Chapter 22
Chapter Twenty-Two
MATT
“ F rom what I’ve heard, they were impressed,” Zoey says when we step out onto the sidewalk.
As we walk in the direction of our hotel, I fidget with the tiny button that pinches the skin on my neck.
For fuck’s sake. How do men put up with wearing shit like this all day, every day ? I can’t breathe.
“You okay?” Zoey asks, frowning.
“Yeah, sorry. These clothes are just… so uncomfortable.”
With a frustrated sigh, I rip it off. There.
I can barely walk straight because of how tight the pants are, and the shirt is trying to suffocate me.
“I think you look great,” Daphne chimes in behind me.
“Thanks, honey.” I force the words out through the tension in my body.
“I agree,” Zoey adds. “It brings out your… assets.”
Okay, now I laugh. I loosen the tie holding my hair back and shake the strands free. I groan. So much better.
Next to me, Zoey lets out a small whimper.
My gaze darts to hers in time to catch her ogling me for an instant before she shoots her attention to the ground in front of us.
I hide my smirk. “Nicole and Corey were very nice. I think it went well, but they weren’t ready to give me a final answer. Told me we’ll talk more tonight, once we have drinks in front of us.”
Zoey tenses next to me.
“Everything okay?” I ask.
“Yeah, yeah.” She sighs. “Not looking forward to it, that’s all. It’s gonna be packed with people I have to play nice with. The shareholders I need to convince will be there.” She hesitates, glancing at me. “It’s the company’s annual cocktail party, so… my dad will probably be in attendance too.”
I swallow, doing my best not to let my hatred for the man show. “Are you gonna be okay?”
Her eyes flash, like she didn’t expect my question. “Will you?”
I shrug. “I don’t care about the guy.”
She flinches, and my heart sinks.
“Sorry.”
“I get it. Don’t worry.”
Things I forget when I’m with Zoey:
That she is set to inherit one of the largest hotel conglomerates in the world.
That she is Oscar’s daughter.
That I’m a fleeting moment in her life.
It hits me then, as we walk through the doors of our hotel.
This is her life. This is her world. Those sky-high buildings and busy sidewalks crawling with people and plastics are to her what the cottages and cobblestone streets of Pine Falls are to me.
One day, this thing between us will come to an end. The lodge will be built, and Zoey will leave Pine Falls and find her way back here.
The thought settles into the pit of my stomach and makes me nauseous. Until now, I haven’t really considered the possibility of losing her. Actually losing her.
But now that I do, it petrifies me.
I was delusional to believe that in any world, this relationship could work long term. That we could date long-distance for a while. That she’d eventually realize she missed her life in Pine Falls too much and that Vancouver isn’t where she belongs.
This place isn’t right for her. But she doesn’t see it.
Since we arrived this morning, she’s been nothing but a tight bundle of nerves. Jumpy. Short. A permanent scowl on her face.
Why can’t she see what I see? She’s miserable here.
None of this makes sense, and it’s partly my fault. I’ve been burying reality under layers of denial and delusion.
No matter how hard I try to protect my foolish heart, I always get swept up in my fantasies and give it away to people who are bound to break it.
I never learn.
“You have all you need for tonight?” I ask Daph as I slide my suit jacket on.
She’s sprawled on her hotel bed, already in PJs, a bowl of popcorn tucked under her arm. “Yep.”
“I’ll have my phone with me the whole night, okay? I’m just downstairs.”
A knock comes at the door, and on instinct, I peer over my shoulder.
“If you need anything,” I say as I move toward the door, “you call me, okay?”
Leaving her alone in the room, even if I’m only several floors down, makes me nervous.
I have gone over my mental checklist ten times already, ensuring I haven’t forgotten anything (snacks, phone, PJs, heavy blanket), but still, anxiety swarms inside me like thousands of angry hornets.
I don’t want a repeat of the movie night at the park.
“Yes, Matt,” she says, her tone laced with annoyance, her focus still locked on her favorite HGTV show.
With a roll of my eyes, I stride to the door. When I open it, my breath stops short.
“Ready?” Zoey asks, flashing me one of her most beautiful smiles, her lips painted a red I can only describe as sinful.
I take in her black dress. The strapless bodice clings to her skin, shaping her breasts into curves I know fit perfectly in my hands. The slit in the skirt shows off the length of one smooth leg, ending right where I’m dying to slip my fingers.
My throat tightens. I almost choke on my saliva at the sight. God, she’s making it very hard right now. Like… literally .
She’s fucking stunning. A creature from another world.
“You like it?” she says cheekily.
My gaze snaps to her face. “You’re fucking beautiful.”
She blushes hard. But as her focus drifts, she frowns. “You’re not wearing your bow tie?”
“I spent ten minutes wrestling with it before I surrendered.” I hold my palms up. “These hands are way too big for fancy stuff.”
Her lips part as she studies them. “Does that make me off-limits, then?”
The corner of my mouth twitches. “Absolutely not. You’re in a league of your own.”
“Well,” she rasps. “Let me help you.”
I move away from the door to let her in, my eyes following every roll of her hips as she walks in.
“Hey Daphne,” she says as she approaches one of the two beds in the room. “Wow, you seem cozy in there. Maybe I should join you instead of going to my boring party.”
Daphne slowly turns her head to Zoey, tearing her attention away from the TV reluctantly. “No, thank you. You don’t look very comfortable in that. My pajamas are better.”
Laughing, Zoey glances at me. “I bet. But since I’m already dressed up, I suppose we should make an appearance. Come here, big boy.”
My heart thumps against my sternum. Shit. She shouldn’t say stuff like that. Not when it takes every ounce of my resolve not to kiss the lipstick off her lips. Thank god for Daphne. Otherwise, I don’t think I would have had the strength to leave this room.
I stand in front of her and crouch a little. In her heels, she has no trouble slipping the bow tie around my neck. As she does, her breasts graze my shirt with the movement, and I clench my fist, grinding my jaw so hard I worry I’ll break a tooth.
Don’t look down, don’t look down, don’t look down.
I shoot my eyes up to the ceiling and draw in a sharp breath.
Zoey lifts the collar of my shirt and tucks the bow underneath, her fingers nimble as she twists the fabric, making knots that make no sense to my brain.
“There you go,” she says softly as she smooths either side to even it out. She taps my chest with the tips of fingernails painted the same color as her lips. “You cleaned up well too.”
“Thank you.” I cover her lingering hand with mine and bring it to my mouth, placing a quick kiss on top of it.
I turn around to my sister, who’s once again oblivious to everything but the TV. “Daph, we’re going downstairs. I’ll be back in the room before eleven. Call me if you need me.”
She waves me off, popping a piece of popcorn into her mouth.
With a sigh, I grasp Zoey’s hand and head for the door. “Come on, beautiful. We don’t want to be late for Daddy’s party.”
From the moment we walked in, the hairs on my arms have prickled with disgust. I feel out of place, out of my depth, out of control.
The hall is swarming with suits and money, people who think they’re more important than the rest of the world. Corporate laughs, fake pleasantries, selfish interest; there’s nothing genuine about a soul in attendance. Nothing but greed and status. It kills me to have to play that game too.
I lean against the bar, bringing the obscenely expensive glass of champagne to my lips.
Zoey is in deep discussion with a group of shareholders—the same people holding her fate in their hands.
Would I be a jerk if I admitted that a small part of me hopes they’ll vote against her nomination, just so she can finally be free from this hellhole?
Listen to yourself, Matt.
If I were certain this is what she wanted, I’d never stop her. I’d endure a hundred more of these and plaster on my most arrogant smile. But after spending two weeks with her in Pine Falls, I can’t believe for a second that she’s happy right now.
I check my phone. It’s already ten p.m. No calls from Daphne. Did I tell her to lock the door? Shit, I can’t remember. Yes. I did. I think I did. I drag a hand down my face. And she had her heavy blanket with her, right? Was her phone charged before we left?
With a sigh, I scold myself silently. She’s fine. She’d text if she needed me. One more hour to go, and then we can wrap things up. Tomorrow, we’ll be back in Pine Falls.
All night, we’ve made the rounds. Corey and Nicole bailed last minute—some emergency they had to deal with—which kicked my stress up another notch. They sent a quick apology, promising that they’d be in touch soon, but still. Feels like I came all the way here for nothing.
Between forced pleasantries and small talk, I’ve shaken more hands than I ever have in my life, and said “nice to meet you” more times than I actually meant it. I’ve spent 20 percent of my evening nodding and smiling, but the other 80 percent? I’ve been watching her.
Even now.
I can’t take my eyes off her.
All I’ve wanted to do tonight is kiss her. To drag her into a dark corner of the room and smudge her lipstick with my beard. Get her all over me and not give a single fuck about it.
I tilt my glass against my lips again, downing the rest of the champagne as Zoey walks over to me. She leans against the bar, her arm brushing mine. “Dad incoming, ten o’clock.” The words are rushed and whispered, and as they register in my brain, she turns, her spine zipping up straight.