Rather than enter, he stood outside and watched her. He didn’t have many female friends. That wasn’t to say he didn’t know many females. However, he considered very few friends. The majority were either women he’d worked with on projects or dated. Although he wouldn’t call Liv a close friend, he suspected she could be. While he had a multitude of friends, his list of true close friends outside of his family was short. And for reasons he couldn’t explain, he wanted to add Liv to that list.
Or maybe he wanted more.
Liar.
Matt would prefer to ignore his annoying conscience, but he couldn’t. There was no “maybe.” His thoughts regarding Liv lately had fallen about as far out of the friend zone as possible.
A door chime announced his arrival. With her phone still attached to her ear, Liv looked up and waved, then gestured for him to sit.
He didn’t hesitate to accept the offer. While she continued her conversation with someone who he assumed was a client based on what he heard, he took in his surroundings. The office designer had taken full advantage of the space. They’d also made it feel less like a cold work area and more like a homey spot to meet friends and discuss whatever came to mind. Newspaper articles praising Ocean View Catering hung on the far wall, and Matt wondered just how long the catering operation had been in business. Until the previous week, he hadn’t even realized the restaurant had branched out, but if the framed articles were any indication, it wasn’t a new development.
“Perfect. I think the menu options you selected will satisfy all your guests. I’ll add the details to your account,” Liv said, pulling Matt’s attention away from his surroundings and to her. “If you think of any changes you’d like to make, just call or email me.”
Liv nodded a few more times to whatever the client said before ending the call and closing her eyes as she put the device on the table.
He waited several seconds before speaking. “Difficult client?”
Slowly, Liv opened her eyes, revealing the most beautiful eyes he’d ever seen. They reminded him of the ocean during a storm. Somehow, they appeared both gray and blue at the same time. How had he not noticed them before today?
“I wouldn’t call Gina difficult. More last minute. She’s getting married in July and only signed a contract with me Friday afternoon.”
“Seriously?” Even to him, who knew nothing about planning a wedding, it seemed to be cutting it close. Didn’t most people spend months or years planning for their big day?
Liv pulled out the chair across from him and sat. “Yep. Gina and her fiancé were in here when the delivery van was hit. When she first called last month to set up an appointment, she gave me a few possible dates in September, but things changed.” Frowning, she propped her chin on her palm. “Considering everything that’s going on, it’s probably a good thing they changed the date.”
“Any updates on that front?” If Waldman had accepted the offer from the Middletons, Liv wouldn’t be frowning.
“No. Dad and Grandpa met with Shirley over at Windsor Realty again earlier today, and she submitted our offer.”
If Austin called back and told him one offer had been made, Matt now knew who’d made it. And he wouldn’t submit one of his own, because at some point between his conversation with the realtor and walking in here, he’d made his decision. If it meant saving the building and the businesses that called it home, he’d make Waldman an offer he’d never refuse.
“Gramps is optimistic, but he doesn’t know the Worm as well as I do. He’s not going to accept it. He’s going to either flat-out reject it or come back with a counteroffer that’s out of our range. Either way, it’s out of my control.”
Matt assumed her comment meant she wanted to change the subject. He could respect that. “Where’s the last-minute wedding being held?”
“One of the houses on Windy Bluff Lane. My clients and the owners are close friends.”
Unless something had been recently constructed, there were only two homes on that road. He’d looked at one perhaps eight months before he purchased his home. Although beautiful, it hadn’t felt right, so he’d passed on it.
“Are you headed to the restaurant?” Liv asked as the sound of an oven timer came from her phone, but she didn’t reach for it.
“No. I wanted to see if you were busy tonight, but I don’t have your phone number.” A minor problem he intended to rectify today.
Liv’s lips parted, drawing his attention to them, but no sound came out as the hand resting under her chin hit the table. “Uh, no, I’m not busy, but won’t, uh…. Is that a good idea?”
Matt shrugged. “Why wouldn’t it be?”
“In case you forgot, you’re a world-famous musician. Oh yeah, and you’ve made a few mildly successful movies.” Liv’s voice continued with a hint of humor and sarcasm. “There’s probably a 100 percent chance that people will ask for your autograph or to have their picture taken with you. Do you really feel like dealing with that tonight?”
Most people, especially women, wanted to be seen with him. It sounded like Liv wasn’t one of them. “If it happens, it won’t bother me. And you’d be surprised how often people assume I’m just a look-alike and leave me alone. But if you’d be more comfortable, we can get takeout and play pool or watch a movie at my house.”
When he’d woken up this morning, he’d had no intention of spending time with Liv or anyone else tonight. But now it was precisely what he wanted, and it didn’t matter to him if they hung out at his house or went somewhere in town.
“You had me at pool.” Smiling, she rubbed her hands together.
“Why do I suddenly have the feeling I’m in big trouble?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Liv’s innocent expression didn’t fool him.
