Adam didn’t seem the type to want to rub salt into the wounds. Or at least I would have thought so before that display at his office. He’d been rubbing plenty of salt then. I burned with anger at the pretense under which he was here. Whatever it took, I’d keep my mom from getting involved. With any luck, he’d leave and she’d never know that there was a history between us.

I didn’t want to talk to him and resolved that I wouldn’t except to exchange shallow pleasantries for my mom’s sake. I had no desire to find out what his current dating status was or if he was sleeping with Lindsay again. The very thought of it hurt like a bitch.

After showering and doing my hair, I helped Mom put the finishing touches on dinner by tossing the organic, handpicked salad. She was an excellent cook—part of the entire picture of her livelihood. She made breakfasts for her guests every day, creatively concocting new and special repasts. Breakfast was her specialty, but her dinners were damn good, too. When I was little, she’d gone to culinary school during my summer vacations to get better at it.

Dinner was beyond awkward. The only one not affected by the silent uneasiness was my mom. Adam and I did not talk to each other. The entire conversation was conducted through my mother.

“Mia’s a medical student.”

“Not yet,” I corrected her.

“Well, she will be once she aces this big test that’s coming up.”

At least Adam didn’t ask me sham questions that he already knew the answers to—like he had the first few times we’d met. He did mention that UCI had a good medical school and that I should consider applying to it. It was already on my list. Though the thought of attending school in the same city where his company was located had greatly lowered it in ranking on my list of top schools. UC Davis, in northern California, was starting to look better and better.

“I understand you have some wonderful back country around here, even off the PCT,” Adam said to Mom.

“Yes, great for hiking or riding. Do you ride, Mr. Drake?” Mom asked.

He laughed. “No, not at all. I think I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve been on horseback.”

If he was angling to get a guided ride from me, I’d have to be quick on my feet to deflect the request. My mind raced with excuses I could come up with. Sore throat? I had to study? A horse had stepped on my foot?

Mom said, “If you’re interested, we have some great horses for beginners and Mia used to take guests on sunset rides. Maybe I can coax her to do one for you if that sounds like something you’d like to do.” Shit, shit, shit. Shut up, Mom.

Adam fixed his dark gaze on me for a moment and my eyes stayed glued to my plate, shoveling in my food as fast as I possibly could. “That sounds like a wonderful idea, but how about a hike this evening, Mia? Do you hike?”

I took a long time to answer, my mind running through at least a half a dozen more excuses—all lame—before I spit out probably the lamest one of them all. “I’m a runner.”

“Perfect, so am I.”

Fuck. I should have known he would say that. As always, he’d thought a few steps ahead of me and had been ready.

“I would only slow you down on a run,” I said, anxious to evade this.

Adam smiled, gazing into my eyes knowingly. “It would be fun. Do you know of any great views?”

Mom, of course, had to put her two cents in. “Why don’t you take him up to that vista spot you love so much?”

Sometimes I wish I could tell her to shut the hell up. I gritted my teeth and darted Adam a murderous look. He looked supremely satisfied, like a bear that had just dug into a picnic basket.

An hour later, I was in my room changing into my running gear when my mom knocked on the door and came in. “Did I put you on the spot back there? Are you okay with taking him out for a run?”

I hesitated. Here was my chance to back out. Maybe I could tell her I thought Adam looked suspicious, like I didn’t feel comfortable being alone with him. That second half, at least, was true. But it might make Mom suspect something and I’d really prefer she not find out the truth. Beyond that, Adam would know why I’d bowed out and he’d already called me a coward once. My pride was on the line. And lastly, that curiosity beast was nipping at my thoughts, asking endless questions. Likely I’d be able to get some answers when we were alone. I shrugged noncommittally. “Sure.”

“Mia, I don’t know what’s been up with you lately, but can I ask you to put in a little extra effort with this guest? He’s a CEO for a company down in Orange County and he’s mentioned possibly doing some retreats up here for his employees. I know you don’t schmooze, but just…you know, turn on your sunny personality. I know it’s in there somewhere.”