Page 95 of The Charmed Friends of Trove Isle
She looked at him for a long second. “Do you ever get tired of being so nice? So noble?”
This made Matt laugh. “No. Helping others is a selfish pleasure. It makes me feel better about myself.”
“Selfish? I don’t think so.” Liz blew out a breath. “Do you want to come inside?”
Matt looked past her toward the front door. “Do you want company?”
She shrugged. “I didn’t think I did, but now that you’re here, yeah. I can change clothes and cook dinner.”
“I don’t want you to go to any trouble.”
“Like you said, it’s selfish on my part. I want to feel better about myself too.” She rolled her lips together, barring the tears that wanted to come. “Melody and I kind of had another argument today. It was all my fault this time.”
“I’m sorry.” Matt’s gaze was steady.
She shrugged again as if it were no big deal, but it was. Losing Melody all over again was going to really hurt. She stood and jingled her keys. “These wet clothes are making me cold.”
“Can’t have that.” Matt stood as well.
Liz felt him step up behind her as she turned the key in her lock and pushed open the door. She stepped inside and turned to face him as he stepped in after her.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” he asked.
Liz wasn’t sure what she was doing. For so long, she’d been uncomfortable around Matt because he reminded her of the accident that she desperately wanted to forget. She already struggled with anxiety. Dating someone who was a reminder of the worst day of her life seemed like a bad idea.
But now she was seeing things differently. He was the calm in that storm. He had pulled her out of the accident. He was the ray of hope when there wasn’t any, and he was still that ray and so much more to her.
She didn’t want to push Matt away; she wanted to pull him closer. More than anything, she wanted Matt to hold her tonight. She stepped toward him.
“I thought you were cold and wet,” he whispered.
“I am. And if you wrap your arms around me right now, you’re going to get wet too.”
He opened his arms for her to step into. “I don’t mind.”
Liz buried her head in his chest. She could hear the steady thump of his heart, lulling her to a calm she didn’t know existed. Lifting her face, she looked at him, willing his mouth to dip to hers. He didn’t move.
Fine, she’d do it herself. Going up on her toes, she pressed her lips to his. His mouth was warm. His hands moved to the sides of her arms, bracing her.
“Wow,” he said once she had pulled away. “What was that for?”
She touched a finger to her mouth. “I’ve been wanting to do that for a long time.”
“Me too.” He smiled. “Well, am I any good at kissing?”
Liz laughed at the unexpected question. “You could use some practice. It’s the least I can do since you helped me with my driving.”
“Nice of you,” he said quietly, his lips curling up at the ends.
Liz offered a slight nod. “So, I’m going to change clothes. Then I’m going to cook dinner for you.” She rolled her lips together. “And, so we’re clear, I’m considering this a date.”
Matt looked surprised. “In that case, I’m going to the local florist while you change and cook. Call me old-fashioned, but a date deserves flowers.” Concern swept over his expression. “Will you answer the door when I come back?”
Liz planted another kiss to his lips. “Yes. See you soon.”
Matt stepped back toward the door. “I won’t be gone long.”
“Okay.” She watched him step back out into the rain. Then she closed the door behind him and pressed her hands to her face. Who was she and what had she done with Liz? She was a different person these days, and she liked the new and improved version of herself. Melody was partly to thank. Rose too. She should call Melody back. She wasn’t ready to let go of her anger just yet though. It wasn’t exactly focused on Melody. Liz had been angry over a lot of things. Lost time and what-ifs. She wasn’t going to lose any more time pushing Matt away. What if tonight changed things between them? What if they became more to each other than neighbors and friends?
