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‘Dad relied on no one.’ He’d never once showed any emotional weakness. Wasn’t that the kind of steadfastness he would need in his own life? And yet he hated the miserable life that would force upon his family.
‘You’re not Dad,’ Sarah said firmly.
No, he wasn’t. But Matt had to be controlled. He hadn’t seen love, so he’d leaned on showing affection the only way he could—protecting his sister; behaving perfectly for his parents. Sex...it was the one place he could be unleashed, unrestrained, fully himself.
‘I’m not. I don’t want to be, but he’s the only example we have.’
Sarah sighed. ‘Just give it more thought. Maybe you don’t need an example at all.’
Matt slipped the phone back into his pocket, deciding he could control this. He would deal with the house so Hannah could change it as she wanted without digging around his past.
* * *
Hannah awoke in her room, feeling a contented sort of ache. When they had reached the apartment she’d been resolved to give Matt the space he needed to work out whatever it was that had bothered him so much at the house. She hadn’t wanted to talk; hadn’t wanted to push just then. And when he’d kissed her she’d been determined not to get caught up in their magic. But he had set her alight.
‘Touch me.’
That was what he had said. Just like that last night in Melbourne, when he had been completely naked with her, as she had with him. She’d been the real Hannah that night, the truest version of herself, and she was certain the same was true for him.
And, while she’d allowed him to distract her, the moment his lips had touched hers there’d been no force in this world that could have stopped the white-hot heat that ploughed through her, curling in her belly. No, that couldn’t be controlled, nor could it be faked. If nothing else, the way they reacted to each other was honest so, while she hadn’t used words, she’d pushed Matt in a way she’d known he would respond to.
And respond he had. He hadn’t been sunshine yesterday, he’d been the sun. Powerful, uncontrollable and a pure force of life.
Her Matt was in there. She just needed to reach him. Destroy his mask, as he had hers.
This life that they were embarking on for their family required honesty to work. More than that, Hannah cared too deeply for Matt for him to continuously shut her out. Maybe the house was exactly what they needed to bridge the gap.
Hannah flung the covers off, ready to take on the day. She wanted to explore the house some more. It might not reflect the warmth she would like, but that was what they were going to fix and, through it, she would uncover pieces of Matt.
She didn’t find him in the kitchen, which was odd, considering how early it still was, so she made herself a cup of herbal tea that she wanted to enjoy out on the terrace. Only to find Matt working in the lounge instead of his office, with the laptop sitting on his thighs.
‘Good afternoon.’ He smirked.
‘Funny.’ She rolled her eyes.
He placed the computer on the seat next to him and crossed his legs, ankle over knee. ‘I take it you slept well?’
‘I did. What’s got you in such a good mood?’ She sat on the couch opposite him, blowing on her drink.
He didn’t answer, changing the subject instead. ‘Have you made a decision about the house?’
‘I have.’ Hannah bit her lip, deciding how much to say to Matt. She didn’t want to describe the images she saw in her head of him playing in the pool with their son. Or of family picnics in the park just outside. Those seemed like dreams far too domestic for the man in those stiff photos. ‘I love the house. I think it would be perfect for our family.’
Matt said nothing but he was smiling from ear to ear.
‘I already have a few ideas, if you’re interested in hearing them.’
‘Of course I am.’
‘Great! I don’t really want to knock any part of it down. It’s a beautiful property but I would like to redecorate... What?’ she asked, seeing the look on his face.
‘I want to knock part of it down.’
‘Of course you do,’ she said, deadpan.
He laughed but explained his vision, which Hannah had to admit she really did like, and it wouldn’t be a massive undertaking either. They talked about how they could turn it into something that reflected them. Matt wanted to install every smart device he could think of, which quite frankly excited Hannah too. She could let herself believe that this would be their home. A happy place, Matt’s, hers and their son’s.
‘I’ve already hired a crew to clear out the place.’
