With that, Mia turned and walked away, leaving Tarik staring after her.

Tarik, he thought. Call me Tarik.

When he lost her in the crowd, Tarik looked over, noticing Phoenix was watching them intently, a concerned look on his face. A simple shrug of his shoulders was the only answer Tarik could give. But knowing Phoenix, he was about to swoop in and try to save the day.

And Tarik planned to be not far behind.

Chapter Ten.

IF MIA HADN'T been trying to avoid the sexy, tuxedo-wearing dinner and dance companion she'd had tonight, she probably wouldn't be in the position she found herself in now. Although she'd had every intention of running out before the lights came back up, Mia had found herself in Mr. Pierce's sturdy arms on the dance floor. However, she had taken the opportunity to flee as soon as it presented itself, but, unfortunately, she hadn't been strong enough to keep going. Something had compelled her to return to the ballroom after she'd made a brief pit stop in the restroom.

She should've kept walking, she thought sadly as she made her way through the grand hotel lobby.

The moment she'd seen Mr. Pierce talking to her, she'd been distracted. Mia didn't know the name of the woman Mr. Pierce had been talking to because she refused to read the articles, but she knew her from the pictures she'd seen. The ones that had her hanging on Damien's arm. She was Damien's floozy. She'd also looked quite chummy with Mr. Pierce, and Mia wouldn't put it past the home wrecker to be doing them both.

The thought still made her stomach twist into a knot.

God. How could she be so stupid?

At first, when Mia had seen the two of them standing there talking with their heads so close together, Mia had wanted to scratch the other woman's eyes out, but then she'd remembered she didn't care. She didn't care that this man might be doing her, too, just like Damien was. Mia hadn't staked a claim on Mr. Pierce, and she had absolutely no intention of doing so.

She should've been relieved, but oddly, she wasn't.

Which was how she had ended up in Tarik's strong arms on the dance floor, despite her better judgment. When he had politely asked her to dance, she'd found herself unable to refuse him. It'd been a long time since she'd felt desired by a man, and tonight, there'd been two who had seemingly put her in their sights.

Feeling slightly less off-kilter with his eyes on her, Mia had graciously accepted his offer and had actually enjoyed herself. He was as intense as Phoenix, but there was an underlying easiness about him that had calmed her briefly. Well, sort of. Her attraction to him was fierce, and she found the mere feel of him against her had caused her girl parts to sing.

But then he had ruined everything. Damien had officially ruined her entire night.

"Ugghh," Mia groaned as she reached the hotel's front doors, pulling her phone from her clutch and shooting off a quick text to Alex, letting her know that she was finding her own way home. There was no way she could stay.

Regrettably, as she found out when she stepped into the chilly night, that was easier said than done. She had hoped for a taxi, but all she saw for miles was limos. And to top it off, she'd left her wrap inside, so the biting cold wind gnawed painfully at her skin.

"Going somewhere?"

Mia spun around so fast she lost her footing and ended up, once again, in the powerful arms of the handsome Mr. Pierce. Thankfully, she quickly recovered, offering him a courteous smile but not answering his question. She needed to get away from this man. He wasn't good for her health, much like Damien hadn't been good for her. It seemed she was having some sort of crazy reaction to him, much to her dismay. No matter how much she tried to convince herself that he would be her downfall should she give him even a minute of her time, Mia couldn't seem to stop thinking about him.

Which was why she needed to go home. Now.

Turning away from him, she continued to study the line of cars out front, wishing a taxi would miraculously appear any minute and save her from herself.

"Can I give you a ride home?" he asked, his voice sounding from behind her.

"No, thank you," Mia replied kindly. "I wouldn't want you to leave your date."

"My date?" he asked, sounding confused.

Great. He was better than she'd thought.

"The woman you were with? The two of you looked as though you know each other well," she told him over her shoulder, not bothering to look at him. Unfortunately, as soon as the words were out of her mouth, she realized how she sounded. Was she really jealous?

A slight pause preceded his next words, which were spoken softly, as though he were speaking to a wounded animal. "Excuse me?"

Mia rolled her eyes, but luckily her back was to him, so he didn't see her less-than-graceful response to his avoidance of the conversation. It was an immature reaction, but thanks to the champagne and her brief run-in with Damien, she wasn't feeling all that mature at the moment. "I'll just get a cab."

"Good luck with that," he stated, but his tone was clipped, not nearly as soothing as it had been.

"I think I can manage," she said, feeling her own frustration rising, which, sadly, did little to warm her.

"Mia? If it's any consolation, I'm not here with anyone," he told her. "And I'm certainly not here with Teresa Somerhaus. She's here with her fiance, Damien Landry."

"Teresa Somerhaus?" Mia spun around to face him. She knew her mouth was hanging open, but she couldn't help it. Damien was engaged to Teresa Somerhaus? That was Teresa Somerhaus?

Well, at least that explained why Charles and Delilah had appeared so uncomfortable when they'd shared their daughter's news.

"Do you know her?" he asked, his eyes locked with hers as he shrugged out of his jacket.

Mia ignored the question, not sure how to answer, or whether she even wanted to.

Silence lingered between them for a moment before Mr. Pierce said, "Let me give you a ride back to your condo. You aren't going to get a cab unless you call for one."

When he settled his jacket around her shoulders, Mia dropped her head in defeat. He was right. There weren't any cabs at the moment, because the event was still in full swing, which meant either she'd have to do as he said and call, or wait for Alex and likely endure a lengthy conversation with this man. Those were her choices, and the lesser of the two evils only slightly leaned toward accepting his offer of a ride home. At least with the latter, she could keep her distance, and she wouldn't take a chance of possibly having to dance again. With him or with Tarik.

She wasn't sure she'd survive another dance with either of them.

Sighing, Mia resigned herself to the inevitable, pulling his jacket around her. "Yes, thank you," she finally said, looking up and meeting his gaze once again. "If you're leaving now, I'd appreciate a ride back to my condo."

The smile that tilted his firm lips had her insides tingling, so she immediately looked away, hating that he'd won this round.

Not a game, Mia. You're not interested, remember?

She ignored that annoying little voice in her head, mainly because it was right. She wasn't interested, no matter what her libido thought. An image of a hoodie-wearing hottie named Coach flashed in her mind, making it only slightly easier to ignore the handsome man standing beside her. She'd had her fair share of heartache at the hands of a man like him. One whose contents of his closet cost more than she'd make in a decade. This guy was no exception.

He was the enemy, and she would do well to remember that.

Two minutes later, a sleek black limo was pulling around, and only when Mia allowed Mr. Pierce to help her toward the car did she realize Tarik had once again joined them.

He gave her a seductive half smile, which was sexy but still intimidating. Although he was as nicely dressed as Mr. Pierce, there was something about him. Now that she thought about it, the guy looked like some sort of ... bodyguard. Who the hell was Mr. Pierce, anyway?

Then again, he could very well be ... what? A date?

Oh, Lord. That thought set off a whole slew of mental images of these two men in her head. Naked, hard, sweaty bodies, lip-locked, embracing one another while they...

A shiver raced along her spine, and she forced her gaze away from Tarik.

Yeah, okay, she was seriously going to have to stop reading those books, because she was getting way too carried away.

She didn't bother to ask any of the questions running roughshod in her head, not really wanting to know any information. If she could get back to her condo with minimal conversation with these guys, she'd be better off.

Once inside the limo, Mia moved toward the opposite door, leaving plenty of space between her and... Tarik joined her, but he quickly repositioned to the seat across from her while Mr. Pierce climbed in last.

"What's your first name?" she asked him as he settled into the seat beside her. Referring to him as Mr. Pierce made him sound like one of her professors, and that was a little creepy.

"Phoenix," he answered easily.

Phoenix. Lovely name. Now she wished she hadn't asked. She didn't want to know that he had a sexy name. The less she found out about him, the better. As it was, Mia knew he was someone important - he garnered attention from other affluent people, he lived in the penthouse of her building, and his wardrobe consisted of expensive suits and immaculate tuxedos.

Oh, and he smelled incredible.

Even with the pep talk about keeping her distance, Mia found herself blurting out another question, directing it to Phoenix as soon as the limo was in motion. "What is it that you do?"

"A little of everything," he told her simply. "Basically, I lend money to start-ups."

Great. Another reason to despise him. With every new thing she learned, he was more and more like Damien. Granted, that should've made it easier for her to resist him.

"And you?" she asked, looking over at Tarik.

"Public relations."

"Really? I pegged you for security."

Tarik didn't respond, but his smirk, and the dimple that formed in his smooth cheek, said it all. He might be in public relations, but that wasn't all he did. She would bet her life on that.

"What about you, Mia?" Phoenix asked.

"Me what?" Mia did her best not to fidget in her seat as both men watched her.

"What is it that you do?"

"I'm a college student for now." The admission made her feel slightly childish. "Better late than never, huh?" she added, feeling a little self-conscious about the fact that she was twenty-four and only now starting her secondary education.

"Better late than never," Phoenix echoed. "How long have you lived in my building?"

Mia studied him momentarily. The way he said "my building" set off warning bells. He wasn't merely referring to it as the place he lived, he meant that...

"You own the building?" The words got away from her before she could stop them.

"I own quite a few buildings," he said with a wicked gleam in his eyes.

"Good to know," she mumbled, glancing away to look out the window. "And I've only lived there for a few months."

"Like it so far?" he questioned.

Mia turned her head and met his gaze as she said, "It's all right. The elevator leaves something to be desired."

Surprisingly, they both laughed, which eased some of her tension.

"I'd have to agree with you there," Tarik commented. "I've been on him for years to get them fixed."

"Do you live there, too?"

Tarik nodded, but he didn't elaborate, so Mia didn't question further.

Knowing they would be back at her - no wait, Phoenix's - condominium building very soon, Mia decided to ask a random question. One that she hoped would make them believe she was uninterested, although she knew that wasn't the case, no matter how much she wished it were. "Since you own the building," she began, looking at Phoenix, "you probably know most of the people in it."

"Some of them, why?"

"There's this guy," she said hesitantly, unable to look him in the eye as she spoke. "I haven't actually met him, but I saw him in the lobby and again in the coffee shop next door. I think I'd like to ... you know ... meet him." Hoping she didn't sound as silly as she thought she did, Mia dropped her gaze, studying her hands folded in her lap.

"You're gonna have to give me more to go on," Phoenix stated, sounding slightly amused.

Mia looked up then, his eyes meeting hers and holding.

"He's a runner, I believe. The day I saw him, he was wearing a hoodie and running shorts," she said, feeling incredibly stupid for bringing this up but knowing she had no choice but to see it through.

"That describes quite a few men in the building," he replied. "What else do you know about him?"

"Not much. I heard someone call him Coach." The car stopped before Mia could say anything more, leaving her feeling a little strange about where she'd been going with the conversation. Luckily for her, the driver was out and around to the door before either man asked her anything more.

She took Phoenix's hand and allowed him to help her from the car, Tarik following right behind them. To her dismay, Phoenix didn't release her hand once she was on her feet. Instead, he turned to speak to the driver.

"Anything else tonight, Coach?"

Mia knew her mouth was hanging open - something she seemed to be doing a lot of this evening. She also knew she had turned beet red, but she couldn't do anything about it. This guy ... was that guy?

No way.

She was praying for a strange coincidence, but she knew the name wasn't all that common.

Oh, God.

When Coach ... er ... Phoenix turned around to face her once more, Mia saw the mischief in his glimmering green gaze at the same time she heard Tarik's gruff chuckle. They'd known all along that she was talking about him.

"I'll walk you in," Phoenix said confidently.

She wanted to refuse him but couldn't. Mostly because she couldn't get words to form at all.

And now she only had one more question, one that he wouldn't possibly be able to answer.

Why was this happening to her?