Fighting for Love (Second Chances #4)(23)
Mason averted his gaze back to the ring and smiled when Matt took Tyler to the mat. “Uh-oh, the fight’s almost over. Tyler doesn’t do so well on the mat. His strength is in his punches. Anyway, to answer the other part, no, he’s not going to f*ck every woman he gets his hands on and he hasn’t for a really long time. When we became friends and he started spending time with me and my wife, she must have said something to him that made him rethink what he was doing. So for the past six months or so he hasn’t let any women in his room after the fights. He’s been trying to change.”
Really? Oh, please let Mason be right.
Hearing Mason’s words gave me hope. That hope intensified when out of nowhere I was scooped into Matt’s sweaty yet strong arms with his mouth pressed hard to mine. The crowd hooted and hollered, whistling as Matt claimed me for his own in front of thousands among thousands of people. Everything about him was scorching to the touch; even his lips felt like they were on fire, the heat trailing through every vein in my body.
“Matt,” I gasped. “What are you doing?”
Still in his arms, he gazed down at me with his passionate, heat-filled green eyes. “I just won the fight, angel, and now it’s time to claim my prize. I hope you’re ready for this.”
I was more than ready.
THE DECISION TO GO TO Matt’s house was a mutual agreement. After changing into a pair of jeans and plain white T-shirt, we were out of the arena as fast as we could go. With the way Jace handled Matt this morning I didn’t want to take the chance on him being there, even if he’d said he wasn’t going to be. While on the way to his house in Santa Rosa, I had a couple of text messages come in from Caleb.
Caleb: Just letting you know I was thinking about you. Don’t forget about tomorrow night. It looks like the majority wants to go to Bay Ridge. I’ll pick you up at 6 and then after dinner there’s a party at Hayley’s.
Caleb: Is everything okay? You haven’t called or texted.
Quickly, I texted him back.
Me: Yes, everything’s fine. Just been busy. I’ll see you tomorrow.
The distress must’ve shown on my face because Matt lifted a curious brow and asked, “Are you all right?”
Not really, but I might as well get the date talk over and done with.
Releasing a heavy sigh, I groaned and turned my body toward him so I could face him. He was driving, so it was hard for him to really look at me, but at least I was facing him head on. “Yes, and no,” I answered honestly. “There’s something I need to tell you.”
His grip tightened on the wheel and he stiffened. Immediately, I regretted what I said because it was the same thing I said to him ten years ago in the same damn car.
“No, Matt, it’s not like that,” I shrieked, grabbing a hold of his arm. “I shouldn’t have used those words. I’m sorry, I wasn’t thinking about that.” Once his hands relaxed, I continued, “Okay, so Lexi and her sister have made it their life’s mission to set me up with one of their friends. Well, the other day I met someone and we’ve been kind of getting to know each other. It’s not serious or anything, but we have a date tomorrow. It’s actually with a group of us, so it’s not like it’s just me and him. The date was planned before you even came into the picture.”
Clenching his teeth, he kept his eyes on the road, the lights from the street sparkling in his stormy yet wary gaze. We reached his house a few minutes later, and my mouth immediately dropped open as he drove us down the stone driveway. The Spanish style house sat atop a hill that no doubt had a glorious view of the mountains once daylight came. I couldn’t wait to see it in the morning.
Matt parked his Bronco out front and turned it off, letting the keys dangle in the ignition. I waited on him to look at me, but he didn’t. “Do you like this guy?” he finally asked.
Reaching over the seat, I put my hand on his cheek and turned his face toward me. He needed to see the truth in my eyes. “Matt, I need you to look at me,” I told him. When his green gaze found mine, I continued, “I’m not going to lie to you. Yes, I like him, but he reminded me so much of you that I couldn’t help but be drawn to him.”
“So what are you saying?”
“What I’m saying,” I began with a smile, “is that I’m going to tell him tomorrow night that I can’t see him anymore. After being with you again, I can’t imagine spending my time with anyone else.”
Sighing, he glanced down at my lips and back up to my eyes, a slow smile creeping across his lips. “Well, I guess the solution to that would be to make sure you don’t forget it. Let’s go inside.”
As soon as we walked through the front door, Matt led me to the kitchen and started pulling things out of the refrigerator. I figured he’d be hungry after the fight and I most definitely was. I hadn’t eaten since breakfast and it was already closing in on midnight. On the lavish kitchen counter, Matt had ham, turkey, lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, pickles, mayonnaise, and a big bottle of mustard all splayed out in a row.
Grabbing a bottle of water, he slid it across the bar to me and I caught it before it could slide past. “Good catch,” he chimed. “Now where exactly are you going on your date tomorrow?”
His head was down, fixing our sandwiches, and I stole a pickle off of his. I used to do the same thing to him when he’d make us sandwiches a long time ago. Smiling, he shook his head and added more pickles.