In Too Deep (Man of the Month 10)

Why the hell had he said he'd do this? So far it had been easy--hell, it had mostly been Hannah. But Ernest was the real test, and Matthew didn't think fast on his feet. Words always escaped him.

"Quick," Hannah said. "If we're already talking about something, he won't ask us about the engagement. Um, the school voucher system everyone keeps talking about. I think the Legislature's going to look at it again for Texas this year. What do you think about that?"

Terror ripped through him. He didn't have a clue about vouchers, and since he didn't have kids yet, he didn't have an opinion, either. Anything he said would reveal to Hannah that he was a clueless fool, and that was one thing he didn't want to be.

"Or you pick a topic," she said urgently. "Just talk. He's almost here."

But there was no topic. There was nothing for him to do.

Nothing except one thing.

He left the brisket on the table, pulled her roughly against him, and kissed her.

For a moment, she was stiff with shock. Then she melted against him, her mouth opening under his.

He sighed, lost in the feel of her. Because this felt right. Not overwhelming like the rest of it. This--the woman, the kiss, the pressure of their bodies--this was the way it should be.

And for one brief, delicious moment, Matthew knew what heaven felt like.

Chapter Seven

They'd been mingling for at least half an hour when Hannah heard a familiar voice call, "There you two are!"

Matthew's incredible kiss had waylaid Ernest earlier, but now her stepfather was heading right for them, his voice carrying the several yards from where he stood in a group of gray-haired movers and shakers in law and business. Hannah recognized most of them--one had even been an adjunct professor when she was in law school--and they were all looking at Ernest as if he were the second coming of reason and virtue.

Maybe he was. Maybe he just got on her nerves because he'd replaced her father. Surely she wasn't so shallow as to find him irritating because he made her mom happy?

No, it was like she told Matthew--Ernest overshadowed her mom. Made her shift just slightly off center so that she wasn't entirely herself anymore. They were Ernest-Amelia instead, and that just made her sad.

Still, she didn't doubt that Ernest loved Amelia, which is part of what made it so hard to be around him. She didn't want to seem angry or ungrateful when he'd given her mom so much.

Now he was hurrying toward where they stood beneath a shade umbrella with his arms outstretched, and because she knew the drill, she moved into them for a bear hug. "Look at you, Hannah. You look lovely as usual. And you," he added, turning to extend a hand toward Matthew. "I'm looking forward to talking with you about your thoughts on a number of issues in healthcare and fitness right now."

She cringed as something like panic flashed in Matthew's eyes, but he rallied, and the relief that swept over her as he shook Ernest's hand was palpable. "That sounds great," he said. "But keep in mind that this is a celebration for you and Amelia. I'm not sure she wants to lose you to shop talk."

Ernest laughed heartily, and Hannah wanted to kiss Matthew right then. A thought that, surprisingly, wasn't even a figure of speech. Her cheeks burned from the realization of how much she'd enjoyed their earlier, unexpected kiss, and she looked down, trying to gather herself.

Which was why she missed Ernest's expression when Matthew said, "It really is a pleasure to finally meet you, Mr. Donovan."

Her head whipped up, and though Ernest's face was perfectly blank, she could see the shift from confusion to horror on Matthew's face. She opened her mouth to reply, but he got there first. And this time when she looked, his expression was nothing but calm.

"I am so sorry," he said. "Hannah speaks of you like a father and so I foolishly made that connection without even thinking, and it just slipped out."

"So you do know who I am," the older man said, the ego that Hannah knew so well obviously surfacing.

Matthew, she knew, had no clue.

"Of course he does," she hurried to say. "How can he be in business in Texas and not know--"

"Ernest Pierpont," Matthew said. "And Hannah is right. I can only hope that someday I make the kind of splash in the business community that you have."

Ernest chuckled, and Hannah forced a smile that she hoped looked completely innocent and not at all surprised. Next to her, Matthew cut his eyes toward her for just a moment, but she saw the satisfaction there and had to force herself not to laugh.

He'd talked to Selma or Easton, of course. And she gave him serious brownie points for doing his homework. God knows she'd failed to properly prep him.

"Let me get you a whiskey," Ernest said, casually steering Matthew toward one of the drink stands. "Now, Hannah, you stay here. Let the men talk."

She swallowed, nervous, but Matthew only nodded.