Page 58 of Spark
“Oh, yeah?” Matt asked.
Sophie continued, “One of their dishwashers, Pedro Ornelas, was working in the kitchen during his summer break from college. Anyhow, he quit yesterday. He told a few people that he kept seeing reflections of a menacing figure looming behind him, but whenever he turned to confront the stranger…nothing was there. It really creeped him out. The third time it happened, he told Daniel that he couldn’t work at Calidus—or anywhere else inside the hotel— anymore.”
“That does sound pretty damn unsettling,” Matt commented.
“Yeah. Chris thinks I should interview Pedro and see if his experience will add any new information to my article.”
“Speaking of Chris,” Matt said, in a quiet but tense voice, “I know that you’ve been seeing him, too.”
A horrified disbelief speared Sophie’s gut. She glanced at him, and saw that he was looking away. His expression was unreadable.
“He promised me he wouldn’t say anything!” She couldn’t believe that he’d betrayed her like that. Had she been a fool to accept his apology and forgive him?
“He didn’t want to,” Matt assured her. “But after your disagreement, he was a wreck. So, I forced him to talk to me about what was going on between the two of you.”
“Oh,” she said, numbly. She couldn’t tell if Matt was upset or angry or just disappointed in her.
If I was a shifter like him, I’d know exactly what was going on. But I’m just plain old ordinary Sophie, so I can only guess.
“Are...are you mad at me?” she ventured. Her throat felt tight with apprehension.
But Matt was still holding her hand as they walked down Main Street towards Justin’s barbecue place, so she hoped maybe not.
He shook his head. “It was really hard to see my two best friends hurting and not talking to each other. I’m glad you worked it out.” He paused. “But if you don’t mind me asking…whatexactly do you see in him?”
She knew Matt well enough to hear the part he didn’t actually say out loud:What does Chris have that I don’t?
Dammit, she thought.Maybe Matt’s not mad at me, but I think I’ve hurt his feelings.
“We’re not actuallydating,” she explained. “Not like this, like you and me. We talked about it, and we’re just going to stay friends.”
Matt’s dark brows shot up. He didn’t try to hide his skeptical expression.
“Friends,” she repeated firmly. “With, um, benefits.”
Matt blinked but didn’t say anything. They walked a few more steps in a silence that Sophie found increasingly uncomfortable.
Finally, she blurted, “I’ve never, uh, had good sex before and Chris isreallygood.” Her face felt burning hot now, and she was glad of the cool night air. She added, “Our chemistry is, well, off the charts.”
“I think we have really good chemistry, too,” Matt said, finally. “And in case you didn’t figure it out on our last date—I really want you. And not just as a friend, even one with benefits.”
“I—I really like dating you,” she said. “You’re sweet, and nice, and—” she was going to say,and you make me feel safe, but she saw his expression darkening again, and quickly substituted another truth, “—and you’re a great kisser, too! I want to keep dating you as, um, not-friends, and see where this goes.”
“Good,” he said, and she could swear he sounded relieved. “Because I want that, too.”
As they reached the Wildcat Springs Texas BBQ restaurant, Matt gallantly held the door open for her.
She entered and saw that Matt’s nineteen-year-old sister Maggie was working as the hostess tonight. She was tall, curvy, and athletic-looking like all the Swansons. Her hair was a deep auburn shade, and her tanned face was sprinkled with freckles.
Her face lit up when she saw her brother and Sophie walk in. “Welcome to Wildcat Springs, guys!”
Sophie smiled back, but with a feeling of doom.Uh-oh. In about five minutes, I guess everyone is going to know that Matt and I are dating.
Maggie was a friend of hers, and really nice…but she was also a huge gossip. Andwaytoo interested in her friends’ and cousins’ love lives. Sophie could only imagine what she was thinking right now.
“Table for two?” Maggie asked brightly.
As Matt’s sister led the way to one of the leather-upholstered booths built against an exposed-brick wall, Sophie pondered her current situation.
