realistic. They’d barely known each other, really known each other, a week. “I get that you mean what you say, but—”
Matt stopped her words with a searing kiss. When he lifted his head, he said, “No buts. Have a little faith, Carrie. Believe in us.”
All she had the strength to do was nod, floored by his choice of words. More than anything she wanted to trust him. And darn it, that’s exactly what she planned to do. She’d suffered enough at her ex-husband’s hands; no way would she let him rob her of a possible future with a wonderful, honest man like Matt Jacobs.
“I do,” she said, and meant it. “I trust you.” She wrapped her arms around his waist and leaned against his chest. The beat of his heart was comforting, reassuring. “So, should I plan to see you bright and early tomorrow, or do you plan to sleep in?” she teased.
“Actually, I have to drive Lindy into Green Bay tomorrow. She wants to hit the YMCA for an hour or so, then have lunch in town. And to finish the day off, she’ll probably drag me to the nearest mall.”
Carrie mumbled an “Oh, okay,” against his chest, but truthfully, her throat was thick with disappointment. She’d imagined they’d spend the morning working side by side, and since Matt didn’t work weekends at the library, she figured he’d probably stay and close the shop with her for the first time. Maybe discuss the new menu they had in the works.
Then she’d invite him back to her place, cook him supper again...something healthier this time. Wait, what the heck was she doing? She may not follow some strict diet, but she ate plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, drank tons of water, took vitamins religiously. Probably why she was always so frustrated by those extra fifteen pounds she couldn’t seem to shed no matter what she tried. Okay, true, she’d never been much for working out. Maybe it was time she started jogging or something.
Yeah, right, she thought with a mental snort. There wasn’t a bra made that could hold her boobs down so she could run comfortably.
Matt kissed her on the top of the head and unhooked her arms from around his neck. “I’d better get inside while I still can. It’s hard to think straight when you’re this close.”
“I know the feeling.”
He grinned. “Any chance we can get together Sunday?”
“I’d like that. Supper again, my place? You bring the movie?”
“Deal.”
* * *
“I feel like I’ve died and gone to heaven,” Matt declared, as he forked up a huge bit of lasagna. “You’re a fantastic cook.”
Carrie tipped her wineglass at him. “And you can lie with a straight face. Good to know.” She gave him a cheeky grin. “Seriously, thanks. I’ve learned a lot living next to Lauren. She can make a something like Coq au Vin one night, and tater tot casserole the next. So I have quite a mix of recipes saved up.”
Matt gazed across the table, unable to take his eyes off of her. Corny as it sounded, she became more and more beautiful to him every day. She’d sleeked her gorgeous, shiny, long hair back in a ponytail, emerald teardrop earrings hung from her ears, and a matching necklace nestled in her cleavage. She wore a powder blue baby-doll T-shirt tonight, the light shade really making the deeper blue of her eyes stand out. “I like tater tot casserole,” he said, having no clue what it was. Somehow he knew he’d like it.
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
They ate in silence for awhile. Matt couldn’t remember the last time he’d wolfed down so much food. Since they planned to veg out in front of the TV, he really wasn’t concerned with physical activity for the next few hours. Heck, maybe she’d offer to rub his belly. The thought brought a smile to his face.
“What’s so funny?”
He almost laughed out loud. “Nothing. Just thinking about Lindy.”
Carrie popped the last of her breadstick into her mouth and washed it down with a mouthful of wine.
“That’s right, I forgot to ask.
Matt stopped her words with a searing kiss. When he lifted his head, he said, “No buts. Have a little faith, Carrie. Believe in us.”
All she had the strength to do was nod, floored by his choice of words. More than anything she wanted to trust him. And darn it, that’s exactly what she planned to do. She’d suffered enough at her ex-husband’s hands; no way would she let him rob her of a possible future with a wonderful, honest man like Matt Jacobs.
“I do,” she said, and meant it. “I trust you.” She wrapped her arms around his waist and leaned against his chest. The beat of his heart was comforting, reassuring. “So, should I plan to see you bright and early tomorrow, or do you plan to sleep in?” she teased.
“Actually, I have to drive Lindy into Green Bay tomorrow. She wants to hit the YMCA for an hour or so, then have lunch in town. And to finish the day off, she’ll probably drag me to the nearest mall.”
Carrie mumbled an “Oh, okay,” against his chest, but truthfully, her throat was thick with disappointment. She’d imagined they’d spend the morning working side by side, and since Matt didn’t work weekends at the library, she figured he’d probably stay and close the shop with her for the first time. Maybe discuss the new menu they had in the works.
Then she’d invite him back to her place, cook him supper again...something healthier this time. Wait, what the heck was she doing? She may not follow some strict diet, but she ate plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, drank tons of water, took vitamins religiously. Probably why she was always so frustrated by those extra fifteen pounds she couldn’t seem to shed no matter what she tried. Okay, true, she’d never been much for working out. Maybe it was time she started jogging or something.
Yeah, right, she thought with a mental snort. There wasn’t a bra made that could hold her boobs down so she could run comfortably.
Matt kissed her on the top of the head and unhooked her arms from around his neck. “I’d better get inside while I still can. It’s hard to think straight when you’re this close.”
“I know the feeling.”
He grinned. “Any chance we can get together Sunday?”
“I’d like that. Supper again, my place? You bring the movie?”
“Deal.”
* * *
“I feel like I’ve died and gone to heaven,” Matt declared, as he forked up a huge bit of lasagna. “You’re a fantastic cook.”
Carrie tipped her wineglass at him. “And you can lie with a straight face. Good to know.” She gave him a cheeky grin. “Seriously, thanks. I’ve learned a lot living next to Lauren. She can make a something like Coq au Vin one night, and tater tot casserole the next. So I have quite a mix of recipes saved up.”
Matt gazed across the table, unable to take his eyes off of her. Corny as it sounded, she became more and more beautiful to him every day. She’d sleeked her gorgeous, shiny, long hair back in a ponytail, emerald teardrop earrings hung from her ears, and a matching necklace nestled in her cleavage. She wore a powder blue baby-doll T-shirt tonight, the light shade really making the deeper blue of her eyes stand out. “I like tater tot casserole,” he said, having no clue what it was. Somehow he knew he’d like it.
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
They ate in silence for awhile. Matt couldn’t remember the last time he’d wolfed down so much food. Since they planned to veg out in front of the TV, he really wasn’t concerned with physical activity for the next few hours. Heck, maybe she’d offer to rub his belly. The thought brought a smile to his face.
“What’s so funny?”
He almost laughed out loud. “Nothing. Just thinking about Lindy.”
Carrie popped the last of her breadstick into her mouth and washed it down with a mouthful of wine.
“That’s right, I forgot to ask.
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