Page 37 of One Day Like This (Excess All Areas 1)

Harry leaned against the wall in the hallway, pint in his hand, surrounded by three other men Gemma had introduced as Harry and Ollie’s cousins.

Izabel glanced in Harry’s direction. His words hurt. This was the man she’d once thought she could be happy with. “Harry, stop being a dickhead. Please, Matt. Let’s just go.”

“You heard me. Doesn’t give head.”

Matt looked down at her and winked. “Spoken like a pathetic man who realizes he lost the best thing to ever happen to him and compensates for that with a petty attempt to make her feel small. You’re just the bitter twat who couldn’t keep your dick in your pants. Even as you stand there, mouthing shit about how you found her lacking, you still see her like I do—and it eats you up inside. You know what it feels like to have her in your arms, in your bed. You know there isn’t a woman here who can hold a candle to her. And, yeah, you try to put outherflame because it makes you feel better about your life choices to fuck Sophia.”

Harry was momentarily flustered. Two of the men around him smirked and edged away. “Better than fucking my brother’s seconds.”

Matt moved toward Harry, closing the gap between them.

Izabel tugged at his arm. “Matt. Not now.”

“Trust me, sweetheart. I’m not going to hit him ... yet.”

The way he saidyetwas ominous.

Izabel could see the panic in Harry’s face as the final man stepped out of the way. In a fight, there was no question Matt would win. Harry was refined and polished. Matt was raw and explosive. Matt placed one hand on the wall next to Harry’s sweat-beaded forehead. “Listen up. It’s your brother’s wedding. For Gemma’s and Izabel’s sake, I’m not going to lay a finger on you tonight. But be on notice, Harry. First time I find you after this, it’s really going to hurt.”

Harry attempted to shove Matt away, but Matt didn’t budge. “Are you threatening me?”

“Please,” Izabel said, edging her way between the two of them. “Not here.”

Matt grinned, pushing himself away from the wall. “Of course I was. What are you going to do? Call the police? Get them to come tell me off for saying mean words? Get over yourself, Harry. And while you’re at it, get over Iz too.”

Harry’s mouth opened like a goldfish, unable to come up with a response.

Matt wrapped his hand around her middle and the tightness in her chest dissipated. “Let’s go to bed, sweetheart. I suddenly have a whole heap of adrenaline I need to burn off.”

The look in his eyes made her insides melt as he steered them towards their room. Heat. Fire. Passion. “Thank you for not hitting him.”

Matt rubbed his thumb along the side of her hand as they walked down the corridor. “Our one day shouldn’t have fighting in it, but I couldn’t let his comment slide.”

“I appreciate you standing up for my honour.”

“Always.”

They took the stairs to the room and once at the door, she felt the need to make one thing clear. “I did give blow jobs ... you know, in case you hoped our one day would include them.”

Matt placed his hand on her cheek. “You don’t need to if you don’t—”

“No. It’s just ... Harry used to do that thing. He’d get carried away. He’d grip the side of my face to hold me in place and ...”

Matt cupped her cheek. “You should have let me hit him,” he said softly. “Fuck it, I might just go back down and knock him out for the hell of it.”

Izabel smiled. “You would if I gave the word, wouldn’t you?”

“You’d be surprised what I’d do for you, Izabel.”

She only wished it were true.

7

“Go take your makeup off, sweetheart,” Matt said as they entered the room. He needed a minute. There were so many ghosts ... of secrets, of guilt, of truth. Each left a chill, and he needed to shake them off.

Izabel looked up at him in surprise. “But I thought we were ...”

He placed a chaste kiss on her lips. “We are. But when we are done, I want to fall asleep with you in my arms. I’ll be right here, so don’t let thoughts carry you away in there. It took a decade to get here, and I’m getting twenty-four hours of you in my arms. Waiting a few minutes more won’t change my mind.”

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