Chapter 25
Chapter Twenty-Five
ZOEY
C onvincing, charming, engaging, striking deals. All the effort I’ve put into the past three weeks boils down to this. The assembly vote.
Don’t forget all the kissing and fucking too.
I flush hard as I tuck a cream knit sweater into a black suede miniskirt, peering at the closed bathroom door where Matt is showering.
Daphne called to ask Matt if she could go to the botanical garden with her friend today. It took approximately half a second for him to agree and organize plans to pick her up tonight instead of this morning. Then the man was back between my legs just in time for breakfast.
By noon, he was actually starving for real food, so we took a break to visit Rosie at the café and check in on the town before tonight’s vote.
I left feeling more optimistic than I have since I arrived, though I have a suspicion it has a lot to do with the tall, long-haired guy who never let go of my hand as we strolled through town.
The afternoon was filled with activities similar to those of our morning.
Matt took it slow, his movements unhurried as he mapped my body with his tongue.
Then he dragged me to his shower and pinned me against the tiled wall.
Before he left to pick up Daphne, he brewed a pot of coffee and sipped his while I went down on my knees for a treat.
Overall, a very busy day.
“I don’t need to dress up, right?” he calls from the bathroom. “Can I stick to a shirt and jeans? Nobody will be looking at me anyway. You’re the star tonight.”
“Why are you asking me? It’s your town.”
He comes out, a towel wrapped around his waist, his chest still dripping wet.
I stare. I might even drool a little.
He rounds me, dropping a kiss to the slope of my neck. “Just making sure you weren’t expecting me to look as good as you do. Because that’s impossible.” He takes my hand and retreats a step, giving me a little spin, making my skirt lift softly around me. “Fuck me, you’re a goddamn dream.”
He pulls me to him, or maybe he’s pulling me in. I’m not sure anymore. Sometimes I can’t tell where his craving ends and mine begins.
With a hand molded to my waist, his mouth moves over mine. I might have protested and pushed him away if I’d already applied lipstick, but something told me to wait until the last minute to do that.
“Matt.” I dig my nails into his biceps, trying to extricate myself.
He only kisses me harder, tipping me back as he slips his fingers under my miniskirt and grazes my ass.
When he flattens both hands on my cheeks and squeezes, I bite my bottom lip to keep from moaning.
“Honey, hold on,” I force out, each word breathy.
The phrase sounded much more firm in my mind.
God, I’m so weak.
“I really like that skirt.”
I could have guessed by the way he grows hard against my belly.
“Your sister could walk in on us at any time. And we have to go.”
With a groan, he gives my ass a cheeky slap. Then he takes an exaggerated step back. “You’re not playing fair. At all.”
“I was told I should charm the people of this town.”
He steps into his underwear and slides them up. “You can cross that off your list. You’ve got everybody wrapped around your finger.”
I roll out my lipstick and shuffle to the mirror so I can apply it. “We’ll see.”
“Damn, the place is full.” I scan the faces in the crowd. So many are now familiar to me, which is a weird concept, considering that after ten years, I still don’t know my own neighbors in Vancouver. “Daph, you might want to put your headphones on now.”
I wipe the sweat off my hands. If Matt gave me my water bottle right now, it would slip straight to the floor.
Matt waves at Mia, who’s twisted in her seat next to Rosie, wearing a wide grin. I can’t decide whether her smile soothes or spikes my nerves. The expectation shining there settles heavy in my gut.
“Is that a good sign?” I ask, voice tight.
Matt lifts an eyebrow, his mouth kicking upward. “It’s a lot of people, but if they’re here, it means they’re interested, right?”
“Or they strongly oppose the project and are ready to riot,” I mumble.
“I swear I didn’t put them up to it this time,” he says, wiggling his eyebrows.
It takes everything in me not to roll my eyes. “You think it’s smart to remind me right now that you’re the one who started this?”
He angles in, his lips brushing my ear. “Anything to get you to relax.”
As he straightens, a dark-haired woman with tattoos covering her right arm appears behind him.
“Hey, Lols.”
Oh, right. His friend Lola, from the bookstore. The one who gave me the smutty book that had me wishing Matt would do to me what Jason did to Delia in chapter fourteen.
“Where have you been?” She hugs him, then Daphne, before pulling me close too. “You disappeared from the face of the earth.”
“That might have been my fault.” Cringing, I raise a hand. “I took him to Vancouver for a weekend, and I’ve been keeping him busy since.”
Lola’s eyes dance, and I wish the floor would open up and swallow me whole. I did not mean to make it sound as racy as it did.
“I’m glad my book recommendations gave you a few ideas.” She waves her fingers in front of us. “Whatever this is, I ship.”
“God, Lols, shut up,” Matt groans. “Where is James?”
She nods to her left. “Over there. Saved you a seat.” She turns to me. “Knock them dead, okay?”
“Thanks,” I say, lips stretching into a tight smile, nerves once again overtaking me.
“Give me two minutes,” Matt tells her. “I’ll be right over.” He nudges his sister, who’s now wearing her headphones. “Daph, go sit with Lola and James.”
With a wave, they’re off.
Matt waits until his sister has her nose buried in her book before he turns to me and takes my hands. “Your palms are sweaty.”
“I know . I hate it.” Leg bouncing, I slip out of his grasp.
With a tsk, he snatches my hands again, this time holding them tighter. “You know a little wetness doesn’t bother me, beautiful.” He smirks. “Quite the opposite, actually.”
I make a face. “If you’re trying to turn me on right now, it’s not working.”
That’s a lie. Only because it reminds me of how he made me soak his sheets using two fingers this morning.
I fill my lungs with air and exhale shakily, focusing on the way he massages the back of my hands with his thumbs.
I can do this. I will succeed . And my dad will finally be able to say how proud he is of his only daughter.
“Don’t overthink it, Zoé,” Matt says softly, a phantom caress against my heart. “And if you feel yourself slipping, remember: whatever the outcome, you did your best, and that’s all that matters.”
I nod.
He and my dad couldn’t be more different. All my life, I’ve been pushed to do more. No matter how well I do, my best has never been good enough. What matters to him is winning. Being on top. Losing is for those who don’t put in the hard work.
But Matt sees me for who I am first. In his eyes, my successes and failures don’t define me. To him, they’re experiences that help me grow.
“I needed this more than you know.”
“Are you sure? You don’t have a lot of secrets to hide from me anymore.”
My next words barrel through me at the speed of a bullet, and there’s nothing I can do to stop them. “I like you a lot, Matt.”
His eyes shine, full of warmth. “I like you more.”
“If you’d all take your seats,” Rob says into the mic, startling us. “We’ll start the meeting.”
There’s a low hum in the room as people grab snacks and drinks and get settled.
“Good luck.” Matt bends and places a soft kiss on my cheek that makes me wish for a hundred more.
Then he’s gone, taking his seat next to his sister.
“First item on the agenda: Emile’s land,” Rob says.
“In accordance with his will, we’ll need a majority vote to determine the use of this plot.
” He motions for me to come over. “As of tonight, only one proposal has been submitted. Miss Delacroix, whom I’m sure you all know by now, presented her lodge project three weeks ago.
Zoey, you’re welcome to say a few words before we move on to the vote. ”
I square my shoulders, releasing a sharp breath, then walk to the podium. These folks aren’t strangers now. They’re my neighbors, my friends, people I’ve come to know and care about. And yet, as I step onto the stage, their scrutiny is palpable, and the pressure reaches a fever pitch.
Not because of the uncertainty of the votes. No, the anxiety stems from the fear of disappointing them.
“Thanks, Robert.” I adjust the mic. “Hi, everyone. Thank you so much for coming in such large numbers this evening.”
A man cheers loudly. I recognize the voice immediately. As I home in on him, Matt straightens in his seat, beaming from ear to ear.
“Thank you for the enthusiasm, Matt.” I bite back a smile.
As a chuckle rolls over the room, I unfold a piece of paper with trembling fingers and work to decipher the notes I scribbled messily on it.
“The uniqueness of Pine Falls must be maintained and highlighted, not altered or torn down. How can a hotel blend into your way of doing things while also serving you? How can we leverage your town’s appeal in a way that not only works for you but also benefits you, while providing a new experience for tourists? ”
Cooper sneaks into the room and winks at me as he slips into one of the few remaining seats beside Carl and his wife.
I scan the notes I jotted down a few weeks ago in preparation for the night, my throat tightening. It doesn’t feel right anymore. Those people deserve better than an empty speech I put together before I knew any of them.
I fold the paper and slide it into my skirt pocket, then lean on the stand, inhaling deeply.