Chapter 53
FIFTY THREE
I DON’T KNOW how long I stand there, braced against the car.
My forehead is pressed to the tall stack of petitions on the trunk.
The entire confrontation with Harold Bancroft replays in my mind on a horrifying loop.
My breathing is loud and ragged, my body trembling with the remnants of the adrenaline rush.
A distant sound penetrates the noise in my mind: steady shoes on concrete, growing closer until they stop right beside me. Then, the gentle warmth of a hand on my back.
Matthew’s simple touch is my undoing.
A gasp escapes me. I straighten up instantly, turning on wobbly legs to bury my face in the solid wall of his chest, my palms flat against the fine wool of his suit jacket. “Oh my God, Matt, I blew it!” My words are muffled against him.
The heavy thud of his briefcase hitting the concrete is followed immediately by his arms wrapping around me. He pulls me in tight, as if trying to absorb my tremors into his own body. One hand cradles the back of my head, holding me steady.
“I should have kept my mouth shut,” I continue, my voice tortured, my words tumbling out in a frantic rush. “I went too far, didn’t I? What was I thinking?!”
Matthew just holds me, letting me unravel. Letting me pour all my panicked energy into the safety of his embrace until my words dissolve into shaky, calmer breaths.
My cheek rests against the steady beat of his heart.
Only then does he pull back. He cups my face in his hands, forcing me to meet his gaze. His thumbs stroke my cheekbones. A soothing gesture that calms the last of my frantic energy.
His gaze searches mine as a smile begins to form on his lips. “I was thinking,” he begins, his voice full of amusement, his eyes alight with pride, “if this whole café thing doesn’t work out, I highly recommend a career in law.”
“Don’t say that!” I smack his upper arm, a disbelieving laugh escaping me.
“I’m serious!” He chuckles, his smile widening. “You were magnificent in there.” He unlocks the car and opens the back door, placing half the pile of papers on the backseat.
“What does it matter if it ends up costing me the café?” The morbid realization comes out on a rush of air as I pick up the rest of the petitions and place them beside his.
The adrenaline is draining away, leaving a hollow, anxious feeling in its place.
A knowing look crosses Matthew’s face. “I wouldn’t declare defeat just yet.”
I pivot to face him, my heart giving a hopeful lurch. “Meaning…?”
“Meaning, before I left, he told me he’ll think about it and get back to me,” he says, a triumphant smile spreading across his face. “You seem to have struck a chord. I know Harold; it’s very rare for him to rethink a position.”
“So there’s still a chance,” I breathe, the excitement making me feel light-headed. “Maybe I didn’t totally blow it.”
“You didn’t blow it.” Matthew chuckles and closes the small distance between us, pulling me into his arms.
Elated, I throw my arms around his neck in a tight, joyous hug. “Thank you, Matt,” I whisper, my words heavy with a sincerity so deep it comes from my very soul.
He hugs me back just as fiercely, his whole body vibrating with warm laughter against mine.
He eases back, his hands coming to rest on my shoulders, his gaze full of admiration. “All I did was get you in the room, love. The rest was all you.”
“It was a team effort,” I correct, a grateful, beaming smile stretching my lips. “To thank you properly, I’m making you dinner tonight.”
“A croissant sandwich doesn’t count,” he teases, earning himself another playful smack.
“I’ll have you know I’m a great cook,” I declare with mock indignation. “When I want to be.”
He throws his head back in a full, hearty laugh.
He tightens his arms around my waist again, his face close to mine. “It’s a date then,” he smiles, that slow, sensuous curve of his lips that always makes me melt.
“It’s a date,” I echo, sealing the promise with a kiss that he returns with eager heat.
Our kiss deepens, a heady mixture of relief, triumph, and pure affection. For a long moment, the cold, concrete reality of the parking lot melts away, leaving only the warmth of his lips on mine and the secure strength of his arms around me.
Matthew is the first to very reluctantly pull away, his breathing a little uneven. “You’re a dangerous distraction during work hours,” he whispers, a happy surprise in his voice.
An uncontrollable laugh tumbles out of me. I feel like I could stand here with him forever. But then he glances at his watch, a subtle signal that our bubble is about to burst.
“Shit. I need to get to the courthouse. I’m due in front of a judge in less than an hour.”
“I’ll call a cab. You go,” I reassure him.
“Don’t be silly,” he counters, pressing an adoring kiss to my forehead. “Get in the car. I’ll drop you off at the café on my way.”
The drive is the complete opposite of the one this morning.
A comfortable quiet replaces the anxious silence.
The city is bustling with the energy of a Monday morning, but inside this car, there is only a profound sense of peace.
I lean my head back against the seat and let out a soft, contented sigh.
Matthew glances at me, a warm smile touching his lips.
He reaches across the center console and takes my hand, lacing his fingers through mine, resting our joined hands on my thigh.
“You did great, love,” he compliments me tenderly. “You should be proud. I’ve seen grown men cower in that office.”
Beaming, I turn my head to look at him, at his strong profile, at the way the sunlight lightens his dark brown hair.
“I can honestly say I gave it my all. And then some,” I confess, giggling to myself.
“You were pretty clever yourself, Counselor. Pretending you couldn’t be bothered with my pesky issue, as you put it. Siding with Bancroft. Smart.”
“What if I was being honest?” he teases.
“Please.” I give him a side glance. “You can’t fool me anymore, Matthew Warren.” I wiggle my eyebrows at him. “I know you well.”
He lifts my hand for a quick kiss to my knuckles. The adoring, reverent smile he gives me makes my heart swell to the point of bursting.
When Matthew pulls up in front of the café, it looks the same. But I feel like I’m seeing it for the first time.
It’s no longer just a place I’m fighting for.
It’s a place I have a real chance of saving.
He puts the car in park and turns to me, his gaze dropping to my lips. “I’ll pick you up at seven?”
“You better,” I tease, my heart doing a happy little flip.
“Count on it,” he says, leaning in for a kiss that is slow, deep, and full of the promise of tonight. “Now go run your empire, Miss Beckett.”
I smile against his lips. “I will.”
With one last look, I get out of the car and watch him pull back into the traffic, disappearing down the street. I turn to face the door of Maddy’s Place, feeling for the first time like a true businesswoman walking into her domain.
I push the door open and am greeted by the familiar, comforting warmth.
The rich scent of coffee wrapping around me like a hug.
A welcome antidote to the sterile atmosphere of Bancroft’s office.
Grace is at the register, a focused but friendly smile on her face as she hands a customer their coffee cup.
Her eyes light up when she sees me. “Whoa, Amy! You look so boss,” she says, her gaze sweeping over my outfit with open admiration.
Her comment makes Helen look up from the espresso machine. Her eyes widen, and a deeply mischievous grin spreads across her face.
“Look at you,” she declares, her voice full of delight. “That Matthew sure does you good, Ames.”
The truth in her words, combined with the giddy excitement still bubbling through me, is too much to contain. “Oh my God, Helen, you have no idea,” I say, rushing toward her. “Just wait till you hear this.” I grab her by the arm.
“Okay, okay, cálmate!” Helen yelps as I start dragging her to the back room. “Grace, finish this cappuccino for table seven, will you?” she calls out over her shoulder.
“Sure thing!” Grace answers, her laughter following us.
I practically shove Helen through the doorway and deposit her into her desk chair. It swivels under her weight as she looks up at me with amused exasperation.
“What’s gotten into you today?” Her eyebrows rise as she shakes her head at me. “So either you dress like a crazy person and act professionally, or you dress professionally and act like a crazy person. I can’t win with you!”
I let out a laugh, too keyed up to stop. I lean forward, bracing my hands on her desk. “I just came from a meeting with Bancroft.”
Helen’s teasing demeanor vanishes instantly, her eyes going wide with shock. “Bancroft? Geezer Bancroft?”
I nod, a huge, triumphant beam spreading across my face. “More intimidating than a geezer, really.”
“I bet,” Helen says, frowning. “Wait, how the hell did you get him to meet with you?”
Before I can answer, her eyes light up with dawning realization. “Ohhh. Oh, right. Of course. Your boyfriend.”
“Matthew’s not my boyfriend!” I protest, though the thought makes my heart somersault.
“Mija, please. It’s a little too late to play coy, don’t you think?” Helen looks up at me. “But seriously, that’s amazing news, Ames!” She leans forward, her excitement returning. “Is that why I saw you leaving with that mountain of petitions yesterday?”
I nod again, the beam still plastered on my face. Helen’s grin matches mine now. She grips the arms of her chair, leaning in even closer.
“So?” she demands. “How did it go?!”
I start pacing the room, too full of giddy energy to stand still.
“It was insane, Helen. Absolutely insane,” I begin, smoothing my hand over my slick ponytail.
“He was exactly the monster we imagined. He wouldn’t even shake my hand.
He called me Matthew’s assistant. Then he called me ‘sweetheart’—twice! ”
“?Ese hijo de puta!” Helen hisses, her eyes flashing with fury.
“I know! And I just… I snapped,” I say, still in awe of my audacity. “I told him every signature represents a Madison citizen who hates his guts.”
Helen’s jaw drops. “You didn’t.”
“I did! Well…” I tilt my head from side to side. “I phrased it a bit more professionally. But can you believe he just sat there and started ripping up the petitions? One by one. Right in my face!”
“No!” she gasps, her hand flying to her chest.
“Yes! But then Matthew stepped in,” I say, turning to face her, my excitement building again. “But not how you think. He pretended he was on Harold’s side. That I was just some pesky annoyance. He completely played him, Helen. It was brilliant.”
Helen whistles, impressed. “Smart man.”
“That’s exactly what I said!” I take a deep breath. “But before I walked out of that obnoxiously opulent office, I hit Harold where it hurts.”
Helen is now literally hanging off the edge of her seat.
“I brought up his daughters. Long story short, I told him exactly what they’d think of him if he keeps caring only about money.”
Helen’s eyes widen with horror and awe. “Oh, you really went all out!”
“Uh huh,” I nod. “Then I thanked him for his time and walked out, leaving both of them sitting there stunned.”
“Then what happened?!”
I inhale deeply, ready for the final, most important part. “Matthew told me it might have worked. Harold is actually thinking about changing his mind. He told Matthew he needs time, and he’ll get back to him.”
For a second, Helen is speechless. Then, a slow, massive, triumphant grin spreads across her face. She leaps up from her chair and throws her arms around me in a bone-crushing hug.
“You did it, Ames!” she screams with joy. “You badass, chica loca, you actually did it!”
Laughing, surrounded by the strength of my best friend’s embrace, I finally, truly let myself believe it.
Maybe, just maybe, I really did.