“Speak of the devil,” Sabrina whispers before slipping away, leaving me standing in the doorway, mouth slightly open.
“What are you doing here?” I ask, half amused. “I thought we were meeting at the restaurant. And why are you in my office? Who let you back here?”
Matt turns toward me, flashing thatI’m Matthew Graysongrin that gets him whatever he wants before he even asks. “Finished my meeting early. You’re practically on the way, so I figured I’d swing by and pick you up. And the girl at the front desk let me back.”
I shake my head. “Without checking with me first?”
“In her defense, she tried tostop me…”
“Let me guess—you flashed her a smile, and all logic left the building?”
His grin widens as he leans back against my desk, every bit the cocky bastard he’s always been. “Something like that.” His gaze drags over me, slow and unapologetic, and I hate that after all these years it still gets to me. “She said she recognized me, so I told her I liked her dress.”
“Of course you did.”
I can’t help the smile that tugs at my lips as he steps close and says, “Hey, babe.” He kisses my cheek before adding, “It’s good to see you too.”
His cologne lingers, bringing back memories that make my stomach tighten.
“Hi,” I say with a soft laugh. “Let me grab my purse and we can get out of here.”
I cross the room to my desk and tug open the bottom drawer, slinging my Chanel bag, the one my pappoús gave me for my birthday, over my shoulder. “When are you going to stop calling me babe?” I ask, tone light.
He doesn’t miss a beat. “When you stop answering to it.”
I stride for the door, and Matt follows.
“I’ve been calling you babe for twenty years. Why stop now?”
I just shake my head, grinning.Hopeless.
We walk down the hall together—Matt in his blue Tom Ford suit and a swagger that makes every head turn as we pass, me in an overpriced dress only God knows I can’t afford.
When we reach the elevator, I press the down button and glance his way. “Because people get the wrong idea.”
He rolls his eyes. “What, afraid people might think I’ve seen you naked?” He steps closer, voice low against my ear. “News flash. I have.”
The elevator slides open, and we step inside. Our reflection fills the mirrored doors as they close, his smirk meeting my glare.
“Hmm.” I tilt my head. “Can’t stop thinking about that, huh?”
He chuckles. “Never.”
I lean back against the wall, eyes trailing over him.
This is what he does.
He mirrors me, crossing his arms, that smug grin daring me to react. His gaze locks on mine, one brow lifting. A silent challenge.
A standoff.
I’m not sure who’s more stubborn, Matt or me, but he’ll keep calling me babe until his last breath.
Or until I push him out of my life again. Whichever comes first. My money’s on the latter. I have a tendency to do that.
The elevator jolts as we hit the ground floor. I take a breath, watching him step out ahead of me.
How did I get here? I traded vows for freedom and somehow ended up right back where I’ve always been.
