He put his hands on her waist and kissed her forehead. “I should’ve called you as soon as I knew. I’m sorry. I honestly thought she would’ve told your dad.”
“But why?”
“I saw what Timberlane Development did to Sandy Cove and didn’t want to see it happen here.” He pulled her closer and brushed what barely constituted as a kiss across her lips. “My favorite restaurant in town is also in this building, and I didn’t want to see it go out of business.” Matt kissed her again. This time, he let his lips linger almost long enough for her to enjoy it. “I’m also interested in someone who calls this building home and who’s worked her butt off to make her catering business a success.”
She was about to correct him about it being her catering business, but he silenced her with another kiss.
“Don’t deny it. Owen told me Ocean View Catering is your baby. And I read all the glowing reviews on Yelp.”
“You’re really buying the building?” Maybe if he told her yes one more time, it would finally sink in.
Matt gave her the same who-turned-up-the-heat smile he’d given her last night, and she wished her apartment had air-conditioning. “Don’t worry. I won’t increase your rent.”
He was serious. As crazy as it might seem, Matt was buying the building, not some property developer. She didn’t need to find a new apartment or worry that the restaurant, Ocean View Catering, and her aunt’s bookstore would go out of business.
Matt’s lips were almost on hers when she realized her dad didn’t know.
“I need to call Dad and tell him.” She stepped around him and headed for the end table where she’d left her cell phone.
“While you do that, I’ll open the wine.”
Thankfully, it took her dad a little less time than it had her to wrap his head around the fact that Matt was buying the building and not Timberlane Development or a company like it.
“I take it your dad was okay with the news?” Matt handed her a glass of wine when she joined him near the counter again.
“It’s possible he’s celebrating and opening the merlot he’s been saving for a special occasion.” Liv took a sip of what was possibly the best wine she’d ever tasted and then set her glass down. “There’s a salad in the fridge. If you can grab that, I’ll finally plate our dinner. I’m anxious to hear what you think.”
“I can handle that, but there is something I need to do first.” After placing his wineglass next to hers, he pulled her in closer.
Firm lips covered hers, and Liv closed her eyes as the heat inside her built.
Matt slipped a hand under her braid and changed the angle of his mouth over hers. She didn’t wait for him to make the next move. Instead, she put her arms over his shoulders and stepped closer, not stopping until her breasts pressed against his chest.
Matt moved the hand resting on her waist to the small of her back as he teased her lips apart and sent any rational thought straight out of her head.
Then, sooner than she would’ve liked, he pulled his lips away.
“Now, I’ll get the salad or do anything else you want.”
Holy. Wow. He knows how to kiss.
Liv refused to think about why that was the case. “Just, uh, the salad. I, uh, can handle everything else.”
At least in terms of looks, the two plates she placed on the table were five-star-restaurant worthy. She hoped they tasted as good as they looked—and not only because she wanted to impress Matt. She’d spent a lot of time experimenting with this recipe, and she’d hate to find out it had been a waste.
“Okay, I want your honest opinion. Don’t just tell me it’s good because you don’t want to hurt my feelings.”
Her brother and Phoebe were always brutally honest when it came to new dishes. Emma and her sister-in-law were honest too, but they always took a gentler approach when they didn’t like something she made. If Matt didn’t like it, she didn’t care which approach he took as long as it was the truth.
“You’ll get it. Promise.”
For the next several minutes, she spent more time watching Matt than eating. Sure, he’d said he’d give her his honest opinion, but he might have just been saying that. And while a person could lie when they were done and tell you it was delicious, their facial expression usually gave them away when they ate something they hated.
“This is amazing,” Matt said as he cut another piece of chicken. “What’s in it?”
“Chicken thighs, dry white wine, and vegetables served over creamy polenta.”
“Well, I’m not sure I’ve ever had this before, but it is delicious.”
