A Tricky Family Dinner 2/3

At eleven Mia got up and went into her bedroom shutting the door. She came back out five minutes later to the men still discussing a business deal and going through a group of emails on Tim's phone. Tim looked up at Mia noticing she had changed. She was now wearing capri athletic pants and a sports bra. He scowled, telling Caleb to avert his eyes which he did. Mia snorted and someone knocked on the door.

Mia skipped off to answer the door earning a growl from Tim because of her current lack of clothes. Mia opened the door and greeted the person before drawing them into the sitting room.

"Rick, this is Mr. Winters and Mr. Barrett. Guy's this is Rick my personal trainer." Mia smiled before leading Rick into the master bedroom where there was the most floor space to work out.

Rick was a specimen of beauty, tall and lean with a hard body and perfect abs. He had long brownish red hair that he kept half tied back and out of his face. His eyes were blue green, he had a perpetual five-o-clock shadow and a blinding white smile. He was funny and attentive.

No one would have blamed her if she had kept him for herself, but she could never bring herself to try him out. Plus, she thought he might have different preferences. Either way, didn't matter to Mia, he was a good trainer and she had never regretted hiring him.

Tim had followed her and the Trainer to the bedroom door and was now watching as Rick moved her body into various stretches with a scowl. They followed with strength training, then weight training before finishing with some yoga.

Finally, at the hour mark Rick stopped and smiled. Telling her she had done well. They confirmed they would meet on Monday and Rick turned to leave. She watched as Rick glanced at Timothy three times on his way to the door.

Mia jumped in the shower then got dressed in the casual clothes that she had on before changing for her work out this morning. When Mia entered the living area, she noticed Tim sitting with his arms crossed over his chest, a scowl on his handsome face. Mia walked over to him causing him to look up at her.

"Did you enjoy yourself Mia?" Tim asked defensively.

"I had a great workout, yes." Mia answered cheerfully with a small smile.

"Does that man need to be your trainer?" Tim ground out between clenched teeth.

"Well, he has always given me what I needed." Mia baited Timothy with a grin, trying hard not to laugh. Tim jumped to his feet. Mia watched Tim pace with agitation.

Caleb chuckled quietly which caused Tim to look at him with outrage. "Mia, please let me tell him. This is too good." Mia relaxed back on the sofa and nodded for him to go ahead. She was busy smirking at Tim's hostile expression.

"What don't you like about Mia's trainer Tim? Caleb asked his friend. Tim glared menacingly for a second.

"You saw him." Tim grumbled, "should Mia really be spending time alone with him?" Mia laughed aloud which caused Tim to turn that scowl on her.

"I saw him Tim. In fact, I was very entertained as I watched him check out your ass." Caleb smirked at his boss waiting for Timothy to catch up.

Tim stopped pacing. "Wait, what?" he asked, confused with a horrified look on his face.

"You are more his type than I am." Mia told Tim. She walked up to him and ran her hands along his chest before she wrapped her arms around his neck. "You don't need to be jealous of anyone."

Tim's arms snaked around her waist. "Really?" he asked quietly.

"I promise..." Mia answered then she stood on her toes and kissed him.

***********

Caleb and Timothy went back down to their hotel room when it was nearly time for the children to return from school. Tim had missed lunch again but was determined to return to his schedule the next day. Tim also had his appointment at Lane Law the next day.

They decided to have visitation on Saturday but didn't want the twins seeing the men around all the time at least while they all found their routines. Tim was worried that they would slip up if he was with them all the time. He and Mia were not ready for their relationship to be common knowledge or rather she wasn't ready.

Caleb helped Timothy decide on a reasonable bid for the estate he wanted to buy, and they sent the paperwork early in the afternoon. Now they just needed to wait for the seller to respond.

Timothy knew that it wasn't a good idea for them to stay at this hotel like this, especially with the Heir Apparent Documents starting tomorrow. If the paparazzi got wind of the situation Tim would have a hell of a time keeping all their names from the papers. He needed things to go right for the next couple of weeks without any extra drama. Then Timothy would finally have everything that he had wanted for so long.

***********

Mia sat in the sitting room with the twins. She explained to them that they were going to live at the hotel for a little while until she found them a house of their own. Mia explained that while she loved their uncles and aunt very much it was time for them to go out and create their own lives.

Ginger looked upset at first and she asked about Timothy and when Mia let her know that she would see her father in a couple of days, Ginger calmed down. Sage was his normal reserved self. It was always hard to tell what the small boy was thinking.

Mia told the twins she had to go out that evening for dinner, but she should be back in time to tuck them into bed. Angela took the twins to the table to work on homework and then language lessons. The twins were studying a second language since learning languages early was always easiest. The twins went to their rooms to play afterward, and Mia went to get ready.

Mia donned the dress that she had set aside and a pair of conservative black heels. She pulled her hair up into a loose bun and let a few strands fall around her face. Deciding that she looked a little plain she added a pair of diamond stud earrings and some lightly tinted lip gloss. Smoothing the dress across her slim waist she acknowledged that she looked nice, classy and very much a Lane.

Mia walked to where the twins were sitting at the dining table and kissed them each on the cheek. She watched as Sage tried to rub the lip gloss from his skin and laughed. They were about to eat their dinner.

"You look pretty, mommy." Ginger told her mother.

"Thank you, bug," Mia told her daughter. Angela brought in their plates.

"Are you going on a date with Timothy?" Sage asked suddenly, his little face scrunched up.

"No, honey. Just a grown-up dinner with your uncles." Mia clarified. Sage seemed to relax at her words.

"I shouldn't be too late but if I am not back before bedtime. "I love you both," she told them picking up her bag and heading to the door. They both returned the sentiment and Ginger blew her a kiss. Mia took the elevator down to the lobby and then got into her car which was waiting for her. Peyton was in the passenger seat in case she needed him. It was a forty-minute drive to the Country Club.

As they pulled into the lit tree-lined driveway of the restaurant Mia noticed two other cars depositing passengers. A limousine was first and the Lane's stepped from its interior dressed fashionably. The next car held Nicholas and his sister Rachel. Finally, it was her turn and she stepped from the car and greeted her family quickly. Mia turned next to Rachel who was on her brother's left arm.

"You look lovely Rachel; it is so good to see you outside the Research Center." Mia gushed. Truthfully, Rachel was quite beautiful but always looked frail. Her fair coloring made her look like a porcelain doll.

"Thank you, Mia. You look nice too. It feels good to be out today." The woman said giving her brother a blinding smile and squeezing his arm.

"Beautiful as always, Ms. Lane," Nicholas said offering his right arm. Mia hesitated for just a moment but then took it. They were friends so it shouldn't be awkward to walk together, right?

"Look at you with two lovely women to escort," Dominic said as he walked past with Eva. Mia smiled at her sister to let her know she was alright."

"Let's not stand out here all night. Not all our dates were able to make it on such short notice, Dominic." Connor said mildly.

Nathan and Jason walked in first, Connor and Claude behind them. Dominic and Eva followed and then the three of them brought up the rear. The server led them to a table to the rear of the restaurant near the two balconies that overlooked the sprawling grounds of the golf course.

Mia was momentarily distracted when she saw a table fifteen feet from theirs that held The Mayor, his daughter Jasmine, Luna, Caleb, and Tim. Tim had a wine glass to his smiling lips, but the smile vanished, and he lowered the glass as he took in Mia on the arm of Dr. Merches. Nicholas held out the seat first for his sister then did the same for Mia.

"Thank you, Nicholas." Mia said quietly. He nodded at her with a small smile. Mia turned to her other side where Eva sat. Eva gave her a questioning look and Mia merely shook her head. This turn of events was not expected. She was so distracted that she didn't see the server until Nicholas placed his hand on hers and leaned in.

"What do you want to drink, Mia?" Nick asked, motioning toward the drink server. Mia gave her order and waited thirty seconds, but Nicholas didn't move his hand, so she pretended to fuss with her hair before placing her hands in her lap discreetly. Tim was openly staring at Nicholas, his eyes stormy. A few minutes later their meals were ordered, and Mia used her left hand to drink her wine.

Things seemed to settle down with easy conversations springing up around them. Mia and Rachel ended up speaking at length about The Ark with Nicholas smiling indulgently at their ping pong banter, occasionally adding something himself. When the meal came everyone was enjoying the meal.

"Try this Mia," Nicholas said holding up a bite on his fork.

"What is it?" She asked him hesitantly.

"Some kind of sweet and spicy chicken. I know how you like spice." This was true and they had done this dozens of times before so without thinking she took the bite. She heard a loud noise from the table next to them and looked up to see Timothy's livid face.

"What do you think?" Nicholas asked with a pleased expression.

"It was good."It had been but now it was stuck in her throat. Mia picked up her wine glass trying to swallow that small, tricky, bite of food.

Dinner was winding down and everyone was beginning to discuss dessert options. Dominic had a large smile on his face as Nicholas picked up his knife and tapped his wine glass. Every eye in the restaurant was on him now.

"I have something to say." Nicholas said with a smile. He pushed his chair back and rose to stand. When Mia turned to look at him it made it easy to pull her up with him, her napkin falling to the floor unnoticed. Before she could ask him what he was doing Nicholas bent to one knee in front of her and produced a ring box. Mia's mouth fell open in shock and horror and she slapped her hand over her mouth to keep from screaming.

"We have known each other for a long time, Ms. Lane," Nicholas started, "Due to circumstance we have faced many trials together. You are my best friend and I have admired you for as long as I have known you. Would you honor me by becoming my wife?" Nicholas smiled at her warmly.

Mia's thoughts were going a million miles an hour. This couldn't be happening. Everyone was seeing this. She glanced at Eva and her sister was looking at her in horror, Dominic was grinning like the Cheshire cat. Her other brothers looked confused. Rachel was nearly bouncing in happy excitement.

Then she saw Timothy who looked murderous and was being held in place by Caleb who had one hand on his arm and another on his shoulder. The look on Caleb's face was grim. Then there was Luna who looked like someone had given her a priceless birthday present. Mia looked back to Nicholas then turned on her heel and marched out to the balcony.

Nicholas rose with a chuckle, "She's shy," he said before following Mia. When he stepped onto the balcony, he was immediately confronted by her.

"Are you crazy?" Could be heard from the balcony.

"About you, yes." Nicholas chuckled good-naturedly, then shut the door and cut off the sound.