Page 86 of Good as Gold
He grins. “Except we never did this when we were high school kids. Kind of seems like a waste.”
“Yeah,” I whisper. “It does.”
I don’t point out that he never made a move on me in high school. Or that if he had, it might have changed the course of my whole life.
And I don’t point out that attraction is just the tip of the iceberg for me. I’m uncovering feelings for this man that I forgot were there. But now is not the time to say so.
“I’m going to pluck the various parts of my dignity off the floor of this truck so we can drive home now.”
“If you must.” He leans in and kisses me one more time. Very slowly. “Don’t overthink it,” he whispers afterward. “Our time together is limited. We might as well enjoy it.”
“Fine, but it’s not your bra that’s snarled around the brake pedal.”
He laughs, and I yank the straps of my dress up over my shoulders again. Like a lady.
CHAPTER31
LEILA
It’s a hot summer day, and I’ve sought the solace of my father’s office. The rattle of the window air conditioner is pretty loud, which is probably why I don’t hear anyone approach the doorway until my visitor clears his throat.
Startled, I drop the receipts I’m cataloguing and swivel sharply to face the door.
A slow grin spreads across Matteo’s face. “Everything okay in here?”
“Fine.” It’s an understatement. The truth is that Matteo can sneak up on me any time he wants. This thing between us started out as a simple once-a-month arrangement, but it’s so much more than that now.
Whenever he steps into the room, I’m happy.
He steps forward and leans against my father’s cluttered floor-to-ceiling bookshelves. “I’ve always loved this old room. Haven’t set foot in here since I was a teenager.”
“It is a spectacle,” I agree. People have told my father that he should relocate the brewery to a shiny new factory, and he has never taken kindly to the suggestion. This office is his spiritual home.
I don’t really blame him.
“This space should be a tasting room,” Matteo says as his eyes travel the carved woodwork that covers three walls. “It’s so cool.”
“That would be a fun idea,” I admit. “Not that my dad is the kind of guy who takes suggestions.”
Matteo grins. “Did you eat lunch already?”
“Yes.”
He quirks an eyebrow. “Yes…?”
I grit my teeth. “Yes,Sir Sexy Pants.”
He cracks up, probably because it’s funny every time I have to say it. We had a bet yesterday morning about the Busy Bean’s weekday hours. And guess who lost?
I hate losing, so I change the subject. “Besides trolling for a lunch date, is there another reason you stopped by?”
“Sure. Two, actually. My brother asked me to pick up some samples your dad set aside for him.”
“Oh! Of course.” My father had mentioned something about samples for Alec in the walk-in refrigerator. I rise from the chair. “What’s the other reason?”
Matteo’s smile fades. “I also wanted to ask you about a beer wagon event that Skye wants to do over Labor Day weekend. She called me, but…”
My heart drops. “But you won’t be here.”
