Page 16 of Sweet Temptation

I slowly approached the box, completely uncertain what could be inside or who it could be from. It was small and square, and the packaging was simple and white, giving no clue what it contained. I hoped it wasn’t some sort of apology gift from Noah. If it was, it might be about to get thrown from the window.

There was a short note on top of the box that read: “I believe you will find this useful. Matthew.”

Although it wasn’t from Noah, my confusion didn’t ease. My father was sending me gifts now? After everything he’d revealed on the weekend, I wasn’t sure how to feel about it. A week ago, I might have felt the urge to throw his gift out the window too, but now I wasn’t so sure.

I slowly opened the lid on the box and gasped when I saw a set of car keys inside. He bought me a car.A car?What on earth was he thinking? Cars were expensive, and given the Mercedes logo on the keyring, I had to assume this one was no exception. I knew it was probably pocket change to my father, but I didn’t want to accept something so lavish from him.

I immediately took my phone out and did the one thing I thought I’d never voluntarily do: I called Matthew.

His butler, Caldwell, answered after several rings. “LaFleur residence.” He sounded like even more of a pompous ass on the phone. The guy really needed to loosen up a little.

“Hey, Caldwell, it’s Isobel. Isobel Grace. Uh, is my father around?” I wasn’t sure why I sounded so awkward. It was probably because I’d never called this number before. I still couldn’t believe I was actively seeking my father out.

“Hello, Miss Isobel. I’ll see if he’s available to talk. One moment, please.”

The line went quiet as I was put on hold. A jittery kind of nervousness pulsed through my veins, and I paced back and forth in my room as I waited for him to answer. I barely knew my father, and I didn’t know the first thing about how to have a conversation with the guy—especially when we had so much more to talk about than just the new car.

Just as I was starting to think about hanging up, my father’s voice sounded on the other end of the line. “Isobel, this is a nice surprise.” Matthew sounded genuinely happy I’d called, but I wasn’t planning for pleasant small talk.

“You bought me a car?”

“Ah, it finally came,” he replied. “It was supposed to be with you on your first day at school, but there was a delay. I’m glad it arrived.”

He’d obviously missed the unimpressed tone to my voice. “You shouldn’t have done that. I don’t want you buying me expensive things.”

“But you don’t have a driver at school, so it’s necessary to have you own form of transportation.” He responded calmly, as though it was the most normal thing in the world

“We clearly have different definitions of what constitutes a necessity,” I said. “I have friends who can drive me around. I really don’t need one.”

“I understand,” he said. “The vehicle is bought and paid for now though, and it’s in your name. It’s up to you what you do with the car, but I would feel comfortable knowing you have it if you ever need it.”

I let out a sigh. I had a feeling there was no way I was going to win this fight with Matthew. “It really is too much,” I murmured.

“It’s not even a fraction of the things I’d give you if you’d let me,” he said. “I know I can’t make up for lost time with expensive gifts, but it makes me feel slightly less useless if I can help provide for you now. Especially when I can see a need of yours I can fulfill.”

I knew he was trying. That he wanted to build a relationship between us. Material things really didn’t matter to me, but the fact he’d got me a car because he thought I might need it did make me feel slightly less annoyed. I couldn’t bring myself to tell him I could barely drive. He clearly had no idea I’d refused to get behind the wheel of any car since I’d crashed my mom’s one day after getting my license. I’d almost hit a dog that had darted across the road, and I swerved into a fire hydrant. By some miracle, I hadn’t been hurt, but my mom’s car never looked quite the same, and I’d completely lost all confidence in driving. Matthew’s car was probably going to sit in the parking lot all year, but he didn’t need to know that.

“Well, thank you for thinking of me,” I said. “It was unnecessary but very kind.”

“You’re welcome,” he replied.

I drew in a breath as I tried to gather the courage I needed for the next part of our conversation. I still had so many questions about why Noah’s grandfather had reacted the way he did at the ball. What had happened between our families? I didn’t think I was going to get the answers I needed from Noah, so Matthew was my only hope of getting any closure.

“There was something else I wanted to ask you,” I said. “About Noah Hastings. You and his grandfather wanted us to end our relationship. You said that we could never work. What happened with you and the Hastings family?”

The other end of the line went silent, and I wondered if the call had somehow dropped out. “Matthew?”

“Sorry,” he said. “I was just trying to gather my thoughts.”

He went quiet again.

“And?”

“This isn’t an easy conversation,” he said. “Our family shares a troubled past with the Hastings. They are terrible people.”

“Funny, that’s what Noah said about your family.”

Matthew let out a long sigh. “We’re not without our flaws. But there are some things that can’t be looked past.”

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