Page 37 of Worth the Chase

“Why is your dad so hot? Look at those muscles,” I teased, but really, I wasn’t joking.

Her dad was ridiculously built for his age. Or any age, honestly. His arms and chest looked like they had been chiseled from stone.

“Please don’t make me fire you,” she groaned.

“You wouldn’t dare.” I grinned, and she tried to make a mean face but failed. “It’s not my fault your dad’s hot.”

“Stop it,” she whined before hustling toward the group of ridiculously sexy men. The group that included her dad, but really, I only had eyes for Matthew.

I watched as his gaze swept across the room before landing right on me. He gave me a subtle nod, and I couldn’t help but smile in return as he made a beeline in my direction.

“Thought about dating me yet?”

“Still thinking it over.”

“I must be losing my charm.”

“Trust me, your charm isn’t the issue.”

“Then, what is?”

“Bella.” Grant O’Grady appeared, clapping a hand on his son’s shoulder and nodding for me to come over to him. “Get over here and give me a hug.”

“Hi, Mr. O’Grady,” I said before falling into his arms and squeezing him tight.

I swore I heard Matthew growl.

“Did you just growl at me?” his dad asked as we moved apart, and I bit back a laugh.

“She hugs you, but not me. It’s not fair,” Matthew whined.

“Did you even ask her for a hug? I asked her for one,” Mr. O’Grady explained, and Matthew’s demeanor instantly softened.

“I want a hug too,” he said.

“Bet you do,” I teased.

“That’s not asking.” His dad shook his head like he was exasperated, but teasing Matthew was fun.

“Fine.” Matthew blew out a breath. “Bells, can I please get a hug?”

“Only ’cause you asked so nicely.” I grinned at his dad before stepping into Matthew’s open arms.

His six-foot-two-inch frame made me feel even shorter than usual. Typically, I was irritated with my lack of height, but I liked it a lot when it came to being in Matthew’s arms. I felt safe and protected.

“Good to see you, Bella. I’ve got to try some of Addi’s famous cooking,” Mr. O’Grady said before walking away and leaving me alone with his youngest son.

“See you later.” I removed myself from the warmth and strength of Matthew’s body, but his blue eyes were still fixated on me.

“I think you’ve thought it over. You have an answer for me, don’t you?”

“I might,” I said, but I really wasn’t any closer to an answer than the day that he’d asked. I’d been doing my best to distract myself and think of anything else. I cleared my throat, as if that might buy me some more time. “I think we should try to be friends first.” The idea popped straight into my head and right out of my mouth.

“Aren’t we already friends?” His lips quirked into a grin.

“Not really? It might be smart to get to know each other as adults? Right?” I delivered each sentence like it was a question to be answered.

“Friends.” He said the word like it was foreign to him somehow. Almost like he’d never even considered the concept before.

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