Take Two (The Jilted Bride #1)(41)

“Thank you Sophie. Is that all?”

“Reception downstairs called to say you have a package. The guy won’t leave until you personally sign for it.”

“Where’s my signature stamp?” I opened my drawer.

“He said he needs to see your ID.”

“Is he serious? Does he not know how office buildings work?” I stood up and put on my blazer. “Have Peter Travers on the phone when I get back please.”

I followed her out of my office and waited for the service elevator.

Is this how Matt got up to my office the first time? Don’t think about him. Don’t think about him…

I walked to the main floor and spotted a man holding a flat box against the reception desk.

“Did you just get hired yesterday?” I handed him my ID. “I think our receptionist has more than enough brains to accept packages for everyone that works here.”

He held the ID to the light and handed it back to me. “I was given specific instructions, Miss Carter. Could you sign here please?”

He held out a clipboard and I pressed my signature onto the paper. He handed me the box and tipped his hat as he walked away.

There was no return address on the package, only an “URGENT” label across the front. I shook it, but the contents didn’t make a sound. I tried prying it open with my nails but the tape was too thick.

I locked the door to my office and attacked the box with scissors.

Inside was a handwritten note: “Dear Melody, I can’t wait to see you this Friday. We can take things as slow as you like. Hope this will last a lot longer than my last gift to you. –Your favorite actor, Matt Sterling.”

I peeled away layers of cooking sheet paper to get to the gift: A candy pizza. The “crust” was a light chocolate chip cookie, the “cheese” was sweet dough, and the “toppings” were M&Ms, candy corn, and caramel coated peanuts.

I can’t believe this…

My cell phone rang. “Hello?”

“Did you open the box yet?” he sounded even sexier over the phone.

“I just opened it. Thank you, this was really sweet. No pun intended.”

He laughed. “You’re welcome.”

His words lingered across the line for several seconds. Neither of us said anything.

“I’m assuming you’re having a slow day?” I asked.

“Quite the opposite. I just left a script reading session with some cast mates. I’m on my way to look at some shoes for the wedding.”

Oh yeah, YOUR wedding.

“Listen, Matt. This pizza was really nice of you and so was the dinner you made for me yesterday. But at the end of the day, you’re still engaged. Whether that’s real or fake, I think we should be associates until your fake relationship is over.”

“What’s your definition of an associate?”

“Someone I talk to ever so often and—”

“How often?”

I paused for a second. “Maybe three or four times a month?”

“Do associates ever hang out or eat dinner together?”

“No. They don’t.”

He groaned. “I don’t need any more associates, Melody.”

“Casual friends then?”

“I thought we were friends. Are you telling me we’re not friends anymore?”

“I’m telling you we shouldn’t be anything while you’re with Selena.”

“What can I do to get you to stop saying that?”

Don’t marry her…

“I don’t know.”

He sighed. “I’ll call you tonight. What time do you go to sleep?”

I made sure my cell was completely charged. I paced my bedroom, looking at the clock every five seconds.

Butterflies were fluttering in my stomach and I couldn’t get my palms to stop sweating. I’d never been so nervous about a phone call in my life, not even when Sean and I began dating.

At exactly nine o’ clock my phone sounded. I waited a couple seconds before picking it up.

“Hello?”

“Hey Melody,” his voice was deep and sultry. “How are you?”

“I’m okay. You?”

“Tired. I’m on my way back home.”

“From Selena’s?” I slapped my forehead with my palm.

He laughed. “You’re not the trusting type are you? No, I only see Selena once a week for photo opps. I was in Philly for a book signing.”

“Oh. Your biography that came out last week?”

“Yeah. Destined for the Screen.”

“How did you find the time to write a book?”

“I didn’t,” he sighed. “A ghostwriter did most of it. We spoke three hours a week and she crafted my story out of that.”

“Well in that case, I don’t feel so bad about giving it one and a half stars.”

We both laughed. I snuggled underneath a blanket and listened to him tell me about his day, about his life. Before I knew it, it was three in the morning and I didn’t want to get off the phone. I wanted our conversation to last forever.

“Tell me something,” he paused. “Was your ex-fiancé the only guy you seriously dated?”

“Pretty much. I met him when I was a freshman in college and the rest is you know…”