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“Personal reasons,” she said with a shit-eating grin.
Matt lifted his wine glass, a silent touché to her smart-assery.
Then she answered anyway. “I’ve spent the last ten years as a single woman, living and eating alone, and I hate it. I want what my parents and grandparents have—companionship, love, and a big family.”
“A big family,” he said, not bothering to hide his disdain. “Why is it you Morettis feel compelled to pack every house with a hundred bodies?”
Liza laughed. “Gage filled you in on Christmas Eve, I see.”
“He did.”
“Did he tell you how much he loved it?”
Matt lifted one shoulder noncommittally, though the truth was Gage had spent the better part of an hour describing the Moretti holiday as if it was Mardi Gras, Rio Carnival, and Times Square on New Year’s Eve all rolled into one.
“You know what your problem is, Mr. Russo?” she asked in a teasing tone. “You wouldn’t know a good time if it bit you on the ass.”
Matt reached across the table, grasping Liza’s hand, pulling it until she was bent over the table. Kissing the back of her hand, he stroked the soft skin with his tongue, giving her one brief lick that had her expression morphing from playful to outright lust. “That’s not true. I had a good time the night of the gala.”
Liza’s eyes widened for a split second before she offered him another taste of that open honesty. “I did too,” she murmured. “It was one of the best nights of my life.”
Her words warmed him in ways he couldn’t begin to understand. “You said you discovered something about yourself.”
She nodded. “You know I did. You were there.”
“You’re right. I was there,” he admitted. “And I could be there again.” This was how Matt intended to entice her back into his bed. While he couldn’t give her marriage or kids or forever, there was something else she wanted…perhaps just as much.
“But—”
“I was wrong to dismiss what we shared out of hand. While I’m not interested in an emotional relationship, I am very attracted to you, Liza. I can’t offer you love and marriage, but exploring our sexual desires, expanding on our similar needs, is no longer off the table.”
She closed her mouth, rather than reply, but he could see his words sinking in.
Before they could continue the conversation, the flight attendant approached, offering coffee and dessert. Liza accepted both, though he wasn’t sure if she really wanted them or just needed more time to wrap her head around what he’d proposed.
Once they were alone again, she took a deep breath, and he could read the rejection in her eyes. He had a pretty good idea about why she was hesitant. After all, she’d just told him point-blank she wanted a relationship, but he hoped to convince her to set that aside for a little while. He wasn’t taking no for an answer.
“Matt—” she started.
He shook his head. “No, Liza. Don’t answer me tonight. Take some time to think about it.”
“Okay.”
“Would you like to watch a movie?” he asked, letting her off the hook.
For now.
“A movie would be great.”
They stood from the table, Matt leading her to the couch. Lowering the blinds, the two of them chose a movie, some action-adventure film he’d already seen. Liza attempted to maintain a polite distance from him, but the time for that had passed.
He reached out, tugging her against him, his arm draped over her shoulders. He was pleased when she sank into the embrace rather than seek to move away. Neither of them spoke during the movie, though Matt was certain she wasn’t paying any more attention to it than he was. They’d paused it briefly to return to their seats when they landed in Denver. Once on the ground, they pushed play again, and it ended just as they were about to take off, the plane now refueled and ready for the longer leg of the journey.
Once they were back in the air, Matt unfastened his seat belt. “You can take the bed,” he said, reaching down to help Liza stand. “I’ll sleep out here. These seats recline.”
Liza shook her head. “No. I’m not stealing your bed. I was planning to sleep sitting up in the economy section anyway. The lovely recliner is already a huge step up.”
Matt placed his hand on her lower back, propelling her toward the bedroom. “I’m not going to argue about it. You’re taking the bed.”
