I turned around to see Matt striding through the coffee shop door. My heart jumped like a jackrabbit. It was the first time I’d seen him since that kiss without Sophie, Zoey, or Jillian present.
Seen him in person, that is. I’d seen him plenty in my imagination. I’d played and replayed the moment, expanding and embellishing it in my mind until it felt as though we’d done a lot more than lock lips. My face felt hot.
“Hey, Matt,” Kirsten said. “Want your usual?”
Matt nodded and greeted us both.
Kirsten bent and pulled a pitcher of iced coffee out of the under-counter refrigerator. “How are the girls?”
“Great. They’re loving the way their room is coming along.” He turned his eyes on me in a way that made the heat spread down my chest. “Hope is doing a terrific job on the mural.”
“I’ve been trying to talk her into doing one here,” Kirsten said.
“Well, it’s amazing how fast she works.”
I know he meant it as a compliment, but Kurt’s sarcastic comments over the years still made the words sting. I forced a smile. “That’s because I’ve got two helpers.”
“That kind of help can only slow you down. But I appreciate the way you’re including the girls in the project. They’re loving it.”
I felt tongue-tied and awkward. “Well, I’m enjoying them.They’re adorable.” I lifted my cup in a small salute to Kirsten. “See you later. I’d better get back to Gran.”
“Hold on a moment, and I’ll give you a lift,” Matt said.
I had no choice unless I wanted to be rude. Ignoring Kirsten’s knowing smirk, I stared at the wall as he paid for his drink, then walked beside him out of the shop.
The afternoon sun was nearly blinding. “How’s the case going?” I asked.
“Slowly, but it’s moving in our favor.”
“That’s good news.”
“Yeah.” He gestured to a blue Camry at the curb. “Here’s my car.”
He opened the passenger door, and I climbed in. The leather seat heated my thighs below my shorts. I busied myself with the seat belt as he climbed in and closed the door. He started the engine, then looked at me. “You’ve been avoiding me.”
“I don’t know how you can say that, when I’m at your house every evening.”
“You scamper out like a scared squirrel the moment I come in.” He put the car into gear, then pulled out of the parking spot. “Is it because of that kiss?”
My face probably looked like I had a third-degree burn. “Maybe.”
“I’ll take that as a yes.” He cast me a sidelong glance. “Care to explain?”
“Not really.”
He grinned. “Explain anyway.”
I contemplated just opening the door and jumping out, but since the girls’ room was only half painted, that wouldn’t serve as a long-term solution. “I guess I’m not sure where we are after that.”
He drove two more blocks, then turned into his driveway, braked, and killed the engine. “I’ll tell you where I am.”
My mouth went dry. The air in the car suddenly seemed too thick to breathe.
“I’d like to kiss you again.”
I took a nervous sip of my cappuccino, trying to form a thought, much less a response.
“You’ve got some foam on your lip.”
