When he got to her side, he took her hand and helped her up onto the curb. There, he pulled her into his arms and gave her a hug. “Mind if I call tomorrow?”
“I’ll even give you my direct number.” She took his phone and keyed it in.
“Thanks. I’m going to use this.”
“I’d be disappointed if you didn’t.” She pecked him on the cheek and then walked inside her building.
He stood there, breathless for a minute, wondering what it might be like if this evening didn’t end just yet, but he knew it was too soon.
She entered the building and lifted her hand in a wave.
He waved and got back into his car. “Wow. Just… Wow.” He drove home and his head was still swimming when he got upstairs. He texted a picture of him and Whitney together to Skip followed by a note.
MATTHEW: This girl is the real deal. I’m soaring.
SKIP: You make a good-looking couple. Maybe it’s your turn to quit spending time alone.
Matthew’s insides were humming like a live wire. Rather than go to bed, he walked into his studio, lifted a fresh canvas to an easel, and began to paint.
Chapter
Sixteen
“You’re in a good mood,” Carina remarked as she walked into Whitney’s office. “Were you chair dancing just then?”
Whitney straightened. “Maybe. It’s Friday. I’m always in a good mood on Fridays.”
“It wouldn’t possibly have anything to do with the black-tie affair last night at the art gallery, now would it?”
There was no sense in denying it. Carina could read her like a book, and here Whitney thought she was playing it so cool. “It might have a teensy bit of something to do with that.” She let a little squeal escape and grinned so widely, she’d probably give Julia Roberts a run for the biggest smile. “It was a lot of fun. He is super talented.”
“We already knew that. I don’t believe his artistic talent is what has you glowing this morning. Not for a minute, sister. I want details.”
Whitney couldn’t contain herself. “Well, you saw the flowers. We started off on the right foot, and when we got downstairs, he was driving this adorable vintage corvette.” Her breath caught. Itwas a wonderful night, but putting it into words was leaving her tongue-tied.
“Nice.”
“It was fun, but a noisy ride, so we couldn’t really talk. Oh, and he’s an excellent driver. No tailgating or speeding.”
“Okay, are you dragging this out just to torture me, or what?”
“I don’t know.” She pressed her fingers to her temples. “It’s a lot, but it’s not much. I don’t know how to explain it.”
“The beginning.”
“That’s what I was trying to do.” She took in a breath. “So many little things. The gallery is on the river, and there was this great restaurant kind of attached to it with this enormous spread. We ate outside, watched the sunset, he sold several paintings. Oh, and I learned he painted the mural of Secretariat at the state fairgrounds. Well, not last night, but a long time ago, and that was pretty cool to hear about. He painted the mural on the back of the restaurant, and he does this almost like Where’s Waldo thing.”
“That sounds weird.”
“No. It’s sweet. I’m not explaining this well. He paints his dad into his murals to feel close to him. Every mural. He said some you have to know to look for it, but it’s like an Easter egg to honor his dad. He died a long while back. It’s really nice.”
“Family is important to him, then,” Carina said as if that was a point for Matthew.
“I think so. It’s sweet,” Whitney said. “He’s nice. And humble.” She chose her words carefully, but then she just let it roll. “And really easy on the eyes, and a gentleman. He put his hand on my back, and I swear I felt my heart leap out of my chest. He opened doors?—”
“Was there a kiss?”
“Shh. Olivia’s coming.” She pointed to the hall and gave Carina the zip-your-lips gesture.
