I looked him over, drooling at the sight of him in darkgray slacks, a white button-up with a few undone and matching jacket over it all. Okay, I could get used to seeing fancy Mateo.
I stepped toward him. “Have you been stalking my page, Mr. Boone?”
“Yes.” There was no hesitation in answering. “You didn’t tell me you were so popular Ms. Seven Million Followers.”
“Olympian, remember?” I teased, playing with a button on his shirt.
“Do I get the honor of you following me back?” Mateo asked.
I rose to my feet. “Hmm, depends.”
“Depends?” His lips barely grazed mine. I shivered at the small touch, the urge to kiss him almost overwhelming, but instead of doing that, I pulled back.
“On how well you grovel tonight.”
“Grovel?” Mateo blinked at the sudden change in conversation.
“You forgot to tell me I’d be seatedright nextto your family the entire day.” I cocked an eyebrow.
“Oh.” A sheepish look appeared on his face. “I figured if you knew they’d be there, you wouldn’t come so…”
“So you decided to push me in the deep end,” I finished.
“No. Well, yes. I swear I didn’t mean it in a bad way, more of a…helpful way.” He cringed at his own words. “I’m sorry. I should have asked you first if you’d be okay with it.”
“Yes, you should have.”
“Did everyone behave themselves? If they didn’t, I’ll have a word with them.” Mateo’s tone turned serious. I fought a smile from forming on my lips. I was trying to be mad, but it was hard when protective Mateo was cute.
I sighed almost reluctantly. “Everyone was great and welcomed me, even though they had no clue who I was.”
“And…that’s a bad thing?” Mateo slowly said, trying to understand why I was a bit upset.
“No, it’s not. It’s a wonderful thing.” I blew out a breath. “I just want your family to like me, okay? I don’t want them to look at me and think I’m not good enough for you or make you?—”
Mateo’s lips cut me off mid-sentence. One hand grabbed my waist, tugging me closer until my palms were flat against his hard chest. The kiss was soft, but I felt it all the way to my toes. The tension in my body seeped out with the caress of his lips.
When he pulled back, I opened my eyes, mouth parted and unable to form words.
“If kissing you gets you to stop overthinking, I’m going to do it more often,” Mateo murmured, voice low and husky. “My family likes you, trust me. I couldn’t take my eyes off of you for more than a few minutes the entire game. I saw how my family was. When they don’t like someone, they make it obvious.”
“You’re sure?” My voice was small and uncertain, which I hated with my entire being, but I needed his reassurance.
“I promise.” Mateo pressed another kiss to my lips. “But even if they didn’t, it wouldn’t matter.”
“It wouldn’t?”
His hand left my waist to gently grab my chin, angling it upward. “In case you didn’t know, I like you, Emmie. I like you a lot. Someone's opinion, even my own family’s, isn’t going to change that.”
Those words sunk beneath my skin, soothing over a part of me that wasn’t sure if Mateo felt the same way I did.
“I don’t bring women home to meet my family. Ever.”
“Wow, you really must like me then,” I joked.
A smile bloomed on his face and he said, “Just a little.”
“I really like you, too,” I whispered, staring into thosebaby blue eyes. This time when he kissed me, it was like a hole inside my heart closed. We kissed until my head felt dizzy and my lips were swollen.
