Uniting the Souls (Souls of Chicago #6)(20)

“Is he now?” Matt’s usually deep voice had lowered another octave and the sound sent a ripple of goose bumps over my skin. I was pleased with his reaction and it gave me the courage I needed to push him a little further. Hudson had issued his own invitation and it couldn’t hurt to let Matt know where I stood on the topic.

“You know, I’m still disappointed that you didn’t go to dinner with us that night. I think the three of us could have had a very good time together.” My heart was thundering in my chest, but somehow, I managed to hold his stare and I noticed the way his eyes darkened right before he answered me.

“Maybe I will, next time.” The inflection in his voice coupled with the way he was looking at me had me very hopeful that we were talking about the same thing. “Isaac…” Matt began, but his words were cut off by the ringing of my office phone.

“Sorry,” I muttered, frustrated at the interruption. “Yes, Allison?” I said quickly, speaking into the phone. I listened as she explained the reason for the call. “Okay, I’ll be right there.” I looked into Matt’s beautiful gray eyes, sorry to have to cut our lunch short when it had begun to get very interesting, but I had no choice.

“Another teen just showed up, this time a boy and he’s got visible bruises,” I explained. Matt’s entire demeanor changed as he switched into business mode.

“I’ll come with you. We may need to get Seth in here to take a look,” he said, referring to the center’s on-call doctor. I nodded my agreement as I stood from my desk, tossing the remains of our lunch into the garbage.

“Thanks again for lunch,” I told him.

“You’re welcome. We should do this more often. I like spending time with you,” he responded. He’d said it casually, but it still caused a fluttering in my stomach.

“I like that too,” I told him as I followed him to the door and then a thought popped into my head. “Matt, are you going to the sendoff party for Carter’s Creed?” He turned around to face me, his hand on the doorknob.

“I was considering it, but I hadn’t made up my mind yet,” he said.

“I hope you do. I’ll be there…and so will Hudson.” I let that information linger in the air as he stared directly at me. His gaze ran over my face as if searching for something and I wondered if he were looking for an excuse to turn me down. Finally, he spoke.

“I might just have to do that, then,” Matt said simply then he swung the door open and stepped out of my office. I felt a smile curving my lips and I resisted the urge to pump my fist in the air as I followed him down the long hallway to the front desk. It wasn’t the definite confirmation I’d been hoping for, but it was closer to a yes than Matt usually gave and I decided I’d take it and hope for the best.

The next several hours were spent talking with the police and children’s services as well as having Seth come in to take a look, determining that the boy did in fact suffer from several abrasions and small burn marks which looked suspiciously like they came from the tip of a cigarette.

The boy was reluctant to tell us what had happened, but once he was fed a decent meal and given time to shower and change into new clothes, he seemed more at ease. Eventually, he told the authorities enough that they were able to launch an investigation into the boy’s parents as well as begin the proper legal paperwork to ensure that he could remain at the center until a foster home became available.

With nothing left for me to do, I decided to go home and begin getting ready for the party that night. I rarely went out and when I did, it was usually just to a movie by myself, not to a club. I didn’t have any friends outside of the staff and volunteers at the center. There was no way I’d ever be able to bring myself to go to a club alone, so most nights I spent curled up at home with a good book.

That night, however, I could feel the excitement thrumming through my veins as I showered and got dressed. I wasn’t convinced that Matt would show up at the club, but I couldn’t help but be hopeful. The fact that he had brought me lunch and wanted to spend time with me was huge and the way he had looked at me was even better. The whole experience had left me wishing for things that I had long since given up on where Matt was concerned.

I enjoyed getting to know Hudson and if that’s all I ever had, he was more than enough to make me happy, but the thought of having both him and Matt, left my mouth dry and my cock growing stiff. I pressed the heel of my hand against the hardness in my pants as I willed myself to calm down so I could leave the apartment.

I checked myself in the mirror one last time. I’d allowed myself one small splurge and I’d bought a new pair of dark blue jeans and a black, silky dress shirt that I thought looked nice on me, even if it was a bit tight. I just hoped Hudson liked it and Matt, if he was there, too. I leaned towards the mirror, trying to smooth down my hair, but I gave up after the third try when it refused to stay tamed.

Satisfied that I looked decent enough to go to the party, I grabbed my wallet and stuffed it and my phone in my pocket before heading out the door. I’d made up my mind to go into the night with no expectations and to just enjoy myself no matter what happened. As long as I remembered to do that then I was sure it would be an amazing night, regardless of who showed up.





“Are you all done?” I asked, watching as he popped the last bite of chicken in his mouth.