"Really?" Hannah couldn't keep the dubious note out of her voice. "That doesn't seem like him at all."
"Oh, please," Selma countered. "He's quiet and a little shy, but he's always down for helping a friend."
"I guess so. I mean he--oh." There he was, the man in question, coming out of the small back bar with Landon Ware, a local detective who was dating Taylor, another employee at The Fix.
Boyfriend. The word filled Hannah's mind, and she swallowed. Matthew could definitely fill that role to her satisfaction. He was too good-looking by half with that perfectly cut body, his broad shoulders, and angled face accentuated by an aquiline nose that gave him a sophisticated cowboy kind of look. It wasn't just his appearance that was attractive, either. He had a quiet, easy-going way about him that seemed very Texas-like, as if he was used to spending long days alone on a ranch. And wasn't there a song about a lover with slow hands and--
Yeah. Better not go there.
She stood up. "I should go tell him how much I appreciate him doing this."
"Oh, don't do that now," Selma said. "If you talk to him now, he'll just have to explain to Landon."
"True. I guess I can--oh, he's free. Be right back." She heard Selma call after her as she hurried toward Matthew, but she couldn't hear her friend over the din. She kept on going, determined to tell her newfound savior how thankful she was that he'd do such a huge favor for a woman who was practically a stranger.
She'd crossed half the bar when she saw that Megan Clark had reached him first. A cold knot that had to be frustration--it could hardly be jealousy--settled in her stomach, and she willed it away, then casually continued on toward the bar. She ended up taking an empty stool a few seats behind Matthew. She ordered a shot of Selma's Bat Bourbon, then shamelessly eavesdropped as Megan asked Matthew to please reconsider.
"It's good for business, after all," she said. "Nolan told me his stats are up since he won Mr. April, and he's getting even more callers during his show."
"Megan..."
"And that whole scandal with Easton and Selma? Totally kicked off the radar after he won the Man of the Month contest."
That was not only true, but Megan's words also clued her in to the topic--apparently Megan was trying to convince Matthew to enter the Man of the Month contest, a bi-weekly calendar guy contest that the folks at The Fix had started as a way to get more attention for the bar, which had been in some financial trouble at the time. As far as Hannah knew, it had worked, because the place always seemed crowded and solvent.
Hannah hoped the bar wasn't in danger of closing, because she loved the place. It felt like home, with the familiar faces and the mouthwatering menu. Plus, she really wanted to see Matthew in that contest, and she had a feeling that might be a long time coming. She'd heard through the grapevine that he'd already turned Megan down multiple times.
"Please," Megan added. "You'll end up on Brooke and Spencer's reality show, too. And think of all the possible new clients you might woo."
Matthew chuckled, the sound low and enticing even where Hannah was sitting. "Did you actually say 'woo'?"
"I'll say whatever you want if you just tell me the magic words."
"Okay."
"Well?" Megan pressed.
Matthew chuckled. "I said okay."
"I know. Just tell me what you want me to say and I'll--oh. You mean you'll do it? You'll actually enter the Mr. October contest?"
"You wore me down. Or maybe your wooing did."
"You are the best," she said. "I have to go tell Jenna," she added, referring to one of the co-owners of the bar with Tyree. "Seriously, thank you so much."
As Megan practically bounced toward the hallway that led to the kitchen and office space, Hannah slipped off her stool and walked around to face Matthew. "Hey," she said, then immediately apologized when he choked on his drink.
"Hannah. Sorry." He coughed and took a deep breath. "Didn't see you there."
&n
bsp; "I didn't mean to scare you. I just wanted to thank you for agreeing to join me in this farce."
He cocked his head, his brow furrowed.
"Our fake relationship, I mean." She nodded toward Selma, who responded with a listless three-finger wave.
"Oh. Right. Sorry," he said with a small frown. "I had to shift gears there for a minute."