Page 31 of Rescuing Mia
At any time, she could end this by walking away, but I’ve captured her interest enough to keep the conversation flowing.
“Challenges are only impossible until someone proves they’re not, and I have a feeling you’re not as immune to my charm as you’d like to think.”
“Sorry to burst your bubble, but I’m not looking for company, whereas you obviously are.” She points to where Jessica and Samantha stand talking with Pete. “The bimbos seem more than interested. They look like a two-for-one package deal. You might want to explore that and cut your losses here.”
“They’re not nearly as interesting as you.” The thrill of the unknown propels me forward.
“You’re something else.” She shakes her head in disbelief. “Very persistent.”
“Isn’t this what makes it fun?”
“What do you mean?”
“They’re easy. I’m not interested in easy, but I am interested in you.”
When she laughs, it’s genuine and unrestrained. This woman fascinates me.
The sweetest victory.
Even if I haven’t completely won her over, I’ve made her smile, and that’s a start.
“Don’t get your hopes up. I really am enjoying the view.” Sherolls her eyes, but the smile that lingers on her lips tells me she’s enjoying our exchange as much as I am.
“As am I. From where I’m standing, the view is exquisite. You’re exactly the kind of surprise I was hoping to find.”
Finally, she sighs, some of the tension leaving her shoulders. “We’ll see about that.” A tentative smile curves her lips. “But don’t think this means I’m going to make it easy for you.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it,” I laugh, my heart soaring with the small victory. “Like I said, I’m not interested in easy.”
We share a moment of comfortable silence, the deck beneath our feet humming with the steady vibration of the ship’s engines. The rushing water against the hull rises and falls in a rhythmic cadence that eases any remaining tension.
“So, Mia,” I say after a while, turning to face her fully. “What brings you on this little adventure? Looking for the dive of a lifetime? Eager to explore the depths? Or is there more to your story?”
She stiffens slightly, and for a moment, I’m afraid I’ve pushed too far. But then she relaxes, a rueful smile tugging at her lips.
“Let’s just say I needed a change of scenery,” she says, her voice carefully neutral. “A chance to get away from—everything.”
There’s a world of meaning in that pause, a hint of shadows lurking beneath the surface. But I don’t push.
Not yet.
There will be time for that later if she chooses to trust me with her story.
“I can understand that.” I nod while my own memories of my time in the Navy, the things I’ve seen and done, flicker through my mind. “Sometimes, the best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in something completely different.”
She looks at me then, really looks at me as if seeing me for the first time. “You sound like you’re speaking from experience.”
“I’ve had my share of adventures, but that’s a story for another time. Right now, I’m more interested in yours.”
“Mine?” She laughs, shaking her head. “I’m afraid there’s not much to tell. I’m just a girl on a boat, trying to figure out her next move.”
“I have a feeling your story is a bit more interesting than that.”
“You’ll have to stick around to find out,” she teases, a glint of challenge in her eye.
“Oh, I plan to.” I grin, my heart racing with the thrill of the unknown. “Trust me, Mia. You’ve got my full attention.”
And as we stand there, the vast expanse of the ocean stretching out before us, I can’t shake the feeling that this meeting, this woman, is going to change everything.