before stepping out on to the curb.
“I’ll text you when I’m ready, Lawrence,”
Matt said.
“Take your time, sir. I’ll just be at the
coffee shop ‘round the corner playing Angry Birds.”
Kristen laughed at the image of the
distinguished-looking fifty-something driver playing the game.
Lawrence smiled when she covered her mouth.
“My teenagers got me hooked on it. I have to admit, it helps pass the time.”
She imagined his job could be boring
without some form of entertainment. “I blame my assistant for getting me
hooked,” she said in a stage whisper. “We’ll have to match skills sometime, but
I’ll warn you, I’m pretty good.”
Looking utterly charmed, Lawrence said, “As
am I, madam. It would be my pleasure.”
Matt chuckled and led Kristen into her
building. He waited until they were on the elevator heading to the eighth floor
before he said, “I love that you still have that way of making people feel at
ease.”
Kristen had always been a people person,
which was the reason she’d gotten into event planning. By far, her favorite
events were weddings and anniversary parties. Being able to share in moments happy
couples and their loved ones would never forget was special. “It’s not always
so easy. Some people are more difficult to deal with than others. But I’m sure
I don’t have to tell you that. In your line of work, you must meet maddening
people all the time.”
“I try not to let them get to me.” He
wrapped his hands around the railing behind him and studied her. “I learned
that if someone is having a bad day, I don’t have to let that define mine.”
She loved how positive he was and how
fearless he seemed. She could use a few pointers in that area. “I’ll have to
keep that in mind next time I’m dealing with an irate client or negligent
supplier.”
They stepped off the elevator, and Matt
reached for her keys. Looking up at him, she was struck by the fact that he had
everything she’d ever been looking for in a life partner. He was handsome,
considerate, charming, successful, intelligent, compassionate…
“Why are you looking at me like that?” he
asked, pausing at her door.
“I was just thinking how glad I am that you
walked back into my life.” She wasn’t usually so forward, but she felt at ease
with him in a way she never had with another man.
“I’d like to say it was by chance, but we
both know I’d be lying.” He unlocked her door and ushered her inside. “I sought
you out after I saw that magazine article.”
Kristen couldn’t deny the little thrill his
admission gave her. Matt could have his choice of women and he’d chosen her.
She may have been a fool not to acknowledge his crush when they were kids.
“Why?”
“Because I wanted to see you again.” He
skimmed his hand down her cheek. “I wanted to know if it would still be there.”
“If what would?” she asked, feeling short
of breath.
“The exhilaration, the excitement…” He
smiled and curled his hand around her cheek. “Every time I caught a glimpse of
you in the hall, I’d get butterflies in my stomach.” He chuckled softly. “I
can’t even believe I’m telling you that.”
“I’m glad you are.” Kristen moved a
fraction of an inch closer, close enough to let him know it still wasn’t close
enough. She had a sudden and powerful vision of having him as close as two
people could be. She wanted to experience that more than she’d wanted anything
in a long time. “Do you still feel that way about me?”
His eyes traveled over her face. “I was
just a kid then. A kid with a crush on the most popular girl in school.”
Kristen held her breath, waiting for him to
continue. She prayed his words wouldn’t send her crashing down from the cloud
she was floating on.
“I’m a man now. A man who knows what love
means and how easy it is to get your heart broken when you’re not careful about
who you give it to. But something tells me you’re not the kind of woman
“I’ll text you when I’m ready, Lawrence,”
Matt said.
“Take your time, sir. I’ll just be at the
coffee shop ‘round the corner playing Angry Birds.”
Kristen laughed at the image of the
distinguished-looking fifty-something driver playing the game.
Lawrence smiled when she covered her mouth.
“My teenagers got me hooked on it. I have to admit, it helps pass the time.”
She imagined his job could be boring
without some form of entertainment. “I blame my assistant for getting me
hooked,” she said in a stage whisper. “We’ll have to match skills sometime, but
I’ll warn you, I’m pretty good.”
Looking utterly charmed, Lawrence said, “As
am I, madam. It would be my pleasure.”
Matt chuckled and led Kristen into her
building. He waited until they were on the elevator heading to the eighth floor
before he said, “I love that you still have that way of making people feel at
ease.”
Kristen had always been a people person,
which was the reason she’d gotten into event planning. By far, her favorite
events were weddings and anniversary parties. Being able to share in moments happy
couples and their loved ones would never forget was special. “It’s not always
so easy. Some people are more difficult to deal with than others. But I’m sure
I don’t have to tell you that. In your line of work, you must meet maddening
people all the time.”
“I try not to let them get to me.” He
wrapped his hands around the railing behind him and studied her. “I learned
that if someone is having a bad day, I don’t have to let that define mine.”
She loved how positive he was and how
fearless he seemed. She could use a few pointers in that area. “I’ll have to
keep that in mind next time I’m dealing with an irate client or negligent
supplier.”
They stepped off the elevator, and Matt
reached for her keys. Looking up at him, she was struck by the fact that he had
everything she’d ever been looking for in a life partner. He was handsome,
considerate, charming, successful, intelligent, compassionate…
“Why are you looking at me like that?” he
asked, pausing at her door.
“I was just thinking how glad I am that you
walked back into my life.” She wasn’t usually so forward, but she felt at ease
with him in a way she never had with another man.
“I’d like to say it was by chance, but we
both know I’d be lying.” He unlocked her door and ushered her inside. “I sought
you out after I saw that magazine article.”
Kristen couldn’t deny the little thrill his
admission gave her. Matt could have his choice of women and he’d chosen her.
She may have been a fool not to acknowledge his crush when they were kids.
“Why?”
“Because I wanted to see you again.” He
skimmed his hand down her cheek. “I wanted to know if it would still be there.”
“If what would?” she asked, feeling short
of breath.
“The exhilaration, the excitement…” He
smiled and curled his hand around her cheek. “Every time I caught a glimpse of
you in the hall, I’d get butterflies in my stomach.” He chuckled softly. “I
can’t even believe I’m telling you that.”
“I’m glad you are.” Kristen moved a
fraction of an inch closer, close enough to let him know it still wasn’t close
enough. She had a sudden and powerful vision of having him as close as two
people could be. She wanted to experience that more than she’d wanted anything
in a long time. “Do you still feel that way about me?”
His eyes traveled over her face. “I was
just a kid then. A kid with a crush on the most popular girl in school.”
Kristen held her breath, waiting for him to
continue. She prayed his words wouldn’t send her crashing down from the cloud
she was floating on.
“I’m a man now. A man who knows what love
means and how easy it is to get your heart broken when you’re not careful about
who you give it to. But something tells me you’re not the kind of woman
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