Kristen smiled and set her napkin in her lap with her free hand. “I was that girl not so long ago, waiting tables and counting down the hours ‘til my shift ended.” She shrugged. “After my dad left, he paid for essentials like tuition, but I had to work to pay for books and parking.”

  He sensed her father’s abandonment was still a big deal for her, but he didn’t want to get into that yet. “Did the gallery deliver your piece today?”

  “Yes, they delivered it to my office this morning. Thank you again. It’s incredible.” She laughed a little self-consciously. “Sometimes I find myself just staring at it when I should be working. I’ve always wished I could do something creative like that. You know, create something beautiful from little more than an idea.”

  His mother had instilled appreciation for art in him at an early age, and it had only grown with time. “That must be the reason we both love antiques. There’s something about the workmanship. What those furniture makers were able to do with a piece of wood and a little imagination was nothing short of brilliant, if you ask me.”

  “I think so too. I have to admit, I was pleasantly surprised to see your home. It was nothing like what I expected.”

  “Really? What did you expect, something big and ostentatious?” He knew he’d hit the nail on the head when she blushed and reached for her glass. “I’ve grown up with money, but that doesn’t mean the world has to know how deep my pockets are.” Matt liked nice things as much as the next person, but he’d never felt the need to have the biggest house, most expensive car, or flashiest jewelry. The people impressed by those things weren’t worth trying to impress. The people who liked him in spite of his wealth, not because of it, were the ones he was interested in getting to know better.

  “I admire that.” She seemed to consider her next statement carefully. “In my line of work, I meet a lot of wealthy men, but not many who feel the way you do.”

  He could only imagine how hard some of those rich guys would work to impress a woman like Kristen, and it concerned him a little. “It doesn’t take long to figure out what’s important in life.” He smiled. “Especially with parents like mine.”

  “What does that mean?” She leaned back as though she was settling in to enjoy his life story.

  “My mother is the quintessential artist, as I’m sure you could probably tell. Give her a brightly lit room, paints, brushes, and a blank canvas, and she’s content. That’s all she really needs to be happy, and she instilled that in me from an early age. Material possessions can’t make you happy. At best, they temporarily fill a void for people who can’t figure out what they want.”

  Kristen’s face lit up. “I love that. I’ve always felt the same way. Doing what I love is the reward for me.” She appeared a little self-conscious about her enthusiastic response. “Sure, it’s nice that I don’t have to worry about paying bills now that my business has taken off, and it’s nice to be recognized and appreciated for what I do, but the truth is, I’d do it for free.”

  He squeezed her hand and smiled at her enthusiasm for her work. Being surrounded by professional athletes and business men at the top of their game, he realized how rare it was for people to feel the kind of passion Kristen did for her vocation. “We’ll keep that our little secret. We wouldn’t want word to get out that you’d work for free. I can only imagine how many people would expect it.”

  She withdrew her hand to reach for her wine glass. “Let’s drink to loving what you do and being lucky enough to do what you love.”

  He touched his glass to hers, his eyes trained on the fire sparkling in her blue eyes. “Cheers.” If he hadn’t been so enthralled, he would have thought to make the toast sooner. Kristen had always had that effect on him, leaving him tongue-tied while he scrambled for something witty to say.

  “Tell me about your father,” she said before taking another sip of wine. “Is he anything like your mother, because I have to say, she seems wonderful.”

  Kristen’s assessment couldn’t have been more accurate. His mother was the warmest, most loving woman Matt had ever known. “Not really. He’s the pragmatic one. He has a rather large accounting firm downtown.” Matt grinned. “Yes, he does fit the stereotype.”

  “So that’s where you got your affinity for numbers?” She arched an eyebrow. “I should have known.”

  “I suppose so.” His father had always taught his sons the importance of doing well in school. Matt, unlike his younger brother, has taken his father’s advice to heart. “He’s definitely the practical one in the family. He doesn’t believe in taking risks, which was why he was so concerned when we decided to start High Rollers. Dad thought going into business with friends would be a disaster.”

  “Obviously he was wrong.”

  “Yeah.” Matt smiled. “It feels good to prove him wrong every once in a while. The old man still thinks he knows it all.”

  “But you’re close?” Kristen brought her glass to her mouth but held it instead of taking a sip.

  “Very. I wouldn’t be who I am or where I am without my parents. No way will I ever forget that.”

  Kristen appeared satisfied by his response. She set her glass down, and her eyes softened as she reached for his hand. “You’re a good man.”

  Feeling uncomfortable with the praise, especially since he knew he was a far cry from being considered for sainthood, he brought her hand to his lips. “As long as you think so. Your opinion is important to me. Very important.”

  A tap on the door made Matt groan inwardly. He wanted to hear Kristen’s every thought. “Come in, Kimberly.”

  “I have your appetizers,” she said, standing in the doorway with a tray.

  “Great.” He waited for her to set down the seafood platter and bread basket. “Thank you, it looks delicious.”

  “Just let me know if you need anything else.” She refilled their wine glasses before leaving.

  “It must be difficult for you.” Kristen reached for a piece of grilled calamari and a shrimp. “Knowing when women are interested in you for you instead of”—she gestured to the velvet window treatments, mahogany paneling, and Persian rug—“this.”

  “My father taught me a good lesson early on.” He filled his plate with an assortment of fresh seafood. “He bought me a Porsche when I was in college.”

  Looking amused, Kristen asked, “How that was supposed to teach you a lesson?”

  “He knew girls would look at me differently when they realized my family had money, and he was right.” He dipped a piece of lobster in warm butter. “It was like I wasn’t the same guy just ‘cause I had a fancy set of wheels.”

  “So you learned how to read people?” Taking a bite of lobster off the fork he offered, she closed her eyes, savoring it.

  “I’d like to say yes, but I went on to make a colossal mistake with Robin.” He didn’t want to think about his ex-wife, but it was important for Kristen to understand that he knew how it felt to be betrayed. He thought the shared experience may help her open up to him and bring them closer. “She was interested in me for one reason only, and it sure as hell wasn’t love.”

  “Then she was a fool,” Kristen said, sounding indignant on his behalf. “If she didn’t realize how amazing you are in spite of your big bank account, not because of it, then she didn’t deserve you.”

  Matt fell just a little bit harder, and that scared and thrilled him. “You’re right. But it took me a long time and a lot of heartache before I realized that.”

  “I guess we all have to endure a little heartache before we find the one, huh?”

  The room fell silent as their eyes trapped each other’s, and Matt knew they were wondering if it was possible they’d finally found who they’d been looking for.

  Chapter Seven

  Kristen never wanted the night to end. When Matt’s driver pulled up in front of her condo building, she heard herself say, “Would you like to come in for a cup of coffee?”

  Matt grinned. “I thought you’d never ask.”

  Talking to Matt was so effortless, the way it had always been. Even though they’d never dated, she always thought he was sweet and charming. He wore confidence like a custom suit, and she couldn’t deny she was wildly attracted to him. They waited for the driver to open the door 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 who would make a promise you don’t intend to keep.” He grazed her mouth with his, leaving her wanting more. “If you told me you loved me… If you told me you wanted to be with me forever, I know I’d be able to count on that.”

  Love? Forever? Like a bucket of ice water, those words woke Kristen from her fantasy. Clearing her throat delicately, she stepped back. “Can I get you something to drink?”

  His brows creased as he reached for her hand. “I’m sorry. Did I overstep?”

  “No, nothing like that.” She hoped she sounded convincing. “It’s just that… well…”

  She didn’t know what was wrong with her. Matt was the most incredible man she’d met, yet the little voice in her head warned her to proceed with caution. She couldn’t figure out why. Matt didn’t seem like the kind of guy with skeletons buried in his closet, but neither did Robert. The problem was she no longer trusted her instincts.

  “I’m sorry, I guess I just need to take this slow.” She feared he wouldn’t be willing to wait for her to come around to his way of thinking. Men like Matt were rarely asked to wait while a girl made up her mind, and she couldn’t blame him for feeling frustrated and confused. She reached for his hand. “I think you’re amazing. I hope you know that.”

  The fine lines fanning out from his eyes deepened with his smile. “The feeling is definitely mutual.”

  “I want to keep seeing you…” More than anything. “But I can’t help wanting to be cautious about getting too serious right away.”

  When he looked taken aback, Kristen cursed herself for assuming he was thinking along those lines. Maybe she was the only one looking toward the future. Maybe he was content to enjoy their relationship moment to moment.

  “I’m sorry.” Withdrawing her hand, she turned away and made a beeline for the kitchen. She hoped he would give her a moment to collect herself, but the sound of his footsteps behind her told her that was not his intent.

  “Don’t do that.” Turning her to face him, he whispered, “Don’t you know you can say anything to me? Whatever you’re thinking, whatever you’re feeling, I want to know.”

  She was relieved that he didn’t seem put off by her outburst. “I appreciate that, but I think we should save this conversation for another day. We’ve had a wonderful evening. Let’s not spoil it, okay?”

  “How would talking about our feelings spoil anything? Unless we’re not on the same page?”

  She saw the uncertainty in his eyes and hated that she’d put it there. Matt’s ex had obviously put him through the emotional wringer, and the last thing she wanted was to be accused of doing the same. “I’m crazy about you.” She was rewarded for her honesty when his face lit up like a kid opening a coveted birthday present.

  His mellow baritone was laced with control when he said, “Good, then we’re on the same page. I’m crazy about you too, Kris.”

  For once, Kristen was tempted to let go. To give herself to a man without thinking about the consequences or assuming the worst. Since her father’s betrayal, she had always secretly assumed every man would break her heart. But Matt had done nothing to deserve her distrust.

  “Now that we’ve established that,” she said, barely recognizing the sound of her own voice, “what do you suggest we do about it?” She expected a glib response triggered by his hormones.

  “You know, I think subconsciously, I may have done all this just to become the man I thought you deserved.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “It’s no secret I had a crush on you in high school, but I didn’t ask you out because I knew you’d be embarrassed to be seen with me.”

  “Don’t say that.” She flattened her hand against his solid chest. She hated to think that she had been so shallow she wouldn’t have seen his obvious appeal no matter what he looked like. “I would have gone out with you—”

  “I know you would have. You were sweet and kind, and you wouldn’t have wanted to hurt my feelings. But that’s not the way I wanted it to be.” His eyes gripped hers, analyzing her reaction. “I wanted you to be proud to be with me, like you were tonight.”

  She couldn’t deny she loved walking through his crowded bar while holding his hand and watching every head turn. Women had been envious that she was the one lucky enough to leave with him.

  “I won’t pretend I had this planned, seeing you again. I didn’t. But feeling the way I did about myself and the way I felt about you made me realize that wasn’t the man I wanted to be. So I changed, and I liked my reflection more and more every day. Not just because of the way I looked, but because of the way I felt. I was proud of myself, proud of my accomplishments, and that made me walk a little taller.”

  Kristen knew that confession couldn’t be easy for him, but she was glad he’d told her that. It gave her more insight into the man she was falling in love with. That realization should have startled her, but it didn’t. It felt too right to be wrong.

  “Eventually I got to a place where I realized other people’s opinions didn’t matter anymore. The only person I had to impress was myself,” he said.

  “For what it’s worth, you’ve impressed me too. A lot.” Tilting her head, she hoped he would take the hint and kiss her.

  “It’s worth a lot.” His body barely touched hers, yet she felt the connection from the crown of her head to her toes. “More than you know.”

  “I said before that I wanted to take things slow,” she said, still wondering if putting herself out there would be as traumatic as she feared. “Maybe I was wrong about that.” His expression didn’t change or give her a hint about his thoughts, so she forced herself to continue. “Maybe overthinking things, being too cautious, is the mistake I’ve always made. Maybe just this once, I should act on impulse.”

  “What’s your gut telling you?”

  He seemed determined to torture her, to make her spell it out for him. “It’s telling me to take what I want for once without thinking about tomorrow.”