“You don’t. Fuck him. This is just too good.” He grabbed onto her arm and, holding it, plopped a kiss on her cheek. “I’m happy for you, Gi. Truly. I like Matt. He’s an all right guy, so don’t let Mom or Tony or anyone else make you think otherwise.”
“And why would they? It’s just a date, Teo.”
“C’mon, little sister, I know you’re not that stupid.” He pushed the hair out of his eyes, head tipping to the side, and his lips curved upward. “Matthew McCready doesn’t ‘date’ anyone. He never has—not that I’ve ever heard, anyway.”
“What are you saying?”
But the doorbell rang, and he failed to answer the question. “I’ll get that.”
Gina opted to remain in the kitchen. Cowardly? Perhaps. But now that he was here, she was a little nervous and needed a second to catch her breath. And besides, she didn’t want to appear overeager.
“Yo, Gina,” Teo called out to her from the foyer. “Matt’s here.”
She took a deep breath in, then blew it out.
Ready or not, here I come.
Slicked into a knot at the back of his head, Matt’s caramel-brown balayage blended into darker shades of rich chocolate andpolished mahogany. He wore a deep V-neck, the sleeves pushed up to his elbows. Transparent enough to see the outlines of his tattoos, and tight enough to make out the definition of his muscles beneath, its ecru color accentuated his suntanned skin. Faded, olive-green, slim fit fatigues hugged his ass and thighs. Expensive-looking combat boots covered his feet.
Her tummy rumbled and did a flip-flop.
Fuck. Me. I’m in so much trouble.
How in the hell was she supposed to breathe when he looked like that, when he was looking atherlike that? Wild-eyed, ferocious, and hungry, like she was his dinner.
Matt leaned in and kissed the side of her face. “You take my breath away, bunny.”
Teo softly chuckled.
With her cheeks growing hot, Gina slung her fake Louis Vuitton Bumbag over her shoulder. Knowing how much she coveted an authentic one, a co-worker snagged the dupe for her on Canal Street for forty bucks, on a weekend trip to New York City. Maybe it wasn’t crafted from genuine Merino shearling, but it damn sure looked like it. If there was a difference, she certainly couldn’t tell. Besides, who has four grand to blow on a purse, anyway?
Matt took her sweaty palm and laced his fingers with hers. “You good, babe?”
“Yeah.” She smiled at him, her heart hammering so loudly in her chest she swore he could hear it.
Amused by her discomfort, Teo bit his lip to hide a grin. He failed. Miserably. “You kids be safe now.”
“Basta.” Cut the bullshit. Gina shot her brother a warning look.
“I’ll take excellent care of her.” Matt’s arm came around her shoulders, and pressing his fingers into her skin, he bent to kiss her temple. “I promise.”
Matteo tipped his chin and said, “You better.”
The Audi R8 parked at the curb was purple, not a vulgar shade like petunias or Barney the dinosaur. This purple was a deep, sexy, sleek metallic, like the color of the sky at night, just before the twilight fades into black.
He opened the door for her and gave Gina a hand down into the low passenger seat. Buttons and controls everywhere, the techy dash looked like the cockpit of an airplane.
“Want me to put the top down?” he asked, buckling her in.
“Will I need a helmet?”
“No.” And he looked at her strangely. “Why?”
“Kidding.” With a shake of her head, she giggled and fished a hair tie out of her bag. “You put me in a race car, is all.”
Matt flashed his shiny white teeth, then, leaning across the console, he took her hand in his. “It’s just a car that goes fast.”
“Uh-huh.”
