“I’ll leave you two to work this out,” Nancy said, looking from Kristen to her son. When neither of them responded, Nancy laughed. “It looks like you’ve met your match, Matt.”

  Matt waited for her to slip into the back room before he asked, “What’s wrong? You don’t like that piece?”

  “Are you out of your mind? It may be the most beautiful piece of art I’ve ever seen.”

  Kristen loved to visit galleries and antique shops, but she’d never seen a piece that moved her quite the way Nancy’s painting did. When she closed her eyes, she imagined wandering through the brightly colored flowers, holding her lover’s hand and talking about the life they hoped to build in their little cottage. She often looked at art that way or tried to imagine what the artist had been thinking when they painted it, what or who inspired them, and who they saw in the faces of the people they painted.

  “Then I don’t see the problem.” Matt seemed frustrated, like her stubborn refusal was the only thing standing between him and something he desperately wanted. Clearly Matt Hudson was used to getting what he wanted.

  “I do love the piece, and I’d love to own it, more than anything, but I can’t let you buy it for me. It wouldn’t be right.” Kristen earned a good living, but she invested a good portion back into the business so she could grow her support staff without having to worry too much about the lean months. “It may take me a year, but I’d like to pay you in installments.”

  “Kris, that’s really not necessary.” Matt looked remorseful. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to back you into a corner or make you uncomfortable.” He sighed and reached for her hands. “It’s just that I saw how your eyes lit up when you walked in and saw that piece, and I want you to have it.”

  Kristen couldn’t remember when a man had given her a gift just because he wanted to make her smile. She felt like an ungrateful shrew, throwing Matt’s generosity back in his face. “I’m the one who should be sorry. You tried to do something unbelievably nice for me, and I respond by getting upset.”

  “I usually date women who expect expensive gifts from me.” Nuzzling her hair, he said, “I keep forgetting you’re not like anyone else. That’s why I can’t seem to let you go.”

  Kristen let his words sink in and warm her all over. The more he said he wanted to be with her, the easier it was to believe him. “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

  He looked her in the eye, obviously trying to decide if she was softening. “Does that mean you’ll agree to have dinner with me tomorrow night? It doesn’t have to be at High Rollers. We can go anywhere you want.”

  She wrapped her arms around his waist and tipped her head back to look at him. “We should stick to High Rollers. If your mother and I are going to plan this anniversary party, I’ll need to get a feel for the place, won’t I?”

  Matt picked her up and kissed her thoroughly. “You won’t regret this, I promise.” He set her down when she nudged his shin with her dangling feet.

  “I know I won’t.” Kristen couldn’t remember the last time she’d been so excited about an event. She was determined to plan a party that would make Matt and his partners proud while giving every other event planner in Texas something to aspire to. No doubt about it, people would talk about High Rollers’ anniversary for a long, long time to come.

  Chapter Six

  Matt sat at the bar the following evening feeling antsier with every second. He’d wanted to pick Kristen up, but she texted him to say she was running late and would just meet him at the bar. That made it feel too much like a business meeting, and he didn’t want her to have any doubt that he considered it a date. Sure, he wanted her to plan the party for them, but only because he was anxious to spend more time with her.

  “What’s got you lookin’ like your underwear’s too tight?” Jaxon asked, wrapping his arm around Matt’s neck and squeezing until Matt winced and shoved his arm away.

  “I’m meeting Kristen. She’s running a little late.”

  Jaxon chuckled and claimed the bar stool beside his friend. “If we’re talking about that hot little event planner, chances are she got a better offer.”

  Matt hid a grimace behind his glass. Jaxon was just giving him a hard time. Still, Matt couldn’t ignore the fear in his gut. What if she had stood him up?

  “Hey, I’m just messin’ with ya, man.” Jaxon nodded to the bartender, who set a shot of Jack Daniels on the bar. “She probably got tied up at work. So is she gonna plan the party for us or what?”

  “Hopefully we’ll firm up the details tonight,” Matt muttered. Business was the last thing on his mind, but they didn’t have any time to waste if they wanted it to be a party that made headlines.

  “How did she respond when you asked her?” Jaxon asked, raising his glass.

  “She said she was swamped, and her assistant is out of town.”

  “So why didn’t you just find someone else?”

  “Because I want her.” Any and every way I can get her.

  “I can see that, but I’m talking about the party. Why didn’t you just ask someone else to plan it?” He grinned before sipping his favorite drink.

  “My mother offered to help. I think that may have helped convince Kristen to take it on.”

  “Your mother?” Jaxon’s lip twitched. “You’ve introduced her to your parents already? I thought the last girl to meet your mama was the ex-wife from hell.”

  Matt’s friends and partners made no secret of the fact they despised his ex-wife. He would have been as indignant had a woman ever pulled the same stunt on any one of them, so he never stopped Jaxon from taking shots at Robin.

  “Kristen saw some of my mother’s art at my place. She was intrigued, so I took her by the gallery. It was no big deal.” Jaxon would consider it a big deal if he learned Matt had insisted on buying her an original, even though Kristen refused to accept it as a gift.

  “So you guys have been out before? I mean, this isn’t your first date?”

  Matt suspected every date would feel like the first with her. No one had ever set him on edge the way Kristen did. “I passed by her office to ask her about the party. We talked about our high school reunion. We both went…” Matt’s thoughts drifted to the way that evening had ended. He hadn’t pushed when she said she had to leave. She was running hot and cold, and he needed confirmation that she was into him before he could let his defenses down.

  “And?”

  “We left together. She came back to my place. We went to Fredericksburg the next day then to my mama’s gallery.” Matt rolled his eyes when a sly grin appeared on Jaxon’s face. “She didn’t spend the night, if that’s what you’re thinking.”

  “Why the hell not?” Jaxon shook his head. “Man, that bitch really did a number on you, didn’t she? You have to let it go. Not all women are like Robin.”

  “I know that. Kris is nothing like Robin. She’s been burned before too. Her ex-fiancé was a real asshole. I don’t think she’s ready to start seeing someone else yet.”

  “Does that mean she turned you down when you asked?”

  “You could say that.” Matt didn’t worry about his pride with his buddies. They shared everything, including their trials and tribulations with women. He never would have gotten through his divorce and the bleak months before and after it if not for his partners.

  “So, what’re you gonna do?”

  Matt shrugged. “See how it all plays out, I guess.” He smiled when he thought about how much fun they’d had yesterday. “I had it bad for her back in high school, and nothing’s changed. She could still have me wrapped around her finger.”

  Jaxon narrowed his eyes. “I don’t think I like the sound of that. Sounds like the way things were with Robin. I thought you’d learned your lesson.”

  “I have.”

  “You’ve had the right attitude about all the girls you’ve dated since the divorce. Love ‘em and leave ‘em.”

  Jaxon was right, but Matt had subconsciously been waiting for someone who made him feel the way Kristen did. He liked being in love and enjoyed being in a committed relationship. In spite of the fact that Robin had broken his heart, he was ready to try again.

  “Is that right?”

  Matt groaned inwardly when he heard Kristen’s voice behind them. Talk about lousy timing. He slowly pivoted as he tried to think of what to say to erase Jaxon’s words from her mind. “Hey, Kris.” Reaching for her hand, he slid off the stool. He felt the tension radiating from her, but at least she didn’t try to pull away when he brushed his lips across hers. “Glad you could make it.”

  “I hope I didn’t interrupt.” She shot a glance at Jaxon.

  “No, not at all,” Matt said, trying to downplay his chat with his partner. “Kristen, this is one of my partners and best friends, Jaxon Davis. Jaxon, Kristen Beck.”

  Jaxon stood, offering his hand. “Matt’s told me a lot about you. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

  Kristen couldn’t hide her skepticism as she shook Jaxon’s hand. “I’ll just bet he has.” She looked at Matt before returning her attention to Jaxon. “It’s nice to meet you too, Jaxon.”

  “I’ll leave you two to your dinner.” Jaxon reached for his drink. “I’m gonna head back to the office. Grayson’s supposed to be meeting me in a bit. Are you guys having dinner in the private suite?”

  “That’s the plan,” Matt said, wishing Jaxon hadn’t made it sound like a sex den. It was a private room where they hosted weekly poker games for a group of friends and V.I.P. customers.

  “Cool, I’ll catch up with you later then.” Jaxon grinned at Kristen. “I really hope this guy can talk you into planning this party for us. We need all the help we can get.”

  Kristen smiled, clearly softening. “He may be able to convince me.”

  “If he can’t, maybe I can.” He winked at Kristen before smirking at Matt.

  Matt was used to his buddies flirting with the beautiful women he brought to the bar. It had never bothered him, but he glared at Jaxon, letting him know to back off. “Don’t let us keep you.”

  Jaxon chuckled. “I can take a hint. I hope to see you again real soon, Kristen.”

  “Apparently you can’t take a hint.” Matt reached for Kristen’s hand. “Get lost.”

  Kristen allowed Matt to lead her through the crowd. He tried to avoid engaging in conversation with any of the regulars who slapped his back or offered a hand as he walked past. He just wanted to get her alone so he could try to explain Jaxon’s comment.

  Once they were finally inside the dimly lit wood-panelled room, he closed the door and faced her. “About what Jaxon said—”

  “It’s okay,” she said, raising a hand. “You don’t owe me an explanation. What you do and with whom you do it is your business.”

  “Damn it, don’t do that. Don’t shut me down again just because you heard something you didn’t like.” He sighed when her features tightened, sending him a clear message that he was only making matters worse.

  She crossed her arms, letting him know that she’d already made up her mind about him. “Fine, if you want to talk, talk. I’m listening.”

  “Like you, I’ve been burned before.” He dropped his head. The last thing he wanted to talk about was his marriage and the reason it ended, but he knew she wouldn’t feel at ease around him until he offered some explanation. “The way I’ve approached relationships has been different since then, to say the least. I was only interested in having fun.”

  “Good to know.” She stepped back.

  Frustrated, he said, “But it’s not like that with you. You need to know that. I don’t know where this is going, but I’d sure as hell like to find out.”

  “How many women are you dating right now?”

  The question stunned him. “I… uh…” He couldn’t avoid answering it without looking as though he has something to hide.

  “It’s a simple question. How many women have you been out with in the last month?”

  Admitting he couldn’t remember for certain would definitely be the wrong course of action. He lifted a shoulder. “A few.”

  “A few as in three?”

  The lingering look they shared confirmed they both knew it was more than that.

  “Five, eight, ten? What’s the number, Matt?”

  “I don’t know, okay?” He threw his hands up, thinking he would throttle Jaxon the first chance he got. If he hadn’t planted another seed of doubt in Kristen’s mind, they wouldn’t even be having that conversation.

  “Wow, that many.” She was going for sarcasm, but the flash of pain in her bright blue eyes told him how disappointed she was.

  “I was just having a little fun.” That was a weak excuse, but it was the truth. Matt had always been the steadfast one. He was the guy others came to when they had a problem, the one who had treated every woman like she belonged on a pedestal, the way his mama taught him. But Robin changed all of that. She convinced him that not all women deserved his respect and reverence.

  He stroked her face, knowing that he was probably crossing some line. He didn’t care. If that was his last chance with her, he intended to make sure she couldn’t forget him, just as he hadn’t been able to forget her. “I know that’s not what you want to hear, but I’m trying to be honest with you. I won’t tell you what you want to hear just ‘cause it’ll help me make my case. You deserve better than that. You deserve the best of me, and that’s what I’d like to give you.”

  She looked uncertain, but at least she wasn’t backing out of the room. “I’m not interested in dating a player. I know it may seem a little old-fashioned, but when I’m dating a man, I want to be the only one.”

  “Okay.” He could live with her terms. He wouldn’t want to date anyone else as long as he had Kristen.

  “Okay? Just like that you’re ready to give up all the others?”

  “Just like that.” He stepped closer, closing the distance between them. His lips hovered just above hers, but he wasn’t about to mess up by proceeding before he got the green light. He’d waited for her a long time. It wouldn’t kill him to wait a little longer, especially since he finally had a chance with her.

  “I want to believe you.”

  She looked so earnest, and he realized that was what had been missing in every other relationship he’d ever had: raw vulnerability and complete honesty. He’d never lied to any of the women he’d been with, but neither party had worn their hearts on their sleeves either. He wanted things to be different with Kristen.

  “You can believe me. I promise.” His lips grazed hers, and her hands moved to his shoulders. At first he wasn’t sure whether she would push him away or draw him closer, but within a few seconds, he had his answer. He eased into the kiss, content to let her set the pace. He explored her mouth, letting her know without words that he believed they had all the time in the world to delve into their feelings.

  She broke the kiss, looking a little flushed and dazed. “I can’t deny I’m attracted to you.”

  He smiled, admiring her sweetness and innocence. Life may have dealt her a few bad hands, but he could tell she still held out hope that she would eventually get her happily ever after. He hadn’t given up on marriage or kids either, or the life he’d been dreaming of when he slipped that ring on Robin’s finger. His ex-wife may have quashed his spirit for a while, but she hadn’t stolen his dreams.

  “Good to know,” he said.

  A tap on the door, followed by the voice of one of his servers, prompted Kristen to step out of his arms.

  Matt opened the door and smiled at the young waitress they’d hired a few weeks ago. “Hey, Kimberly.”

  “Hi, Matt,” she said, smiling shyly. “I’m sorry to disturb you.” She cast a nervous glance in Kristen’s direction. “The chef told me to ask whether he should start your appetizers.”

  “Please, and you can bring in the bottle of wine I selected.”

  “Of course, I’ll get it right away,” she said, lowering her head in deference. She hadn’t been with them long enough to know that he and his partners didn’t expect to be treated like royalty just because they owned the place.

  “Thanks, Kimberly.” Closing the door, he turned to Kristen. “I hope you don’t mind that I ordered for us.”

  “No, of course not.” She smiled as she pulled out one of the chairs at the table set for two in the middle of the spacious room. “Who better than you to know what’s good?”

  He helped her get settled before sitting across from her. Before he could tell her how lovely she looked, Kimberly was back with their wine. “Come in,” he said when she knocked.

  Kimberly walked in, still clearly nervous to be waiting on her boss and his date. “I have your wine, sir.”

  Matt frowned as Kristen’s lips twitched. She could tell he felt uncomfortable when people kowtowed to him. “Great, thanks.”

  He watched Kimberly fumble to open the bottle, and he barely suppressed a sigh. He hoped nerves were getting the best of her and she wasn’t that inept when serving their customers. The managers in each restaurant were responsible for hiring their own staff, and he suspected Toby hired Kimberly because of her looks instead of her experience.

  “I’m sorry,” she said, blushing furiously. “I think I’ve got it now.”

  Kristen gave the young woman a warm smile. “It’s no problem. Take your time.”

  Matt’s respect for Kristen heightened. It was important for him to feel good about the way the lady in his life treated people. After Robin’s blatant disrespect for his employees, and all service people for that matter, he vowed he would look for the warning signs before he got sucked into a similar relationship.

  Kimberly gave Kristen a grateful smile as she splashed some merlot into Matt’s glass, inviting him to sample it.

  He swirled it before taking a sip and nodding. “Good, thank you.”

  Kimberly poured some into each of their glasses before setting the bottle on the table. “Your appetizers should be ready in a few minutes.” She backed out of the room.

  “Perfect, thanks.” Matt reached for Kristen’s hand. When he heard the door close with a soft click, he said, “You were very sweet to her.”