Champagne Brunch: The Stiletto Sisters Series Ainsley Claire (primary phonics books .TXT) 📖

I was young. I found baseball by accident. I was a math nerd at a very early age. I love how the two intersect.”

He crosses his arms and grins. “They certainly do.”

We make small talk about his flight out and his plans with his wife while in San Francisco until Jeremy brings his parents over.

“Mom, Dad, I want you to meet Mia Couture. She’s been in the news lately, but she’s really wonderful.”

I smile and curse myself silently for not being better informed. Alana’s timing was not great, and there will be no more avoiding current events for Jeremy’s sake. He’s clearly not missed anything. Now I just feel like a dummy. Mia lets go of my hand, and I immediately want it back.

“We actually sat together during the game up in the owners’ box,” she says.

“You knew they were here?” Jeremy’s eyes narrow, and he turns toward me. “Why didn’t you tell me they were coming?”

I raise my hands in defense. “I didn’t know until after you left for the game with Bryan. Your parents surprised all of us.”

“I need to find them a hotel for the weekend,” Jeremy says. “Do you think Kelly in your office can help?”

Nate walks up. “I can do you one better. You have a guest room in the guest house, so you can have friends—or family, in this case—come and stay the night.”

“Oh. You don’t mind?” Jeremy looks at him wide-eyed.

“Not at all.”

Mia and Nolan Ryan step away as Nate tells Jeremy more about where he’ll be living. When I turn to follow, I hear her giving the Ryans advice on places to see and restaurants to sample. I move back to her side as she takes her phone from her pocket.

“I have a good friend who runs a car service and is a great tour guide,” she says. “Can I set that up for you?”

Nolan’s wife, Ruth, nods. “That would be great. We’ve been here before, but we’ve always managed on our own or spent our time at the ballpark.”

“Then I think it’s time you get the full tour,” Mia says with a smile. “Where are you staying, and when are you flying home?”

“Mr. Lancaster has us at the Fairmont, and we’re flying home Sunday evening.”

“That’s plenty of time. Let me call my friend. I’ll be right back.”

Mia steps away, and the Ryans are approached by one of the minority-stake owners. I take the opportunity to find myself a spot on the couch. They’re still chatting when Mia returns a few minutes later with a piece of paper. Doing her best not to interrupt, she hands it to Ruth.

“Thank you. This is very kind of you,” Ruth says, turning away to talk with Mia.

“I think you’ll like Fernando,” Mia tells her. “He’s an eighth-generation native of San Francisco. He knows this city and the surrounding areas better than anyone I’ve ever known. He can come pick you up here this evening, or you can meet him in the morning.”

Ruth looks down at the paper Mia gave her.

“I’ve also included my name and phone number in case you get lost or need any help.”

“You’re lovely. Thank you so much.” Ruth looks down. “I’m going to call Fernando. I think we can head out in about an hour or so.” Ruth steps away, and Mia comes over to join me on the couch. We’re able to talk to one another for the first time in hours.

I turn to her. “Listen, I feel foolish. I evidently have no idea what’s been all over the news. I’ve been so absorbed in Jeremy, and then this morning my sister called me from a police station in the northeast of Australia in tears, so I’m flying her home right now. I’m sorry I’m not better informed. What’s going on?”

Mia sighs. “It’s the case I told you about—the woman who killed Nate’s wife. I was deposed the day before yesterday, and some of my testimony was leaked to the press. They’ve been pretty vigilant about tracking me since then.”

“Is that what you guys were talking about in the office?”

She shakes her head. “No, that’s another new wrinkle in my life.”

She tells me how she learned about her website being pirated and what they’re doing to try to figure it out.

I shake my head. “Damn. If it isn’t one thing, it’s something else.” I imagine how I’d feel if someone tried to take Jeremy away from me after I did all the work to get him to the Prospectors.

“It’s been crazy for a while, and there’s probably more we should discuss,” Mia says with a sigh. “But I’m hoping things will slow down pretty soon.”

I lean in, and her smell is driving me crazy. I just want to be with her. “Why don’t we head back to your place?” I suggest. “Seems like you might enjoy not being part of a crowd for a while.”

She nods. “I would like that. Peter will have to drive me.”

“I can run home and get SoBe, if that’s okay.”

“That would be great.”

Chapter 17

Mia

As Peter and I approach my house, there isn’t much activity from the press, so hopefully Jeremy’s feats today have pushed me off the tabloid news. I’m glad Jeremy’s staying out at Nate’s now. Nate and Jim have the estate locked down. I know he’ll be safe.

I pour myself a glass of wine and try to temper my excitement. It doesn’t seem like Axel knows much about me that I haven’t told him myself. I can tell he feels dumb about it, but it’s amazing that he hasn’t been Googling me in his off hours. That can’t be just because he’s so busy, right? Maybe he doesn’t care about all that… He’s seen my home, he knows about Diamond Analytics, and we met