Stitch

been the most challenging conversation she’d ever had. The sad part was the person she was trying to engage in conversation with had been an idol of hers ever since she’d started to take a serious interest in becoming a veterinarian.
Dr. Oscar LaRoache was a world-renowned veterinarian. Or should she say he used to be? She’d heard rumors circulating the last few months regarding his health and how it had deteriorated. After listening for the last ten to fifteen minutes and hearing the same story about the German Shepard who ate thirty-six of his owner’s socks for the fourth time, she realized they weren’t rumors. The poor man was suffering badly from dementia, and it was heart-wrenching to witness because the man had been brilliant in his prime.
The gala itself so far had fared well. Even though she wasn’t really into the whole city social scene, she was grateful for Elijah’s invite because, with his connections, she’d been able to do a lot of networking in just the two hours she’d been there.
Just as Dr. LaRoache started to tell his story again, she felt her phone vibrate in her clutch. Glad for the interruption, she excused herself and exited the ballroom. Down the hall and out of earshot of the loud music, she spotted a couple of chairs.
She smiled when she saw Alex’s name flashing on her phone screen. Alex was her brother’s fiancé.  “Your timing couldn’t have been any better,” she answered, and her smile grew when she heard the two sets of laughter on the other end. Not only was Alex on the phone, but Alex’s best friend Tenley was there too. Those two women were a wrecking ball when they got together. Not in a bad way; they just fed off each other and could make for some really good and entertaining times, especially when there was alcohol involved. However, Tenley was on a break from the poison since she was pregnant with twins due in a few weeks. God help Potter, her husband—and member of Ace’s SEAL team—if those two babies are anything like their momma.
“I know you’re at the gala right now, but Tenley and I had to call you.”
“Why is that?”  She asked, taking a seat in one of the chairs. She almost groaned, taking a load off her feet.
“You look amazing!” Alex said in excitement. Alex had asked her to send a picture of her in her gown. The dress was floor-length, mermaid style in snow white with a plunging neckline that showed more cleavage than she normally would and was comfortable with.  It was just enough for a classy yet sophisticated look. The back was the main attention-getter, and honestly, she had been a little gun shy about wearing it at first, but the sales lady at the store along with the other customers in the small boutique convinced her that she rocked it. The back was completely open and dipped down so low it stopped just above her rear. It was a dress she never would had picked out herself. But the sales lady apparently did her job because she had been complimented on the dress all night.
“What Alex means to say is you look hot, Mia!  I’m sure you’ve had men swarming you all evening.”
These two were hilarious, but Tenley was right—she’d had plenty of offers already, but she wasn’t interested. The only man she was interested in was nowhere near New York City.
Mia laughed dryly.  “You two are something else.”
“Hey…you sound different.  Is everything okay?”  Alex asked, and Mia couldn’t help but grin. Alex had a knack for knowing when something was off. She was very intelligent, and even though she was retired from the government, agencies still tried to recruit her. The guys on the team swore she had been a SEAL in her former life and carried all the training and knowledge into her new life.
“I’m good. You called at a good time. I needed a little break.  Who knew networking could be quite tiring, not to mention repetitive.” Mia thought back to Dr. LaRoche.
“Well, we don’t want to take up your time, but we wanted to call and tell you that you look beautiful,” Alex said, and Mia appreciated it.
“Thank you. I have a few minutes to chat. What are you ladies up to tonight?”
Alex sighed. “Tenley and I are bored. Ace has the guys over for their weekly team-building gathering. They kicked us out of the room when we turned off their football game in favor of How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. Guess they weren’t in the chick flick kinda mood.”  She said laughingly.
Mia chuckled, then scrunched up her nose up. “Why do they need to meet every week for a team building thingy? Don’t they see each other every day, especially when they’re out on their SEAL thing-a-ma-jigs? Sheesh, you’d think they’d be sick of one another.”
Alex started laughing. “They’re called missions or ops, and I honestly think he just told me that so he could have a night every week that he can have the guys over, and I can cook for everyone.” Mia laughed. Knowing her brother’s manipulative ways, she wouldn’t doubt it.
“Speaking of the team, Alex showed the picture of you in your gown to everyone,” Tenley stated with emphasis on everyone, and Mia’s heart pounded in her chest.  If all the guys were there right now, that meant Stitch was there, and he saw the photo. She wondered what he thought of the picture.
“Mia? Are you still there?”
Mia shook her head. “Yeah, sorry. You showed the guys my picture?  Why?”
“Why not? You look great. Stitch thought so too. He even got pissed off when Dino commented on your back ass-ets.”
“Oh, geez.”
“Oh, come on, Mia. Everyone knows you and Stitch have the hots for one another,” She paused. “Well, maybe everyone except for your brother. Although I think he knows but is just in denial.  Does that make sense?”  She asked, laughing.
“Even if we did, it could never