Whitney continued to explain, turning her back to him. “And his clothes were torn.”
“Okay, that was my painters’ smock, and I cut the sleeves out so that I can reach above my head since I paint multi-story images.” He swung his arms around and up over his head. “I have to be able to move.”
“You did not look like…” She waved a frustrated hand up and down. “This.”
Carina gave an approving nod. “Something must’ve blown in with that storm. El Niño doesn’t have anything on this.”
Whitney shot her a look.
“Wasn’t me,” she said. “I had nothing to do with this. I’ve never met him.” She looked at Matthew. “We’ve never met. Have we?”
“No, ma’am.”
“There you go.” Carina looked pleased with herself. “Everything happens for a reason.”
“Then what is the reason, exactly, that you two are at the heart of so many trending videos?” Matthew asked.
“It’s a long story, and we’re still figuring some of that out,” Carina said.
“I’ve got nothing but time.” Matthew leaned back and smiled.
Chapter
Eleven
“You cannot mention this to my mother.” Whitney took him by the elbow and escorted him out from behind her desk. “She’ll tell my father and things will hit the fan.”
“Right. Sure.” That tickled him. He liked a gal with a sense of humor.
“No. I’m serious,” Whitney said.
He glanced over at Carina who wasn’t laughing either. He met Whitney’s gaze. “Fine. How about dinner then?”
She froze. “What?”
“Have dinner with me, and this will never part my lips.” Matthew hadn’t planned to ask her to dinner, but the opportunity had presented itself. He’d be a fool not to take it. Carina’s smile showed approval, but Whitney didn’t look amused.
“I don’t even know you,” she said.
“It’s just dinner,” Carina pressed. “What’s the big deal? You gotta eat.”
She spun toward her sister-in-law. “Whose side are you on?”
Matthew widened his stance. “You gotta eat. You heard her.”
“Iamhungry.”
“And I’ll walk you down to the gallery after dinner so you can see some of my other work.”
“Dinnerandthe gallery?”
His lips tugged into a smile. “Should’ve said yes when it was just dinner.”
Carina snorted. “Just go already. You have to eat, and this will not get any worse or solve itself tonight. You might as well have some fun before it ends up being dinner, the gallery,anda nightcap.”
“Are you sure you two are not in cahoots?”
They both shook their heads, but Matthew felt like Carina was surely on his side.
