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He smiled against my lips. “Mm hmm, definitely canoodling.”
“Sounds perfect.”
CHAPTER23
Zara
Ifelt anticipation thrumming through me as I turned into Matt’s driveway and saw his home for the first time. We were going to have sex in a bed...make love…really, actually sleep together. I gazed at his house for a moment before getting out of the car. It was so quintessentially Matt. All timber, steel and glass. Solar lights were spaced evenly along the driveway and a spotlight lit up a tall red maple. It was stunning. Knocking on the door, I heard Bess barking, then Matt calling out, “One second!” Then there he was, standing in the doorway in all his gorgeousness. He pulled me into his arms and kissed me hungrily. “It feels different, somehow.”
“What does?”
“Kissing you.”
“Does it?”
“Mm hmm.”
“Hmm. You’ll have to kiss me again, so I can figure out if I agree.” He did. I was breathless when we finally broke apart. “You’re right. It does. This is a great place you’ve got.” I dropped a small tote bag on the floor and put my purse on the hall table. Reaching to take my jacket off, I stopped when Matt said, “You might want to leave that on.” I tilted my head enquiringly. “We’re eating outside.” I eyed him doubtfully. “It’ll be fine. I’ve got the fire going, and the outdoor heater’s on. But, yeah, jacket.” I followed him out to the back deck, admiring the polished floorboards, comfortable furniture and generous kitchen as I went. The deck was gorgeous: cozy furniture arranged casually around a fire pit that gave off a warm glow as sparks danced in the crisp night air. Potted plants were scattered around, herbs grew on the sill outside the kitchen window. Matt’s yard had a sweeping view of the Esperance Valley, soft rolling hills that sparkled and shone in the light of a full moon that sailed high in the sky. I moved closer to the fire, holding my fingers over it for warmth.
“Okay?”
I nodded. “It’s great. Whatever you’re cooking over there smells amazing.”
He smiled. “I’m glad you approve. I figured the pressure was on, cooking for a top chef.”
“Oh yeah, you’d better impress me. Wouldn’t want me heading home early.”
A flicker of heat danced in his eyes. “No, definitely don’t want that,” he said, coming toward me with a glass of red wine. He leaned in to kiss me as I took the glass from him. After a moment, he paused and shook his head seriously. “Nope. I’d better stop, or dinner will be ruined.”
“What are we having?”
“Chicken kebabs and vegetables.” I moved over to have a look and he eyed me teasingly. “Looks okay, Chef?”
“Looks good. If it tastes as good as it smells, I’d say you’re in the clear.”
“Thank God.” He put his arm around me, pulling me close against his side, holding my waist while he turned the food over. I sighed. This was heaven. Pure heaven. Once the dinner was ready, Matt pressed a kiss to my forehead, then pushed me away so he could plate the food. “Take a seat and I’ll serve. You sure you don’t mind sitting outside?”
“No, it’s great.” I curled my legs under me, sitting as close to the fire as I could. “The view is amazing here.”
“Yeah, not bad, huh?” he asked, bringing the plates over to the low sofa.
Something in his tone was telling. “You don’t like it?”
“What do you mean?”
“The view. You don’t like it?”
“Sure I do.”
“Oh. Okay. You just didn’t seem that enthusiastic about it.”
Matt shrugged. “It’s not my forever house, I guess.”
I thought I knew what he meant. “It’s your…recovery house?”
He shot me a look of surprise. “Yeah, exactly. It’s my getting over Clarice house. It was a dump when I bought it, but it was all I could afford.”
“Well, you’ve turned it into something amazing. Cheers.”
