A Million Tiny Pieces (20 page)

When
he released her, Tarik stunned them both, pulling Mia in close to him as he
stared down at her. “It’s my turn,” he said but didn’t move in closer. “Does
that worry you, Mia?”

“Should
it?” she asked enthusiastically, her eyes locked with his.

“No,”
Tarik offered and then leaned down, pressing his lips to hers. Probably due to
their surroundings, neither of them deepened the kiss, but when Tarik pulled
back, he noticed the intensity in Mia’s gaze as she watched him.

“Let
the games begin,” Mia said happily, although a little breathlessly.

Little
did she know, but they already had.

Yeah,
she was certainly hoping for more, and that thought had Tarik discreetly
adjusting himself before taking her hand once again.

For
a first kiss, Tarik had to admit that he’d felt the spark from that brief touch
of her lips clear down to his feet. It’d been far too short for his liking, but
it was as though there was a promise of what was to come that hung between them
when he’d pulled away from Mia. Back at the last place, when he’d kissed
Phoenix, he had considered kissing Mia first but had held back. More because he
had wanted to see her reaction to him and Phoenix together; he had wanted to
make sure she understood what direction this was going.

Quite
frankly, he was a little shocked that she hadn’t freaked out. But then she’d
nearly knocked him sideways when she hadn’t balked at the idea of kissing him
in a building full of people moments after she’d kissed Phoenix just now. Why
that was, he didn’t know. He
wanted
to know, he just didn’t. There’d
been plenty of willing women who’d gladly climbed between him and Phoenix over
the years, but admittedly none of them were like Mia.

He
was beginning to question his first impression of her. Based on the way she’d
held his hand and then allowed him to kiss her, he wasn’t so sure she was as
pure as he’d initially thought. Then again, maybe she was simply caught up in
the excitement. He knew he was. His adrenaline was still flowing, his competitive
spirit alive and well as they made their way to the rock climbing section of
the building.

This
was a one-stop shop of all the activities they could possibly want, and by the
end of the day, there would be a winner. And unexpectedly, he didn’t care who
it was, because Tarik got the distinct feeling that it wasn’t really going to
matter, anyway. If things worked out the way he hoped they would, the three of
them would be back at the penthouse engaging in something else that produced a
significant amount of adrenaline.

But
for now, he only had to survive the rest of the day.

And
more importantly, resist the urge to press Mia up against the wall and kiss her
the way he really wanted to kiss her.

BY
THE TIME they left the adventure park, Mia was exhausted. She hadn’t laughed
that hard in years. Her cheeks hurt from grinning, her stomach muscles were
sore from laughing, yet the euphoric feeling that filled her couldn’t be
dampened by a little exhaustion.

Tarik
and Phoenix were probably the two most competitive people she’d ever met. They
had attempted to sabotage one another — good naturedly, of course — throughout
the day. On top of that, the heated looks they’d sent one another — and her —
had kept Mia in a state of arousal she’d been hard-pressed to fight.

“Hungry?”
Phoenix asked as they made their way through the doors and out into the parking
lot. The sun was still high overhead, even at five thirty, and the temperatures
were holding steady, however not dreadfully cold. But even that didn’t put a
damper on her mood.

She
was once again holding hands with both men, something that felt surprisingly
natural, although it should’ve freaked her out. They’d both done it most of the
day, taking her hand, pulling her close, stealing a kiss here and there… She’d
felt a little off-kilter, but never had she felt better.

It
was all about living in the moment.

She’d
spent so many years trying to figure out how to fix everything that was broken,
working on changing the past, walking on eggshells to keep from upsetting the
unnatural balance of her stormy life. Now she was learning that wasn’t even
possible. Live for today, that was her new motto. Try new things.

Well,
she was definitely checking that one off her bucket list.

Why
she wasn’t panicking, or worried what others thought about her, she truly
didn’t know. Tomorrow there would probably be pictures in the tabloids of their
outing, and she might have to worry about it then, but for now, she really
didn’t give a shit.

She
was having too much fun.

“What
did you have in mind?” she asked Phoenix once they were in the SUV and pulling
out of the parking lot. Surprising them both, Mia had climbed into the front
seat with Tarik, laughing at Phoenix as he pretended to pout in the back.

“Food,”
he told her smoothly, his eyes raking over her face and landing on her lips as
she glanced at him over her shoulder.

For
a moment, Mia got the impression he wasn’t interested in food at all. Although
her stomach was rumbling, she was inclined to think she might get her fill if
they did go back to his place right then.

Not
a good idea, she reminded herself.

As
much as she liked him, as easy as he was to be around, Mia still worried about
the repercussions of being with a man like Phoenix. She’d learned over the
course of the day that he wasn’t anything like Damien, but those warning flags
were still flying high and proud every time she thought about where this was
headed.

Tarik,
on the other hand, was a little more her taste. He wasn’t high profile,
although he wasn’t low-key, either. But like Phoenix, he made her feel things
she hadn’t expected to ever feel again. Things that she’d stopped feeling long
before her marriage was over. Like that flutter in her belly when they looked
at her. Or the tingle in her core when either of them pulled her close. It was
a heady feeling that she was beginning to crave like a drug.

“Before
we decide on dinner, we need to figure out who the winner of the day is,” Tarik
mentioned, reaching over and taking Mia’s hand in his as he maneuvered onto the
highway, heading south toward downtown.

“I
think I did,” she said quickly, laughing. There was no way she was the winner
for the day, but she figured it was worth a shot.

“Not
a chance, little girl,” Phoenix retorted. “I’d say I’m the winner.”

“Like
hell,” Tarik added.

“If
you think
you’re
the winner, why did you even ask?” Mia questioned,
linking her fingers with his while the heater blasted on her face, warming her
considerably.

“Because
I wanted to hear you say it.”

“Okay,
fine. I think you’re the winner,” she told him, glancing over her shoulder at
Phoenix once more. “Don’t you think?”

“I’m
good with that,” he answered, grinning.

Of
course he was. It didn’t matter, because if either of them won, she had agreed
to go back to Phoenix’s condo.

“Does
that mean I get to pick the restaurant?” Tarik asked.

“If
that’ll make you happy.” Mia didn’t really care who picked, as long as they got
to eat sometime soon. She was starving.

“I
know this excellent Mexican place. You up for that?”

Mia
looked over at him and smiled. “Sure.”

The
conversation continued, mostly Phoenix and Tarik arguing affably about who the
winner actually was until they were pulling into the crowded parking lot to the
restaurant. Mia realized immediately that they weren’t too far from her condo.
A mile maybe.

Once
they parked, Phoenix rushed to help her and then placed his arm around her
shoulders and pulled her against him, purposely keeping her from Tarik while he
apparently claimed ownership. The fact that they were both fighting — albeit
friendly — over her made her feel good.

“Do
you two do this often?” Mia questioned when the waiter brought a basket of
chips and several bowls of salsa to the table, along with three glasses of
water.

“Eat
dinner?” Tarik asked sardonically, his eyebrows shooting into his hairline.
“It’s a daily occurrence for me, honestly.”

Mia
gave an unladylike snort and then laughed at herself while the two of them
smiled. “That’s not what I meant. Do you do these types of things often? The
laser tag, rock climbing, bowling?”

“Quite
a bit, yes,” Phoenix told her.

He
had crowded her into the booth, stealing the spot beside her and forcing Tarik
to sit on the other side. Not that Tarik seemed at all bothered. In fact, he’d
planted his huge booted foot between her feet beneath the table. She found she
liked that he wanted to touch her.

“It’s
a good way to relax,” Tarik added.

“I’m
not sure I’d call today relaxing,” Mia told them as she reached for a chip.
“Fun, yes. Relaxing, not so much.”

“So
you had a good time?” Tarik asked.

“The
best,” she answered truthfully. “I don’t think I’ve laughed that much in
years.”

The
waiter came to take their orders, and all three of them, without looking at the
menu, ordered fajitas. When they were once again left alone, Mia continued
asking questions, delving into something that had her curious. “So, I’ve got a
question. I … uh…” She felt her face flame as the sentence drifted through her
head but didn’t come out of her mouth.

Tarik
smirked, that crooked grin that made Mia’s insides turn to mush. “Spit it out,
little girl.”

That
was not the first time that one of them had called her “little girl,” and she
felt a frisson of pleasure course through her at the term. It didn’t sound at
all condescending when they said it, and she found she liked that they’d given
her a sort of nickname.

“It’s
true that the two of you are bisexual?”

Okay,
so maybe she should’ve waited until Phoenix wasn’t drinking his water. When he
started choking, Tarik roared with laughter, and Mia fought the urge to giggle
as she patted Phoenix’s back. They’d drawn the attention of several people
sitting around them, but Tarik merely waved them off, assuring them that
Phoenix wasn’t going to die.

“That’s
not what I expected you to ask,” Phoenix finally said, his voice strained as
though he were gasping for air. Which, technically, he probably was.

“I
didn’t know any other way to word it.”

Phoenix
drank more water, clearing his throat as he stared over at her, his eyes wide
in disbelief.

“What?
I read it in the tabloids, so it’s not like it’s not public knowledge.”

“It’s
never been substantiated,” Tarik said, reaching for more chips.

“Well,
it kinda was today,” she told him.

“No
one saw that kiss but the three of us,” Phoenix mumbled.

“That’s
what you think,” Tarik stated. “There’re video cameras in those places.”

Phoenix’s
eyes widened.

“Okay,
I think it’s safe to say it’s true,” Mia said, placing her hand on Phoenix’s
arm. “Did you not want people to know?”

“I
don’t know what’s true,” Phoenix said softly, looking down at his hands resting
on the table.

“Oh.”
She thought… But they’d… That kiss had kind of said it all, as far as she was
concerned.

“He’s
in denial,” Tarik muttered, peering up at Phoenix as he said the words.

Phoenix’s
only answer was to glare at Tarik.

Tarik
looked at her and asked, “Did it bother you?”

Mia
shook her head, fearing she wouldn’t be able to get the words out. It hadn’t
bothered her. Not the way he was thinking. She’d been a little surprised, a lot
aroused, but not entirely taken aback since she had read the articles that
claimed they’d been together.

“I’ve
never
…”

When
Phoenix didn’t continue, Tarik filled in for him. “He’s never been with a man.”

Mia
read the underlying meaning. Phoenix had never had sex with a man. Interesting.

“But
you’re attracted to them?” she asked.

“How’d
this become an interrogation?” Phoenix asked, his tone clipped.

“Sorry,
I just… Forget I asked.” Mia reached for her water, wishing like hell the
waiter would bring the food and the margaritas. She needed something to do with
her mouth and her hands because clearly Phoenix wasn’t interested in talking
about himself, and after the day they’d shared, she had nothing but questions.

“Look,”
Phoenix said, placing his hand on her leg. “I’m sorry. And to answer your
question, I’ve been attracted to men before. But I’ve never … given in.”

“Until
Tarik.”

“I
don’t consider a kiss as giving in,” Phoenix rebutted.

“He’s
stubborn,” Tarik inserted, looking at Phoenix, a silent conversation taking
place between them.

Mia
noticed the longing in Tarik’s golden gaze. She hadn’t seen it before now, but
it was clear. Tarik wanted Phoenix. Hell, she’d go so far as to say he was
probably in love with the man. But Phoenix was obviously not there yet.

Luckily,
as though he knew the tension had grown too thick for them to continue, the
waiter interrupted, bringing their food and drinks. For the next few minutes,
the three of them ate without speaking. An uncomfortable silence settled
between them. By the time Tarik was preparing his third fajita and Phoenix was
finishing his second, Mia couldn’t take it anymore.

“Can
one of you explain something to me?” Mia asked, pushing her plate away and
pulling her margarita closer. “And I promise, I’m not going ask about your
sexual preferences.”

Tarik
grinned, but Phoenix still looked a little worried.

“What
do you want us to explain?” Phoenix asked, looking over at her sideways.

“Is
he” — she nodded toward Tarik — “really your bodyguard?”

“Technically,
yes. Or he seems to think so. His real job’s handling public relations for the
Arrows. He needs something more to do besides stand around and look pretty.”

Mia
grinned as she looked across the table. Tarik was definitely handsome; he was
also extremely intimidating, but he certainly was not pretty. “How long have
you worked for him?”

“Six
years for the Arrows,” Tarik explained.

“As
a bodyguard?”

Phoenix
didn’t hesitate with his answer, and Mia realized she’d stumbled onto a much
safer subject. “He started out as PR working for my father. Somewhere along the
way, he became his pseudo-bodyguard, and he’s remained in both roles after the
incident a year ago. Nothing serious, but my mother didn’t seem to care how
small it was. She was worried, and by having him there, I think it puts her
mind at ease somewhat.”

“Nothing
serious?” Tarik snorted. “He had a crazy husband threatening to shoot off his
balls and feed them to him.”

“Oh.”
The thought of Phoenix sleeping with married women made her gut tighten. She’d
been on the receiving end of a cheating spouse, and she absolutely didn’t
condone it.

“It
sounds worse than it is,” Phoenix said, lowering his voice and speaking
directly to her. “Honest to God, Mia, I had no idea she was married. Not until
the guy threatened my life. That’s not who I am.”

“He’s
telling the truth, Mia,” Tarik imparted as he leaned over the table, reaching
for her hand. Obviously the two of them must’ve noticed how the news bothered
her. “She never told him.”

Mia
nodded, wrapping her head around it. For a moment, she wondered if Damien had
told the women he slept with that he was married. Then she remembered that he
was in the public eye, so most likely they’d already known, anyway.