Chapter 33
Scarlett
I get dressed in my new outfit, stepping into each pant leg in a delicate manner so I won’t rip the fabric.
I need to keep it in top condition for the return.
I pair it with the only heels I own. Paige made me buy them before this vacation with Matt.
I told her those heels look like a death trap for your feet and didn’t understand why anyone would buy them.
Then I saw them on—a shiny, silver color with a two-inch heel, making my feet look like they need their own website.
My heels clack on the hardwood floors on my way to the living area. Matt is sitting on a barstool at the island typing on his phone. He looks over as I walk out.
“Goddamn. You look beautiful, sweetheart.”
“Thanks.” I blush. “Some guy got me this outfit.”
He throws me his signature grin, making me want to stay here at the house more than I already did.
“Let me check something.” He strides over to me and looks my outfit up and down. Then he starts kissing my neck, exposed in this strapless bodice, leaving a trail of goosebumps behind. His hands glide up my body. I’m lost in his kiss when something pops.
The tag!
He distracted me with his dirty ways. The jackass.
“You did not just rip that off!” I step away from his grasp .
He holds up the evidence with a side of his mouth turned up. “You mean this?”
I grab for it, thinking I can save it somehow. He holds it out of reach and tears the ticket into pieces.
“That was so uncalled for.” I put my hands on my hips.
“I told you I always win. Anyways, I have something else to make up for it.” He turns away.
“I think you’ve done enough.” I walk into the kitchen to get myself a drink.
This control freak thing he has going is stressing me out. Now I have to figure out how to repay him for my outfit.
There’s a bottle of unopened tequila on the kitchen counter. I grab a glass and start making my own drink when he comes over to me with a navy, rectangular case.
“What is that?” I point to the box.
“Open it.”
“Nope.” I put both my hands up. “I don’t need any more gifts. Whatever is in that box is going to put me in even more debt. You should just give it to someone else.”
“I’m giving it to you and you aren’t going to pay me back for anything. I want to get you things.”
“Cool. You already got me something. No need to worry now.”
“I’m not letting you pay me back for any of it. That’d be insulting. You did me a favor by coming with me, and I want to spoil you. End of discussion.”
End of what discussion? I didn’t hear any discussion going on.
He hands me the box. After an eye roll and a huge sigh, I open it where a starfish pendant with a black pearl in the center awaits. It’s simple, but so beautiful.
“Wow.” My eyebrows shoot to my forehead. “This is for me?”
“It’s not really my style.” He smirks.
“Is this what you bought when you left the store?”
He looks away. “Maybe.”
I shoot out my hip and cross my arms over my chest. “Do you get all the girls you date jewelry?”
He flicks his wrist and looks around the room. Then he clears his throat. “I’ve never gotten anyone jewelry.”
“Why are you getting it for me?” I furrow my brow. “This is too much, Matt.” I push away the box towards him.
“I want you to have it, for the fiftieth time. Now turn around so I can put it on you.”
“That’s okay. I don’t need any jewelry. You’ve already done so much, including ruining my chance to take this outfit back.”
“Miss Scarlett,” he growls.
“Mr. Matt.” I sip my drink and stare him down.
“Fine. If I stare longer than you, you put the necklace on. If you stare longer than me, I’ll put it away.”
I rule at staring contests. Never mind that this game is something you play in middle school. “Deal.”
He crosses his arms over his chest, making those ginormous biceps apparent. It’s intimidating, so I copy him. I flex my biceps too and play his little game.
Thirty seconds go by without a blink. My eyes start to tear up. He twitches his wrist with the watch. It throws me off and I blink.
Goddamit.
He’s a competitive little buggar, but he doesn’t rub his win in my face. He picks up the box in a calm manner and holds the necklace apart, waiting for me to comply.
I turn around, shoulders slumped, so he can clasp the necklace around my neck.
I turn the pendant around in my fingers and bite my lip.
I have no idea how he found something so perfect for me.
I didn’t know I wanted a pearl necklace until right now, but this is a rebel version.
It’s not made for stuffy dinner parties or weddings; it’s a unique necklace you wear whenever you want.
I’m glad he won, not that he’ll ever know.
I down my drink and out the door we go. I was thinking he was driving, but a limo is waiting for us instead. Now I understand why we needed to dress up.
I sway as I walk in these high heels, almost stumbling. Matt notices of course. He holds out his arm so we can walk the rest of the way down to the limo without me falling on my face.
Once we’re in the limo, the driver pulls away from the curb. Matt puts the divider up, pulls me over on top of his lap, and starts kissing my neck. He knows just the right spot; where the sensation could almost make me orgasm without any other stimulation.
“I can’t wait until I can rip this outfit off for my dessert later.”
My eyes widen in terror. I think he’s forgetting ripping this would be the equivalent of throwing out half of my rent payment. I’m not going to let him.
Since we aren’t at dessert yet, I don’t argue.
I want to focus on the moment. This delicious, tantalizing moment.
I grab a handful of the hair at the back of his head and start making out with him.
I get consumed with his hands cupping my face as he inserts his tongue.
His hands caress down the length of my neck and then down further to holding my ass, moving me over the evidence of his desire.
He hums into my mouth, vibrating my entire body.
Ten minutes later, the driver opens the door, interrupting our make out session. I duck to the side and swipe at my mouth, trying to make sure lipstick isn’t all over my face. Matt holds his breath then steps out. He reaches his hand out for me to grab, and I take it.
I look up to a coastal building called Anchored . It’s overlooking the water with wide-open doors and wooden touches all around.
We approach a hostess. “Hello! Do you have a reservation?”
“Yes, under Reding.”
“For two, outside?”
“Yes.”
“Right this way.”
The breeze rushes through my hair as we’re led out onto the patio where no one else is sitting. I look around, wondering where everyone else is on this beautiful evening. The hostess leads us to a table overlooking the ocean.
“This is stunning. Glad we get to see the sun go down.” I smile. He thinks of everything.
“You’re stunning,” he proclaims.
A waitress approaches. “Hello, welcome. Can I get you started with any drinks?”
“We’ll take two waters, please,” Matt tells the waitress as I glance over the menu.
Before she can walk away, I add, “I’ll take a margarita, please.”
We peruse the menus. Matt chooses seafood, surprising me.
“No steak and potatoes?” I tease.
“Since we’re at a seafood restaurant, figured I’d try it.”
I smile and lean forward. “What are these plans for tonight?”
“You’ll have to let the night unfold.”
“You can tell me what the plans are. I won’t tell anyone.” I sip my margarita .
“I like when you’re guessing.”
“Hmm. I would’ve never guessed you were a pilot.”
“I got my private pilot license once I was done with college. It’s only forty hours. Pretty easy.”
“You didn’t want to just be a passenger on a plane? It’s convenient, I hear. You could probably get first class all the time.”
“I like being in control.”
“No, really?” I deadpan.
He smirks. “My dad wasn’t always the best dad, but he did teach us that knowing how to do things yourself, makes you non-reliant on others. I like being as independent as possible. I can go wherever, whenever.” He pauses and takes a sip of water.
“What do you mean by ‘your dad wasn’t always the best dad?’”
He flicks his watch. I almost think he’s not going to answer, the pause is so long.
“Matt?”
“I didn’t have a lot growing up. My dad would go missing for days or weeks, spending money.
My mom worked as a teacher and as you can imagine, the funds were low with only one working parent.
On payday, my dad would squander almost everything on alcohol, drugs, gambling, other things I’m sure.
He’d yell, break things, punch the walls.
He never hit my mom, but the depreciating comments were bad too.
I don’t know why she stayed with him. She looks for the good in everyone and wants to be of service to God or some shit.
I needed to make sure I was never in the same position I was in when I was younger.
I made sure I had options and a way to help my mom. ”
Based on what he’s telling me, I understand the reasons Matt is hard to get to know .
“What’s your relationship with your dad like now?”
Matt avoids my eyes, staring at his drink. “He’s been sober for fourteen years. Seeing how he acted turned me off to alcohol and I always thought there were other things to be doing, so I don’t drink.”
“You don’t drink?” My eyes shoot up to my hairline.
“I like to be in control of my actions and I don’t think alcohol would help me with that.”
“I ordered you a margarita. Why didn’t you say anything?”