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That night…he’d seen her, and he hadn’t been able to look away. When she caught him staring, she didn’t blush or lower her eyes.
Instead, she met his gaze, held it.
And she’d been holding it ever since.
When he first learned she was being named Executive Director of the Philadelphia Initiative, he’d briefly considered resigning his position on the board, thinking it best to keep a proper distance between his world and hers. Of course, that plan fell apart when he was asked to run for chairman and instead of saying no, he’d foolishly agreed.
“Are you listening to me?” Patricia’s eyes narrowed as she looked over at Liza. She’d caught him staring in the other woman’s direction one too many times tonight.
Matt turned his attention back to her. “Of course I am.”
God help him if she asked him to repeat what she’d just said because he didn’t have a clue.
For the next half hour, he forced himself to tune in to Patricia, while making a concerted effort not to turn and look for Liza. He wished he didn’t have to try so hard.
It should be a simple matter. He wasn’t the type of man to have his head turned by any woman. He’d sworn off serious relationships and marriage a long, long time ago, and he’d held true to that commitment, never once faltering.
Typically, he was better able to keep his wits about him when in Liza’s vicinity, but tonight…
God…tonight, in that red gown, she looked like something ripped from his most wicked fantasies, and he was struggling to rein in his baser instincts, the ones screaming at him to march over to her, toss her over his shoulder, and drag her to his lair.
Matt ran a hand through his hair and pushed that unruly desire down deep. Because he would never—could never—give in to that impulse.
And not simply because she was a Moretti, and he was a Russo.
But because she didn’t tick the mandatory box on his list, and that was a problem.
“I’m surprised your brother Gage didn’t come tonight,” Patricia said. “Still in the honeymoon phase?”
“Probably,” he replied without inflection.
“Where did they go on their honeymoon again?” Patricia had become interested in his brother of late, working Gage’s married state into conversation the last couple of times they’d been together. Subtlety was not her strong suit.
“New Zealand,” he replied. “Conor called it Penny and Gage’s nerd honeymoon. Their first choice was Comic-Con, but since they married in February and the convention is in July, they decided to visit the Shire and went on the Hobbiton tour instead.”
Matt was about ninety percent certain Patricia didn’t give a shit about anything he’d just said. That was the other thing about her that was getting old. She always talked but never listened.
“I’m sure Gage would take on some of these society chores if you wanted to spend more time at home.”
“In truth, my brother has never attended parties like this. Gage’s interests run more along the lines of dungeons, dragons, and grand theft, the auto variety.”
Patricia tittered, a much quieter laugh that told him this conversation wasn’t one she wanted others to hear. “He’s quite the devoted husband. Do you think that’s a common trait shared by you Russo brothers?”
“Hard to say considering Gage is the only one who’s succumbed.”
Patricia wasn’t swayed. “He’s the only one…so far.”
“Chances are good he’ll be the only one, period. Conor and I are both married to our work.”
Patricia bent even closer, her breasts brushing against his arm. “You don’t have to be.”
“Patricia. I’ve never made any secret about my feelings regarding marriage. You and I have an arrangement—” he started, but, of course, she cut him off.
“And we still do,” she reassured him. “I’m fine with things the way they are. It’s just we get along so well, and you have to admit we’re well-suited in the bedroom. I was thinking…” She paused, studying his face too closely.
“Thinking?” he prodded.
“We should take what we have and expand on it. We’re both rich, beautiful,” she said without an ounce of humility. “And if your reasons for rejecting marriage stem from a lack of desire to be monogamous, I’d be fine with looking the other way, as long as you’re discreet. And, of course, I’d offer the same discretion with my dalliances.”
