Page 49 of All I Desire

Chapter Thirteen

NATALIA

“What’s your problem?”Max grumbles.

“Nothing. I am problem free.” I beam at my BLT salad. My brother and I are having lunch at the restort restaurant, but my mind isn’t on work, or my family.

That’s because Matthew stayed over again last night, and we’re supposed to see each other after work, too. I’m smiling at everything today: paperwork, the housekeeping staff, the walls. My entire body feels like one giant grin.

My brother eyes me warily. I know he suspects something’s up, but doesn’t want to ask for fear that I’ll start talking about sex stuff. The last thing he wants is to hear his sister talk about sex. So, he launches into a long diatribe about occupancy rates on Paradise Beach, and I nod along, smiling.

“You’re not listening to a word I’m saying, are you?” he asks.

“Of course, I am, dearest brother.”

He grunts and throws a cash tip down for the waiter. “You serious with this guy?”

“Who, Matthew?” I press my fingertips to my breastbone.

“Yeah. That one from the other day.”

I shrug. And grin.

“If you’re serious about him, you should bring him to meet Ma and Dad. And maybe the rest of the family.”

“Jesus, Max. I didn’t realize I had to get approval for my dating life from you. Or Ma and Dad.” His words have put a scowl on my face. “Way to be a controlling dudebro. What’s next? Are you going to mansplain something I’m an expert in? Want to tell me how to design a necklace? Or will you give me a chastity belt to wear, so I can uphold the honor of the Hastings family?”

We wander out of the restaurant and down the hall to my office. Max rolls his eyes. “It’s not that. I just feel, I don’t know, protective of you. After what happened with Chad.”

“What happened with Chad was a decade ago. More than that. When is this family ever going to let it go? I have.” I glare at my brother and unlock my office door. “Just because I was stupid and got involved in a terrible relationship in high school, doesn’t mean I’ll repeat it. Don’t you think I’ve learned? It’s like none of you are willing to acknowledge that I learned several lessons from that experience. That I’m an adult now, and can make good decisions.”

Max’s nostrils flare. “I just don’t want to see you get hurt. Ever since you met this Matthew character, you’ve been…” He waves his hand in the air.

“Happy?”

He shrugs. “And it’s so random how you met. So…sudden.”

“Let me be. Let me make my own mistakes. And it’s not like the Hastings men are unfamiliar with random and sudden relationships.” I arch an eyebrow, then slip into my office and shut the door. Jerk.

Dammit, why did he have to bring all that up and pop my happy, little bubble? My stomach is now churning uncomfortably after that conversation. Matthew is good for me. I think. Of course, there’s still the question about what will happen when his daughter arrives, but I also figure this: if he’s a caring, awesome father, then that means he might be a good boyfriend, too. Right?

My phone pings. It’s Matthew, with a text. Saw this in the parking lot of the hardware store and figured you’d enjoy it. I know I did.

It’s a photo of a bumper sticker on a minivan that says I’M ONLY SPEEDING BECAUSE I REALLY HAVE TO POOP.

I read it aloud a few times, cracking up. This man gets my humor. He gets me.

* * *

“Okay,so I read this thing today online.”

I giggle and climb into Matthew’s lap. We’re on my sofa. “That’s always a solid start to a conversation,” I reply.

He chuckles. “No. Seriously. I couldn’t wait to tell you about it.”

I settle in, squirming a bit against his crotch and rubbing my hands against his soft, red T-shirt. I’m wearing a flimsy, black, cotton tank top dress, no shoes, and plain, black, cotton panties. My bra is back in my room because I was so stupidly hot that it felt better to leave it off.

We’re supposed to go out to dinner tonight, but we’ve been kissing and laughing and talking since he arrived at seven. It’s now eight-thirty and it looks like Chinese delivery is on the horizon.

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