As annoyed as I am to be the hot topic of the town, I wasn’t surprised when I got tagged in their post yesterday. It’s Meadowbrook, simple as that. But I just got back into town and was caught in a stranger’s arms.
I am impressed, though. As someone who went to school on all things branding and getting your name out there, the Madame C’s have grown their account exponentially. Especially since the juicy gossip of the mystery man. The one I know as Matthew.
“Try again.”
“What do you mean?” The chime of an incoming text rings in my ear. I click on the link, which goes to anactualtabloid.
The article reads, “Who’s this small town mystery girl with up-and-coming pro golfer, Matthew Wilkes?”
“McDreamy is making his way in the pros, Beth. He’s practically a celebrity!”
I smile at her reference to the show we’d watch together every Thursday. I pull out my computer and do an internet search on Matthew Wilkes.
“No social media, a few gossip articles, and several golf websites.”
“Not much for publicity, huh? A little ironic since you are the polar opposite.”
“It is what I studied and love. Speaking of, have you seen my latest post? This explains why it’s blowing up so much. People must have found out who I was through Chai and Chatter.”
“And what a way to be discovered.” Desi giggles, her voice ringing with an excitement that I can’t quite match.
“Yeah,” I mumble, my fingers dancing over the keyboard as I delve deeper into Matthew’s online presence. Or rather, the lack of it. He’s an enigma, wrapped in golfing attire and an irresistible smile.
My stomach flips as I stumble upon a page dedicated to his golfing career. His achievements are impressive. Top forty in the Horizon Pros, and expected to be a Summit Pro this year, whatever that means. His swing, impeccable, at least according to these sites. His piercing green eyes are nearly distracting me from my mission.
Matthew Wilkes is a man of few words, at least in the digital world. There’s something about that silence that’s both disturbing and alluring.
“Beth, are you still there?” Desi’s voice cuts through my thoughts.
“Uh, yeah,” I quickly reply, snapping out of my trance. “I was just...”
“Drooling? Smitten? Distracted? All of the above?” she teases.
“Don’t be ridiculous,” I retort, the heat creeping up my neck despite the roll of my eyes.
The doorbell rings.Can’t a girl stalk a man in peace?
“Gimme a sec.” I stand from the couch and set my computer on the coffee table. I’ll come back to that momentarily.
I open the door to find myself standing eye-to-eye with said mystery man. Well, more like eye-to-shoulder because I’m shorter than him. But my, what shoulders those are.
I quickly shut my mouth, which was hanging open, and clear my throat.
“Hi, Beth,” he says, shyly smirking.
“Hey, Matthew,” I manage to get out as I see his eyes travel over me.
My hair is wet from the shower. I am makeup free (luckily, also acne free today, win!). I’m decently dressed but not what I would want to wear when a hot guy shows up at my door.
Then he looks past me into my parents’ living room.
I glance backwards to see his face taking up the majority of my computer screen. I turn slowly toward him and shrug with an awkward laugh. “I had to know who this mysterybeauis if I’m bringing him home to meet the parents.”
His eyes open wide.
“No, no, I mean, I saw the Chai and Chatter post, and you know…they said…um, did you see it?”
He lets out a small laugh. “Uh, yeah, I saw it. But not until my agent sent it to me. I’m not much of a social media kinda guy.”