“Showing me your art project?” she teased.
“Actually . . .”
In the corner of a flower bed sat a stepping stone with three sets of handprints in it. “Just in case my Aunt Beth asks.”
“I can’t believe she told us her daughter was ovulating.”
“My entire family overshares. It’s a curse.” Matt tilted his head and stared at her. “How’s the head?”
“Fine. Stitches are out. I’m waiting a week and going to see my hairdresser.” She shook her head, letting her hair fly. “I’m getting rid of the red.”
“You mean you’re not a natural redhead?” His tone was sarcastic.
“Oh, please.”
He laughed, reached out, and touched the edge of her hair as it draped over her shoulder. “What are you going to do?”
“I don’t know, but this doesn’t feel right anymore.” She was considering cutting it off. She disguised herself with the red, now maybe a new length. One she’d never worn before.
“What about purple?”
“Because that fits my personality.” She rolled her eyes.
“I’m joking,” he said. “What was it before?”
She leaned in with a whisper. “I’m a blonde.”
Matt placed a hand to his chest. “Oh . . . my favorite. Probably a good idea if you don’t go back to that.”
“Why?”
“Because I’ll never stop thinking about you if you do.”
That made her smile.
“How are you?” She and Matt had talked and texted quite a bit, but he had yet to bring up their private conversation since they had it. “Everything quiet on that end?”
“Nothing’s changed.” Renee had touched base and informed her that they were still in a holding pattern because the judge had granted an extension.
“Are you still nervous?”
Erin reached for a nearby tree and pulled a leaf from it. Giving her hands something to do offered some stress relief. “You mean do I still look over my shoulder every time I feel someone watching me? Yeah. But I’m getting better.”
He reached out and took the hand she was using to play with the leaf in his.
Erin found herself taking a step closer.
“What does your Thursday look like?”
“Are you asking me out?”
“Only if you say yes. Otherwise I just want to know what you’re doing on Thursday. I could ask about Saturday, too, but there are a lot more people milling about on the weekends.”
He’d given the day some thought. “Matt . . .”
“Before you say no, I have an idea that won’t mean a ton of people.”
“It’s Austin’s graduation, remember? Parker asked me to go with them.”
Matt’s eyes narrowed. “You ready for a stadium full of people?”
“I won’t have to talk to any of them.”
“Saturday it is,” he said.
“I don’t remember saying yes.”
“In the absence of a no, the answer is yes.”
She laughed. “I’m not sure that’s how that works.”
That grin. Matt had this boyish charm when he was trying to be endearing, but the sheer size of his shoulders and the way they tapered to his waist was a complete contradiction. The very thing that scared her before about the man was fast becoming the thing she liked the most. It was as if he was a chameleon, strong and protective when he needed to be, soft and gentle when he wanted to be.
“Someone’s lost in her thoughts.” He stepped closer.
“A little.”
“Wanna share?”
His soft gaze created a fluttering of butterflies in her stomach.
“You used to scare me,” she confessed.
His brow furrowed. “Was it something I did?”
She touched his arm. “No. Of course not. I’ve connected attraction with fear and pain. I’m trying to work through it, I’m just—”
He placed a hand on her hip, looked her directly in the eye. “I would rather cut off my own arm than hurt you.”
Erin pointed to her head. “I know that here. But I’m not always in control of my impulses.”
“I know that.” His voice was so calm, so quiet.
“I’m a mess.”
“I don’t think you’re as big of a mess as you think you are,” he said.
“I wouldn’t date me.” Erin was delivering her disclaimer.
That made him smile. “Probably a good idea. Dating yourself might make people think you’re crazy.” When she looked at her feet, he gently brought his hand under her chin and forced her to look at him. “I understand what I’m getting into, Erin. And I’m still game. You’ve told me your secrets—”
She flinched.
Matt hesitated. “Some of them, anyway. I’m hopeful that you trust me enough to at least explore this thing we have working between us to see where it leads. What’s the worst thing that can happen?” he asked.
The answer to his question appeared in her head like a news ticker during a newscast. She squeezed her eyes shut and tried to step back.
Matt loosened his grip but didn’t let go. “Talk to me, Erin. What are you thinking?”
“We shouldn’t—”
“I can’t assure you of anything if you don’t tell me your fears.”
Her life was so unfair. She took a deep breath and released it. “What if we get involved and he finds me and I have to leave?”
Matt placed both hands on her shoulders and sighed as if he had the perfect answer to her problem. “As far as I’m concerned, we’re already involved. I’ve tasted your brownies and I don’t think I can face life without them again.” He was grinning. “And if, if, he finds you, he’s going to have to go through me to get to you.”
“And if this attraction between us doesn’t work out?”
“Is that what you’re worried about?” He stepped closer until she had to tilt her head back to look him directly in the eye.
“Attraction fades. People change their minds.”
He licked his lips, looked at hers.
She swallowed. Oh, damn . . . there was nothing boyish about the man looking at her as if he wanted a bite for lunch. Erin was pretty sure she leaned in. Her tongue slid out and licked her bottom lip.
Matt caught the movement. “Let’s try it before we give it up.”
His lips were warm, his breath hot. There was no hesitation this time. No question of was this really happening. It was. Matt was devouring her mouth with his, laying claim to her tongue.
Butterflies swarmed in her and built with every movement.
Her eyes closed, her thoughts fled. They’d been talking about something important but none of it mattered. He was touching her, his hands slid down her back and stopped at her waist. The way he pulled her into the frame of his body made her keenly aware of how long it had been to be handled with such care.
She felt his hand reach for hers and guide it around his waist. She took his guidance as permission to touch, and she did. Strong back and sculpted hips. Probably shouldn’t move any lower, so she let her fingertips travel up. It was then she realized that his hands were following the same path on her as she was touching him.
Even now, while he kissed her breath away, he was letting her lead the way. No forcing or sudden movements. Just a slow, steady pressure of his tongue against hers, their chests molded to each other. And yeah, she could tell Matt was aroused. Jeans could hold only so much from the public eye. And right now that was pressed up against her but he wasn’t satisfying himself with any movements that eased and excited. He didn’t have to. His kiss was enough.
At least while they were in his parents’ backyard.
It was then that Erin heard voices drifting to them from the party.
Matt’s lips left hers, moved to her chin and the edge of her ear. “Through me to get to you, Erin.”
His words were a promise.
One she wanted to trust.
“There you two are,”
Colin called out when Matt and Erin walked back into the house.
One look and Parker was shaking her head. “The bridesmaid isn’t supposed to run off with the best man until the reception. You two are starting early.”
Matt felt Erin stiffen beside him. He looked over at her, noticed the smear of her lipstick for the first time.
He wiped his mouth, and several people in the room started laughing.
Erin buried her head in his shoulder. Her cheeks were crimson.
“Art project, my foot,” Aunt Beth boasted from her perch at the kitchen counter.
Matt noticed his mother watching the two of them with a wide smile. It was then that he placed an arm over Erin’s shoulder as if to say, Yeah . . . we’re a thing.
God, he hoped they were a thing.
Anything. Something. More than just a passing thing.
Yeah, she had baggage. Luggage big enough and full enough to make you pay double for it to be loaded onto a plane. But she kissed like an angel that needed someone else’s wings to fold her in and keep her safe.
Matt had a distinct feeling he didn’t really know Erin all that well, that maybe she didn’t even know herself. Because while she was telling him they shouldn’t start anything, her lips had an entirely different conversation. Her tongue was singing a different song until she started to let her fear take over. What would happen when the fear was gone and she was free of the ties to the past?
He didn’t know, but he wanted to be there when it happened.
“So what do you guys think?” Colin asked.
Matt swiveled his mind back to the room and realized he wasn’t following the conversation. He glanced down at Erin. She had the same confusion written all over her face.
“Come again?” Matt asked.
Colin pulled Parker into his side. “Best man?”
Parker looked at Erin. “Bridesmaid?”
Emotion swarmed inside Matt for the second time that day. Yeah, he assumed his brother would ask, but now that he had . . . Matt let loose of Erin and walked over to Colin. He skipped the one-arm man hug and embraced his best friend with emotions to fit the occasion. “I’d be honored.”
“Love you, man.”
“Love you, too, brother.”
At his side, he saw Erin standing beside Parker. “We’re such new friends, are you sure?”
“Erin, you’re one of the most genuine people I’ve ever known. You’ve become one of the family. I want you to be a part of this.”
Matt saw the internal struggle Erin was battling. He could damn near hear her crying. “What if we get involved and he finds me and I have to leave?”
“I’d love to.”
They hugged, and Matt noticed the hesitation and worry written in every movement of Erin’s body.
Matt’s mom lifted her voice. “Let’s eat before everything gets cold.”
“It’s mostly cold food, Mom,” Grace teased.
Colin patted Matt’s shoulder while the rest of the room started talking again. The noise drowned the conversation between Erin and Parker.
“I take it things are going well with you two,” Colin said.
“She has more layers than an onion, but I’m in.”
His brother patted his back. “Parker asked Mallory to be her maid of honor and Grace to be a bridesmaid.”
“Sounds perfect.”
“Yeah. I asked Austin.”
Matt nodded. “That sounds right.”
Colin pulled Matt a little farther away. “Parker and I were going to ask Dad to walk her down the aisle.”
That had Matt twisting around to watch their father standing beside Grace.
“Damn. I didn’t think about that.”
The entire Sinclair family had been orphaned, and not having her own father to walk with her would probably be one hell of a bitter pill to swallow.
“She cried when we talked about it. We’re going to take Mom and Dad out this weekend and ask him.”
Matt swallowed hard and blew out a breath. “He’s gonna love the spotlight.”
“Yeah . . .”
Colin kept talking, but Matt’s attention followed Erin as she slowly slid to the far end of the room and ducked out the back door.
“Colin . . .” Matt glanced toward the doorway. “I need to check on her.”
“Everything okay?”
He slapped a hand to his brother’s shoulder. “Nothing I can’t handle.”
Five steps and he was at the door. Six more and he was skidding in front of Erin.
She was breathing too hard, her face white. “Please.” She stepped to the right. Matt countered.
“You’re already involved and he isn’t going to find you.”
Erin’s eyes snapped to his like a rattler striking its prey. “How do you know that’s what I’m thinking?”
“Because I’m pretty sure the emotions you’ve connected to us are a bit like what they are to them.” He motioned toward the house.
He saw the moisture in her eyes long before the first tear fell. “He’s a dangerous man, Matt. If I smell him a state away, I have to leave or risk everyone. How can I commit to a future when I don’t know what’s going to happen?”
Matt reached out and pulled her into his arms. “You’re not going anywhere.” He held her as she softly cried and he whispered in her ear, “I’ve got you.”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Erin turned her head left, then right. Soft folds of her hair brushed against her shoulders and bounced with more body than she ever remembered having.
“Now this is your color.” Manuela teased the ends of her hair with a tiny bit of wax and stood back on her heels, admiring her work. “I never liked the red.”
Erin hadn’t either. It was a means to an end. The soft brown with only a few highlights pulled through was different enough from her beach blonde natural color, but not shocking like the red had been. And the cut . . .
She shook her head and couldn’t stop smiling. “I think the last time my hair was this short was when I was in third grade.”
“It suits you. Everyone has the long straight hair. You have natural curls that only come out with shorter hair. This style is perfect for you.”
They’d parted her hair on the side and added only a small amount of layers to allow hair to whisk in her face. “It’s liberating,” Erin said.
Manuela pulled the cape off Erin’s shoulders and brushed any remnants of hair from her back.
Erin handed the hairdresser cash and thanked her.
“Now don’t ruin my haircut.”
Although she laughed, Erin knew the woman wasn’t kidding. The one time Erin had bought dye from a grocery store would never be forgiven.
“I won’t.”
“And don’t go home and hide. Grab a friend and go out. See how many heads you turn.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Erin agreed, knowing she had every intention of going home and avoiding any turning heads. “Thanks again.” She headed out the door.
Santa Clarita was warming up. But as the hot breeze brushed up against the back of her neck, the feeling put an even bigger smile on her face.
Desmond had hated short hair.
She jumped in her car and rolled all the windows down. One glance in the rearview mirror and she sighed. She hardly recognized herself. Between the smile, the relaxed lines on her face, and yeah, the new hairstyle, Erin was feeling less like Maci and more like the woman she was attempting to become.
She turned over the engine and put the air conditioner on high.
Out of habit, she glanced at the app that told her if Matt was on a call. When it appeared that he would likely be at the station, she headed his way. Halfway there she started to feel uneasy. Showing up at his work just to reveal her new look was a little over the top. Now if she had some baked goods to give him and the crew . . . that excuse might be better.
Only she didn’t have anything and it was getting too hot to heat up her small place.
Losing her nerve, she
slowed her car as she passed the station.
The doors were down, and from what she could see through the high windows, it didn’t look like the engine was inside.
Just as well.
Her mind made up, she headed for the grocery store. Because things cooled off at night and the smell of freshly baked brownies was a wonderful way to fall to sleep.
She pulled around the corner and into the parking lot.
The big red truck in the fire lane put a huge smile on her face.
Erin couldn’t park fast enough and she was hopping out of her car, grabbing her purse, and buzzing into the store.
She walked by the row of cash registers and looked down each aisle. Erin found them in produce.
Jessie was fondling the fruit, and Matt was shaking his head.
She stopped when she saw him and waited for him to look up.
It didn’t take long.
He glanced over, looked away, and then shot his eyes back to hers.
Matt dropped lettuce he was holding in the cart and was in front of her in five big strides. “Whoa.” He reached out and touched the edge of her hair.
“It’s different, huh?” she asked.
“I like it.” He was smiling like he enjoyed what he was seeing. He paused. “Do you like it?”
“I love it.” She shook her head from side to side.
“There’s some blonde in there. Still not your natural color?”
“No. But it’s closer.”
He stopped looking at her hair and found her eyes. “You’re beautiful either way, but I like the new do.”
Yeah, that’s what she was looking for. “Thanks.”
He leaned closer. “I’d kiss you, and show you how much I like it, but I’m working.”
She found his confession, and his restraint, endearing. “Being a professional is hard,” she teased.
He laughed.
She glanced over his shoulder at the crew. “Getting stuff for dinner?”
Matt rolled his eyes. “Yeah, if we can move Jessie along. The man takes issue with his produce.”
Tom looked over and waved.
She put a timid hand in the air. “I should say hi.”
Matt took that as an invitation. Before she could say a thing, his hand was on the small of her back, and he was leading her to their grocery cart.
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