21
It said a lot about Jena’s relationship with her mother that she spent more than an hour trying to pick the perfect clothes to wear to dinner. It was a wasted effort. She knew no matter what she wore, her mom would find fault with it. She threw her latest outfit onto the pile of all the other ones that didn’t make the cut. With a groan, Jena fell back onto her bed. It was all getting a bit too much. She felt like her head would burst with all the worries crammed into it. There was only so much one person could take.
“Wear the bronze dress you had on the other night.”
Jena used what little energy she had left to lift her head and look at Matt. He was leaning in her bedroom doorway, hands in his pockets, ankles crossed. Dressed in a dark blue tee and faded jeans, he was effortlessly sexy. Typical. Men had it so easy. All they needed was a pair of jeans that cupped their ass and a tee that stretched across their shoulders and they were good to go.
“I set fire to a man in that dress. It has bad memories.” She might never wear it again. Not without seeing a hysterical Bob rolled in a rug.
Matt grinned, and it melted her organs, turning them to mush inside her body.
“Aye, but it has good memories for me. You set Bob the butcher on fire in that dress, then I got to hold you while he whined like a baby. Good times.” His eyes darkened. “Wear the dress, princess, and I’ll give you some good memories to replace the bad.”
She resisted the urge to fan herself at the heat in his eyes. “I doubt an evening with my mom will improve the mojo of the dress.”
“She won’t be with us all evening. Wear the dress. Do it for me.”
Her mouth went dry. “If I wear it for you, what will you do for me?”
“If I tell you that now, princess, we won’t make it to dinner with your mother.”
Jena let her head fall back onto the thick duvet as she laughed. The tension eased from her body. Man, she needed that.
“I forgot about you thinking you’re a sexpert.” She wiped her eyes. “Thanks, Matt, I needed a laugh.”
“Happy to be of service. Anytime. Anywhere. In any way.”
She could hear the humour in his voice. Jena let out a heavy breath. “Dinner is going to be horrible.”
“Hate to break it to you, but I already figured that out.” She felt the bed dip as he sat beside her. He stroked her cheek. “Don’t worry about it. We’ll get through whatever this evening brings. Together.”
Her heart clenched at the word. Together. Like she belonged. She wondered if he knew how much she longed to belong to someone. To be part of a family. To be wanted instead of used.
“You’re really lucky with your family, Matt.” Even Jena was aware how wistful she sounded.
“I know. They drive me nuts, but I hate being away from them. It’s one of the reasons I’ve stayed around Invertary this long. That and Dad. Mum needs support right now.”
What was unsaid was heavy in the air between them. His mum wouldn’t need him forever, because his dad wouldn’t be around forever.
“You’re a good man, Matt.”
“Not that good, Jena. Right now I’m undressing you in my head and wondering if I can get you to stay in bed instead of going to the pub.”
Jena laughed at his frustrated expression.
“You don’t have a hope. I keep telling you—we’re not in a relationship. We’re not even dating.”
“And yet you want me.” He waggled his eyebrows at her, making her giggle.
“Right now, I want you to get out of here so I can get dressed.”
“I can do that. If you wear the bronze dress.”
She rolled her eyes at him. “Fine. You win. I’ll wear the damn dress.”
“I win. I like that. Keep it in mind. Persistence usually pays off, and I’m very persistent.” He grabbed her hand and pulled her to sitting. “One more thing before you get ready.”
Before she could ask what he was talking about, his lips were on hers. His fingers wove into the hair at the back of her head. His other arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her tight against him. She offered no resistance. She wasn’t an idiot. The guy made her toes curl just from a kiss. What woman in her right mind would pass up on that?