LITMIR.BIZ

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the glories of the bakery’s treats for a moment.

      “I know what you mean about those muffins. Aubrey makes these disgusting...” He watched Mia’s lips curl into a smile that seemed to be on the verge of laughter. Then she flickered her eyes up and to the left. “Peanut butter–oatmeal–date blobs that—”

      He jumped as Aubrey’s voice sounded next to his ear. “They’re called energy bites, Jay.”

      Mia let out a laugh. “I tried to warn you.”

      “Jeez, Wynn. I swear you’re part cat. They give me energy all right—the energy to get as far away from them as possible. Did you deliver Captain Shear his poison?”

      Aubrey chuckled. “I did. Along with a gentle lecture about the healthy protein-packed benefits of a Greek yogurt and fruit parfait versus an ice cream sundae.”

      “Eww,” Mia drawled. “That stuff is the texture of wallpaper paste. Sorry, but who suddenly decided gummy, dried-out yogurt was a delicious treat? What’s wrong with regular smooth and creamy yogurt?”

      Aubrey peered at Mia. “Did he tell you to say that?” She glared at Jay. “Did you tell her to say that?”

      Chuckling, he held his hands up, palms out. “No, I swear.” He explained to Mia, “Aubrey and I had a conversation about this very topic yesterday morning. I told her that her plain Greek yogurt tastes like glue.”

      Aubrey shook her head. “You’re hopeless. Should I be concerned about the fact that you just admitted you know what glue tastes like?” Turning a sweet smile on Mia, she asked, “How’s your mom, Dr. Frasier?”

      “Please, call me Mia. And she’s doing great. The doctor says she might get to come home in a day or two. Nothing broken. They’re still not sure why she was unconscious for so long.” She shrugged. “The MRI didn’t show any subdural hematoma or significant swelling. But she’s had this headache, so I don’t know...”

      They visited for a while until Aubrey glanced down at her phone. “I have to get going, but I’ll stop by to see your mom again. I’m surprised we haven’t met before. Do you ever do yoga with your mom?”

      “Um, occasionally. I don’t share my mom’s passion, or ability level, but I know it’s good for me so I try.”

      “I love it,” Aubrey said. “Your mom is an awesome teacher. I’ve been trying for like a year to get Jay to try a class. My boyfriend has been going with me for a while now and he can’t believe how much it has enhanced his overall fitness level.”

      Jay scoffed. Because the idea of Aubrey’s boyfriend, big, strong, tough guy Eli Pelletier doing yoga was funny. “Did he say that? ‘Enhancing his overall fitness level’? You know I have to give him a hard time now, right? Besides, now that he’s going with you, I figured I was off the hook.”

      “Why would Eli getting into better shape preclude you from wanting to do the same?”

      “See what I’m dealing with?” He shot Mia a desperate look. “This woman is relentless.”

      “Well, she is right about the yoga,” Mia said, standing. “It does amazing things for your body.”

      “Ha.” Aubrey slapped him on the shoulder. “See?”

      Without thinking it through he said, “Since your mom teaches, maybe I’ll have to give it a try.”

      Mia’s eyes sparkled. “She would love that.”

      Aubrey chimed in, “I’m holding you to that.”

      “I didn’t mean it, Aubrey,” he quipped. “It’s just a polite thing you say in these kinds of situations.”

      Mia laughed and the sound seeped into him, further improving his mood. She had the kind of laugh that made you want to laugh, too, even if you didn’t know what was funny.

      “Thank you guys so much for stopping by. Mom will be thrilled when I tell her you were here.”

      Aubrey hugged her. Not for the first time, Jay marveled at Aubrey’s ability to befriend people and make them feel comfortable.

      Jay managed to articulate what he thought was a suitable goodbye, and as they walked down the hall toward the elevators he wondered how big of a fool he would make of himself at yoga class. Would the humiliation be worth seeing Mia Frasier again? There had to be another way... She was a vet. Maybe he could borrow a cat? Or a dog? Aubrey’s sister, Nina, had a dog. He could offer to dog-sit and then pretend the animal wasn’t feeling well. Pointless fantasies, he reminded himself. Especially where a woman like Mia Frasier was concerned. He’d really enjoy getting to know her, which meant he needed to keep her at arm’s length.

      Aubrey interrupted his musing. “Are you going to ask her out?”

      Jay wasn’t surprised by the question. Now that she and Eli were together, Aubrey was on a quest to find him a partner. “I already did. We’re going to Lincoln City for the weekend. We’re going to practice yoga on the beach and watch the sunset.”

      She stopped, opened her mouth, snapped it shut, chuckled, smacked him on the shoulder and took off marching again. “Funny.”

      He kept walking, but let out a laugh of his own as she called him a name under her breath. “Well, seriously, Aubrey. No, I didn’t ask her out. Not that it’s any of your business.”

      “You’re defensive.” With a smug look, she pulled open the door leading to the stairwell. “I know what that means.” She motioned him through. “You better be careful.”

      “Careful?”

      “Yes, careful. Because, despite your best efforts, one of these days a woman is going to come along and sweep you off your stubborn bachelor feet. You do know that, right? And it’s going to be someone like Mia Frasier—smart, funny, kind, beautiful, compassionate. You know she’s a vet, right? I’m talking about an animal doctor here and not a military veteran.”

      “Yes, I know what she does for a living. What does that have to do with anything?”

      Aubrey gave him that look she often did just before she called him dense. “She’s one of us, Jay. She’s a rescuer, a saver. It’s going to be someone like her that manages to get to you. And I, for one, cannot wait to see it happen. I know the reason you don’t get involved with women.”

      He responded with his blankest stare as he wondered what she knew.

      “You’re scared.”

      And for a brief moment, he was. He was afraid that she’d somehow found out. Not that he was ashamed of his family necessarily. It was just...a lot to explain. And Jay didn’t like to explain. For his entire life, explanations had been met with judgments or pity or advice. This often led to “help” in some well-meaning form, most of which was usually not helpful. At all. A neglectful single mother made for a complicated and difficult childhood for him and his five younger siblings on the best of days. Add in the challenges of her mental illness and, well, it was more than most people could truly comprehend.

      She went on, “I get that. I was scared, too. People like us, all type A and independent and stubborn, aren’t the best relationship material. Before Eli, I couldn’t imagine ever settling down. You don’t have me fooled, though. You don’t even give women a chance—one or two dates and you’re done. Down deep, I think you’re lonely. You need someone, and I want that for you.”

      His answer was a long, slow blink. “That is so sweet,” he drawled in a syrupy tone. “So I can be like you and Eli, right? Long walks on the beach, holding hands, late-night talks. And eventually, when the time is right, some nest-building. You know, I want that, too.” He placed one hand on his chest. “So much. And I’m truly touched, Aubrey. The fact that you care about me this much—”

      She punched him in the shoulder again, hard this time. “Shut up.”

      “Ouch.”

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