A DEEP BREATH AS he pulled up to Broadway Studios. The erratic heartbeat was uncharacteristic for him, but somehow everything he'd considered normal in his life before meeting Mia was now upside down. He handed the valet a ten-dollar bill and grabbed his jacket from the backseat. Celebrity athletes spilled out of the front entrance as flashbulbs popped, fast and furious. Paparazzi lined the sidewalk for the red-carpet event. This was the place for him to sell the crap out of LazerShark, except business opportunities were the furthest things from his mind.