One More Kiss

by Samantha Chase

  As if he’d conjured her up, Vivienne stepped outside and began walking toward the house. Matt grinned and tried not to think so hard about how his heartbeat sped up a little and how just the sight of her made him feel happy.

  “You’re just happy to have someone to talk to,” he said to himself.

  A minute later, Vivienne lightly knocked on the back door before letting herself in. “Hello?” she tentatively called out.

  “In here,” he replied and then walked over to her.

  “Hey,” she said softly. “How was your day?”

  He chuckled.

  “What? What’s so funny about that?”

  “It just sounded a little domesticated. Like, ‘Hey, honey, how was your day?’” He shook his head and chuckled again. “I didn’t think people actually did that.”

  She frowned slightly and Matt knew he had offended her.

  “Sorry,” he said, his tone and expression turning serious. “I was just going to see about making some dinner.”

  “Oh. That was what I was coming over about.”

  He arched a brow at her.

  A light blush covered her cheeks. “I, um…I was playing around with a recipe and I have enough for two if you’re interested. I mean…you don’t have to. I know Aaron stocked the house with food for you, and you may just want to be alone and—”

  “Viv?” he interrupted and waited for her to look at him. “You’re rambling.”

  She let out a breath and seemed to relax. “Sorry. I guess I just wasn’t sure if you would even want to…” She looked beyond him into the kitchen. “Did you already start making dinner?”

  Matt looked over his shoulder and cringed. There were cabinets open and plates and silverware and open condiments all over the kitchen counter. “Um…no.”

  The look on her face clearly showed she didn’t believe him.

  “It was from lunch.”

  “Oh, good grief,” she murmured, walking around him and into the kitchen, where she promptly began to clean up. “What in the world did you make?”

  “A sandwich.”

  Vivienne stopped and stared at him. “How many?”

  He shrugged. “Just one.”

  Her eyes widened. “All of this is from one sandwich? Are you kidding me?”

  Another shrug. “I don’t mind cooking for myself; it’s the cleanup that does me in.”

  A loud sigh came out as she put dishes in the dishwasher and walked around closing cabinets. “I have a feeling I’m going to be spending a lot of time cleaning up after you.”

  The idea of Vivienne hanging around was pretty damn appealing, and he had to kick himself to remember his earlier resolutions to keep a safe distance from her. But what harm could having dinner together be?

  “So…dinner, huh?”

  Smiling, she looked at him and nodded, and Matt felt like he had been punched in the gut. Her smile lit up her entire face, and it just made him feel warm and good and…happy.

  “Like I said, I was trying out a new recipe I want to feature on the site, and I think it turned out quite well. Do you like salmon?”

  “Absolutely.” His mouth was already watering.

  “It’s a butter-lime-glazed salmon I paired with risotto and a Greek salad.” She shrugged, almost as if she was shy. “The risotto and salad aren’t a big deal, but the salmon was something I wanted to try. Are you up for it?”

  Matt couldn’t help but chuckle. Putting his hands in his pockets—because he was tempted to walk over and hug her or touch her—he nodded. “You saw what happens when I put some sandwich meat and bread together. I’d be extremely grateful for the chance to have a meal I didn’t have to make and don’t have to clean up after.”

  “Hey, now,” she teased, “no one said you’re not going to have to help clean up.”

  That made him laugh. “As long as it’s not completely up to me, I think we’ll be safe.”

  “Good,” she said with a nod. “Do you want me to bring everything over here or do you want to come across the yard to the cottage?”

  After being isolated in Aaron’s house all day, Matt was ready for a change of scenery and a little fresh air. “The cottage would be great.”

  Vivienne must have sensed the reason for his choice because she chuckled. “The walls starting to close in on you?”

  “I didn’t think it was possible, but yes. Maybe it’s because I’ve kept the blinds and curtains closed. It’s sort of like a cave in here.”

  They walked to the back door and outside. Vivienne turned to him as they made their way across the yard. “You know you’re overly paranoid now, right? I think it’s safe to open the blinds. I haven’t seen anyone lurking in the trees.”

  “Yeah but you’re at work all day.”

  “So? I work from home, and I think I would notice if someone was climbing over the fence or sitting perched in one of the trees.”

  Matt stopped. “You work from home?”

  By this time Vivienne was at the front door of her house, her hand on the doorknob. “Um…yeah. I thought you knew that.”

  He shook his head. “I…guess I didn’t realize.”

  “You mean you weren’t paying attention,” she teased and walked into the house.

  Following her inside, he shut the door behind him. “What’s that supposed to mean?” It was impossible to hide his irritation. For as long as he could remember, going back to when they were kids, he and Vivienne never had a problem with one another. But ever since he’d shown up here at Aaron’s, she’d been giving him a bit of a hard time and he decided he’d had enough.

  She gave him a look over her shoulder that conveyed her own annoyance. “I mean you’re so used to talking about yourself and your career that you don’t spend time listening to anyone else talk about themselves. The night we first started unpacking, you stood right here and listened to me and Aaron talk about setting up my office and I know we talked about my job.” Now she turned and faced him, crossing her arms across her chest. “So you want to stand here now and tell me I’m wrong?”

  He wanted to argue, but she kind of had a point. It just happened to be one that made him look like a completely self-absorbed jackass. When he looked at her, he noticed the satisfied grin on her face.

  “Thought so,” she said and turned toward the kitchen.

  Matt knew he could handle this two ways—try to prove her wrong or just move on.

  “The dishes are in the cabinet over there. Can you grab two plates and two bowls, please?”

  Moving on it is, he thought and immediately went to do as she asked. “So are you feeling settled in yet?”

  Vivienne shrugged and then bent to take the salmon from the oven. “I think so. It wasn’t a hard transition—I’ve been working on the place for years, so it’s a relief to finally be moved in. And the fact that everything is unpacked and all traces of the move are already gone makes things easier too.”

  “I have to admit, it was impressive how organized you were. The last place I moved into I had about a dozen people helping and it still took over a month to get unpacked.”

  She shook her head and tsked. “Lack of organization, my friend. Lack of organization.”

  “Well, no one had an outline or a map.” He placed the dishes beside her on the counter.

  “Like I said—”

  “Yeah, yeah, yeah.”

  “Plus, I kind of have a feeling your house was a lot bigger than this one,” she said, and Matt realized there was no condescension there. She was simply stating a fact.

  And for a minute, he felt kind of ashamed at the excessive lifestyle he had been living. He shrugged and let out a nervous laugh. “Just a little.” Looking around, he noticed the place had a very comfortable, lived-in feel. If he hadn’t been there helping her do it, he would never have guessed she had just moved in. “Wh
at else can I do?”

  “Um…” Vivienne stopped and glanced at the table. “If you can grab some silverware from the drawer on the end, that would be great.”

  Nodding, Matt went to the drawer and got the utensils. “What about drinks? What are you having?”

  “I’ve got water, soda, sweet tea, or wine.” When he didn’t move, she looked at him. “Oh, I’ll have wine.”

  “Okay.” He was more of a beer guy and even that was in moderation nowadays. His drink of choice in the last year or so had been water, but for tonight, he’d join her in a glass of wine. He noticed the wine fridge and walked over to it. “Any preference?”

  “I believe there’s a pinot noir on the top rack that would go great with this.” Rather than watch him, she was busy plating their food and making sure it was all perfect.

  Matt grinned before grabbing the bottle. When he turned around, there was an electronic opener on the counter.

  “It makes things easier,” she said. Again, without watching him to make sure he was doing what she’d asked, Vivienne walked over and put their plates on the table and then went back for their salad bowls. Matt joined her a minute later and put the opened bottle of wine on the table, rather than pouring it right away.

  Then, in a move that surprised even him, he walked over and held out Vivienne’s chair for her so she could sit.

  “Wow,” she said softly. “Thank you.”

  He grinned. “Believe it or not, I do have manners.” Stepping away from the chair after he gently tucked her in, he stepped around and took a seat. “This all looks and smells amazing.”

  “Thanks.” She blushed.

  Taking his first bite, he moaned with delight. “Holy shit is this good.”

  Beside him, Vivienne burst out laughing.

  “What?” he asked with a grin. “What did I say?”

  “That was probably the best compliment I’ve ever had on my cooking.”

  “Probably not the most eloquent thing I’ve ever said, but it’s the truth, Viv. Seriously, this is fantastic.” He took another bite and then motioned to the wine. “Want me to pour?”

  She nodded.

  “So you work from home and you cook for it. I know I’m only confirming what you pointed out a few minutes ago, but what kind of job allows you to do this?”

  With a smile, she took a taste of her dinner before answering. “I’m an assistant editor for an online lifestyle magazine.”

  He paled for a moment. “A…a magazine?”

  Vivienne shook her head. “It’s not an entertainment magazine, per se. It’s a lifestyle publication. I deal with all of the food. For years, I was a food blogger, but it wasn’t paying the bills. Now I can combine the things I love without worrying so much about finances.”

  Matt picked up his glass and studied her. “Okay, this time you are going to have to cut me some slack because I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

  She rolled her eyes—not with annoyance, but amusement. “You’ve heard of the Internet right?”

  “Ha-ha. Very funny,” he deadpanned.

  “Okay, well, nowadays people read their magazines online. Food blogging was a way for me to get my thoughts and ideas and recipes out there to share with people. I had sponsors for the blog and it was fun, but it was a lot of pressure on me because you have to be…amazing to get noticed.”

  “Amazing how?”

  “Well, for starters, you have to love food. I mean like seriously love it and be passionate about it.”

  “People are passionate about their food?” he asked, not convinced there was such a thing.

  Vivienne nodded. “Oh yeah. You have to have an appreciation for it and the presentation.”

  He leaned forward. “So, how it looks on the plate, right?”

  “Very good.” She nodded and picked up her own glass and took a sip. “Ooh, that’s good. It’s more than just looking right on the plate, though. It’s about colors and textures and making people who are seeing it in a picture feel like they can taste it.”

  “Sounds like a lot of effort.”

  “It is. I’ve always enjoyed cooking, but I haven’t gone to culinary school or anything. I’m pretty good at following recipes though. I majored in journalism in college, and photography was always a hobby so…it’s kind of cool how I can combine all those things together.”

  “You take the pictures yourself?”

  She nodded. “Have to. To keep costs down, I had to be a one-woman show. I didn’t mind. With everything being digital now, it’s not too hard to do. Believe me, I couldn’t compete with professionals on any level, but I think I do okay.”

  “If this is the kind of stuff you’re putting together, you’re doing more than okay.” He took another bite of his food. “I’d love to see some of the photos you’ve done.” Then it hit him—he glanced around and saw the all of the framed photos on the wall. Some were of family, some were of nature, but the ones closest to the kitchen were of food. His gaze returned to hers. “You took all of these?”

  “Sure did,” she proudly replied. “I invested in a quality printer—one that can handle some of the larger sizes—and do most of the printing myself. Sometimes I let the professionals handle the matting and framing, but only on the big ones, like the picture of the lake over above the sofa.”

  He turned and couldn’t help but be impressed. “Damn, Viv. That’s stunning.” He turned back to her. “And you do all of this from home? By yourself?”

  She nodded.

  Matt continued to look around the room. “You’ve got serious talent. Have you ever thought of displaying your stuff anywhere? A gallery? Or online for people to purchase?”

  “Oh…that’s not for me,” she said a bit shyly. “The pictures I take are more for my own pleasure. I don’t think there’s anything I can create that people would want to hang in their homes.”

  “That’s where you’re wrong,” he said, turning back around to face her. “I could totally see some of your food pictures that you’ve got in the kitchen in some fancy restaurant. Or the picture over there of the sunset on the beach? It would look fabulous in anyone’s house.” He paused and took a sip of his wine. “You should think about it.”

  She shook her head. “I think I’ve got enough on my plate with the job. Working from home means I have to be very disciplined. I can’t afford to take on too many side projects.”

  “But you do like it, right? Working from home?”

  “It’s great. No one breathing down my neck, I make my own deadlines, and I have creative control.” She paused. “Well, now I have a little more pressure since taking the assistant editor position, but I still get to set the schedule.”

  “I don’t think I’d be able to work for myself,” he said with a chuckle.

  “How come?”

  “I’m not disciplined enough,” he admitted honestly.

  “Oh, come on,” she said softly. “I would think you’d have to be disciplined to live the lifestyle you do.”

  Matt shook his head. “People tell me where I’m supposed to be, what I’m supposed to do and say, what to wear…” He shrugged. “I didn’t notice it until now, when I have some downtime and everything around me is going to shit because I have no idea what I’m supposed to be doing.”

  She looked like she was about to say something and then thought better of it and went back to focusing on her meal. They ate the remainder of it in silence. When they were done, Matt stood and began clearing the table. “You don’t have to do that,” Vivienne said, coming to her feet.

  “No, no, no. You cooked. I can clean up.” Then he looked around the kitchen. “Besides, it looks like you cleaned up as you went along because the only things out here are the things we used.” He smiled. “Even I can handle that.”

  Picking up her wine and taking a sip, she smiled and relaxed in her
seat. “Then I’m going to let you.” For a moment, she simply let him do his thing. “So have you been online today?”

  “Uh-uh,” he replied from across the room. “Why?” He had a feeling she’d seen something about him and was testing the waters.

  “No reason,” she said quickly and returned her focus to her drink.

  “Viv…”

  “It’s nothing. Really.”

  He shut the dishwasher with a little too much force and cringed for a moment. Screw it, he thought. Stalking across the kitchen, he came to stand in front of her. “Come on. Out with it. You saw something online. What was it?”

  When she didn’t answer right away, Matt’s stomach sank. Shit. Things were supposed to be getting better. He’d stayed out of sight and done nothing to draw any attention to himself. Why the hell couldn’t he catch a break here? He huffed with agitation and raked a hand through his already unkempt hair. “Viv?”

  She looked up at him, brown eyes filled with pity, and he wanted to curse. He wanted to throw something. But more than that, he wanted to demand she not pity him.

  “Matt, just…let it go. It was nothing. I shouldn’t have said anything.” Jumping to her feet, Vivienne put her glass down and walked to the kitchen. “I have some apricot tartlets for dessert. Would you like to try one? I may even have some vanilla ice cream to go with them.”

  He was practically on top of her in the blink of an eye, spinning her around to face him. “Tell me, dammit! What did you see? What did you read? What are those vultures saying now?”

  For a minute, he couldn’t believe he even cared. The vultures had been circling and picking at him for weeks. He should have been used to it. He shouldn’t want to know, because it didn’t matter; he knew the truth. And yet…

  “They’re speculating about where you are and about…your mental health,” she said quietly, refusing to look him in the eye. Busying herself with the dessert, she put some distance between them. “I had read something about it when you first got here, but I thought they had let it go. Today…well…it was on one of the entertainment sites.”