Page 165 of Her Defiant Warrior

She threw back her head and laughed. When she was finally done, she picked up her plate, and deftly switched it with Matt’s. “There you go. I have plans for you later on. You need to keep your strength up.”

They were still laughing by the time they made it back to her house. The first order of business was to take Xena out for a walk. Matt waited for Lainey to change out of her dress, then the three of them walked a couple of blocks around the streets of Annapolis, then headed back to Lainey’s building.

While they were waiting for the elevator to take them to her floor, Matt leaned over and whispered into Lainey’s ear.

“Do you want me to kiss you right here?”

“Huh?”

“You’re biting your lip.”

Lainey released her lip and grinned. “I think my mother would disapprove if you did.”

“I’m not sure that’s a deterrent. From everything you’ve told me about her, it might be fun to upset her applecart.”

They stepped into the elevator. Matt slipped his arm around her waist and she dropped her head onto his chest. She liked how they fit together.

“I think something’s been bothering you tonight,” Matt said as they left the elevator. Matt took the keys from her and unlocked her door.

“Are you clairvoyant?”

“I just like to observe things.”

“That probably makes you good at your job.”

“It does,” he agreed.

“You’ve never told me much about what you do at your company besides making presentations.”

“Lainey, I’ll go over my entire job description some other time. Right now, I’m not going to let you deflect anymore. Tell me what’s bothering you.” He helped her out of her jacket and hung it up in her coat closet.

She went over to her refrigerator and pulled out a bottle of water. “Would you like one?”

He shook his head. “Come sit on the couch with me. I need you in my arms.”

How did he know exactly what she needed?

She went to the couch and cuddled beside him. When he had her wrapped up in his arms, he said, “Tell me.”

“It was just a crazy idea I had. It’s nothing.”

“Lainey, we’re past that point. If you have a crazy idea, or any kind of idea for that matter, and you want to discuss it with me, then go ahead. I’m not going to judge you. I promise.”

There had to be something about being wrapped up in his arms, and the spicy scent that was all Matt, that cleared away all of her angst about what she was going to ask him. Well, most of her angst.

“Interested in an all-expense paid trip to Charleston?” She mumbled the question into his chest.

He answered her without any kind of pause. “Not if you’re footing the bill.” He tipped her chin up. “So, tell me why we’re going to Charleston together.”

When Lainey looked up into Matt’s eyes, all she saw was kindness and acceptance. Something that was sorely missing when she was growing up. “It’s my parent’s fortieth wedding anniversary, and it’s going to be a weekend-long extravaganza. I mean we’re talking a real-life ball. Can you imagine growing up in a house with a ballroom?”

She watched as Matt’s eyes widened.

Lainey pushed out of Matt’s arms and reached for the water bottle on the coffee table. He took it out of her hands and untwisted the top, then handed it to her.

“I see the look on your face. You can’t imagine it. A ballroom, for goodness' sake. Granted, it’s small, but still a ballroom. She’s hosting probably eight different couples there at the house, and probably rented rooms at the highest-end hotels in town for thirty others that she deems worthy. I don’t want to think how many more servants she’ll have on hand.”

“More servants? You grew up with servants?”