Daddy’s Billionaire Chef

“We had just started dating. And then…I wasn’t sure.”

“Make sure,” Jenny said. “He was absolutely lovely on the phone. Totally desperate, but lovely.”

“You have to give him another chance,” Patricia said.

The show had moved on to a segment about a new specialty dessert café, so I stood up. “Thank you all, but I need to take a walk to clear my head.”

I had barely made it out the door when my phone rang. There was no way it could be ignored this time. “Hello?”

“Did you see it?” Matt asked breathlessly.

“Yes. I think you’re disappointing Maria terribly by talking about another woman.”

His rich laughter sounded like he was standing right beside me. I wished that he was. Even though we had many discussions lined up, I would have done anything to be able to fall into his arms.

“It was all true, sweetheart,” he said. “I’m absolutely lost without you. I love you so much. I know that you’re scared, and it’s too fast, and we have a lot of details to straighten out. But can we please figure all of that out together?”

I sat down on a park bench in a tiny green space beside a café. Having Matt pour his heart out publicly showed me that he really did want to listen to me, and create a real relationship. Even though I was still irritated, it didn’t feel right to judge him too much on his behavior in the middle of the night.

“Yes. I’m still thinking things through, but yes. We can figure things out.”

“Thank you so much, my gorgeous sweet beautiful girl,” he gushed.

I laughed, then said, “I’ll see you when you get back, all right?”

“Can’t wait. I have some more media stuff here tonight, then I’m flying straight back. I’ll call you when I get home around six.”

“Okay.”

There was a pause, and I wished again that I could reach out to hold his hand. “I love you, Julia. I mean that.”

A flood of warmth washed through me from the raw passion in his voice. “I love you too.”

“You have no idea how happy you’ve made me,” Matt said. “I’ll miss you. Have a good lunch.”

Dropping my phone back into my purse, I stared around at the trees and flowers. This relationship was going to change my life in so many ways. But I wasn’t afraid anymore, now that I knew Matt was going to be on my side, no matter what.

We belonged together. Whatever happened next, we could sort it out.

Chapter 16

_____

Matt

After doing a book signing and a meet and greet, I collapsed in my hotel room and slept like a log. The next day, luckily my flight wasn’t early, but on the flip side that gave me a huge stretch of time to fret about Julia.

Was there any chance that she was simply telling me what I wanted to hear because she was dazzled by hearing me talk about her on TV?

Did she really want to be with me for me, not my crazy jet-setting life? I didn’t think for one second that she was the gold digger sort, but I’d heard stories of women latching onto certain men because they craved excitement.

No.

That wasn’t my Julia. She seemed to want the simple things. Great books and movies, wonderful conversation, and sharing an incredible meal together. How fascinating that I wanted to slow down and live that life a lot more.

My phone rang on the way to the airport, and I caught my breath when I saw it was Connor. “Hello?”

“Hello, Matt. Are you still in Italy?”