Page 80 of Find Me in California

She told herself she’d wait until Matt ate before she plied him with questions. Commendably, she made it through a quick shopping trip to pick up food for dinner—an unseasoned pork loin, fresh broccoli, and fingerling potatoes. And she’s contained herself as they work in tandem in her kitchen, prepping the food as if this were something they did together every day.

Strange how they fell into sync, salting the pork and drizzling olive oil over the vegetables. She attributes their easy banter while doing so to their extended phone conversations. It feels like they’ve known each other for years rather than days. They’re also dodging the heavier topics, like what happened back at Rosemont between Matt and Mama Rose or what Lenore had to speak to Matt about that was so important. When he came out of the meeting with her, he looked like the husk of the man Julia had seen at the hospital, and even then, he had appeared pretty beaten up. She knows she’s partly to blame for his shell shock, blurting the news about Adam the way she had.

She still needs to tell him the rest of what Liza shared with her. But when they slide the food in the oven to roast and she offers him a glass of wine, her patience gives over to concern. Matt’s complexion hasn’t improved since they left Rosemont, and she noticed his hands shook as he washed the potatoes. He drags a chair from under the kitchen table and collapses in the seat as if his legs give out.

“Are you okay?” She’s immediately at his side.

Elbow on the table, he drops his head in his palm. “Headache.”

She doubts he’s eaten today. His blood sugar is most likely low. He also spent the weekend drinking and smoking weed. Who knows what else he took. She wouldn’t be surprised if he’s still hungover.

She puts down the wine and glasses and sets a tumbler of orange juice in front of him. “Drink this.”

He lifts his head and chugs half. “Thanks.” He wipes his mouth and rubs his temples.

“Do you want something for the headache?”

He shakes his head.

“Do you get them a lot?”

He nods. “Edibles help. But after this weekend, I think I should stay away from them.” He looks up at her, amused.

“So there was more than alcohol and weed involved.”

“My friend Dave gave me something that had a bit more kick than what I’m used to.”

“Ah. That explains the hallucinations you mentioned.”

He looks uncomfortable she brought it up.

She rubs her hands to warm her palms, then holds them by his head. “May I?”

Matt’s gaze lifts from her hands to study her face, and his close vicinity boosts her heart rate. “I might be able to help. With the headache,” she adds when he continues to just look at her.

He slowly nods and leans back in the chair.

Julia rotates her hands to loosen her wrists and moves to stand behind him. She combs his hair off his forehead, and with her fingertips,she applies gentle pressure to his temples, moving her fingers in a circular motion.

His head falls back, and he groans. “Fuck me.”

She smiles briefly, loving that first touch when she can feel her client’s tension melt away. But Matt isn’t a client. He’s just a man whose family’s history is intertwined with hers, one with a throaty voice that sparks a heated awareness inside her even when they’re arguing. And he’s even more appealing in person, something she didn’t anticipate.

It’s been a long time since she’s felt anything for anyone, and she’s definitely attracted to him on multiple levels. Though she’d argueattractiondoesn’t come close to describing what she feels for him. Whatever this is, it feels deeper, more meaningful. She has to continuously remind herself they met over the phone just days ago and she shouldn’t be overly friendly with him.

She massages his scalp along the hairline, applying firmer pressure. He groans again, making the discomfort in her overworked wrists worth it.

“Feel good?”

“So good. It’s been so long ...” He groans as she moves her fingers in circular patterns over his scalp, and he trails off before finishing his thoughts. She digs her teeth into her bottom lip so she won’t ask him what he meant. So long since he had a massage or since a woman touched him? She wants to believe it’s the latter, but he mentioned spending the weekend with a woman. Who happened to be a younger version of her grandmother with Julia’s voice. She can’t decide if she should be jealous, flattered, or repulsed.

She has a lingering sense of all three feelings when Matt’s shoulders rise with a sharp breath as if he’s about to speak.

“What?” she asks when he doesn’t say anything. She deepens the pressure behind his ears.

“Elizabeth.” He stops and so does she, her fingers stilling. “What else did she say about Adam?”

Julia was wondering when he’d bring up his grandfather. She resumes her ministrations. “Not much other than he’s your grandfather and that she’d only recently told him too.”

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