“Unbelievable,” Jason muttered, shuffling back with a venomous glare aimed in Mia’s direction.

  “Walk away,” Ben demanded with a dangerously low growl. “Right the hell now, or you’ll be leaving on a stretcher. I won’t say it again.”

  An electric thrill sizzled through Mia’s belly with the chivalrous act. No man had ever come to her aid in such a way. Not because she’d never been hit on—men were always telling her she was beautiful, and aggressively asking for her number whenever she dared to leave her apartment—but because she never willingly put herself in the kind of situation in which she required saving. She’d always known Ben to be kind-hearted. Paired with his new boldness and exceptionally good looks, he’d become attractive on a different level.

  Jason grunted one final time before slinking away. When he slammed his arm into the winery’s front door, nearly everyone in the building turned to watch him storm out, Mia felt a sudden chill.

  Soft, warm fingers spread over the keyhole opening of her dress on her lower back. She was all at once cloaked in the masculine scent she’d caught earlier.

  “Are you alright?” Ben asked. His voice had turned soft. Gentle.

  Meeting his concerned gaze, she nodded. It was a complete turnaround from the severe look he’d given her a minute ago. A warmth radiated through her skull. She couldn't believe her childhood buddy was standing next to her…after five long years. Her therapist would’ve been thrilled to witness her allowing a man to touch her without fleeing. But he wasn’t just any man. He was once a cherished friend—one who had her back time and time again.

  “I can’t believe you’re really here,” she whispered. She swallowed the lump in her throat, wondering why she was all at once close to tears. “You look…great.” It was a major understatement, but she was worried she’d embarrass herself if she told him the truth.

  “I promised Liz I’d come. This benefit means a lot to her.” Despite the way he spoke to Jason, something about his quiet mannerisms reminded her of what he’d been like as a six-year-old. His eyes flickered away from hers. “We’ve stayed close.”

  Regret hung heavy in his words. He had abruptly moved away when she’d needed him most, and he hadn’t reached out to her again until after she’d left for art school in New York. By then she was so angry that she wanted nothing to do with him. Both his calls and letters went unanswered.

  As Matt hadn’t reached out to anyone after he’d left for California, Liz was the only friend from their crew who’d remained a constant in Mia’s life. Instead of leaving for college the week after Bella’s abduction, Liz had stayed with her parents and commuted to a nearby college while Mia completed her last two years of high school. Liz worked alongside the Hughes family at Shady Oaks, cleaning rooms with Sarah while Mia filled in for Bella alongside her dad. After Mia left for New York, Liz had come to visit countless times.

  “Is this yours?” Ben asked, motioning to the painting of the headless dog and little girl. When she nodded, he dropped his hand from her back and leaned in to study it closer. His brows furrowed. “This is…intense. How the hell do you sleep at night after creating something like this?”

  Liz was attending grad school to become a psychiatrist, and had asked her the same exact question. But Mia felt oddly at ease with Ben, as if they’d stayed in touch and hadn’t been separated by time. She let out a soft laugh. “The point of this benefit is to educate the public on puppy mills. I wanted to make people uncomfortable.”

  “Mission accomplished,” he teased among a soft chuckle. The dark rumble of it sent delightful tingles spreading through Mia’s core. He turned to regard her with a sexy grin. “Congratulations on becoming a bonafide artist. I hear you recently had a successful show out in New York. I always knew you’d be a great artist. I remember that cool pelican you painted in art class in sixth grade. It’s the only thing Ms. Munson left hanging on the wall at the end of the year.”

  Her cheeks warmed. She’d forgotten all about that goofy bird. Dipping her chin shyly, she shrugged. “What about you?”

  “I still don’t have an artistic bone in my body, if that’s what you’re asking.” With a harsh laugh, his thick hands disappeared inside his jeans pockets. “I finished four years with the Marines—enrolled after graduating high school early. Now I’m doing some IT work for a private company while taking courses at a community college out in California.”

  “Liz mentioned you’d joined the military,” she replied, smiling. Picturing him in dress blues sent a jolt to her libido. “What are you studying?”

  A pack of boisterous men in bow ties and fedoras bulldozed their way past. Mia sidestepped them, bumping into Ben. Her heart stuttered. “Sorry,” she muttered, annoyed that her New York ways had disappeared, and she’d already slipped back into Minnesota Nice.

  Another warm rush flooded her stomach when he steadied her with a hand on her hip. When she stared up into his beautiful blue eyes, she didn’t hate his touch.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Ben’s lips spread with a deep smile that he felt in the deepest depths of his soul. Although his arms ached to draw Mia in close for a proper welcome, there was a hesitant look in her eyes that had kept him restrained. He’d missed her more than she could possibly comprehend. Though he’d kept track of her through Liz over the years, he hated that he’d lost touch with the girl he thought he’d love forever as a teenager.

  She’d transformed into a remarkably stunning woman. The dark shade she’d dyed her long hair brought out the details of her high cheekbones and plush lips. Because her face had thinned, her eyes the color of melted chocolate seemed large to the point of almost being cartoonish. She was a living, breathing siren in the fitting little black dress paired with sexy high heels strapped to her little feet. She’d filled out in all the right places with lean muscle and generous curves, making the reunion hell on his control. There was an air of sophistication that hadn’t been there when they were kids, although he supposed it came with big city living.

  A beautiful, haunting melody trilled from inside the purse slung over her shoulder. She slid a cell phone out to check the screen. With a roll of her eyes, she silenced the phone and dropped it back inside her purse.

  “That’s a beautiful melody,” he commented, desperate to erase the awkwardness between them. “I don’t think I’ve heard anything quite like it.”

  “It’s chamber pop…kind of like alternative rock.”

  He rubbed at the back of his neck. “Alternative rock…you mean like Nirvana and Bush?”

  “Not quite, although they’re still pretty awesome. It has more of a sixties vibe, with piano and string instruments. Give Agnes Obel’s September Song a listen sometime. That masterpiece will change your life, and expand your musical palate.” A pretty little flush covered her cheeks. “Sorry, I tend to babble when it comes to music.”

  “No need to apologize. I could listen to you babble all day long.” Seeing her blush warmed him in places that had been out of commission for months. “How are you, Mia?” he choked out. “I mean, really? After all this time…I hate that we haven’t spoken in so long. Do you come back home often?”

  When she squirmed, he berated himself for making her uncomfortable. Liz had told him she’d invited Mia to the benefit along with her paintings, and suspected she’d actually attend. He’d spent hours preparing himself for what he’d say to her, but he wasn’t prepared for his old crush to take his breath away on a different level.

  “This isn’t home for me anymore, Ben. I live in New York.”

  “Shady Oaks will always be your home,” he disagreed. His jaw hardened. “I was really sorry to hear about your dad. He was a great guy.” With the haunting look that took over her delicate features, he decided not to push her into talking about anything personal. “God, I missed you, Mia. I didn’t realize just how much until I saw you standing here.”

  Her sweet lips parted with an unspoken response just as their oldest friend came bouncing up to them with a whimsical look. Liz’s bright red hair was the perfect compliment to her big green eyes and sparkling personality. Ben had lost track of her hair’s natural color since it had been something different every time they’d met for dinner or drinks over the years. In true Liz fashion, she wore a gauzy white dress for the occasion that looked as if it had been attacked by a pack of lions. There were enough layers of glittering jewelry hanging from her neck and wrists to stock an entire department store display rack. She was nearly the same height and build as Mia, only slightly less muscular. Ben couldn’t deny she was attractive, but she paled in comparison to Mia. Besides, their personalities and interests never meshed. She would never be anything beyond a good friend.

  Mia was an entirely different story. Now that he knew what he’d been missing, he didn’t want to let her slip back out of his life. Unfortunately, he had no idea how he’d convince her to stick around.

  “You made it!” Liz squealed, launching herself into Ben’s arms. He lifted her off the ground, trapping her in a bear hug. When he kissed Liz’s cheek as they parted, he caught a flash of pain spark in Mia’s beautiful eyes.

  He threw Liz a friendly smile. “This benefit is impressive. Looks like a great turn out.”

  “Aw, you’re makin’ me blush,” she teased in a nasally tone, pretending to hide behind her jewel-covered fingers. “But Mia’s the one making it a true success. Three of her paintings have already sold.”

  Ben motioned to the canvas featuring the headless dog with one hand, brushing his fingertips over the small of Mia’s back with the other. “Mia was just explaining the reasoning behind this piece. If it’s still available, I’d like to purchase it.”

  Liz’s gaze widened on him. “No way! Really?”

  “Really,” he said with a deep chuckle. “I have a soft spot for animals after I trained with several dogs in the Corps. I’ll even make a donation to the humane society.”

  “Ben, you don’t have to,” Mia said, shaking her head with her eyes squeezed shut. When her eyelids flipped back open, appreciation shone in the depths of her eyes. “Seriously.”

  “Maybe I seriously want it,” he argued, chuckling. “That way I can say I have one of your original pieces when you become famous.”

  “Oh my god, thank you!” Liz threw herself into his arms one more time before she turned to scan the crowd. She motioned to a tall, bald man who quickly joined their circle. Liz hooked her arm through the man’s, beaming. “Doc, this is Ben Pitt. He’d like to buy this print. Treat him right—he’s a dear friend. And he just got out of the military.”

  “Fantastic!” Doc sang joyously, signaling for Ben to follow him. “If you would please come along right this way, Mr. Pitt, we’ll discuss the details.”

  Ben’s eyes found Mia’s once again. He nearly flinched when all at once reminded of the lifetime of memories they’d shared. He wished he could have another chance to make things right with her, but sensed it would never work between them anyway. They had become virtual strangers. “It was good to see you, Mia. Really.”

  A tug in the pit of Mia’s stomach urged her to run after Ben, and at the very least, ask for his number.

  Linking her arm through Mia’s, Liz sighed dramatically as they watched him stride away. Mia could appreciate the sentiment since his sculpted glutes were every bit as lovely as the rest of him. She could only imagine how fierce he’d looked in uniform with a weapon in hand.

  “Isn’t he dreamy?” Liz asked. “I always thought the two of you would get married.”

  With a heavy blink, Mia balked. “Why would you think that? We were never anything more than good friends."

  “There was always an attraction just below the surface. You should’ve seen yourself with him just now, Mia. You were so relaxed…happy. I hope you at least made plans to see each other again.” Liz pulled her in for a quick hug before starting to walk backwards after Ben. “Don’t you go anywhere, my beautiful friend. I’m taking you out for a drink just as soon as I’m finished here. If I didn’t have to return to the Cities tonight, we could’ve stayed up all night and planned your wedding.”

  Mia repeatedly shook her head in reply. Liz’s boisterous personality hadn’t changed since they were kids. She never hesitated to say what was on her mind. But Mia knew she was right. In the short time she’d been reunited with Ben, he’d made her relax. He'd made her feel normal.

  In the short time they spent together, she hadn’t once thought of the night he’d found her soaked in her sister’s blood.

  A strawberry blonde with her hands tied over her head writhed and yelped in pain.

  She was covered in dirt.

  Her ribs and the pink little nubs of her nipples were visible beneath a thin top.

  Tears filled her big, beautiful brown eyes as they silently pleaded for help.

  Beside her, a headless dog wagged its tail.

  It was then that he realized it was her.

  It was his Mia.

  As he started to howl, a hand covered his mouth.

  * * *

  Ben jolted awake, sheets damp with sweat. He gulped for air, willing the frantic beats of his heart to settle. The unthinkable nightmare quickly faded away with every blink of his eyes, replaced with visions of the cedar-lined cabin he’d rented at Shady Oaks.

  Through the open window surrounded by fluttering ivory curtains, he could smell the damp air around Lake Shetek, hear the constant squawk of geese and singsong of various birds. The one-room cabin was stiflingly hot and too cramped for his liking, but it was the biggest rental available on short notice. At least it was a short walk to the seven-mile trail maintained by the state that he’d probably taken a thousand times as a kid with Mia. The convenient proximity to the trail would come in handy whenever he needed to clear his head—something that was becoming more frequent with every day that passed.

  He stretched his hands to the tongue-and-groove ceiling, yawning as memories from the winery the night before flooded his thoughts. Mia had become more goddamn beautiful than ever. He didn’t know that he’d ever met anyone with the same degree of natural allure. She came off as being timid at first, especially after the prick had manhandled her, but she warmed with every minute of their conversation. He could’ve swam for days in those deep chocolatey eyes, surrounded by thick lashes and light dusting of sweet freckles. And the way she looked at him…holy hell. She may as well have reached into his chest and clenched her fist around his beating heart.

  He fantasized how it would feel to push his tongue past those pillowy pink lips, and wrap his fingers in those sinfully dark curls. As much as he tried to keep his dark desires at bay, his palms itched with the urge to touch her the first time he spotted her tight backside from across the winery. He could hardly believe his eyes when she spun around, revealing her full beauty.

  It wasn’t his intention to seek her out when he returned. Their history was far too complicated. Regardless, it stung like hell to simply walk away, even if he was in no position to get involved with anyone—even someone who had once been his everything.

  There was never anything brotherly in the way he felt about Mia. He felt protective, but only because she was his girl. Or he wanted her to be, at least. By the time he realized exactly how he felt about her, she was too hung up on Matt. Then Bella went missing, and his old man uprooted him to Louisiana. Several times after they’d settled in the South, he’d tried running back to her. The closest he ever got to Minnesota was the southern part of Missouri. But his dad always found him. With time, he accepted that Mia was better off without him complicating her life.

  The kind of relationships he had with women during his time in the Corps were disposable from the start. He’d never been intimate with anyone he felt a real attraction toward, or could see himself spending time with outside of the bedroom. Only a warm body to fulfill his needs. And he adhered to a strict rule never to sleep with the same woman twice. Feelings were complicated. Messy.

  Mia would undoubtedly make him forget why he’d uprooted his life in California to return to Shetek. With every bat of those captivating eyes, she’d titled his world off of its axis. And he didn’t know that he could completely trust himself to behave around her.

  The disturbing print of the little girl and headless dog sat in the corner of the cabin. It was sorely out of place among the bright, cheerful paintings of wildflowers, birds, and Lake Shetek also painted by Mia. While his shrink would chide him for attaching himself to something so morbid, he couldn’t resist owning something she had created.

  With visions of Mia’s doe-like eyes and the kind of soul-touching smile he hadn’t seen in five years, he headed into the shower to relieve himself.

  CHAPTER SIX

  As much as Mia hated the idea, she was obligated to visit Shady Oaks before she headed back to New York. She had spent the night in the nearest hotel 15 minutes down the road, wanting to avoid spending time at the resort as much as possible. With the sound of the 4-door rental’s tires crunching over the gravel and the sight of the grand, ancient oak trees lining the long driveway leading to the resort, she was launched into an unwelcome state of déjà vu that left her restless.

  She'd once looked forward to that time of year, when guests were first coming to the resort and everything was lush with color. Seeing the main lodge perched at the top of the hill never failed to stir a wealth of emotions in the pit of her stomach. In her youth, it had filled her with joy to spend time where she’d grown up alongside Bella, playing ping pong and foosball, or serving guests in the grand dinner hall and learning to cook alongside Gigi.

  Now the sight of the aging lodge filled her with hesitation and fear. She was overwhelmed by the pressing urge to return to New York before the ghosts of her childhood swallowed her whole. Her throat tightened when she spotted her mom bent over the intricate landscaping surrounding the building. Shock rocked Mia to her core as she noted how much Sarah had aged since her last visit. Her mom had yet to turn 50, but she could’ve been mistaken for a decade older. Worry and sorrow that came with the loss of both her oldest child and her husband lined her dull chestnut eyes, and her shoulder-length hair, still drawn back in the usual ponytail, had turned stark white.