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Liza wasn’t convinced. “Why was she in your office if you were still broken up?”
“Patricia is of the opinion that the two of us should get married.” Matt decided full disclosure was in his best interest when it came to Liza.
“She’s in love with you?”
Of course that was where Liza’s thoughts would go. In the world the Morettis inhabited, two things were certain—and it wasn’t Benjamin Franklin’s death and taxes. It was love and marriage.
“Not at all,” he said.
Liza frowned. “I don’t understand. Why marry someone you don’t love?”
“I should think that would be obvious. Money.”
Liza snorted—until she realized he was serious. “Because the two of you don’t have enough already?”
“People like Patricia will never have enough.”
“What about you?” Liza asked.
“I have plenty.”
“So you’re not going to marry her?”
Matt shook his head, grateful for this opening. If they were going to continue forward in the manner Matt hoped, Liza needed to understand one very vital thing about him. “No. I’m not marrying her. I’m not marrying anyone. Ever,” he stressed.
Liza paused, and he sensed she was trying to let that sink in. “Gage told us that already. When Penny mentioned she was worried about you marrying Patricia.”
“Penny was worried?” Matt hadn’t realized that stupid online article had made the rounds as far as it had.
“She wasn’t looking forward to spending holidays and family outings with Queen of the Mean Girls.”
“I didn’t know she’d seen the article. I would have put her fears to rest immediately.”
“Gage handled that for you. Said you were married to your work.”
Matt lifted one shoulder casually. “I’m not sure I would say it exactly that way. Work is work. Marriage is…something for other people. Something I have no interest in.”
“Why not?”
He knew Liza, knew she’d keep pushing until she got the answers to all her questions. She was destined for disappointment because there were parts of himself he’d vowed never to share. And while he could make up some lie about enjoying his bachelorhood, or employ the billionaire concerns about gold diggers and huge divorce settlements, he preferred to give her the same honesty she kept offering to him.
“I have reasons, Liza, but they’re personal.” It was as much as he could give her.
Liza leaned back and took another sip of her wine. The flight attendant served the rest of their dinner and refilled their glasses.
Rather than let Liza push for more once they were alone again, he cut her off at the pass because he needed to be certain of her single state as well. “Who was the man you were dancing with on New Year’s Eve?”
Her confusion appeased that unwanted jealous side of him because it was obvious she didn’t have a clue who he was talking about. Then the light went on. “Oh! You mean Miles? He’s Joey’s cohost on ManPower.”
“Is that a thing?”
“No. He’s a nice guy, but we were just dancing. I’m not dating anyone at the moment. You saw my last attempt crash and burn.”
She was referring to Davis Taylor, her date for the Snowflake Gala. The man had overplayed his hand that night, revealing not only his chauvinistic side but his overly ambitious one as well.
They ate quietly for a little while, and when Liza began speaking again, he realized she was still thinking about their conversation. “While you’re clinging to your swinging-single card, I’m trading mine in someday because I definitely want to get married.”
“Why?” he asked, lobbing her question back at her.
