Hello Quarterback (Hello #8)

16. Ford

16

FORD

I could feel Mia stiffen as the door opened and the photographers swarmed. Security was doing their best to contain the paparazzi behind the velvet rope, but they couldn’t exactly stop the shouting coming our way.

“ARE YOU TWO DATING?”

“ARE YOU JUST FRIENDS?”

“MIA, WHAT WOULD HAYDEN THINK?”

“YOUR FANS ARE DISAPPOINTED, FORD. ANY COMMENT?”

“FORD, WHO IS MIA TO YOU?”

Despite the tension in her shoulders, her voice was calm as she said, “No comment.” But I found the reporter holding a mic with the logo of the largest station I recognized. I held Mia to my side, her body soft and warm against mine, as I spoke directly to the reporter.

“Who is Mia to me?” I repeated the question. I looked at her, taking her in unabashedly—luckily, I could get away with indulging myself when we were putting on a show.

My eyes drank in her high cheekbones dusted with a rosy color. Her full lips, lightly glossed. Her soft, pale shoulders, contrasted by bright red fabric plunging into her cleavage. Then her curves, the arc between her chest and hips and thick thighs I wanted to sink my fingers into. God, she was so hot, I’d need a thousand ice baths to cool me down.

When I looked back to the reporter, I said, “Mia is an incredible woman, a hard worker, a selfless leader, but to me? She’s everything.” I hoped Hayden French, and any other man, would get the message that she was mine. I hoped Thomas would know he picked the wrong woman for a fight. And I hoped the people on the board at Griffen Industries would know Mia had my support, one hundred percent.

Everyone went crazy, snapping more pictures, shouting more questions. But I kept my eyes on her, watched the way her lips parted in surprise. She was so beautiful, it took all I had not to kiss her right then and there.

Using the last bit of my willpower, I applied light pressure at her lower back and led her into the restaurant. But the night was far from over.

We walked into the building and rode an elevator to the very top floor. The elevator doors opened to a beautiful rooftop dining area overlooking all of Dallas. Bright oranges, reds, and yellows streaked across the sky like they were meant to add to the painting of Mia, her red dress a drop of fire in the sunset.

She was a few steps ahead of me when she realized I wasn’t keeping up. Then she turned back and gave me a questioning smile. Her skin glowed golden, each ray of the sun highlighting her features, illuminating her eyes, tinting the wisps of hair that fell around her face.

I knew this moment would be in my mind as long as I lived.

When I thought of beauty, this image would come to mind.

And the force of that realization hit me hard, because “beauty” was something I always reserved for the ranch in Cottonwood Falls. For the rolling hills dotted with cattle or the way a horse trotted across green pastures.

Not a person.

Definitely not a person I wasn’t actually dating.

Realizing I was trailing behind again, I caught up to Mia, who was being greeted by a host. He led us to a table near the corner of the dining area with a panoramic view. Of course, I knew this was Tallie’s doing—it was the most visible spot in the restaurant frequented by all of Dallas’s elite.

I pulled the chair out for her and helped her in, trying not to be distracted by her perfume. Then I went to my own seat while the host excused himself and said our server would be by soon.

When he left, I said to Mia, “You were great out there, with the press.”

She gave me a stunned look. “Me? You were a natural.”

I dipped my head in gratitude. I received praise daily, but not from Mia.

“What do you think you’ll have?” she asked me.

I scanned the menu in front of me, trying to decide, until Mia said, “Oh my gosh. Hayden’s here.”

I looked up just in time to see Hayden French approaching our table with a bronze-skinned brunette on his arm. She wore heels as tall as the skyscraper we dined in. And Hayden? He wore a smile that didn’t reach his eyes at all.

“Amelia. Forge.”

“It’s Mia,” I corrected. “And Ford.”

Mia nodded. “Good to see you, Hayden. And Bonnie, I recognize you from the Sports Illustrated cover. That swimsuit was stunning on you.”

That’s where I knew her from. She smiled in response and opened her mouth to reply when Hayden interrupted.

“Did you get my flowers?” he asked Mia.

I looked up at him, not needing my height to stare him down. “She won’t be needing any more flowers from you,” I cut in.

“Is that so?” he asked, the smile falling from his lips, Bonnie long forgotten.

Something carnal rose within me, and I lifted my chin. “It was a bit awkward to see your flowers on the table next to the ones I got her.”

Mia spoke up, “Thank you, though, Hayden. They were lovely.” Her tone was the perfect blend of sweet and diplomatic with a hint of finality.

His gaze flicked away from me to Mia. As he opened his mouth to argue, she said, “Bonnie, it was lovely to meet you.” A clear dismissal.

Bonnie smiled back. “You, als?—”

“Come on,” Hayden groused. He snapped his fingers, and two security guards came out of the woodwork, following them to the door. I stared at them in shock. Did that really just happen?

Mia let out a giggle, and there was my answer.

The sound was so light, so unexpected, I had to laugh along. When the server came and poured her a glass of wine and me a seltzer water, I lifted my glass.

“What are we toasting?” she asked.

“Your epic roast of Hayden French,” I replied. “A French roast if you will.”

She tossed her head back, laughing. “I didn’t roast him! I just... maneuvered well.”

She might have played it off like it was no big deal, but I was seriously amazed by her. She could have let the awkward situation drag on, but I loved that she held her own, without even batting an eye. She was a strong woman, something I admired. Then a genuine smile formed on my lips. “And let’s toast to our first meal as a couple.”

I couldn’t be certain, but just before she clinked her glass to mine, I thought I saw her features fall.