Page 31 of Fierce-Matt

“Exactly,” she said.

“Which means that isn’t what he wants,” he argued.

“It’s exactly what he needs. All those women didn’t get Matt’s sense of humor.”

“And Anya didn’t appreciate it.”

“Oh, she appreciated it and enjoyed it, until he pushed it too far. They both wanted attention from the other but were too young to understand the right way to do it.”

“I guess we’ll see which one of us is right.”

“It’s going to be me,” Grace said.

Her husband laughed and stood up. “I know better than to argue with my wife.”

8

A SWEET SPOT

“You’re back,” Anya said to Matt the next day. She had thirty minutes left on her shift at Fierce. She’d taken it last minute again since she had little planned for the night.

She had an open house on Sunday and two showings with another client tomorrow afternoon and nothing more.

There were very few houses on the market and everyone was scrambling to grab what they could.

She’d never been great at fighting her way out of things.

“I am,” he said. “I didn’t even call my brother to come get me to butt in line.”

“Impressive,” she said. “What can I get you?”

He wouldn’t be able to stay long. There was a two-drink minimum with the purchase of a tour.

“I’ll take a number four.”

She moved to pour it and handed it over. He sat in an empty seat. People could sit on the side, but orders were filled in the front and others moved to seating on the floor or places they could stand and rest their drinks on ledges and have a snack that was also served here.

Nothing she had to cook, prepared food that was kept warm and brought over by the restaurant and replenished when needed.

She moved to another customer and was filling orders, but Matt was close by on the corner.

“Are you working until closing?” he asked.

“No,” she said. “Just a short shift I covered last minute. How come you’re here and not at the pub?”

“You know why,” he said, smirking at her.

Because he wanted to see her. “How did you know I was working?”

“I met with your parents yesterday.”

Her mother would have said something.

Dang it.

Her mother always had a sweet spot for Matt.

Could be because she’d had a young crush on her best friend’s older brother for years and would talk to her mother about it.