Chapter 5 #4
“I do still have to get my bag from you,” she said.
“That’s right,” he said with a laugh. He leaned forward again and whispered, “Meet me in my office in an hour.”
“Are you really going to hold my bag hostage?”
His brows arched in amusement. “One hour.”
Tamryn shook her head, a rueful grin edging up the corners of her mouth as she watched him confidently stride toward the group of businessmen.
She walked around the grounds of the park, chatting with the people she’d met over the course of her first week in Gauthier and answering the questions of many who seemed highly curious about the town’s newest visitor.
She was browsing over the sign-up sheet for people to participate in the 5K Matt was sponsoring when she heard, “So, how are you liking Gauthier?”
Tamryn looked up to find a woman holding a baby.
“I’m Mya,” the woman said. “We haven’t had a chance to meet.” She wiggled the pinky finger of the hand that cradled the baby’s bottom.
“Hi,” Tamryn said with a laugh, giving her a pinky shake. “Tamryn West. And who is this?” She tickled the baby’s pudgy chin.
“This is Kamri Alexis,” Mya answered, smiling down at the baby, whose thick, jet-black hair was downright enviable.
“She’s adorable.”
“Thank you.” Mya kissed the baby’s head. “Phil tells me that you’re here doing research. Don’t think we were gossiping about you. This is a small town. You can’t break a nail without someone discussing it over a glass of sweet tea.”
“It’s okay.” Tamryn waved off her concerned look.
“And yes, I am here doing research. I’m a history professor at Brimley College in Boston.
I’ve been following the discovery of the stop on the Underground Railroad at the Gauthier Law Firm.
” She stopped short as the woman’s name registered.
“Wait a minute. Are you Mya Dubois-Anderson? The one who made the discovery?”
“Yes.” The woman smiled. “It was my husband, Corey, and I who uncovered it.”
“I would love to interview you while I’m here. I’ve talked to Dr. Lawrence, but there’s a lot more that I want to know that maybe you can help with.”
“Of course,” Mya said. “How long will you be in Gauthier?”
“Until the end of July,” Tamryn answered. “I’ll be spending a large portion of my time between the libraries of Tulane and Xavier Universities, but maybe we can schedule something for the weekend?”
“Or even in the evenings,” Mya said. “I sometimes drop in at Belle Maison to help Phil out with dinner. This little one has a summer cold, so I haven’t been by this week, but I’m sure I’ll stop in within the next few days.”
“That would be great,” Tamryn said. “Thank you so much.”
“I’m more than happy to help,” Mya said. “Anything that brings attention to Gauthier is a worthy cause in my book.”
By the time the celebration wound down, the sun had already started to set. Tamryn was once again propped against the trunk of the oak tree where she’d observed most of the campaign kickoff event.
As Matt approached her, she couldn’t contain the smile that broke out over her face.
“You ready to come and claim that bag?” he asked.
“You’re not going to make this difficult for me, are you?”
He shook his head. “I’m done being difficult. This will be very, very easy.”
The mischievous gleam in his eyes should have sent her running in the opposite direction, but her good sense was having a hard time fighting the battle against the part of her that was aching to follow Matthew Gauthier and his sexy dimples to wherever he wanted to lead her.
As they exited Heritage Park, Matt made it a point to thank each of the workers they passed as they disassembled the tents, stage, and other props used for the rally.
There was a kindness about him, a sense of unpretentiousness, that was endearing.
Given his family’s position in the community, he could easily flaunt his self-importance around, but Matt was as down-to-earth as any of the people she’d met here.
In fact, he seemed to do his utmost to downplay his connection to the town’s most powerful family.
They arrived at the Gauthier Law Firm and he held the door open for her.
Tamryn stopped just outside the threshold. “Why do I suddenly feel like an innocent little lamb being led by the big, bad wolf?”
Matt’s grin was as wicked as anything she’d ever seen.
“Do you want that bag or not?” he asked. “There’s only one way to get it.”
Her eyes narrowed with a wary look as she slipped past him and into the building. “I wonder what your loyal constituents would think if they knew you were holding my property hostage.”
“No one would believe you. Not sweet little Matt Gauthier. He would never do such a thing.”
Tamryn stared into his eyes. “You have them all fooled, don’t you?”
Matt gripped her waist and tilted his forehead down until it touched hers. “You have no idea.” His whisper-soft voice held a hint of remorse. Before Tamryn could comment on it, he grinned and asked, “Now, are you willing to spring that bag free, or not?”
“What’s the ransom?”
“I think you already know,” he murmured.
He dipped his head, his lips hovering just above hers.
Tamryn knew she’d reached a critical moment.
If she allowed his lips to touch hers, she was setting a course for how their relationship would play out for the rest of the summer.
If she wanted things to remain on a professional plane with Matt, she should stop him right now.
Apparently, her sense of professionalism had deserted her since she’d arrived in Gauthier, because there was not a single ounce of her being that wanted to stop his lips from touching hers. In fact, of its own volition, her hand came up and cradled Matt’s cheek as his lips descended upon hers.
His touch was light, his incredibly soft lips gently meshing with hers. He peppered her with feathery touches, just the tip of his tongue slipping out to tease her.
After a few moments, he became bolder, his kiss more ardent.
He scooped his hand around, stroking the small of her back as he pulled her closer to him.
Tamryn melted. Then and there, her insides liquefied into a warm puddle.
She allowed him to pull her even closer as both his hands traveled up and down her spine.
His tongue traced along the seam of her lips before pushing inside. He stroked with subtle passion, a low groan crawling up from his throat.
Emboldened by the sound she’d elicited from him, she sucked his tongue into her mouth, caressing it with her own.
But then Matt took full command. He was both gentle and insistent, his tongue surging and retreating, exploring her mouth with bold strokes while his hands inched further down her body, until they found a place to rest on her backside.
Matt tugged her closer, pulling her body flush against his and groaning with a pleasurable, painful sound.
Tamryn knew she had to put the brakes on this.
Not only had she declared this a tingle-free trip—and her body was feeling nothing but tingles right now—but several of the people cleaning up Heritage Park had seen her enter the law office with Matt.
If she didn’t leave soon, Tamryn had no doubt that news of her and Matt’s tryst would be the talk of the town.
“Matt,” she said against his lips.
“Hmm?”
His deep moan sent delicious shivers down her spine. Delicious, dangerous shivers. She brought her hands up to his chest and gave him a gentle push. “Matthew.”
“Don’t ask me to stop,” he murmured against her neck.
“Matt, please,” she breathed. Maybe it was her please that caught his attention. He released her and took a step back, running a hand down his face.
Tamryn pulled in several deep breaths to clear her head. It felt as if she’d been deprived of oxygen.
After a few moments, Matt grabbed both of her hands and brought them to his lips. “Can you at least acknowledge what’s happening here?” he asked.
“My skin is still tingling,” she said. “It would be pretty hard to deny it.”
His mouth curved in another of those half-grins that only fueled the relentless shivers that continued to travel from the top of her head to the tips of her feet, stopping at all interesting points in between.
“I wish I could deny it,” she continued. “This wasn’t a part of the game plan when I decided to come to Gauthier for the summer.”
“Sometimes even the best-laid plans have to change, especially when something so good is waiting on the other side.” Matt’s forehead met hers again.
“Whatever it is that’s happening between us started the minute I pulled up to your broken-down car on the side of the road, Tamryn.
It makes no damn sense to let all this chemistry go to waste.
” He kissed the tips of her fingers. “Let’s just see where this leads. ”
“I’m only here for the summer.”
“That means we have the summer.”
“You just kicked off a campaign, and I’m in the middle of an intense research project.”
“There’s twenty-four hours in a day. I’m pretty sure we both can find a couple of hours we can spare. I promise you it will be worth it.”
She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth, contemplating.
“Any other excuses you need me to shoot down with cold, hard logic?” Matt asked.
She shook her head.
“Does that mean I can kiss you again?”
She nodded.
Matt smiled.
And then he kissed her.