Page 105 of The Fiance Dilemma

Something swirled in my belly. Lust. Or need. Probably both, considering the images my brain was pulling up and flashing behind my eyes. Me, on Matthew’s lap. Us, at Stu’s. His hand, up my skirt.

I closed my eyes, putting a stop to that.

“We have a safe word,” he said now, softly. “Use it.”

Use it.I turned my face toward him. Brown eyes burned with need. And something else.Give us an excuse.“Will you reward me, then?”

Matthew’s jaw clenched. That emotion in his eyes flared. “You’ll be the reward.”

I pressed my lips so I wouldn’t smile like an absolute fool, or worse, beg him to whisk me away. Now. Right now. Why hadn’t he five, ten, fifteen, an hour ago?

My sister’s words distracted me from the thought. “That’s…” Adalyn trailed off, struggling with her words. Cameron threw an arm around her shoulders. “Thank you for saying that, Dad. I appreciate it.”

“It’s nothing but the truth,” Andrew conceded with a nod. “You know I’ve been working hard at mending your trust after how things transpired with the transfer of the Flames.”

I brought my hands under the table and flexed them against my lap. Matthew wrapped them in one hand.

“You must be so proud of them both, huh?” Otto said, thatthem bothmaking me look his way.Adalyn and me?“The soccer youth club they started is everything everyone’s been talking about since they cut the ribbon and had that big party. About time someone does something this special for the community.”

Adalyn and Cameron.

“Oh, absolutely,” Andrew agreed. “I’ve been pestering them about letting me donate to or fund it in any way I can, but they refuse. Can’t say I wouldn’t be the same, though. Maybe I instilled that in Adalyn. Or maybe it’s just Cameron who hasn’t come around yet. Either way,” he said, raising his wineglass in front of him. “Cheers to that.”

Purely on automatic, I retrieved one of my hands and snatched my glass, raising it like everyone else. Adalyn seemed so unsure that it made me clink my glass against hers and tell her. “So proud of you.” She beamed then, and that brought me such comfort that when I turned to Matthew, it was with a smile. “Cheers—” I started.

But he was already downing his glass.

I frowned a little, then had a sip and put the wine down.

“So how did you two meet?” Otto asked, turning his attention to me and Matthew. “I don’t think we ever covered that.”

Matthew’s chuckle was strained. “No, we haven’t covered that.” His calm tone set off a strange alarm in my head. “We were a little busy covering everything else.”

“Dinner has been so wonderful, Josie,” Adalyn rushed. “Just like everything you ever put your mind to. Seriously outstanding. I wish— We wish we’d been around to help. It’s just so… busy. With everything.”

“I know,” I told her reassuringly. “You two are under a lot of stress, and that’s completely understandable. I shouldn’t take the credit, either. Bobbi’s been in charge of most things. And Matthew’s done as much as I have.” Matthew’s thumb caressed the back of my hand. I glanced at my father. “Andrew also made all of this possible.”

Andrew cleared his throat. “Of course. I—”

“So Otto,” Matthew interjected. “Before we somehow end up magically drifting away from the topic, you were asking how Josie and I met.”

“Right,” my neighbor said. “But if—”

Grandpa smacked him in the arm. “Let the boy talk, Christ. You’ve been yapping about nonsense since you sat on that chair.”

“Thank you, Maurice,” Matthew said with a nod that Grandpa returned. He squeezed my hand. “The first time I heard about Josie was through a text.” I turned my head to look at him, finding his gaze on me. “It was from Adalyn, and it read:I think I’ve just met your soul mate.”

Something in the middle of my chest bucked.

Soul mate.

Adalyn laughed from her seat. “I’d forgotten about that.”

“I haven’t,” Matthew said, his eyes still on me. “Do you remember what I texted back, Ads?”

There was a strange pause, and then Adalyn said in a soft, baffled voice, “You asked for a picture. Of your future wife.”

All the air in my lungs left me, and I could only sit there, on that chair, staring at Matthew as his smile widened and widened, making a spot in my chest swell, taking up all the space.

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