Mateo
Sounds like a plan. I’ll stay with Alex and Reina until after the wedding. Is there anything else we need to plan?
Holly
Nope. That’s it. See you Thursday.
Mateo
See you then, future wife.
Chapter 8
The Fine Print
Holly
There’s a knock on the front door and I open it wide to see Mateo’s smiling face waiting for me. His hands are tucked in his jeans pockets, and his heather gray t-shirt fits him perfectly. He rocks on his heels as I take him in, and it’s only when his smile grows wider that I realize that, instead of welcoming him inside, I've just been staring at him.
I clear my throat. “Hi, Mateo.”
There’s a dimple in his cheek that deepens despite the trim beard he sports. “Hi, Holly.”
“Come on in.” I step back as he steps forward and we do an awkward dance around each other as he comes inside. My palms are sweaty, which is ridiculous because this is not my first time being around Mateo. I wipe my hands on my pencil skirt, and straighten my lilac colored blouse. “Follow me.”
He nods and falls into step behind me.
“I’m sure you’ve figured out the layout of the house by now. I noticed last night that you claimed the spare room closest to the garage.”
I glance back at him and catch him running his fingers through his curly hair, increasing its volume.
“Yeah, I figured you wouldn’t mind. I wanted to take the one farthest from your room and closest to the workshop so I’m not disturbing your peace more than I already am.”
The considerate gesture sends a few butterflies in motion. I have three spare bedrooms, which I cleaned out so he could have his pick. I thought he’d choose one with an ocean view, not the driveway.
“Thank you for your thoughtfulness,” I say as I open the door to my office. This room is one I would never give up. The floor to ceiling windows perfectly display the view of the greenery in the backyard and the ocean in the background. I take in my office as Mateo walks in. My curiosity is piqued and I wonder what stands out to him.
Is it the dark wood desk that has my double monitor set up in the middle of the room? My extra cushioned office chair, which I paid an obscene amount for so that I could be comfortable, is sure to raise some questions. Or maybe he can’t tell that it’s hand stitched leather.
The small couch by the window with the shag rug and small coffee table catches my eye next. He definitely wouldn’t be comfortable sleeping there during a mid-afternoon work slump.
Mateo walks to my desk and runs his fingers along the line of metal, then steps toward the windows. My robot vacuum turns on by a fake tree in the corner, making him startle. A giggle escapes my mouth, and I turn away as Mateo looks back at me. I’ve affectionately named my vacuum Mo, and he starts his route around the room as he normally does every day at eleven in the morning.
I close the office door and walk to the closet hidden behind the fake tree. I pull out a folding office chair and roll it to my desk. The chair goes next to mine, and I wiggle my computer mouse, my monitors coming to life.
“How do you get anything done with a view like this?” he asks.
I look over, but instead of the ocean view, my eyes focus on the striking silhouette that is Mateo standing before the windows. He’s tall and well built, and my heart races at the thought of being married to him. He’s ahunky piece of arm candy.
I shake my head. I need to stop thinking like that if I’m going to keep things platonic between us. I told Alex there wouldn’t be any romance, and I intend to keep that promise, no matter how badly my fingers itch to lose themselves in Mateo’s curls.
I shrug. “I’ve become spoiled. The view is amazing, but it doesn’t capture me quite as much as it used to when I first bought the house. I also have those shades at the top of the windows that come down when the sun wants to blind me.”
His curls bob as he nods. Mateo turns back, quickly notices the chair and walks over to it. He sits and props his ankle up on his knee as he leans back, his hands folded across his stomach. “Let’s get started.”
I quickly pull up the courthouse website and find the forms for a marriage license. I scan the schedule for availability to get married tomorrow. There’s one slot left in the afternoon. I quickly click on it and begin filling in the information to reserve it.
Mateo clears his throat, and I look over, my fingers stilling on the keyboard. “Yes?”
