“What would you call it, then?”
“Two people eating pizza and playing a few games of pool.” Only torture would get her to admit they kissed or that she was cooking dinner for them tomorrow night.
“Sounds like a date to me, although maybe not the most exciting one.”
Liv could picture Emma sitting in her favorite armchair, wearing an “I’m right and you know it” expression on her face.
“Like I told you this afternoon, Matt and Owen are friends, and other than me and my parents, he doesn’t know anyone in town. He was bored and wanted someone to hang out with, and he asked me since Owen and Jenny won’t be back until next weekend.”
Dead silence followed her explanation, and Liv mentally slapped herself for mentioning Matt’s name.
“Owen’s friend Matt drives an Italian sports car that probably costs more than my house and doesn’t know anyone in town but you and your family. And you spent the night playing pool and eating pizza,” Emma said, putting all the puzzle pieces together. “No, it’s not possible. It’s just a coincidence. I mean, if you were hanging out with Matt Sherbrooke, you would’ve told me. I’m your best friend.”
She hadn’t lied earlier, but omitting some of the details was coming back to bite her in the ass.
“Liv, tell me I’m crazy. Tell me you ate pizza and played pool with a mega-wealthy CEO from Boston named Matt Johnson, not Matt Sherbrooke, the sexiest man on the damn planet,” Emma said, her tone telling Liv that she already knew the truth but was having trouble accepting it.
Sighing, Liv rested her head against the headboard. She wasn’t going to lie to her best friend, and even if she tried, Emma wouldn’t believe her. “Emma, I wasn’t with a wealthy CEO from Boston.”
“Oh. My. God. How does Owen know Matt Sherbrooke?”
She thought she’d mentioned how they knew each other earlier, but she’d share it again. “They were roommates in college.”
“Oh, right, you told me that this afternoon,” Emma said. “I can’t believe you never told me you know him. I would’ve told you in a heartbeat.”
Yeah, that was probably true. Emma couldn’t keep a secret if her life depended on it. “It didn’t seem important. It’s not like we’re friends or anything. The only time I see him is when he’s in town and comes to the restaurant to eat.”
“Sounds like you’re friends to me if he invited you over for pizza.”
Emma would have a heart attack if she told her they kissed. “Okay, we’re friendly. But we’re not close like you and I.”
“Uh-huh. When are you seeing him again?”
“Tomo—” Liv snapped her mouth shut. Usually, she thought before she spoke. Clearly, her brain hadn’t fully recovered from kissing Matt.
Darn it.
“You’re seeing him again tomorrow?” There was no missing the excitement in Emma’s voice. If Liv could see through the phone, no doubt Emma would be bouncing up and down in her seat. “What time? And what are you doing?”
As her grandmother would say, the cat was out of the bag now. “I’ve been playing around with a couple of new recipes. Matt offered to come over and try one since he’s not busy. You know I always like to get different opinions before we add anything to the menu.”
Usually, she’d test any new recipes on her brother and his wife first. Then she’d cook the dishes for others. Most of the time, Emma and Phoebe were her next taste testers. But occasionally she’d ask someone else for their opinion.
“Sure. Whatever you say. Do you want me to come by and help you get ready before he gets there?”
“Emma, I’m cooking us a meal. We’re not going on a date. I don’t need help getting ready unless you want to stop by while I’m at work and make sure I have all the ingredients I need for dinner and pick up anything I’m missing.”
“Just because you’re not leaving your apartment doesn’t mean you can’t look nice.”
“I appreciate the offer, but I’ll be fine.”
“Well, at least call the second he leaves. I want all the details.”
Matt had stood outside until he could no longer see the taillights on Liv’s car. Then, after pouring himself some whiskey, he’d headed back to the rooftop patio. He’d been sitting up there ever since, looking up at the stars and replaying the evening.
Other than female family members, he could only think of one woman other than Liv who he’d had a conversation with recently that had felt so easygoing and natural. Usually, he selected topics that weren’t too personal, and he was always careful about his word choice. The last thing he needed was to offend the woman across the table from him or give her the impression that he wanted a relationship when he didn’t. That hadn’t been the case when he’d spent time with Evie, Adam’s girlfriend, a few weeks ago. It hadn’t been the case tonight either. Not once had he worried about sharing something that might get out to the media or saying something that might offend Liv. Instead, their conversation had flowed naturally, much like when he’d been with Evie.
Well, maybe not exactly. While he liked his cousin’s girlfriend, he wasn’t attracted to her. Liv, on the other hand, was a different story, and not only because she was beautiful.
