Chapter Four #2
That left her even more confused because Matt had a few male cousins through an uncle, but he wasn’t close with any of them.
Before she could question him, he clapped his hands together.
“There are potatoes and carrots in with the roast, but would you like a second vegetable or some bread? Maybe a salad?”
“No. I’m not that hungry.”
“But you might be a couple of hours from now. I’ll make some biscuits.”
Her eyebrows rose. “You know how to make biscuits?”
“I know how to open a bag of frozen biscuits and put them in the oven.”
Sage laughed. “Don’t bother. You’ve done enough.”
Frowning, he scratched his jaw. Five o’clock shadow darkened his jaw. “Hm. I should check your hospital paperwork. I’ll do a salad to be on the safe side.”
She shook her head, realizing she was going to get a salad whether she wanted it or not. Matt was determined to pamper her. Overcome with gratitude for his concern, she wrapped an arm around his neck and stretched up on tiptoe to kiss his cheek.
Matt took the opportunity to pull her into a hug. “What was that for?”
“For being amazing. Thank you for staying to take care of me.”
“Of course.” He held her close, giving her a squeeze and she curled into the warmth of his embrace.
“I could nap here,” she said, resting her cheek on his chest. Matt chuckled and she loved hearing the deep bass against her ear. After another brief squeeze, he coughed and let her go.
“Why don’t you relax while we wait for dinner to be ready?”
She grabbed his hand. “I’m bored. Come watch television with me.”
He yanked her back. “Just a second….” He pushed some buttons on the oven. “I’m setting the timer…. Okay. We’re good to go. I’m all yours.”
Grinning, Sage led him to the den. He sat on one end of the sofa, and she curled up on the other end.
“What are we watching?”
She bit her bottom lip. “I don’t…. Oh, there’s a marathon of Antiques Road Show.” She glanced over at Matt. “That okay with you?”
He shrugged. “Sure,” he agreed, but she sensed a lack of enthusiasm.
It would be just like Matt to let her have her way despite his wishes.
But within a few minutes, he leaned forward as an appraiser examined a vase that had been in a lady’s family for three generations.
“Who hangs onto this stuff? My mom used to say that she couldn’t even keep a full set of glasses thanks to me. I was always breaking something.”
“That’s because you’re too tall to keep indoors.”
“I’m only six four.”
“And a half.”
He rolled his eyes. “And a half,” he conceded.
She nodded. “Yes, far too big and gangly a teen to have indoors,” she teased.
“I haven’t shrunk, and I haven’t broken anything in your house.”
She hummed. “Though it’s only been a day….”
He grabbed leg and captured her foot. “Just for that, I ought to break something.” He ran his fingers over her heel, causing her to convulse in laughter. “This house has an excess of coffee mugs. Who needs four matching mugs?” he asked, continuing to tickle her foot.
“Stop,” she pled around giggles.
“Admit that I’m not clumsy.”
“You’re a veritable ballerina,” she gasped.
He grunted. “And handsome.”
“So handsome,” she agreed.
“And smart.”
“So smart!” She wriggled and he finally released her. As soon as her foot was free, she tucked it under her. “I retract everything! It was said in distress.”
Matt sighed. “Some people never learn,” he muttered. And then he pounced on her, his fingers targeting her ticklish sides. “Now what was that you were saying about a retraction?”
Sage squealed and tried to throw him off, but it was no use. Weak with laughter, she was no competition for him. “Stop! Okay! I retract the retraction!”
“I don’t know…. I showed mercy last time and look what happened.” His digits danced up and down her sides, making her twitch.
“Matt, Matt, I promise!”
“You promise to be good?”
“So good.”
He paused. “Hm. So good, huh?” His blue eyes danced with mischief, a blond curl falling charmingly over his brow.
Without thinking, she reached up and smoothed it back into place.
Matt blinked, looking momentarily stunned by her touch.
“Um….” He cleared his throat. His pupils expanded and his gaze dropped between them as if he’d only just become aware of his position over her body.
Her legs angled to the back of the sofa.
His hard thighs pinned her hips in place.
“Um…I should go…check on the roast.” He levered himself off her and stood.
“The timer hasn’t gone off.”
“Timer’s just a suggestion. I’ll be right back.”
Sighing, she straightened her clothing and sat up. She wasn’t sure what just happened. For a moment, she’d thought she’d seen hunger in his gaze.
Sage shook her head. It didn’t matter. Even if he was attracted to her, it could go nowhere. There was a new woman in his life. But then why hadn’t he mentioned her when they’d talked about dating? He wouldn’t lie to her. At least, he didn’t used to before he all but disappeared.
“The roast is looking—”
“Matt, who was the woman on your phone?” There was no point in beating around the bush or floundering in idle speculation.
Matt drew to a halt. “Woman?” He frowned.
“The one you got a text from. You said you weren’t dating, but then that picture popped up of a very pretty blonde—”
“Oh, you mean Missy!” He beamed. “That’s my sister.”
“You have a sister?” She grinned, feeling relieved and almost giddy with the discovery.
“Yeah.” He pulled his cell from his pocket.
After a few seconds, he turned the screen around for her to see a biracial woman with big brown eyes that resembled his blue ones in shape and size.
“She used to model. Once my dad’s health…
. Well, he wanted me to find her. I’d just met her a day before your accident, so I had to cut my visit short, but I’m hoping… .”
He didn’t have to say more. She knew that he longed for family. “Oh, Matt, that’s wonderful. I’d like to meet her.”
He nodded. “I’d like that, too.”
She patted the sofa cushion next to her. “Tell me all about her.”
“To be honest, there’s not much to tell,” he said as he sat.
“She’s twenty-five, so a few years younger than me.
She did a bit of modeling in the past. Currently, she’s working as a receptionist at a dentist’s office.
She was very welcoming to me though she didn’t know about my existence until I showed up unannounced on her doorstep.
We’ve been exchanging text messages. She didn’t know anything about our father, so I’ve been filling her in a bit. ”
“Is she married? Do you have any nieces and nephews?”
“No….” He took a deep breath. “She’s dating a werewolf.”