Chapter Eighteen
Matt leaned back in his office chair, tossing paperclips back and forth on his desk, while his mind replayed all the things he had done—with Iris and to Iris—over the weekend.
Her beauty had taken his breath away at that charity ball on Saturday, with how she had looked in that gown and the perfection of her makeup.
But then on Sunday, after they’d showered, with her squeaky-clean face, she had looked just as gorgeous.
That was when he had done what he’d been itching to do since Saturday night.
Namely, undo her hair from its knot and watch it tumble around her shoulders.
He’d loved threading his fingers through the curly strands, wrapping them around his hand, and locking his mouth to hers while trying to kiss her senseless.
After taking her on his dining room table, he’d swept her into his arms and carried her upstairs to make love several more times.
They’d showered again after cleaning up the dining room.
They watched the LA Rams game on television, and then they went into his kitchen and prepared a meal of chili, salad and cornbread.
Unsurprisingly, they worked well together.
She had shared some cooking tips with him, and he had reciprocated by sharing some with her.
It had been hard sitting down at the dining room table to eat and not recalling what had happened on that same table earlier.
Stolen glances and smiles were an indication that they had definitely been remembering.
Over dinner she told him of her Thanksgiving plans.
Instead of traveling to Westmoreland Country as they usually did each year, she and Garlan would spend Thanksgiving together at the beach house since Garlan had made plans to join his friends on a ski trip for Christmas.
She was hoping he would use that opportunity to tell her what was bothering him.
Matt had told her that usually he and Deena spent Thanksgiving with the Saxons in Alexandria. This year, Dominic, Taylor and the kids, along with his godparents, would be traveling to France. Dom’s grandfather, Franco, was hosting a special fiftieth anniversary dinner for Marcello and Megan.
Deena had dropped by his office earlier and told him how exciting her weekend had been with Charm and Shauna. Dylan and the band had flown out early Sunday morning for a concert in Miami. After a day of shopping, Charm flew out on Sunday night to join him.
He knew his daughter well, and although she’d been dying to ask, she hadn’t questioned him about Iris.
When she called Sunday morning to let him know about the photo in the Wagging Tongue, she had asked if Iris had gotten home okay.
He’d nonchalantly told her yes. She hadn’t needed to know it had been his home instead of Iris’s.
He did, however, tell her that he and Iris had a date for this weekend.
That had gotten a smile out of her. He decided to hold off on telling her that he and Iris were dating exclusively.
He wasn’t ready to see his daughter gloat and take credit for anything.
The cell phone on his desk went off, and he immediately recognized the ringtone. He clicked on. “You’re back in the States now, Dom?” For the past week, Dominic had been on a business trip to Amsterdam to expand his shipping dynasty there.
“Yes, I’m back. I was able to accomplish everything I set out to do.”
“Congratulations.”
“Thanks. I’m hoping that at some point in time, my goddaughter will get bored playing attorney and come on board with the Saxon Corporation. I’ve got just the executive position for her.”
Matt chuckled. “Don’t you have enough kids for that?” Dominic and Taylor had four children—two sons and two daughters. Two years apart, with the sons being the oldest.
“Yes, and Deena is big sister to them all. Besides, Grandfather is grooming Marcello Franco to take over his business in France, and Lester is handling a lot of things for Dad. The girls claim they want to follow in Taylor’s footsteps and become wealth managers.
Deena has worked with you long enough. Now it’s my turn. ”
“Whatever.”
“So, what have you been up to?”
Matt thought about Dominic’s question. His response was easy. “I’ve been busy chasing a second chance.”
“What?”
This would be another easy response, Matt thought. “I see Iris as my second chance, Dom. A second chance for true love and happiness. Something I had hoped for but never shared with Rhonda.”
Matt noticed the pause on the other line before Dominic asked, “You’re serious, aren’t you?”
“I’m very serious. I believe I deserve that kind of life and should no longer limit myself.”
“I’m glad to hear you say that. When did you decide this?”
“I realized upon meeting Iris that I wanted to pursue something with her that I never dared consider with another woman. However, at the time, she was with someone else. Now that she and the guy are no longer together, I see it as an opportunity to make my move, and I’m ready to do so.”
“And what’s your strategy?”
Leave it to his best friend to consider handling a relationship the same way one would handle a business venture.
However, Matt would be the first to admit that doing such a thing had worked for Dominic and Taylor, and he didn’t know two people more in love and dedicated to each other.
“Iris and I are now officially dating exclusively. We made the decision yesterday.”
“Wow! Congratulations. That’s quite an achievement. Sounds like the chase has ended since you’ve accomplished your goal of getting the woman you want.”
Matt wished that were how things were. “Unfortunately, the chase is now revving up. I view our exclusivity as the catalyst for the endgame. Iris doesn’t think we’ll ever reach the finish line since she never plans to marry again.”
“I recall a time you felt the same way, Matt. So did I after Camry’s death.” Camry had been Dominic’s first wife, who’d been killed in an auto accident.
“Then I’m sure you’d agree that when you meet the right person, your thought process changes. Mine has, and I’m going to work hard to convince Iris that I am that person for her. The right person.”
“Good luck. If anybody can do it, you can. Iris Michaels won’t know what hit her until it’s too late.”
“And that’s what I’m counting on. Until then, the chase is still on.”
* * *
“Well…?”
Iris smiled as she glanced at her phone sitting on the desk in front of her. Pam had wanted them to use FaceTime, and Iris knew why. Her best friend didn’t just want to hear what she had to say but wanted to see her expressions when she said it. “Well, what?”
“Don’t play games with me, Iris Nicole Michaels. We’re too old for that.”
Iris smiled. She’d thought she was too old for a lot of things. Especially the sex marathon she had participated in this weekend with Matt.
“And I don’t see any humor in what I just said,” Pam interrupted her thoughts to say.
“Maybe we shouldn’t FaceTime today,” Iris said.
“Why? You think some of the things you might tell me will make us both blush?”
“Maybe.”
“Okay, then let’s skip the physical details since I have a good idea of what happened in that department, and let’s move into the mental details.”
If Pam thought she had a good idea of the physical, boy was she wrong.
She wouldn’t believe all the things Iris and Matt had done all through Saturday night and most of Sunday.
The various positions. The multiple orgasms. Sex on the dining room table.
The scandalous showers they had taken together…
Whoever said “forties is the new thirties” knew what they were talking about.
It had been close to midnight when he had taken her home.
“You’re blushing, Iris. Profusely.”
“That does it. I’ll call you back without using FaceTime, Pam.”
Ignoring her best friend’s laugh, she clicked off the video and called Pam back. “This is better.”
“Better for you maybe, but not for me, spoilsport. I enjoy seeing you blush, and from that blush, I gather that things got off to a good start.”
If only you knew, Iris thought. “Yes. Now Matt and I are officially exclusive.”
“That’s great!”
“I think so, too. I believe Matt will keep our agreement and won’t betray me like Warren.”
“I believe that, too. So, did the two of you have the ‘Iris Michaels’ talk?”
“Of course.”
“And?”
“And Matt knows how I feel, but I believe he thinks he can change my mind.”
“Like Karlton assumed?”
“Yes.”
“And that doesn’t bother you?”
“No, because unlike Karlton, Matt has given me advance warning of his intentions. However, I’m not concerned, since I know it will be a waste of his time. No man alive will ever convince me to marry again.”
“So, what’s next?”
Iris smiled again, one larger than the last, and appreciated that this time Pam couldn’t see it. “We have a date this weekend. We also agreed to meet up for lunch whenever we can.”
“That’s good since the Wagging Tongue is keeping an eye on you two.”
“The Wagging Tongue?”
“I gather you didn’t see this morning’s paper. Candy was interviewed about that spread in yesterday’s paper.”
“No, I hadn’t.” Although she had an online subscription, she hadn’t bothered to read anything. “What did she have to say?”
“She tried saving face by claiming what you pulled with Matt was nothing more than a publicity stunt.”
Iris laughed. “A publicity stunt? I’m not an actress.
I set up publicity stunts for my clients.
I don’t participate in them myself. And if she knew anything about Matt she would know he was a private person until he was thrust into the limelight as Sid Roberts’s son.
He’s only tolerating it to bring light to his father’s foundation and the importance of it. ”
“Like I said, Candy’s trying to save face since that article and photo did not project a positive image. It shows her desperation in trying to remain relevant. It seems her one mistake is claiming what’s happening between you and Matt is a pretense when it’s the real thing.”