Chapter 19
Ice Cream Confessions
The bell above the door chimed as I pushed through the glass door of The Sweet Spot, the small ice cream shop on Bayshore Drive. The evening air carried the scent of saltwater and vanilla, and string lights twinkled overhead like fallen stars.
"You never did tell me how your meeting went today." I dipped my spoon into my cookies-and-cream ice cream as we strolled down the moonlit sidewalk. "In fact, I think you're avoiding the question like it's Brussels sprouts."
Matt's laugh sounded forced, his smile not quite reaching his eyes. "Yeah, I guess I did dodge that question."
I narrowed my eyes, studying his face in the soft glow of the streetlights. "Why? Did you get bad news?"
"No… or yes." He shrugged, running a hand through his hair. "I'm honestly not sure."
I gently touched his arm, feeling the tension in his muscles. "Do you not want to talk about it?"
He rubbed the back of his neck, his gaze dropping to the sidewalk. "I didn't want to ruin our perfect evening."
My stomach tightened, anxiety coiling like a spring wound too tight. The sweet taste of cookies and cream suddenly turned bitter on my tongue as I searched his face. "Matt, what's going on? And don't you dare say it's nothing, I can practically see the stress radiating off you."
He sighed heavily, his shoulders slumping as we paused near a wrought-iron bench overlooking the moonlit bay. Waves crashed gently against the seawall, their rhythm matching my suddenly racing heart.
"You're right. You deserve to know." He took a deep breath, as if steeling himself for battle. "Three years ago, I signed a contract with MLM Modeling."
"Okay?" I drawled, the word stretching between us like taffy.
"They were a newer agency trying to get their models noticed, so they proposed a deal.
They wanted wrestlers and other public figures to take their models to high-profile events as dates in exchange for a large sum of money.
At the time, I wasn't dating anyone and had no intention of getting serious, so it seemed like a win-win.
Built-in date for events, no strings attached. "
I blinked, processing. "I'm still not following the problem part."
His shoulders tensed, and he met my eyes with a look of resignation. "I'm still under that contract. And I have two major events coming up."
"Ohhhh." The realization hit me like a wave. "So you have to take one of their models to any events until your contract ends." He nodded miserably. "And when does it end?"
He exhaled slowly, fingers tapping an anxious rhythm against his ice cream cup. "A few months. Maybe. We aren't really sure."
Heat crawled up my neck as humiliation crashed over me.
Of course, he needed to take gorgeous models to his events.
He was a professional wrestler, and I was just..
. me. I wasn't even sure how to react. We weren't officially together, so I couldn't be mad, but the thought of sitting home while he was out with some stunning model made my chest ache.
"But…" My gaze snapped up to meet his. "I told them no."
My brows pulled together in confusion.
His jaw set with determination, eyes locked on mine. "If I can't take you, then I'm not going."
My heart skipped several beats. "Are you serious?"
He reached out, gently tucking a strand of hair behind my ear, his touch sending electricity through me. "I like you, and I'm not going to do anything that makes you feel uncomfortable or insecure. You're worth more than any contract."
My lips curved into a soft smile. "I like you, too. A lot." I started walking again, my mind racing. "But what does this mean for the contract?"
He shrugged. "It's not important."
"Matt." I stopped walking and faced him. "If this is going to work between us, you have to be completely honest with me. What aren't you telling me?"
He nodded, understanding crossing his features. "My team is working to get me out of it, but worst-case scenario, I have to pay back all the money."
"How much money?" When he pressed his lips into a thin line and looked away, I put my hands on my hips.
"Around a million."
My eyes widened, and I nearly dropped my ice cream. "Holy shit. A million dollars?" He nodded grimly. "Oh my God. You absolutely cannot do that."
"I can, and I will." He grabbed my wrist, gently tugging me to a stop before tossing his empty cup in a nearby trash can.
His hands cupped my face, thumbs caressing my cheeks as his voice dropped to a husky whisper.
"I don't do anything I don't want to do, and I don't want to go anywhere without you by my side. "
"A million dollars is a lot of money," I whispered, wrapping my hand around his wrist and leaning into his touch. "I wouldn't blame you if you…"
His mouth crashed against mine with an urgency that stole my breath.
My pulse raced, echoing the distant music from a beachfront bar down the street.
Heat flooded my cheeks as we stood there, illuminated by the romantic glow of lights strung between palm trees.
My free hand instinctively reached up, fingers tangling in the soft hair at the nape of his neck, pulling him closer.
If he hadn't said it with his words, he definitely said it with that kiss.
His breath ghosted over my lips, forehead resting against mine. "I'm not going without you," he murmured, voice low and intense.
"Well, now that that's settled, what are you doing tomorrow night?"
"Tomorrow?" I had to think. "Oh, I kind of have plans. Once or twice a month, I have dinner at my parents' house." I bit my lip, wondering if it was too early. "Would... you like to come with me?"
His face lit up. "Yeah, I would love to meet your parents."
I hesitated. "I should warn you. My dad can be... a lot sometimes."
He tilted his head, brow furrowing. "What does that mean?"
"My dad is all about appearances. My brother was the perfect child, but after he died, I was expected to fill that role. Except I didn't want it, and I'm not exactly what he had in mind for 'perfect.'"
"What could he possibly find wrong with you?" His face twisted with confusion. "You own your own successful business. You're smart, funny, beautiful, kind..."
"I'm also recently divorced and..." I trailed off, gesturing vaguely at myself.
"The divorce wasn't your fault," he said firmly.
"I know that, but he blames it on my weight. He thinks no one could want me because of how I look."
Matt blinked rapidly, disbelief written across his face. "You're joking, right?"
"Nope." I shook my head. "He's made it pretty clear that he thinks I'm the reason my marriage failed."
His jaw clenched, a determined glint in his eye. "That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. I can't wait to prove him wrong."
A smile spread across my face. "I just don't want you to feel uncomfortable if he gets going."
"Sweetheart," he pulled me close, "I've been body-slammed by three-hundred-pound men and thrown through tables for a living. I think I can handle your dad." He grinned mischievously. "Besides, I've got a secret weapon."
"What's that?"
"I'm absolutely crazy about his daughter." He spun me around right there on the sidewalk, making me laugh and shriek. "And I'm not afraid to show it."
As he set me down, both of us laughing breathlessly, I realized something had shifted. For the first time in years, I felt genuinely excited about bringing someone home to meet my parents. Not nervous, not ashamed… excited.
"You know what?" I stood on my tiptoes to kiss him. "I think tomorrow night is going to be very interesting."
"Oh, it definitely will be," he grinned, wrapping his arms around me as we continued our moonlit walk. "Your dad has no idea what's coming."
And for the first time in my life, I couldn't wait to find out what my father would think of the man who was willing to give up a million dollars just to be with me. Something told me Matt was going to be full of surprises.