Fuck.This is so not appropriate.Before I can snap us out of yet another Moment, Matt thankfully does it for me.
“Sorry, let’s get you out of here.It’s too crowded.”He takes a step back toward the bar, handles the bill, then grabs my hand and guides me toward the front entrance.
Matt and I step out into the night, sobered up from whateverthatwas.
“Oh yes, take me to bed now,” I mumble as I follow him through the virtually empty streets.“I seriously can’t wait.”
“I bet you’ve used that line before,” he says, clicking a set of keys as a green Maserati unlocks on the street next to us.He looks back with a mischievous smile.I slap him playfully on the shoulder, before realizing we’re still holding hands, so I tug mine free, wiping it inconspicuously on my jeans.
“A Maserati?”I touch the side of the car, its green coat shimmering in the blinking light of the bar.
“I have a soft spot for them,” he whispers, leaning in.And then, as his body moves past mine to get to the passenger door, I get a whiff of his aftershave.His freshly washed hair.I stand back, stumbling a little with the shock of it.This night is pure torture.
Matt goes to grab me, but I jump back.“I’m fine.Sorry.Damn shoes,” I say.
As the door shuts and Matt makes his way around to the other side, I realize I can hear my heart beating hard in my chest.
“You came all this way just to have to take me home,” I say.
“It’s okay.I’m glad I witnessed it, Bug,” he says, starting the car, which roars to life with that deep growl from the V-8 engine.
“Witnessed what?”
“You being a cheeky fucker,” he says, laughing.“I missed it, actually.”
I feel the heat in my cheeks as I reach for my seat belt and yank it across my body, but it jams, and the harder I tug, the more it jams.“Damn it,” I mutter.
Matt reaches over to help, and our hands touch again,sending another shock through my body.I’m in no state for this.I need to get to the safety of my room.
“There you go, Bug.Safety first.”
“Can we go?”I say, hugging myself and shifting my body away from his.
“Sure.How fast do you want to get there?”he asks, sticking his tongue out as he grins.
“The speed limit,” I say dryly.
“Come on, Bug.That’s no fun,” Matt says as he pulls onto the street, then hits the throttle.
CHAPTER 10
Matt
Itap on the door to her room and wait.
And then again.“Chloe?”I say sternly.I bite my lip to stop from grinning as I imagine her clawing her way out of bed.
The door creaks open.She has her hair pulled back into a rough bun, her hotel-issued robe clutched together with one hand at the neck, black smudges under her eyes.
“Matt,” she says, almost angrily.“What is it?”
“I brought you a coffee,” I say, thrusting the large cup toward her.“Black, right?”
“Yes, yes, a thousand times yes.How did you know?”she says, confused.Then she reaches her free hand through and rests her forehead on the edge of the open door.“God.About last night...”
“Forget it,” I say, trying but failing to stifle a laugh.“Didn’t mean to disturb your beauty rest...but I’ve been waiting at the world’s worst hotel gym for our eight o’clock session and...”I glance at my watch and look up at her mortified face.
“Shit,” she says.“Shit, shit, shit.”
