Page 44 of Meet You Half Way
“So you heard …?” I guessed, dropping into my seat as mortification washed over me, frantically trying to recount every dirty word I had just uttered to Jamie.
“Every word,” Dante grinned, trying to keep the laugh off his face as I hid my face behind my hands, feeling like I could die of embarrassment.
But at the end of the day I could only laugh, Dante’s teasing probably the best antidote in the world to help me overcome my mortification. I wasn’t good at laughing at myself. I’d never really learned how to and there were always too many secrets I was desperate to keep to truly let my walls down. But I knew somewhere deep amongst every tease and every grin at my expense was an underlying affection and love that made every second of it all feel worth it.
CHAPTER 18
jamie
Something shifted after that day at the café when Mateo opened up to me. I suspected it was down to him finally coming out to Dante but a part of me hoped I could take a little credit for it too. But Mateo was definitely different, like the lifting of some heavy weight from off his shoulders. It was apparent in his energies, his confidence and the way he held himself. He seemed freer and less inhibited than he’d ever been before.
He didn’t need anything more weighing down those shoulders, those very sexy, very sensual shoulders, the same ones I had held in my arms an increasing number of nights since.
But I still didn’t know where things were going between us. Despite everything else, Mateo still held himself back from me, almost like he was afraid of letting himself get too close to me. I was keenly aware he hadn’t mentioned Nick’s name in a while but I still didn’t think he was over him. Not when I saw the way Mateo still looked at Nick those times I’d stay the night at his house.
Which was proving to be a little problematic for me because I knew I was in very real danger of having feelings for Mateothat he could not return. I was already too far past the point of walking away from him. I hadn’t been able to do it after one night with him let alone the weeks I’d spent with him since.
I was falling and I had a feeling the bottom was not going to be pretty. Least of all for me.
Right now I was just enjoying those smiles of his that were increasing in both frequency and vibrancy, at least while they were directed my way. I was pretty sure we were becoming Cat’s Cradle’s number one customers what with how often we seemed to meet up there for a coffee. We weren’t any closer to meeting anywhere in Mateo’s hometown but I knew I would have to be patient with him about that. I realised now how much he had at stake with his parents.
I also knew he owed me a date but I hadn’t been able to bring it up with him. The timing had never felt right so I hadn’t mentioned it yet. But I would. Eventually.
“So, Dante and Giulia have been bugging me to see if you would come over for dinner with them,” Mateo was saying. I heard the words but I had been a little distracted by the way the sun was slanting across his face, highlighting his angular cheekbones and those plump lips I had last tasted two nights ago. The lips I wanted to taste again right now.
“And you absolutely do not have to come if you don’t want to,” he was continuing. “But I promised them I’d ask.”
“Sorry, ask me what?” I said, shaking my head to dislodge my wandering thoughts.
“Whether you’d come to Dante and Giulia’s for dinner,” Mateo repeated a little exasperatedly.
“Sorry, my head was in the clouds,” I replied, ducking my head guiltily. “Dante and Giulia want me to come over for dinner? Why?”
Mateo rolled his eyes at me and I gathered I had missed that part too. “Officially it’s to thank you for saving Dante’s life.”
“Ah,” I said, sinking back in the booth with a smile. “And unofficially?”
“I think it’s a matchmaking ploy,” he replied with a nervous laugh.
“Hmm,” I mulled. “And remind me, will you be there at this matchmaking dinner?”
“Were you not listening to a word I said?” he huffed.
“Honestly, Mateo, if you knew where my thoughts had gone you probably wouldn’t be laughing either,” I chuffed back but his eyes darkened imperceptibly so I gathered he got my drift.
“What were you thinking about?” he asked, leaning forward in his seat and lowering his voice.
“Mostly about those lips of yours. How sweet they taste. How good they feel wrapped around my –”
“Okay, okay,” he huffed, eyes whipping around the mostly empty café.
“You asked,” I shrugged.
“I guess I did,” he agreed, a small grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. “So?”
“Let me ask you a question, Mateo,” I returned, suddenly serious. “Doyouwant me to come for dinner with the people you think of as your family?”
He paused, a faint flush crossing those cheekbones I had just been admiring as he glanced down at the table, suddenly distracted by the serviette in front of him.
