I grab it, turn off the burner, and pour the water into the infuser, forcing my focus back to my tea.
Matt steps in behind me and grips my shoulders. “What time do we need to leave for the airport?”
I spin around.
Bad idea.
Now I’m face-to-face with him. Chest to chest.
My God. Those pecs.
Eyes. Keep your attention on his eyes.
“You don’t need to take me,” I say quickly. “I scheduled an Uber.”
He shakes his head. “Why do you always do that?”
His hands come back up automatically, settling at the base of my neck, thumbs pressing in slow and deliberate along my collarbones. It feels incredible. Way too incredible. My pulse jumps, breath catching as my body reacts all at once. Every nerve lights up, that quiet ache from last night flaring just enough to remind me it’s still there.
Nope.
I grab his wrists and guide his hands away. “I don’talwaysdo this. It’s Monday. You work. It’s a busy day.”
I duck out of his space before he can say anything else and turn back to the counter, focusing on making my tea like it’s suddenly the most important thing in the world.
“So,” he says. “I looked up the logistics for the wedding.”
I glance back at him. “Let’s not call it a wedding.”
He snorts. “Fine. The marriage thing.” He makes a vague, flippant gesture with his hands. “Turns out we have to apply for a marriage license first. Then there’s a twenty-four-hour waiting period. I have a meeting here on Tuesday that I can’t miss, but I could fly back when it’s done and meet you at the City Clerk’s office before it closes. Then we can go in Thursday during lunch and seal the deal.”
A laugh slips out of me, sharp and unexpected, and I’m not entirely sure if it’s because it’s funny or because it’s kind of devastating.
I don’t how to respond.
Who would’ve thought that after thirty-five years of life, anddreaming about my wedding day for at least thirty of them, I’d besealing the dealon a lunch break?
I turn around, settling on a quiet, “Sounds good.”
He studies me, clearly unconvinced. “What? Would you rather get drunk and run off to Vegas this weekend?” A smirk tugs at his mouth. “Because that can be arranged.”
“Mmm. I’m sure it could. And I most definitely don’t think that would be a good idea.”
Getting drunk with Matt anywhere is one thousand percent off-limits.Especiallyin Vegas.
Been there.
Done that.
He chuckles, eyes locked on mine, sparking with an arrogance only Matt can pull off without being douchey. He’s remembering the exact same thing I am.
“Don’t look at me like that,” I scold.
“Oh, come on.” He shrugs. “We can’t even reminisce about the good ol’ times?”
I pour my tea and cup it in both hands, bringing it to my lips with a small smile. “Nope.”
He folds his arms. “Yeah, okay. Fine. We won’t talk about them. Doesn’t mean I can’t think about them.” His gaze drops, then slowly trails back up, branding me with the memory, warmth flushing my skin. It stalls mid-way before drifting back to my face, his expression far too satisfied.
