Page 28 of One Day Like This (Excess All Areas 1)

“And you’re feeling inspired?”

His eyes flitted to hers, his gaze intense. “Yeah, Iz. I am.”

A small piece of her hoped she’d been the source of it.

“Well, I didn’t mean to interrupt. Wanted to let you know I’m just going to grab a quick shower,” Izabel said.

Matt’s eyes softened and he tipped his chin, and the gesture made her smile. He was so focused, so lost in the moment of writing.

There was a quick rehearsal for the wedding, then Harry’s parents had organised a buffet-style dinner. She and Matt would go down together, but he was going to wait for her in the bar while the rehearsal took place so they could go to dinner together.

Izabel stripped and tied her hair up. She didn’t really have time to wash and dry it, but the hot water was plentiful as she soaped the rest of her body. It completely perked up her spirits. With the light tan she’d gained through the summer, she decided to forgo a full face of makeup, settling for a little bronzer, some lip gloss, and mascara for her naturally light eyelashes.

After pulling on her pink strapless sundress and putting her hair back into a slick ponytail, she added a gold necklace, a handful of stackable rings, and a pair of heeled sandals.

“Ready whenever you are,” she said to Matt when she stepped out of the bathroom, dumping her dirty clothes into her now empty suitcase.

He was still seated where she’d left him. He glanced up, half-distracted, and looked down at his phone before quickly looking back at her again.

His double-take completely warmed her inside. “You look beautiful, Iz.”

“Thank you.” She held the hem of the skirt out a little on either side.

“I feel like I should change.” Matt walked over until he stood in front of her.

“You look fine,” she said. “Tonight isn’t that big of a deal. You showered before you picked me up. I smelled like oven cleaner.”

“Well, I wasn’t going to mention it, but I may need to air the car out when I get home.”

Izabel laughed and poked his chest. “How rude of you to notice.”

Matt grinned and reached for her hand. “Ready?”

His grip was assured, confident, but she’d never be able to tell him how much she loved it. “Ready.”

“So, I’m your boyfriend, right?”

Izabel nodded. There was something about the look in his eyes that made her thighs press together. “You are.”

“Well, I was thinking while you were showering. I get boyfriend privileges without you punching me for taking liberties, yeah?”

She wondered where he was going with the question. “You do.”

“It just occurred to me that likely includes kissing you at some point.” Matt glanced down at her lips, and she couldn’t help but run the tip of her tongue over her lower lip before she bit it.

“Possibly,” she whispered.

His hand cupped her cheek and he moved closer to her. “I don’t want an audience the first time I kiss you, Iz. Even if it’s pretend.”

“You don’t?”

He shook his head. “I don’t.” His lips were so close to hers she could feel his breath on her skin.

He slid his other hand around her back, pulling her close. With her breasts pressed up against his chest, she could barely breathe.

“So, kiss me then,” she said, her voice wavering.

Matt closed the distance between them, his lips meeting hers. It wasn’t the powerful domination she’d been expecting. It was an emotional onslaught wrapped up in sweet kisses and gentle tongues. Tenderly, he held her close. Her knees went weak, but it didn’t matter because Matt held her up.

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