Page 110 of Fierce-Matt
His hands went to her shoulders and rubbed. “I’ll take care of it for you later.”
“I’m going to let you.”
She grabbed her purse, threw it over her head so it went across her body, then walked toward the door, pulled it open and held it for him.
“I take it you’re ready?”
“I am. I’m hungry too. Don’t suppose we can get some food on the way?”
“Whatever you want, it’s yours.”
“Don’t you know to never say that to a woman?” she said when they walked to the elevator.
“I’ve only ever said it to you and I’m not the least bit worried you’ll take advantage of it.”
She gazed up at him with those serious words.
It was the truth.
He’d never voiced them before. Never wanted to.
The fear that he was only wanted for his name and money had been too great.
But Anya was too stubborn for her own damn good to take advantage of anyone or anything.
“I wouldn’t. Ever. I hope you believe me.”
“I do,” he said, his hand sliding down the side of her cheek. “Just like you trust me, I believe and trust you.”
“Then believe this,” she said, stepping back when the elevator doors opened. “I’m going to trounce you. Victory will be mine.”
Any time they had a moment of tenderness, she backed away.
He didn’t know why. If she was uncomfortable with something so foreign, or she didn’t feel as deeply as he did.
The last thing he needed or wanted to do was overthink this though.
They were in a good spot and he’d keep reminding himself he could stick.
“Yes!” he said two hours later when he’d beat her at mini golf. He got right in her face and puffed his chest out, then pounded on it with his fist. “That’s how you do it.”
“Oh, my God, Matt. You thoughtIwas competitive.”
“Hey,” he said, laughing. “You’ve been rubbing my face in every hole that you beat me and I haven’t done it once.”
They went back and forth the whole eighteen holes. First her, then him. It came down to the last hole and he was lucky enough to get his first and only hole in one.
She’d gotten three, but steady had won the race for him where she’d had a few bad holes.
“You’re right,” she said. “You’ve been a better sport than me. Until the end. Maybe I’ve missed the Mighty Matt too.”
He rolled his eyes. “Shhh. No one needs to see that here.”
He looked around at the teens and younger kids surrounding them.
“Really?” she asked. “You can put a show on like that over your win, butnowyou’re embarrassed by the nickname you gave yourself?”
His parents always said he’d need someone to put him in his place.
