Mia

By Marie Kelly

After a traumatic event in her young life and threats against her, Mia Drake vows never to once more set foot in the place she grew up. However, the death of her father forces her return, only to discover that the past has not gone away, but been waiting for her, and it is only the enigmatic Paul James who saves her. Will Mia once more run or has she found someone worth staying for?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Marie Kelly
• Release date: Sep 12, 2011
• ISBN: 9781476366654

Marie Kelly

A hopeless romantic and weaver of words. While I live in Canada, Scotland will always be in my heart.

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Special Smashwords Edition

Mia

by

Marie Kelly

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or to actual events or locales is entirely coincidental.

Mia

Special Smashwords Edition

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Copyright © 2011 Marie Kelly. All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book, or portions thereof, in any form. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical without the express written permission of the author. The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials.

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Marie Kelly

Other tittles

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Captured

Kidnapped The Wrong Sister

My Son

The Billionaire’s Vengeance Victim

The Unwilling Mistress

Chapter One

The rain had poured down heavily on Mia Drake as she hunched down, desperately trying to budge the nut which seemed welded to the wheel. With a small scream of frustration she had stood once more wiping away the water which now flowed unstopped down her face and over her clothes, clinging to her body like a second skin, as the rain now unable to soak into the fabric any further had moved down her in rivulets, Mia shivering with the cold.

When her wheel had blown she had been driving down the lonely road to the village she had grown up in, her mind already in turmoil over her return. She had long ago vowed never to set foot back in the village and the tire blowing seemed to be an omen that she should turn back and stick to her original vow. Pulling out her mobile, she had been unable to pick up a signal and with gritted teeth had once more retrieved the jack she had thrown to the side in her frustration, turning back to her impossible task.

Dressed only in jeans and a jumper, which now was stretched halfway down her hands she was cold and miserable and completely unable to budge the offending nut to make the change. Still she kept trying, nervous on the lonely dark stretch of road.

Paul James had sighed, feeling tired from the long day. Nothing had seemed to go right, and he was a man who did not like delays, grimacing as the rain lashed down on his car, his windscreen wipers moving ferociously to allow him to see the road ahead. From a distance he had spotted the small abandoned car by the side of the road, not remembering it being there earlier. Slowing slightly he had concentrated on the windows, checking to see if anybody was seeking shelter inside the vehicle. With a small smile he had decided that the driver had no doubt been rescued long ago, passing the vehicle. It had only been the sudden movement at the corner of his eye that had sent his eyes flying to the rear view mirror, surprised to see a small shape rising from the larger shadowed bulk of the car.

As she had seen the headlights appear in front of her, part of Mia had felt an overwhelming sense of relief to see them, the first in over an hour. Standing up she was in time to see as the car, a large Jaguar, moved past her. She could hardly believe that anybody would drive past somebody so obviously in need of help and had sworn loudly at the driver, before returning to the task of the wheel, tears rushing to her eyes. However, the sound of a reversing engine had her looking around once more, as she blinked away the water standing again. Slowly the door of the car had opened and a tall handsome man had stepped out holding a large umbrella over himself.

Do you need help?

A strong masculine voice had cried out, Mia feeling instant relief as she had nodded her head furiously, feeling as the water had sprayed from her, she was so wet.

Yes please she returned her voice uneven as her teeth chattered.

Returning back to the car the man had retrieved something from the back seat before moving over to where she stood.

Here, put this on before you catch your death he had said abruptly handing her a large long trench coat which she pulled on thankfully, instantly appreciating the heat it offered, even though it swamped her. As she lifted her head to thank him he had gone, already looking thoughtfully at the car, bending down to the tire before trying the brace himself.

Your tire needs a special tool he said Do you have it?

Shaking her head she had explained that she was only borrowing the car and had only found the tools currently lying on the roadside, her voice shaky as her teeth chittered.

With a small grimace he had then moved back over to her looking down into her hair splattered face before with a decisive action taking her by the arm moving her over to his car.

You can’t stay here, I’ll call the truck to retrieve your car he said opening the passenger door and depositing her in the seat.

Do you have any luggage? he had asked, moving over to retrieve it as she nodded.

Mia had sat quietly aware of the small puddle forming on the mat at her feet as the water gathered.

Thank you she said softly If you could take me into town, I’ll get a hotel room.

Looking at her with a soft sigh the stranger had started the engine of his car.

Not at this time of night you won’t he replied, looking thoughtfully over at her Do you have family in the area?

Mia had shaken her head gently No…not anymore.

Well you had best come back with me….my housekeeper will sort you out for the night and you can make arrangements tomorrow.

Mia had fidgeted nervously, her eyes flitting quickly to his face no…really…….I’m sure that it’ll be fine.

With a frown the man had looked down on her with exasperation,

If you would rather stay here,

he said with an impatient tone in his voice, surprised to see the look of fear which had crossed her eyes, as she had clamped her mouth shut, shaking her head once more before pushing herself further into the seat as he drove off.

After several minutes of silence he had finally spoken more gently to her.

My name is Paul James……..you are?

Mia had frowned. She recognised that name, but couldn’t quite pin down from where.

Mia Drake,

she replied finally looking over at her rescuer. As she did, she held back the gasp of surprise. He was the most handsome man she had ever seen. Jet black hair slightly wet from the rain framed his strong features. As he looked quickly at her she saw the darkest eyes she had ever thought possible with long lashes which framed them. His expression was serious and he exuded a raw masculinity which had her senses jumping.

Drake...Drake he muttered over gently Why do I know that name?

My father ran the local newspaper,

she had replied softly, remembering why she had returned to the small village in the middle of nowhere, once more feeling the grief tugging painfully at her.

You’re Ben Drake’s daughter? he had said, his voice suddenly icy I don’t remember seeing you at his funeral.

You knew my father? Mia had replied in surprise, before looking once more ahead of herself, her voice full of sadness.

I only just found out about my father’s death.

His however, was dripping with sarcasm no phones or internet access where you were he threw at her.

Looking down at her hands which were still shaking with the cold in spite of the warm air blowing onto her she had replied gently.

No

With a confused sideways look at her the man had once more become silent, before turning off to a side road. Catching her bearings Mia suddenly realised where she was.

You live on the Kennard estate she had cried in surprise.

I own it now his brusque reply.

Mia became silent once again as they pulled up in front of the grandest house in the whole area. She had always loved the old building, having spent many days exploring it with her best friend Janey Kennard.

Come on.

He had said, lithely sliding from the car and moving to open her door.

Sooner you get out of those wet things the better.

His tone more gentle, seeing how she still shook with the cold.

At the door they were met by the housekeeper, who Mia had instantly recognised as the same women who had looked after the house when the Kennards had lived there

Mrs Mac!

She had exclaimed with delight, the older woman looking carefully at her.

Mia Drake,

she cried pulling the younger women into her arms in a surprise embrace.

What happened to you? she cried You just disappeared one day, good grief it’s so wonderful to see you…..Janey always wondered where you had gone.

As touching as this is a deep voice behind had interrupted could we please move inside?

With more flustering from the housekeeper she had guided them all in looking at Mia as she dripped onto her clean floor.