Page 33 of Home Team Advantage
“Yes.”
Oh, no. She’d walked right into that one, hadn’t she?
“Perfect! Anna can go along.”
“Oh, I don’t think—” Anna started to say.
“I think he’d like that,” Faith said. “Here, let me just send him a quick text.”
“That’s really not necessary. I’m sure he has things to do.”
Faith’s phone pinged. She glanced at the screen and smiled. “He said he’d be happy to have company, and he’ll be here in about five minutes to pick you up.”
“Go get ready, dear,” Mrs. Campbell said. “Best not to keep the boy waiting.”
Both women looked at Anna expectantly. What was she supposed to say? No, I’m not going, and then stomp off to her room? No, there was a better way to handle this. One that didn’t involve conflict.
“Are you sure you don’t mind?”
“Not at all, not at all.” Mrs. Campbell beamed. “Go, have fun. We’ll be fine.”
Anna summoned a smile and went to her room. She didn’t bother changing. The jeans and three-quarter-length top were both comfortable and practical. She did pull on a hoodie though and redid her ponytail.
She was just finishing up when she heard the doorbell ring.
Well, he’s prompt.
“Anna, dear, Matthew is here.”
Anna stepped into the living room. Mrs. Campbell took in her appearance and was clearly disappointed that Anna hadn’t made more of an effort.
Matt checked her out too. His metallic-gray eyes appeared softer today than usual, more like pewter than silver. Unlike Mrs. Campbell, he didn’t seem displeased with her choices. He was dressed casually as well in jeans and a thermal. The difference was, he looked fantastic. The man could wrap a burlap sack around himself and make it look good.
“Hi, Anna. Ready to go?”
She nodded and turned back to Mrs. Campbell, who was grinning like the cat who ate the canary. “Do you need anything while we’re out?”
“No, no. You two just have a good time. No hurry in getting back. We’ll be fine.”
Matt shared a look with his mother. Part amusement, part let’s humor the old lady.
He held the door open for Anna—both out of the house and to get into the car. And what a car it was. A higher-end Range Rover that probably retailed for upward of two hundred thousand.
“Nice car.”
“It’s Kieran’s,” Matt said, backing out of the driveway. “Where to?”
“You can just drop me off at the square and do whatever you were going to do.”
“Why would I do that?”
“Look, we both know that this”—she waved her hand between them—“is a setup. I get it. Mrs. Campbell is a sweet old lady, and her heart’s in the right place, but you don’t need to pretend with me, okay?”
He frowned. “I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t want to be.”
“Right. So, you want me tagging along with you today?”
“I’m fine with it. Besides, I did offer to show you around, didn’t I? It’s a perfect day to do that—if you think you can suffer my company for a few hours, that is.”
