“Oh my, is this handsome young man your new boyfriend?”
My jaw just about hit the floor. Matt would be a ginormous step up from the last guy I’d dated, but he was engaged to Madi.
As if that’s the only reason.Like Austin, Matt was out of my league.
“No, ma’am.” He offered Nana his hand. “I’m Matt, one of Nina’s friends.”
My jaw still hadn’t fully recovered, so I stood there with it gaping open like a fish out of water.
When she stood, because manners still mattered even though she was too weak to walk, to shake his hand, Matt said, “Please, sit. We’re all friends here.”
Matt’s hand lingering near Nana’s elbow as she sat back down was all the confirmation I needed that he’d take good care of her.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Novak.”
“Please, it’s Sue,” Nana said, like she did to everyone. She hated the formality of being called Mrs. Novak.
“Thank you, Sue.”
Nana Sue noticed the scars on Matt’s arm and asked, “What happened to your arm?”
“Nana!”
“It’s okay, Nina. If you’re okay with me staying with you, I’ll tell you all about while Nina goes to work.”
“Oh, I don’t need a babysitter.” She waved as if shooing him away.
I should’ve known Nana would see through his half-truth.
“No, I can see that. How about you keep me company while I wait for Nina to get home?”
“You aren’t one of those jobless guys who expects his friends to support him, are you?” Nana rushed to protect me. If the situation weren’t so dire, I would’ve cheered her on.
“No, ma’am.” Matt flashed a megawatt smile that would’ve been dangerous if I’d had a crush on him.If I weren’t lusting after a certain steely-eyed CIA officer. ”My job schedule is chaotic, and today is one of my days off.”
Liar. He was working extra hard today. SSI offered many services, but taking care of an old woman dying of cancer wasn’t one of them.
Nana Sue stared at Matt, sizing him up. He placed his clasped hands on the table and waited patiently for her to finish.
“Well, that’s good. Would you like to stay and have dinner with us tonight?”
“I’d love to, but unfortunately I have to work this evening,” Matt answered.
He’s really good at this. Where’d he learn to be so patient and compassionate? It didn’t seem like something he would’ve learned in the SEALs.
“Maybe another night. You seem like a nice boy; just the type Bobby and Jodie would’ve wanted for Nina.”
“My parents,” I whispered. Talking was much easier now that my jaw was working.
“I know,” he whispered back. Of course, he knew. Everyone knew all the messy details of my life. Hell, Austin knew more about parts of my life than I did.
Matt turned to my grandmother. “Mrs. Novak, I’d love to talk more after I walk Nina to the door.”
“Such a gentleman. He’s a keeper,” she gushed.
Madi thinks so.
At the door, Matt said, “I’m happy to stay, but the decision is yours.”
