Again, that hint of a smile played across his face. “A smart, gorgeous woman who was single and looking for…a night out.”
“Safe answer.”
“I’m not a stupid man.”
She laughed. He slowed the car and then parallel parked in one of the few vacant spots on Main Street.
“Have you eaten here before?” Matt took the keys out of the ignition and turned to her. They were parked outside of Pasquale’s Italian Bistro, one of the nicest, most popular restaurants in town. The restaurant was a local favorite, offering authentic, homemade Italian food and one of the best views of the escarpment from the floor-to-ceiling windows. A date restaurant. She glanced over at him, unable to deny she was sitting next to the most attractive man she’d ever met. When he’d grabbed her hand outside the car after her speech, she’d felt the effects of his touch sweep through her entire body. She’d been attracted to him at the bar, at the pier, and in her classroom, but tonight, he’d filled their small entryway with this aura of masculinity and strength. He was wearing dark jeans, slightly faded in the front, that outlined the long, lean lines of his body. His navy, V-neck sweater and white button-down shirt underneath made him look as though he took some effort to dress up. And the outfit showed off his wide shoulders and hugged his flat stomach. Mr. Art Zibbits was undeniably hot.
“I have, it’s delicious,” she said, trying not to look at his mouth when she said “delicious,” but of course, that was exactly where she looked because he had a delicious mouth. And smile. One that made you want to keep making him smile, because his eyes smiled too.
“Perfect,” he said, and then he was out of the car. Before she could gather up her files and purse, he had already opened her door. He held it open while she snatched up her things and hopped out of his SUV. Minutes later they were standing in the tiny, crowded entryway of Pasquale’s, Matt’s body brushing against her back. He gave the frazzled, young hostess his name and they waited along with the other patrons. “Popular place,” Matt said close to her ear.
A shiver ran through her and she turned around to look at him. He was standing close. Out of necessity, since the place was packed. She nodded. “Best homemade gnocchi in the area.” She turned her head slightly as a familiar voice caught her attention. It was that mom from the girls’ school, the one who’d made those mean remarks. She didn’t want to see this woman tonight. She wasn’t even aware that she had taken a step back, until she bumped into the hard wall that was Matt. His large hands were on her shoulders, strong, gently steadying her.
“You okay?” he whispered in her ear.
Now Kate had two problems: the woman and her own reactions to the man standing behind her. She nodded, trying to look calm. “Of course,” she said, turning around. He dropped his hands and she looked up at him. “Thanks, I’m fine.”
“Oh, good. I was worried you were going to step on me with your kick-ass boots.”
She smiled. “They are kick-ass boots, how did you know?”
“I know things about people. You’re the kick-ass type of woman, I can feel it. So what’s bothering you?”
She opened her mouth, ready to come up with a lie, because the truth sounded so pathetic and, really, what was her problem? A mom had made some remarks that weren’t too surprising; the sort of remarks Kate had already braced herself for when Janie had started her new school. What could she possible say to this gorgeous guy who obviously knew nothing about kids that wouldn’t make her look weak? He even thought she was kick-ass. She was more than capable of having dinner in the same restaurant as the woman who had basically said her daughter didn’t belong. Matt was looking down at her with genuine concern in those blue eyes. “Nothing, I uh…”
“Saw someone you couldn’t stand?”
Her eyebrows snapped together. “How did you know that?”
“I know things,” he said with a hint of a smile on his gorgeous mouth. He took her hand and leaned down, maybe an inch from her body and whispered in her ear. “How about we go somewhere else? No stupid people.”
She would have said no, but she laughed at his “stupid people” remark and seconds later they were out the door and back in his Range Rover and on their way. He didn’t even ask her about who she was avoiding or why she was so agreeable to leaving. She studied the chiseled, strong features of his profile. His tanned hand hugged the gearshift, and his sleeves were rolled up slightly, showing a tanned forearm and a thick silver watch.
“So, where are we going?”
“We are going to a place with the best view of the escarpment and the city at nighttime. Oh, and one stop along the way.”
Her stomach twirled around until it had tied itself into a big knot. This was so unlike her. She had barely wanted to go out with him, hadn’t wanted to drive together to the restaurant, and now she was going to some mysterious place. Just as she was about to ask him for details, he shot her a look.
“Don’t worry. This isn’t me turning into some crazy-ass. It’s me thinking on the spot and not wanting to screw up our night. I had wanted to take you to a nice place, and then when I saw the look on your face when you saw the blonde woman, I wanted to get you out of there. So now, I want to put a smile back on your face, because you’ve got the most gorgeous smile I’ve ever seen in my life.”
Her mouth was open, but words weren’t coming out, maybe because she wasn’t processing with words, just the emotion that held her firm in her seat. The warmth in his deep voice seemed to envelope her in this cocoon of safety, which she had never felt. The closest she’d ever felt to safe was when she, Alex, and Cara had moved in together in Still Harbor. Safety wasn’t a feeling that came easily. So what just happened? She was going to have to watch herself. Her reaction to him was completely irrational. She didn’t know if he expected her to say something back, but he was already pulling onto some downtown street of a little village. She recognized it as one of the neighboring towns on the way to the city.
“Be right back,” he said, and jumped out of the car.
She watched as he jogged across the street and into an unassuming little place. The sign over the door said Quebec Bistro. In five minutes, he was back out, holding a large paper bag. He placed it in the backseat and then hopped back into the car. “Not that long until we get to my place.”
A delicious aroma filled the car and she tried to figure out what he’d bought.
“I hope you like some real, authentic poutine.”
As if on cue, her stomach growled loudly. Please don’t let that actually be loud enough to be heard. The slow, sexy grin that appeared on his face answered her question. “Yeah, I like poutine,” she said. “Nothing like French fries smothered in gravy and cheese curds.”
“This is unlike any other poutine you’ve tried, guaranteed. My sister got me hooked on this place. She has a French fry obsession and they make their own gravy. The cheese is from a local farm. Basically, this will ruin you for all other poutines. Now, I just need to get us home fast so it doesn’t get soggy.”
“Do you live far from here?”
He shook his head. “I live halfway between the city and Still Harbor.” Since there was nothing other than villages between the city and Still Harbor, that meant he lived in the country. They turned down a deserted road, with a smattering of pumpkin patches along the way. Matt took the gentle turns with an ease that suggested he was familiar with this route. Seconds later they were pulling into a long, winding drive and at the end was a modern, one-story ranch style home. But it wasn’t the home that took her breath; it was the escarpment beyond.
“This is beautiful,” she said, unbuckling her belt.
“Thanks. Had it built a few years ago. C’mon,” he said, eyes twinkling. “I can’t stand cold food.”
Once outside, he grabbed her hand in his, the paper bag in the other as they walked up to the front porch. There was something about him that made her stomach refuse to calm…not in a I’m going to throw up kind of way, but in a dear God, who is this b
eautiful man kind of way. It had been a long, long time since any man had interested her.
He unlocked the door and the lights came on as they stepped into the entrance. Light flooded an open space with beamed ceilings. “Keep the boots on, we’re going outside,” he said, tugging her along and into a massive kitchen. Everything was a combination of dark woods and steel. It was spotless. Endless windows and a peaked ceiling gave the kitchen an open, airy feel. The house wasn’t enormous, but it was grand in a masculine, streamlined way.
He opened the massive, built-in stainless steel fridge and pulled out two beers. “I hope you like beer. If not—”
“It’s fine,” she said, holding out her hand. Fine. Why did she sound so stiff? Because she was stiff. She was waiting for him to become a jerk, or show signs of jerkiness. But he didn’t. He was courteous and was now ushering her out the giant glass doors that led outside.
“Are you cold?”
She shook her head, following him down the lighted deck stairs. The smell of cedar and fall filled the heavy, nighttime air as they walked down at least two flights of stairs. The entire way down he held her hand, the other filled with beers and their dinner. When they reached the bottom, she forgot to breathe. Matt was walking around, but for once she wasn’t admiring his beauty, but rather the view. They were perched high in the escarpment, secluded in the rawness of the pristine land around them. In the distance she could see twinkling city lights.
He had a fire lit in the massive fire pit and he took out a large, flannel, checkered blanket. He laid it down in front of the fire and then sat on the blanket and looked up at her. Her voice was trapped somewhere inside, maybe trapped by the same thing that was rendering her limbs useless. She should want to run from a setting this intimate.
“I know this is a far cry from Pasquale’s. This is my own personal fortress. Safest place around.” He said it with a smile that stirred her insides.
They opened each of their containers and ate at the same time. “Omigod,” she said, trying not to moan out loud.
He handed her a beer and she shook her head. “Not yet. I can’t let this taste leave my mouth yet,” she said, trying to not inhale at a rate that would be completely embarrassing.
He took a long drink of his beer. “It’s damn fine, artery-clogging food, isn’t it?”
She nodded, her mouth full. “The best way to go.”
“I can think of another but this would be my second.”
She took a drink of the cool beer, and didn’t look over at him. “I think I forgot my files on your kitchen counter,” she said, not really knowing why she was bringing that up now.
“Huh. I guess I’ll keep my innuendos quiet until I’ve charmed you a little more.”
This time she laughed out loud. He finished his food, put the lid on, and dropped it in the paper bag. She did the same a few minutes later, her beer the only thing remaining. She looked at the label. He was stretched out on the blanket, lying back, bracing his weight against his forearms. It felt too suggestive to lie down beside him, so she sat cross-legged on the blanket.
“So, why don’t you tell me about the fundraiser? In your words, without the papers.”
Kate nodded. “We’ve already been approved by town council to open a small group home for mothers and their children escaping domestic violence. There is a regional shelter, but it’s always over-capacity. This will be a small home, for sure, only able to accommodate up to four families. But it will be an intimate, safe, positive place for them to stay while they’re getting their feet on the ground. There will be an in-house counselor who can even help with finding them training and placement for work if it’s needed.”
He stared at her for a long beat. “It’s a good cause. How have donations been so far?”
“Generous. We were kinda worried in the beginning, thinking that maybe some of the residents wouldn’t want a house like that in a residential neighborhood, but so far, nothing. Luckily, Still Harbor’s mayor, Drew Weston, has backed this project.”
“Ah, nothing like election time, right?”
“Exactly. So, the fundraiser should deliver the rest of the money we need for the remaining supplies and small repairs for the house. The fundraiser is in November.”
“Women Abuse Prevention Month.”
Feeling the wind pick up, the October air cooling, she wrapped her arms around herself. The crackling and popping from the fire pit was random and spontaneous, making her jump every now and then. But right now, she was preoccupied by how knowledgeable he was about the cause. “That’s right.”
“So what do you need? My sister was babbling about a major donor.”
She laughed. “We’ll be happy with whatever your company can afford.”
He named a figure that made her jaw drop and then he stretched out on the blanket, tucking his arms behind his head. Her gaze wandered the length of him, and then her mouth watered. But the biggest appeal was the donation. “That’s really generous. Your donation will single-handedly put us in the black.”
“Good. If there’s anything else you need, let me know. Painting or repairs, whatever. Call my office tomorrow morning and we can figure things out.”
“What is your office? I mean, I know you used to be a cop.”
“I’m a PI.”
“Oh.”
“Usually, this is where someone would ask, ‘why?’”
She smiled and shrugged. “I guess.”
He turned on his side to look at her. She smoothed her hair, which was flying around with the wind. “Unless that person doesn’t want me asking any return questions.”
Huh. “That sounds about right.”
He chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the corners, and he looked at her affectionately. “Usually, when people go on a date they try and get to know each other.”
“True, but I think I remember saying that this wasn’t a date.”
“You’re right, but then you wore the damn boots, and you totally look like you can kick my ass, which I find incredibly attractive. And you ate the poutine. And drank the beer. And you didn’t pull out the mace. You sat out here in the middle of nowhere, not complaining at all that I didn’t take you to a nice place for dinner.”
She burst out laughing, trying not to make it sound like an insane laugh. He sat up, his expression changing. It changed in a good way. Well, in a way most of the female population would react to, but not in a good way for her. She was trying to resist the man. His gaze dropped to her lips and her mouth went dry. Her heart rattled frantically inside her chest. The palms of her hands grew sweaty, and she was basically incapable of saying a word when his hand gently cupped the nape of her neck. In fact, her kick-ass boots weren’t helping her one bit at the moment. Her boots should be kicking her in the ass for not moving away from him. He was sitting face-to-face with her now, and she took in his features. His mouth in particular held her interest. It was sensual and seemed to always be ready with a smile. “I saw you the second I walked into the bar that night. I saw you and felt you were different.”
His lips had moved so close to hers that if she edged forward a bit, his mouth would be on hers. “I’m actually not different,” she said, hating that her voice sounded all breathy and nervous. “I’m similar to lots of people. I can even list off a bunch of people who look like me. And these boots aren’t really kick-ass boots. I bought them because they were on the clearance rack.”
A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth before his lips touched hers, and all her carefully constructed reasons as to why she’d never get involved with a man like Matt burned to ashes. He kissed her, explored her mouth with a soft, undemanding pressure. If she had wanted to, she could easily get up and walk away. His hand, bunched in her hair, held her with a light touch, but she couldn’t have walked away from this moment. Hell, she wouldn’t have been able to crawl away. Instead, she did the opposite—she leaned into him, craving him more than any emotional food binge. Right now, she could pretend there wasn’t anything t
o be afraid of, that getting hurt wasn’t a possibility.
Right now, she wanted to feel him, she wanted to feel his strength, she wanted the closeness he was offering. The second her mouth opened, his tongue slowly entered her mouth. She reached out to cling to his shoulders, feeling the hard muscles. He removed his mouth from hers and disappointment rocketed through her body, until she felt his mouth on her cheek, traveling to her earlobe, gently tugging, and then kissing the tender spot underneath. She tried not to weep like an affection-deprived adult woman, but good Lord, this man knew what he was doing.
He pulled back, his hand still at her nape. She tried not to fall forward or cry at the separation from this slice of heaven. “I thought I should stop. Don’t want to be accused of wanting a quick screw.” He smiled, a slow, sexy grin that demonstrated how in control he was. She shoved him, and he fell on his back with a laugh that made her toes curl.
“That’s wise. I happen to know how to make serious threats.”
“I know, and you don’t put up with other people’s crap.”
“Well, you don’t have to worry. I think you’re safe for a while. First, you supplied me with copious amounts of artery-clogging food, then you donated more money than I ever could have imagined. So, I won’t be doing any ass-kicking for now.”
He laughed and it lured her in. She decided it was safe to lie down beside him on the blanket. It looked comfortable.
“Great, that’s really nice of you. I feel much safer now.”
She looked up at the sky over them. Stars were everywhere, lighting the night, destroying her theory that lying beside him wasn’t intimate. It was. It felt as though they were the only two people in the world out here, and the stars were just for them. “This is the most gorgeous thing I’ve ever seen,” she said, eyes fixed on the sky.
“One of the reasons I moved out here. It’s worth the commute to the city. There are no stars in the city, no way to clear your head.”
She turned to look at him.
He held on to her gaze for a long while, like he was looking through her, seeing all the things that were buried deep inside. “I know you’re tough, and I know everyone’s got shit in their past, some of us worse than others…”
Falling for the P.I. Page 5