Page 15 of Matchmaking the Rival

"Yeah, to New York for a couple years. Grandmother is happy about having everyone home."

"How old is Jeannie now? Is she still as feisty as I remember her?" Meredith asked.

"She's ninety and has only gotten better with age," I explained, glancing around. I liked to be aware of my surroundings.

"Is she still acting?"

"No, she retired years ago. She keeps busy. Maybe too much so. We’re trying to convince her and Grandfather to get more help around the house. It’s an ongoing battle.”

“My parents are retired too. I drop by to check on them a couple times a week and bring them goodies.”

“Very thoughtful.”

I liked that she wanted to make them happy because that meant family was important to her. I remembered Meredith’s family surprisingly well. Her parents had an easygoing relationship that had seemed alien to me as a teenager. Even before my parents’ marriage collapsed, they were always stiff with each other. I thought that was normal until I went to Meredith’s house.

“So what’s Jeannie doing to keep busy these days?” she asked.

“Throwing parties and nagging us about grandkids."

"Oh my God, I can't believe it. She sounds like my parents."

"She even meddled to bring Jake and his fiancée together." I'd never shared that with anyone. In general, I had a strict rule about not bringing up my family. It invited personal questions I had no intention of answering. Everyone usually brought up the scandal one way or another, but talking to Meredith was different.

She ran her hand through her hair, pulling her coat tighter.

"Are you cold?" I asked her. “I can give you my coat too.”

"No, it's just cozier if I pull it together tighter. You were saying about Jeannie meddling?" She sounded incredulous.

"We’re all having a collective reaction that's very similar to yours."

It felt good talking about something other than business. Meredith was genuinely interested in knowing how everyone was, and that was comforting.

"Do you think we've walked far enough?" she asked.

"Let's check." I took out my phone, bringing up the app showing us cars. "I think it's good. We can share one," I said. "I'll drop you off first and then head home.”

"What are you afraid of? That I won't be able to find my own way from the Uber to my building?"

"Meredith," I said in a warning tone, and she sucked in a breath. I locked my eyes on hers as she shifted her weight from one leg to the other, shaking her head. Her thick, shiny hair fell on her face, and she pushed it away behind her ear. An image popped into my mind of her under me, hair messed up while I was thrusting inside her.

Whoa, not going there.

I wasn't going to even fantasize about that. She wasn't going to end up in my bed.

Out. Of. The. Question.

"You bossed me into walking with me, which did make sense, but sharing a car doesn't. So, I'm ordering my own." She took out her phone, clicking on the app. "It's coming in two minutes."

I’d done the same. "Mine in three." At least that gave me some peace of mind; I could see her get in the car.

"Things didn't really go your way this evening, huh?" she teased.

"And you’re enjoying it."

"Immensely."

It was true. We didn't catch up nearly as much as I’d intended.

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