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“I don’t know how you could be used to it already,” Finn said. “He was impossible at college. How do you manage workin’ with him?”

She smiled at Finn again. What would it take for Matthew to receive those lingering, impressed, interested eyes like she had with the others?

“Oh, we manage just fine,” she answered. “I think our working relationship has gotten much better ever since we’ve acknowledged the fact that he doesn’t like me. Wouldn’t you say, Matthew?”

Her eyes finally met his. And yet, the minute they did, he wanted them off of him. They were reading him too directly.

He opened his mouth to reply, but nothing came out, words failing him yet again, so he took a sip of his drink instead.

“Come on, Matt,” Graham said. “Where are those knightly manners you’re always boasting of?”

“Wasted on you lot,” Matthew returned.

He was sounding like a right pompous lout tonight. But he couldn’t help it. He was just in a mood, and that mood was annoyed.

Annoyed that he wasn’t as confident around Winnie as he had been before. Annoyed that his friends had invited her over. Annoyed that he wasn’t getting the attention he wanted from a woman he shouldn’t want attention from at all.

“See?” Winnie said. “He doesn’t like me.”

Her eyes remained on him for a minute before shifting to his friends, whom she asked more questions to as Matthew stared at his drink, basically pouting at the bubbles sliding up the glass.

Yes, he was annoyed at a lot of things. But more than anything, he was annoyed that he couldn’t contradict Winnie’s words. Because truth be told, despite everything they’d been through, he did like her.

He liked her too much.

But admitting that aloud, what can of worms would that open?

He knew it was far better to stay silent.

So why didn’t he feel better?

Winnie had never experienced a more delightful meal in her life. All of her business dinners in New York City had centered around, well, business. All small talk, all boring plans, rigid and dull. Her family dinners were even worse with words of accomplishments as her siblings one-upped each other.

But here, the conversation was entertaining, the food delicious, and the company an utter delight. Not only had she found her confidence around Matthew again, but she was genuinely enjoying her time with his friends.

As for Matthew, she had finally managed to coax him slightly from his shell. She still wasn’t exactly sure why he’d retreated so much in the first place, falling silent and appearing so discomfited, but she didn’t mind. After all, she enjoyed the payback she was now receiving after how uncomfortable he’d made her while speaking with her family.

With their meals delivered and drinks refilled, their conversations moved from subject to subject, starting with the charity run, circling around their jobs again, then shifting to their time at Eton, the boarding school they’d met at when they were all fifteen.

“What are the chances that the four of you would meet from all different countries, then end up as friends?” she asked, looking between them all.

“It’s not that surprisin’,” Finn said with that same teasing smile on his lips. “We were very exclusive. Stopped others from joinin’, so we did. Once we had one from each country, we put a cap on our group.”

“Yeah, we asked everyone where they were from,” Graham jumped in, playing along.

“‘You’re from England?’” Cedric roleplayed.

“‘Nope, you’re out,’” Finn continued. “‘We’ve already got one o’ them.’”

The men laughed, and Winnie joined in. “Sorry, but there’s no way I’d believe that any of you are the type to exclude others.” She paused. “Matthew, though…”

They laughed as Matthew frowned at her, though not as deeply as he had before.

Winnie couldn’t deny that she’d been slightly offended when he hadn’t refuted her comment about him disliking her. The news came as no surprise, though, so she was doing her best to pretend like she hadn’t been hurt by it.

“I’m the most inclusive of them all,” Matthew said, drawing her focus back to him. “Look at all the rubbish I have to deal with here.”

“Yeah, but you wouldn’t be without us,” Finn said.