“I’m sorry. I know we had an agreement for five o’clock.”
“It’s fine.” Matty glanced at the clock on the microwave. “They won’t miss me. I’ll get out of your hair, though.”
“Stay,” Sloan blurted. “I mean, you’ve cooked dinner every night. You should...have dinner with us.”
“I don’t want to outstay my welcome.”
“Lay the table, then,” Gloria said. “Before we all starve.”
“What she said,” Sloan said, smirked.
Matty grinned. “Looks like I’m staying, then.”
“If we’re having a guest, we should use the dining room,” Gloria decided.
“I suppose we should,” Sloan conceded.
Matty followed Sloan out into the hall and through a door she hadn't yet had reason to open. It wasn't as big as the lounge, and the large table in the centre took up most of the space. Six high-backed chairs were pushed in, perfectly set apart.
“Not quite my taste,” Sloan said as she opened the curtains. “My parents loved entertaining in this room.”
“It’s beautiful,” Matty said. “Not my style either, but I can still see why they loved it.”
Sloan moved towards the old dresser and opened a drawer. “She’s not been in here since her stroke.”
“Really?”
Sloan nodded. “I have the cleaner dust it every week, but she’s never asked to use it.”
“Then this is a big moment. For both of you.”
“Both?” Sloan turned to her.
“You don’t think this is an opportunity? Something she’s choosing to share with you?”
“I think she’s more impressed by you.” Sloan chuckled, then turned more serious. “Actually, I think we both are.”
Heat crept up Matty’s neck.
“Well, I am flattered.”
Sloan passed the placemats, their fingers brushing—brief, unmistakable.
“I asked her about you coming on full-time and she said you were better than nothing, which I think is her way of saying she’d love you to.”
“That sounds very Gloria-like.”
“It does, doesn’t it?” Sloan’s eyes lingered and held Matty’s a second too long. “So…what do you think?”
“I mean...” Matty let out a small breath, half laugh, half nerves. “It’s the best-paid, easiest job I’ve ever had.”
“There’s a ‘but’, isn’t there?”
Matty’s gaze dropped to Sloan’s mouth and then flicked back up, as if annoyed with herself for giving anything away. “Okay, so this might be a bit forward and probably inappropriate, but I’m really attracted to you, Sloan.”
Sloan didn’t move—not at first. Her face stayed composed, but something in her eyes sharpened.
“Alright,” she said quietly.
