He's the Man (The Alexanders 3)

“Get what?” Penny asked absently, trying to keep her attention on her notes.

Matt picked up the cell phone sitting on the desk between them. “Your phone. The screen just flashed.”

“Oh, yes. Thanks. I had the ringer off earlier because I was in a staff meeting.” When she took the phone, Scott’s picture and the words “missed call” were displayed. She looked up to meet Matt’s eyes.

“I’m not going to ask,” he muttered.

“It’s just my ex-boyfriend. He probably lost something and wants to know if he left it at my house.”

“Yes. The suit. I remember. Is he trying to get you to come back to him?”

“The suit is in Atlanta with his dream job, so I doubt he much cares what I’m doing anymore.” It was a small triumph that she could think of Scott without any bitterness over the way things had ended.

“He moved to Atlanta? Why didn’t you go with him?” Matt leaned forward, resting his elbows on the edge of her desk.

“Because I have a life here.”

“You wouldn’t change your life for the right guy?” He wasn’t looking at her, but there was a muscle in his jaw that seemed to be going crazy.

“I don’t think he was the right guy.” That one statement summed up their entire relationship. It was nice to be able to look back and see things clearly now. As hard as it had been to admit it, things had never been right with her and Scott. Kind of like two puzzle pieces that almost fit together.

Almost but not quite.

“So, what are we doing tonight?” Matt must have been satisfied with her answer because he was looking at her now.

“Um, I actually have a couple of things to do after work.” They needed to take some time apart. If she was ever going to get this obsession with him under control, she had to stop spending so much time with him.

“Things?” Judging by the incredulous look on his face, he didn’t believe her. The fact that she was a horrible liar probably didn’t help her case. But still, why was it so hard for him to believe that she had other things to do with her time? Did everyone think she had no life?

“Yes, things. I have a life, you know?”

“Okay, fine. I was just thinking that we’ll both be at home and bored. We might as well be bored together.”

“As tempting as that sounds, it’s probably not a good idea.”

Matt sat back in his seat casually. “I guess I can understand your position. You’re a respected medical professional. It wouldn’t be good for your career if word got out that you couldn’t keep your hands off me.”

The papers she was holding slipped from her fingers and dropped to the desk. “Excuse me? You think I would have trouble keeping my hands to myself?”

“Yes. I can understand you wanting to keep your distance.”

Penny knew he was goading her, but it was still a struggle to keep the grin from her face. “You are unbelievable. Well, I should say your ego is unbelievable.”

“At least let me take you to lunch.” Matt flipped his wrist to look at his watch. “Since we finished early, you should have time, right?”

Penny shook her head. “No need. I’ll just grab something really quickly before my next appointment.”

“When is your lunch break usually?”

Penny froze and then turned, pretending to rearrange something on one of the shelves behind her. “In about ten minutes, actually. Come on, I’ll walk you out.”

Matt followed her down the hallway. A hand brushed against her backside and she jumped. Matt appeared at her side, looking forward innocently.

“No funny business, remember?” Penny glanced around, worried that someone else in the hallway might have seen. Luckily, no one else was walking behind them. It would be just her luck for Charles to be right behind them.

“What? If you don’t want me noticing your ass, you need to wear different pants. Something baggy. Actually that probably won’t help since I’ll know what you’re hiding under there. The memory alone will be enough to drive me crazy.”

Face burning, Penny pushed him through the doors into the waiting room. “It’s definitely time for you to go.”