Not in a million years would she have expected his announcement to bother her as much as it did. Misery descended like a thick winter mist, smothering her good mood. Excitement was doused like a flame.
She wished she hadn’t asked, but at the same time she was glad she had—because at least it would stop her thinking dreamy thoughts and having anxious moments worrying that their relationship might be changing.
That comment about her having beautiful eyes had been just that—a comment.
For some men dating was virtually a hobby, but Matt was different. Matt, she knew, wasn’t the sort of man to sleep his way through the female population just because he could. Nor was he the sort of man who needed a woman on his arm to inflate his ego. If he was interested in someone then she must be special.
Her ribs ached with the acid burn of jealousy.
She saw a brief vision of the future...of evenings spent on the roof terrace with Matt and his girlfriend entwined together on one of the low cushions.
“I’m happy for you.” She said the words even though she didn’t mean them. “That’s great.”
What sort of woman had caught his attention? She’d be beautiful—obviously. Smart. That went without saying. And sexually confident. Someone who would definitely know how to flirt when the situation called for it.
Not the sort of woman who wore glasses when she didn’t need them.
“It’s not great. It’s complicated.”
Frankie had no idea what to say to that. She felt horribly inadequate. She was the last person to give anyone advice on relationships.
“Relationships are always complicated. That’s why I don’t bother. I have no idea what a normal, healthy relationship looks like. It’s nothing I’ve ever seen. And there I go again—being the rain cloud on someone’s patch of sunshine. Ignore me. If you want advice, talk to Eva. When it comes to love, she has all the answers. And she believes in it, which helps.”
“I don’t want to talk to Eva.”
Was he saying that he wanted to talk to her?
She was trapped between wanting to escape and wanting to be a good friend.
She had absolutely nothing of use to say on the subject of love, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t listen. This was Matt. Matt who had given her a lovely home for years.
“I can’t give advice, but I can listen if you want to talk.”
And if she turned green with envy at least she’d match the plants.
“You’d do that?” There was a hint
of humor in his voice. “Even though dating is your least favorite subject?”
“I don’t want some woman messing you around. I like you.” She felt color flood her cheeks. She shouldn’t have said that. “We’re friends. Of course I like you. If you want to talk—talk. Tell me about this woman you’re interested in. She must be pretty special if you like her.”
“She is.”
His words added another bruise to the many that were accumulating.
“Why is it complicated? I assume she’s not married or still at school?” Seeing him raise an eyebrow, she blushed and shook her head in apology. “Sorry. This is why you shouldn’t be talking to me. When it comes to love, my every thought is warped. So what’s the problem? Just tell her straight out. Or are you afraid she isn’t interested?”
“She’s interested.”
“Well, of course she is!” Envy made her irritable. “She’d have to be crazy not to be interested. You’re the whole package, Matt—the three Ss, as Eva calls it.”
“The three Ss?”
“Single, sane and s—” She’d been about to say sexy, but she suddenly realized how easily that might be misinterpreted. If he knew she found him sexy she’d never be able to look him in the eye again, and that was already hard enough after the whole glasses incident. “Solvent,” she muttered. “You’re solvent.”
“Single, sane and solvent?” There was amusement in his tone. “That’s all it takes? That doesn’t sound like a very high bar.”
“In Manhattan, you’d be surprised,” Frankie said darkly. “All I’m saying is, if you’re interested in someone there shouldn’t be a problem. A million women would jump at the thought of having you in their lives.”