Page 54 of Big Girl Panties

She raised a hand, cutting me off mid-sentence. Her voice came out sharp. "No. I hate coming here for dinner. I honestly thought since you were with me, he wouldn't do it, or at least not as bad, but I guess he hates you as much as me."

"I'm okay with him hating me," I said. "Even if I don't understand why, but I'm not okay with him talking to you or about you like that."

For a moment, we stood there under the streetlight, the weight of everything unsaid hanging between us. Then Brooke's expression shifted, and I caught a glimpse of something playful beneath the hurt.

"Can we circle back to that part where you said I'm yours?" Her fingers found my shirt, tugging gently.

The tension in my shoulders finally began to ease. "You caught that, huh?" My hands curled around her hips.

Her lashes fluttered. "Uh huh and…" The heat of her breath fanned across my lips. "…I like the sound of it."

My lips crashed against her. The kiss was frantic and uncoordinated, but so fucking hot. I'd always prided myself on self-control, but when it came to Brooke, I had none. It was like I'd been waiting my entire life for her, and I hadn't even known I was looking for her.

My hands dove into her hair as her lips parted, and I deepened the kiss, completely forgetting we were standing outside her parents' house. Not that I really cared, not after that shit show they called a family dinner. Let them watch. Let them see how truly obsessed I was with their daughter.

She pulled her lips from mine, inhaling sharply. "Can we get out of here?"

I nodded. "You really want to go to Denny's?"

"I'm starving."

I smiled. "How about pancakes, and then we go to my place for a drink?"

"That sounds amazing."

Chapter 21

HGTV Views…

Sometimes I forgot how overwhelming my family could be because I was so used to it, like how you stop noticing the smell of your own perfume after five minutes. Davina's first visit to my parents' house had been her last. She'd told my dad to go fuck himself and swore she'd never go back after he'd referred to her as "the hot friend" and told her she was using me as her "fat friend" to make herself feel better. I was mortified, but honestly? Also, a little impressed. Davina had the backbone of a steel beam while I had the confrontational skills of a wet noodle.

I'd always envied that kind of courage. Why couldn't I just walk away from my toxic father the same way I did my marriage?

Because I still had hope that he’d change and love me for who I am. That someday he'd see past my dress size and maybe, just maybe, notice I had a personality.

I really thought tonight would be different. For some reason, I thought bringing Matt would show him I didn't need him to bribe someone to date or marry me. Regardless of his opinion of me, there was a man who liked me, and I really thought he'd like Matt.

Matt was just one of those people that everyone liked; puppies probably wagged their tails harder when he walked by. But not my dad. Apparently, Matt's fatal flaw was finding me attractive. The audacity.

The drive from Denny's to Matt's was mostly silent. He was probably still processing everything that happened at dinner with my parents, and I was processing my embarrassment, again.

The front door swung inward, and light flooded down from a tiered crystal chandelier that probably cost more than my car. Everything was immaculate, from the pale marble floors to the elegant granite counters. It looked more like a museum than a home.

My shoes clicked against the floors, then hushed against the plush carpet as we moved from the entryway to the living room. The space flowed like water, each room spilling naturally into the next until we reached the kitchen, all sleek lines and polished surfaces that screamed I have money and a cleaning lady.

Matt tossed his truck keys onto the granite countertop. "Do you want a glass of wine or something stronger?"

The answer to the question died on my lips as my gaze caught on the wall of glass that made up the kitchen's far side. Moonlight poured in through floor-to-ceiling windows like something out of a home decorating magazine. "Oh my God," I whispered. I knew he lived on the bay, but the view from his kitchen was stunning. "Did you steal this house from a movie set?"

Matt smiled as he slid open the massive floor-to-ceiling glass door, the ocean breeze rushing in. "Do you want to go outside?"

"Yes!" I practically bounced on my toes. The wind swept in from the bay, carrying the scent of salt and seaweed. It lifted the hair from my neck and cooled the flush in my cheeks. Each breath filled my lungs with that distinctive mix of saltwater and freedom that made my city apartment feel like a shoebox with a window.

"How about I grab a bottle of wine?" He was already moving toward what I assumed was his wine fridge, and I'll meet you out there."

I nodded, a slow smile spreading across my face before stepping out into the cool, clear night. My gaze lifted, taking in the thousands of little stars filling the sky and a full moon.

I strolled down the concrete path around the pool and hot tub to the edge. The salt-heavy air filled my lungs, and the knots in my shoulders loosened with each exhale. To my left was a covered patio area with a table and chairs, and to my right were steps that led down to a small area of grass before a short drop-off into the bay and a view of nothing but endless ocean.