Chapter 29
Chapter Twenty-Nine
When Matilda woke the next morning, she opened the drapes to peer out through sleepy eyes at the lake below. It was the colour of mud and had travelled up to the steps of Rita’s house, but didn’t look as though it’d gone inside. She was immediately grateful and whispered a prayer of thanks.
She dressed quickly and hurried out to the kitchen. She found Ryan frying bacon, a tea towel slung over one shoulder. His hair was mussed, and he wore a pair of sweatpants that hung low on his narrow hips. His muscled torso was tanned and lean … and shirtless.
“It doesn’t look like the water level made it up to the house,” she said, sitting down on a bar stool at the kitchen counter.
He smiled at her. “Good morning. The rain has stopped too, so I think the worst is behind us.”
“I’m so glad. I’d hate for Rita’s house to flood. Especially when I don’t even know where she is.”
“She texted me back,” he said. “Sorry, I didn’t want to wake you, but I know you’ve been worried about her.”
“Is she okay?”
“She’s at the hospital.”
“What?” Matilda stood up, her stomach clenching. “What happened?”
“She’s okay.” He beckoned her to sit again. “She says she’s fine, anyway. Julie is with her. Apparently, the doctor wanted to run some more tests and convinced her to spend the night. And then her phone battery went dead, and she didn’t have her charger. She said to apologise, she should’ve found a way to contact you and let you know.”
Matilda breathed out a sigh of relief. “Okay. Well, thank goodness for that.”
“I told her the house was safe. And that you were here with me.”
“Thanks for doing that.”
“You’re welcome. How do you like your eggs?”
He handed her a piece of bacon and she took a bite. It burned her tongue, and she blew on it while chewing. “Hot … hot!”
“Sorry, should’ve warned you.”
“Um … scrambled. But you don’t have to do all of that. Really … you’ve done so much already.”
“Have I?” He frowned as he cracked eggs into a bowl.
“You checked on me, let me stay here, then contacted Rita for me. Plus that whole fake marriage thing. You’ve really gone above and beyond…”
“I am your husband, after all.” He winked.
“That’s true. Maybe I’m not expecting enough from you. Did you take out the rubbish?”
He laughed. “Do you mean the trash? I think the trash can may have floated away … so, no.”
“Wow, slack.” She replied with sass.
He poured the eggs into the frying pan ,and they sizzled in the bacon grease.
“Do you have plans for today?”
“I’m supposed to work at the cafe.”
“Maybe we can…”
She finished chewing her bite of bacon and stood again, pushing the bar stool back. This was all too much. The guest room, the glistening chest, the tasty bacon, and the hint of future plans … it was all so very domestic. So perfect. And yet, she felt a panic attack looming at the edges of her conscious mind. Her chest was tight, and her head spun.
“Um … yeah, rain check?” She laughed, pointing outside. “Literally. Uh … okay, well, thanks for the bacon. But I think I should run. I’ve got a lot to do today.”
“What’s going on?” His brow furrowed and he set down the spatula. “Why are you acting weird?”
“I’m not weird, you are.” She took several steps backwards.
“I didn’t say you were weird, but you’re definitely acting weird. I didn’t ask you to marry me … oh wait…”
He was attempting to break the tension with humour. She recognised the strategy because she used it all the time. But it wouldn’t work, not now, not when her heart rate was through the roof and her thoughts in a whirl.
She wrung her hands together. “The thing is, I just got out of this really intense relationship. And he broke up with me. I’m still recovering.”
“Did you love him?”
“I thought I did, but I realise now that probably wasn’t the case.”
“Then, what’s the problem?”
“It’s so much … we’ve only known each other for a couple of months. We’re already married, you’re making me breakfast while looking like … that.” She pointed at him. Then groaned. “It’s a bit overwhelming. I’m sorry, I’m not very good at the whole intimacy thing. And I’m not sure I’m going to stick around, so does it make sense to get close to someone?”
He crossed his arms, studied her. “You’re really losing it, huh?”
“No, not losing it.” She wrinkled her nose. “I’m…”
“You’re having a meltdown because we kissed,” he replied smugly.
“Definitely not. Meltdowns are for toddlers. I’m an adult and I’m having a rational and logical…”
“Meltdown,” he concluded, finishing her sentence for her.
Her eyes narrowed. “That’s … really….”
“What?”
“I’m going.”
“Okay, I guess I’ll see you later then.”
She raced back to her room and grabbed her backpack, then headed for the door. He didn’t come after her or try to stop her. Didn’t say a word. She slammed the door shut behind her and trudged through the slop and mud back to Rita’s house. How dare he claim she was acting childishly. He was rushing her, if anything. And she needed some time to think about what was happening between them. She’d seen their marriage as a convenience, nothing more than that. He’d given no indication that he had feelings for her, other than irritation and annoyance. And now he expected her to be ready to jump into something that might be a huge mistake. As far as she knew, he might only want a fling. And she wasn’t interested in anything like that.
If he wanted to get to know her better, she’d give him that chance. But she wasn’t about to jump headfirst into a minefield. Not with everything else in her entire life up in the air the way it was. She didn’t know anything about her biological parents yet. Still hadn’t figured out the mystery of her birth. Her mother and father were dead. Her siblings thousands of miles away in Australia. And her recently discovered aunt was in the hospital. Kissing Ryan Merritt was the very last thing she should be doing right now.