Page 71 of Matthew
His gaze narrowed and searched hers for a few more beats, something unreadable flickering deep behind the worry. He exhaled, and when he did, his shoulders relaxed under her fingers.
“Yeah?” he asked, his gaze brightening.
She smiled. “Oh, yeah.”
A smile spread across his face and warmth mixed with mischief in his eyes. “Good to know.”
The longer she gazed at him, the more she wanted to kiss him until they couldn’t breathe. And she nearly did, her body even shifting closer, instinct tugging her forward, until the laughter of children and the sharp voice of a frustrated parent cut through the moment.
Reality returned with a thud.
Reluctantly, she loosened her grip and stepped back. “So,” she said, motioning for him to follow her down the gravel path, “you find out anything else?”
He nodded, his voice low and unreadable. “Yeah. And you’re not going to be pleased.”
Her stomach dipped.
“Let’s find somewhere quiet,” he added, his eyes scanning toward the customers.
Callie didn’t ask questions. Not yet. She led him past Nate, who was fielding a question about trellises and climbing roses, and veered toward the lean-to at the back of the nursery. It sat tucked behind the main greenhouse in a restricted area, quiet, shaded, and perfect for private conversations.
Even very thorough, heated, unforgettable ones like they’d shared there the other evening.
A laugh bubbled up her throat, but she managed to swallow it back.
The lean-to came into view, half-draped in morning light, still as private as it had been that night. The bench they’d never made it to. The table that bore even more fond memories now.
She felt Matthew’s pace slow, a slight shift in his breathing that mirrored her own. He remembered too.
The air thickened, not with heat, but with memory. Want. The kind that didn’t need words to be understood.
When they reached the shelter, she paused and turned. So did he. For a second, neither of them spoke. They didn’t need to.
His gaze dropped to her mouth before lifting back to her eyes. “Hard to forget a place like this.”
She nodded, throat dry. “Impossible, really.”
He didn’t touch her, but everything in his expression said he wanted to.
So did she.
But not yet. There were people around. There were things to discuss. Her need was going to have to take a backseat.
For now.
Callie took a breath and stepped into the shade. “Okay,” she said, voice steadier than she felt. “What did you find?”
She backed up to lean against the table, the same one Matthew had once lifted her onto with so much care it nearly undid her. She didn’t look at it now. She couldn’t. Not with him standing so close and that night still humming between them with chemistry overload.
Matthew stood a few feet away, arms crossed, boots planted wide as if anchoring himself for the conversation ahead. His gaze was soft, steady. Focused, giving the impression he hated what he was about to say.
She didn’t make him drag it out. “Tell me.”
“The shipment wasn’t a one-off.” His voice stayed low. “Carter found a trail. GreenSpan’s tied to more than one falseinvoice in the past few months. The same Vantage Gulf account paid for each one.”
Her heart knocked against her ribs. “Through Ellis’ company?”
He nodded. “FieldSource is either being used without his knowledge, or Ellis is playing dumb. Either way, the same logistics company handled them all.”
