“Don’t call me that, Rob.” I roll my eyes and keep moving down the line of produce.
“Hey, you haven’t returned my calls in a while,” he responds, ignoring my request completely.
“Nope, I haven’t.”
“Why not?”
“Because I’m not interested, Rob. Look…” I turn and catch Matt watching us over Rob’s shoulder. He raises an eyebrow, but I square my shoulders and look Rob right in the eye.
He’s short, only a few inches taller than I am, but he’s a good-looking guy with black hair and brown eyes, a crooked nose.
“I don’t mean to hurt your feelings, but I’m just not interested in seeing you. Good luck to you.”
I turn to go, but he grabs my arm. “Wait.”
“I think she already said no,” Matt growls from behind him.
There’s really not enough room to have this kind of altercation here in the middle of the market. There are too many people bustling around us, bumping into us.
“This isn’t your fucking business,” Rob snaps back with a sneer, and Matt’s eyes narrow into deadly slits.
“She’s with me,” he states calmly. “She said no. That’s all you need to know.”
Rob’s gaze slides to mine. “Seriously.”
“That’s right.”
“Fine.” He backs away, his hands up in surrender, but I can see anger and embarrassment in every line of his body. “See you around.”
“A former boyfriend?” Matt asks as he watches Rob’s retreating form.
“Used to,” I confirm and pay for my purchases. “I’m finished here.”
“Chocolate place next?” Matt asks.
“Yes, please.” I sigh in relief that Matt doesn’t press the subject of Rob as we exit the market and begin to climb the hill that leads up into the heart of downtown. This hill is a bitch.
“I hate this hill,” I grumble, earning a chuckle from Matt.
He links his fingers through mine and takes the bag out of my other hand, carrying both the fish and produce in his spare hand. “So tell me about that guy.”
“I was hoping that subject was closed.”
“It will be after you spill it.” He grins down at me, then places a kiss on my forehead. “Please.”
“He’s a guy I met in school. I went out with him once or twice, but he’s not really my type.”
“And that is?”
“Well, let’s just say Rob is pushy and selfish and really enjoys talking about his truck.”
Matt chuckles. “Yeah, I know the type.”
“So not someone I enjoy spending time with,” I assure him and shake my head. “I just stopped returning his calls. It wasn’t even worth telling him to go away, because we’d only gone out a couple times. There was no physical relationship. I just let it fizzle out.”
“But he seems to still be into you,” Matt comments.
“I guess. I don’t really care.” I wince and bite my lip. “That makes me sound like a bitch.”
“No, it makes you sound honest.” He pulls me to a stop on the hill, until I’m standing up higher on the hill than he is, making his eyes level with mine. He leans in and kisses my lips softly, cradling my cheek with his free hand. “His loss.”
“Let’s go get some chocolate.”
“Good idea. I might have a plan.” He winks and leads me into the decadent chocolate shop, Rob already a distant memory.
Chapter Six
“Oh my God, you really can cook.” I sit back in my chair and push my finished plate of poached salmon and salad away from me and sip my water, watching Matt across the table.
“You doubted me?” he asks with a raised brow.
“Not at all.” I shake my head and laugh. “I’m just offering you a compliment.”
He nods and stands to clear the table, and I join him. “You cooked, I’ll clean.”
“We can do this together,” he offers, but I shake my head adamantly.
“No way. You’ve been spoiling me all day. I can do this.” I take the plate from his hand and stand on my toes to kiss his warm cheek.
His eyes are soft and happy as he smiles at me. “Okay, while you do this, I’ll be in the bedroom.”
“Taking a nap?” I ask drily, earning a light pat on my ass.
“No, smart-ass. You’ll see.” He kisses my forehead and then leaves the room.
Matt is an excellent cook, but oh sweet Jesus, is he ever a messy one, too! My kitchen looks like a bomb went off in it, and he only poached fish and made a salad! Although, some of the mess is from breakfast, too, because we didn’t have time to clean up before we left for the day.
Which drives me nuts, because of all the rooms in the house, the kitchen is the one I get a bit obsessive about.
I can’t help it.
So I dig in, loading the dishwasher, hand-washing what won’t fit and sanitizing the countertops. By the time I’m finished, the kitchen sparkles and smells like lemons, and I’m mortified to see that I’ve been cleaning for more than a half hour.
Some hostess I am.
I wander back to the bedroom to find Matt sitting in the chair by the window, reading something on his iPad.
On the way back from the market today, Matt stopped by his place to grab a change of clothes and a few of his things for another night away from home.
He’s lit a few of my candles and shut off the bright lights, giving the room a soft glow.
“I’m sorry I took so long,” I murmur and lean against the doorjamb, taking in the handsome man in my bedroom.
“I’m sorry I’m such a messy cook,” he responds with a wry grin. His eyes are warm as they travel down my body. He stands and walks slowly to me. “Your eyes look amazingly green in this candlelight.”
“Thanks,” I reply as my heartbeat speeds up.
He’s predatory now as he slowly crosses my bedroom to stand directly in front of me. He doesn’t touch me, not yet. He leans his forearm on the doorjamb above my head and kisses my forehead gently.
“I want to show you what I can do with my ropes tonight, little one.”
I pull in a deep breath and clench my thighs at the sudden pulse of electricity that just his simple words send through my core.