“Why not?” she asked, leaning in.
He followed suit, the corner of his mouth quirking up. “Because I’m not worthy of her yet.”
But I will be. Soon.
“So there’s someone?”
“Potentially.” And he moved away from her.
“That’s all you’re going to say?”
“Maybe I didn’t make it clear.” Tilting his head, Matt locked his eyes on hers. “But who I’m fucking is nobody’s business.”
“You’re intense. You know that?”
He just chuckled.
Yeah, so I’ve been told.
It was a simply gorgeous afternoon. One of those rare spring days when the April sun was so warm, it almost felt like summer. The tulips in the park were opening, which meant the peonies would follow soon after. Her favorite flowers, Gina loved to see them blooming all over the city.
She was minding her own business. Truly. Winter in Chicago can feel like forever, and as nice as it was today, it could snow again tomorrow.
Gina sat on a blanket, resting against the trunk of a mighty oak, to read her book and take in the delightful spring air.
Sure, she could have accomplished the same thing in her own backyard, except she wouldn’t have gotten any peace there—not with Teo and Luca at home, anyway. How was she supposed to knowhewould come prancing through the park?
And he wasn’t alone.
Something made Gina glance away from her Kindle. A flash of movement in the periphery, perhaps. But there he was.
No man had the right to look that good in a pair of torn, faded jeans. She could make out the ridges of his abs beneath the tight, white Henley he wore. Sunlight glinted off the fine hairs on his muscled forearms.
Too busy talking with his shaggy-haired companion—Kit King, if she were to guess—Matt didn’t appear to notice her. She lowered her gaze, pretending to be engrossed in her book, while discreetly watching him come closer as he walked along the trail. So much for peace. Gina was almost angry he’d disturbed it, which was stupid. It’s not like he knew she’d even be here.
What was he doing in Coventry Park, anyway?
He lives here, Gina. Duh.
Still, shouldn’t he be worried about encountering a mob of overzealous fangirls or something? She glanced up again to see a pair of warm brown eyes looking right at her. Gina brought her knees up, balanced the Kindle on her thighs, and heard him chuckle, followed by a high-pitched shriek.
Four girls, bouncing on the balls of their feet, surrounded Matt and Kit. With their shiny, fresh faces, they couldn’t have been older than fifteen. Taking advantage of the distraction, Gina gathered up her belongings and headed out of the park toward First Avenue.
Quickly, she glanced over her shoulder to see Matt staring after her while he signed an autograph. Gina hurried. Speed-walking, she broke into a run. For the past month, Matt had shown up at the bakery every Thursday morning to get cannoli. Sara said he probably came by to see if she was there. But the last thing on her agenda was to get involved with anyone, especially Matt McCready.
Once she made it out to the sidewalk, Gina easily blended into the throng of shoppers on the avenue. She paused at the corner. A latte for the walk home could salvage what remained of a perfectly good afternoon, but considering Beanie’s was his likely destination, she thought better of it.
“Hey, Gina.”
Fuck.
Should she stop, or just keep walking and pretend she didn’t hear him? Her feet still moving, she went with the latter. She passed Charley’s, maintaining a steady pace to Ash Street. Then, turning the corner, like a frightened little rabbit, Gina skirted past the red double doors and ran all the way home.
“Scaredy-cat.”
“Am not.”
Out of breath, after closing the door behind her, Luca caught her panting in the kitchen, so Gina had no choice but to tell him about her run-in with the rock star.
