Page 67 of Unapologetic Love Story

‘What is it?’ Raina repeated.

Solana’s mirth subsided for a moment as she said, ‘I was just checking you were all right. But I can see that you . . . are.’

Raina was furious with her own flustered state and wished her sister would just quietly back out of the room and leave them be. She felt Tom turn to press a reassuring kiss on her temple and then slide an arm around her waist, firmly holding her in place upon the counter. As if he could sense her need to dash out of the room to lock herself in the downstairs toilet.

‘Matt is leaving,’ Solana added, a little apologetically. ‘Thought you should know.’

‘Oh, God,’ Raina muttered. ‘All right.’

She excused herself and moved into the hall, catching Matt as he was pulling on his boots. ‘Hey.’

He gave her a jerky sort of nod, avoiding her eyes. ‘You have make-out face, Rai.’

‘Matty,’ she said softly, choosing to ignore that comment. ‘I’m sorry. I knew she was off tonight; I had no idea she was going to do what she did.’

‘I know,’ he replied. ‘I know there’s no way you would have known, Raina. I know you.’

‘You don’t have to leave,’ she said, giving Nick a cursory glance to communicate that the statement extended to him also. ‘Honestly.’

Matt glanced behind her and something forlorn flickered on his face. ‘I came here . . . Well, it doesn’t matter.’

‘Stay, have a drink. Let me deal with Pep,’ Raina said, forcing herself to sound in good spirits.

‘That’s him?’

Raina followed Matt’s gaze. Tom was leaning against the staircase, watching the exchange, while Solana stood next to him, her eyes gleefully absorbing the entire scene.

‘That’s Tom,’ Raina said feebly. ‘He’s . . . a writer friend.’

‘You’re with him.’

He wasn’t asking, merely stating.

‘No,’ Raina said. ‘We’re not . . . we just . . . he’s just . . .’

‘It’s all good,’ Matt said softly. ‘He’s a lucky guy. And he seems smart. Like you. You always needed someone smart.’

‘I’m going to put Pepper in my bedroom and let her cool off.’ Raina said it with more resolution than she felt. If anything, she was completely distracted. She was still teeming with electricity after what had happened in the kitchen. While Solana had been playfully shocked by catching the two of them in the act, Raina knew it had been inevitable. It would be dishonest to say it had gone down without any preamble or anticipation. From the moment she’d glanced across the ballroom floor at the Hathaway Dinner, she’d thought about kissing Tom Branimir. He’d presented a fascinating and attractive new entry to her London life. He wore his disdain for most of the room so openly, she’d found it comical. At first, she’d imagined it to be arrogance, but now, after weeks of knowing him, she was unsure of what to call it. He didn’t consider himself more important than those around him. He observed and judged and noted, never seeming to realize that he was in the story, not just watching it from a distance.

‘Pepper was right about all of it, Rai. I don’t know why I treated you the way I did,’ Matt finally breathed, stepping a little nearer. ‘I was in a weird crisis.’

Raina took one steady step backwards. ‘It’s in the past.’

The words were said with no bitterness. No resentment. Nor were they flat and indifferent. They were merely filled with truth. Full of the luxurious feeling of closure.

Besides, she reminded herself. Autistics don’t have the privilege of holding grudges. There wouldn’t be enough hours in the day.

The voices around her muffled as she disconnected from the scene, turning to look back at where she’d just been. Where she wanted to be.

He was still standing there. His eyes heavy and expectant. She moved towards him without a backwards glance or sideways look at the rest of the people filling the room. Upon reaching him, she pressed up against him and almost sighed when both of his hands came to rest on her hips.

She wanted to taste him again.

‘I want to take you to bed,’ he murmured, his voice a rumble in her ear. ‘When can all of these people leave?’

Raina had no answer. For her, they were already gone.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN