Chapter Seven

 

 

 

Claire lucked into a parking place directly in front of the coffee shop that used to be known as B.J.’s. She got out of the car, locking it behind her, then looked up at the new deco sign.

“The owners finally realized they lived in a college town and their shop was a running joke.” Claire turned to see Matt walking up the sidewalk toward her. “They figured Café Diem was a little more academic than a euphemism for oral sex.”

Claire nodded sagely. “I think I would agree. I’m a little sad that they’ve robbed all the frat boys of the joke, though.”

Matt grinned, holding the door open for her.

They sat a table with their lattes, Claire noting that the interior decor hadn’t changed much more than repairs would have required. After a sip, Claire said, “Okay, so talk.”

Matt leaned his elbows on the table. “Nah. I think it’s your turn.”

She threw him a scathing glance. “Fine. Why didn’t you tell me this was the project you were working on? The school one. It was kind of a big deal.”

Stunned silence was his reply for a few long moments. Sighing, Matt leaned back in his chair. “Claire, can we not start there?”

“Why not? Matt, that was a huge project!”

He ran his finger through his hair. “I know, Claire.”

Her frustration seeped through her tone. “Then why didn’t you tell me? We just talked a few weeks ago.”

“Because I didn’t think you’d care. Okay?”

His outburst shocked Claire into leaning away from the table. She stared, her emotions staggering to make sense of his defeated expression. Had she really made him feel that?

Matt leaned forward again. “It had just been a really long time, Claire. I mean, yeah, I called, but we didn’t talk. Not really. I guess I figured you had just outgrown me, you know?”

“Oh,” Claire replied on a soft exhalation. She thought back to the conversations they’d had in the past. “I guess I just got busy.”

“Yeah.” Matt stared down at the table while Claire tried to remember the last time they had spoken for any length. With a feeling between horror and dismay, she realized it had been before the accident that had taken her parents. The subject would need to change and quickly.

“So are you dating anyone?” Claire kicked herself mentally for her cheery tone and the question itself. She shook her head and held up her hand to cut off his answer. “Sorry, stupid of me. Of course you aren’t.”

Matt looked up at her, his offense glaring in his eyes. “Why do you say that?”

Claire brought her hand forward sharply, starting to explain her statement, then knocked into the paper cup that held her coffee. The lid popped off, letting the cream and caffeinated beverage pour out in a wave that quickly soaked Matt’s suit pants and splashed onto his shirt and tie. “Damn!” They both jumped up, Matt in shock and Claire to gather napkins. While they mopped up the spill, Claire breathed out heavily.

“I know you aren’t seeing anyone, Matty. If you were, you wouldn’t have gone to my room last night.” She looked up at him. “You’re still a good guy. I’m positive that hasn’t changed.” Again he stared at her, making Claire shift a little uncomfortably with the intensity.

An employee came over with rags and a mop to finish cleaning the mess. She nodded her thanks. “I owe you a clean suit,” she joked, trying to break the tense silence.

Claire had to strain to hear his response.

“You could come with me, wait while I change? Maybe we’ll take a drive?”

“I don’t know, Matt.” Claire chuckled in self-deprecation. “I haven’t been a great friend lately. I should probably just go.” She turned to leave, feeling a band of tension around her chest at the memory of how she’d brushed him off so many times over the years.

She could feel him follow, a few steps behind her. His words stopped her beside her car.

“So, fix it.”

Claire faced him, stifling the laugh that came at the sight of his soaked pants. “I really do owe you. I’ll get them dry cleaned.”

A flash of heat in his gaze surprised her. He stepped closer, stopping only when she could hear his low tone. “Are you trying to get me out of my pants, Claire?” She looked up, seeing the teasing in his eyes fueled by something darker.

“No.” She shook her head slowly, her thoughts suddenly focused on the softness of his lips. “It’s just— It would be the right thing to do.”

“Follow me home?” She watched his eyes drift lower and shivered as his fingertips traced down her bare forearm. Her breath caught in her throat when their looks met again. “We didn’t get much of a chance to talk. I’ll change. You drive. Okay?”

 

* * * *

 

Claire must have nodded or agreed somehow. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be sitting at the curb outside Matt’s place, the engine idling, waiting like he’d asked before he’d sprinted into the house. She still wanted him, like she had last night, and yet not like she had. He hadn’t changed. He was still easy to like, open and friendly. He still exuded something she couldn’t identify, something that definitely hadn’t been there all those years ago. Taking deep breaths to clear her mind, Claire tried to focus on what effect he must have on her. Convincing herself it was just the mystery and he would be out of her system soon, like the guys she’d gone out with in the city, Claire breathed a little easier when Matt lowered himself into the passenger seat.

Claire pressed her lips together, watching him try to push the seat farther back, his knees bent in a steep angle. “You all right there, Matty?”

He gave her a scathing look. “Just drive.” He pulled at his jeans, adjusting the fit in the cramped space.

“Where to, boss?” Claire asked as she pulled away from the curb. She glanced over at the man beside her, confused by his grin.

“I’ll let you know where to turn and see if you can figure it out. How about that?”

Claire nodded, liking the concept of the whimsical game of memory lane. Her mind raced to anticipate where he would want to go. At their first right she said, “So not Max’s?”

Matt laughed. “Nope. Would hate to get grease on the von Furstenberg. Head over the bridge.”

Claire thought. “Not shopping, then.”

In her peripheral view, she saw him shake his head. “Nope, not shopping. They’ve put in some stores over there, but that’s not where we’re headed.”

The memory came to her. Claire grinned and got into the left turn lane before he opened his mouth. “The beach?”

His hushed reply, “The beach,” softened her smile. Late nights at the beach had always been a favorite. Claire could remember endless treks up and down the coast, her bare feet sinking into the sand and Matt always there to make sure she got shoved in the water.

“No splashing,” she instructed. When he laughed in response, she joined him, despite her words. “I’m serious, Matt. These are work clothes. Promise me.”

Matt reached over to the steering wheel where he hooked a pinkie with hers. “Promise.” Claire felt time slow as she stared at their linked fingers, the remnant of long-ago childhood vows.

They parked just off the sand, catching the last glimpses of sunlight as it faded beyond the horizon. The glimmer of the lighthouse down the beach and the moon’s clarity gave them a view of the sand and the dark water. Claire opened her door then swung her legs out so she could slip her high heels off. After rolling her pants up, she walked out a little into the soft sand then she sat. Her pants were close to out of season anyway, she reasoned with herself, unable to resist the call of a seat on the sun-warmed surface. Claire beamed as Matt stripped off his hooded sweatshirt and laid it on the sand, gesturing for her to sit.

Matt sat beside her, directly on the sand. His shoulder brushed hers, leaving her hyperaware of him. She felt heat coming off him and suddenly the tension was strong enough to taste. Each short breath in, she felt it on her tongue. He moved, turning toward her.

“Claire,” he began, but she couldn’t take it.

She lifted her hands, finding his shoulders, then she pressed her lips to his. He gripped her waist, pulling her closer as his tongue tangled with hers, thrusting between her lips. She nipped at his lower lip. He sucked on hers. Claire slid her arms around his neck, winding the fingers of one hand into his hair as she lifted her leg to straddle his lap. She felt his palm on the cheek of her ass as he rolled to his back, the pressure of his hand nestling her down into the cradle of his hips. Gasping, Claire ground against the hardness she felt beneath the fly of his jeans. The seam of her pants slid, tightening the fabric of her panties between the lips of her pussy and sending a shiver through her at the friction on her clit.

He pulled his lips from hers, nibbling along the line of her jaw and to the side of her neck. He kissed, sucked and licked at the sensitive flesh, groaning in her ear as she mimicked the caresses on his jaw and ear. She flicked her tongue on the lobe before sucking it lightly. She curled her fingers where they raked through his hair, giving it a light tug that pressed her body tightly to his. Claire felt both his hands cup her ass, holding her just where she wanted to be—working her hips against his hardness. She felt his teeth sink gently into the muscle of her neck, a feeling so intense that she had to pull away. She slid her legs apart and sat up, straddling his hips where he lounged in the sand.

With both of them breathing heavily, Claire had to take a moment and stare down at Matt’s position under her. Where she couldn’t take her eyes from his face, she noticed his eyes darting back and forth on her body.

“What are you plotting?” she murmured to him.

His gaze met hers with a slight flash of hesitation before he kicked the corner of his lips up in a smirk. “Oh, just evil things.” He moved a hand to the back of her neck and lifted his torso so he sat up to press their chests together once more and take her lips in another searing kiss.

The light tinkling noise broke her away immediately. “Damn it,” she breathed, scrambling up from her position on his lap. She stumbled through the sand, scrambling on the unstable surface. She leaned in through the open window of the car and grabbed her phone, just missing the call from the client she had been waiting to hear from. She listened to the voice mail, her heart sinking. Another sale falling through. As the message came to a close, she felt a cool breeze come in off the water.

Turning, the phone pressed to her ear, she saw Matt stand. His shoulders were slumped and he moved slowly toward the car, clearly trying to give her space. She ended the call, rounding the front of the car and leaning on the hood. “Sorry.”

“It’s okay.” He stood in front of her, hands in his pockets. “It happens.”

The silence stretched uncomfortably. Claire racked her brain, trying to think of something that would bring the moment back.

“Thing is, Claire, I don’t have any right to expect anything. You were right. I’m not seeing anyone. But I didn’t ask.” Matt looked pained as he spoke. “We really don’t know each other and, like you said, things change. So…are you seeing someone?”

Claire exhaled in relief. “Oh, no, Matt. That was work. Hazards of being your own boss, you know? Sometimes office hours have to be whenever the client is available.”

“Oh!” His surprise and relief were obvious. “Yeah, that makes sense.” He moved closer, leaning on the car beside her. “So, tell me about it.”

Claire thought for a moment, careful not to reveal too much. “Well, I thought I had a sale all sewn up. A nice place, just off Michigan Avenue, but the client just called to back out. I guess they found something else. ‘More reasonably priced,’ they said. I was afraid of that, really. I think it’s going to be the one that really bites a big chunk out of me. It won’t sell for what I need out of it.”

“Yeah, the market can be really tough. But I’m sure you can make it up with another property, right? Law of averages and all.” Matt sounded confident.

Claire wished she could be as confident. She had taken a huge risk on this condominium on the edge of the well-to-do part of the shopping district. If her luck with it didn’t turn soon, there would be bigger issues than the next sale. “I’m sure you’re right.” Faking a yawn, Claire smiled stiffly. “I think we’d better head back. I’ve got lots of work to do in the morning.”

Claire noted the way Matt’s smile turned into confusion, but she ignored it and got into the car, waiting for him to join her so she could get back to the hotel for another sleepless night of finding buyers.