“I’m in no hurry. I’m not going anywhere.”
“Good. Yeah. I’m not always super easy to hang out with, especially when I’m tired after putting in too many hours. I'm working on it, though. If that happens, I invite you to kindly remind me to balance it with these kinds of times when we aren’t looking at the clock. Like the day we picnicked at Maymont. Just enjoying each other.”
“I ask the same of you. I can get caught up in my work too. The murals, they’re huge. They take time. I put everything else on hold when I’m creating them. I could see you thinking that I’m overlooking you, and I’d never want you to feel that way.”
“We’re the same way that way. Our passion for our work. I went into law because, well, it’s what my family does, but I’ve looked at my practice as something more. A way to help someone through something that is hard. Something no one ever plans for. It’s not world change, but it is important to that person at that point in their life.”
“At the core, we’re the same.” His brow lifted. “At some point, maybe we can work on that goal together.”
She could see that in her heart, even if her mind was still catching up. “I really hope so.”
Chapter
Thirty
By the time the end of July rolled around, there was no question that Matthew would be joining Whitney for the family weekend at their lake house. Their relationship deepened every time they got together. He’d never met someone who made him feel so special, and he found that his thoughts were filled with wondering how he could please her. Whitney understood what motivated him, and she didn’t question when he did a project just because it felt right, even if there was no financial gain to be made.
Matthew couldn’t wait for him and Whitney to fly down to Florida in October to spend time with Skip and his bride-to-be. He looked forward to being his best man and didn’t mind one bit telling Skip he was right about the girl who’d lost the bracelet. It was meant to be, just like he’d said.
Matthew knocked and walked inside Whitney’s condo. “You here?”
She came flying out of the bedroom. “Yep.” They embraced, and he picked her up, spinning her around like people did in the movies. It was a little harder to do than it looked on television.
It made her giggle, though, and he’d do anything to hear that sound.
“Are you ready?” he asked.
“My bags are by the door. We’ll install the mural, drive to Uncle Blake’s for a quick visit, then to the lake house. Are you ready?”
“So ready.” He pulled her into his arms. “I have fallen completely in love with you. Do you know that?”
She practically melted into his arms. “I was really hoping you were feeling it too.”
He kissed her, leaving her breathless.
“My bag is already in the truck. Are we ready?” He picked up her bags.
“There’s one more thing I need to say. I do love you too.”
“I really like the way this trip is starting.” They drove over to William and Carina’s house to work on the surprise for Chloe.
Allie, Chloe’s nanny, was sitting on the front porch when Matthew pulled into the driveway.
“Thanks for helping us with the surprise,” Whitney said as they approached.
“I think I’m as excited as y’all are.” She jumped to her feet.
“Impossible.”
Matthew got the mural out of the truck, and they took it inside.
It was a little tricky because it was so big, but Allie helped and the three of them made quick work of it.
For the most part, it was up. Matthew smoothed the last of the bubbles while Allie and Whitney stepped back to look at it from the doorway.
“It’s perfect. It looks like we painted it in record time,” Whitney said. “Matthew, I don’t know how I’ll ever thank you for making this happen.”
“I’ll think of something,” he said with a wink.
