Love Enough For Two (Love Inspired) (5 page)

M
att leaned back in his chair and studied Elizabeth over the rim of his coffee cup. The meeting hadn’t been half as boring with her by his side.

And not only was she pretty, there was a sharp mind in her blond head. She’d listened attentively and asked appropriate questions, even a few he hadn’t considered.

Yes, it had been a good meeting and an excellent lunch, but he hadn’t been sorry to see the other men go. Especially Roger. Matt had the feeling if he hadn’t been there, Roger would have hit on Elizabeth.

“What did you think of Roger?” Matt asked.

Elizabeth wrinkled her cute little nose, started to say something, then paused. “He mentioned you’d once golfed together. Is he a friend?”

Matt shook his head. “It was some fund-raiser and we got paired together. That was the first and last time I’d seen him, until today.”

Elizabeth took a sip of tea. “I’m sure he’s a nice man but…”

“But?” Matt raised an eyebrow.

“He reminded me of a used-car salesman,” she said in an absent tone, stirring some sugar into her tea, “with all that greased-back hair and whiter-than-white smile.”

Matt burst out laughing. “I never thought about it before, but you’re right.”

Startled by the laughter, Elizabeth looked up. He expected her to elaborate but instead her face colored.

“Please forget what I just said. Talking before I think is a weakness of mine.” Her voice was filled with embarrassment. “Roger is a perfectly nice man.”

“A nice man who is interested in you,” Matt said dryly. “The guy had more than business on his mind.”

Elizabeth laughed and rolled her eyes. “Yeah, right.”

“He did,” Matt said. “That’s why I put my hand on the back of your chair. I wanted to let him know you weren’t available.”

Elizabeth’s laughter stilled in her throat. “Are you telling me you did that to warn him off?”

Unease coursed through Matt at the look in her eye. He shrugged and forced a nonchalant air. “He’s not your type. I was just trying to be helpful.”

“I can fend for myself.” Her voice was cool. “Besides what if I’d liked him?”

“You don’t like him,” Matt said. “You like me.”

Her eyes widened and her mouth opened but no words came out. He could tell he’d surprised her. Heck, he’d surprised himself.

But the attraction between him and Elizabeth was so strong it was almost palpable. Electricity sizzled between them, feeding off every look, every touch.

“You seem like a nice guy,” she said finally. “But—”

“I am a nice guy,” Matt said affably. “And, like Roger, I have white teeth. But, that’s where the similarity ends.”

His efforts to lighten the tension were rewarded with a smile. “On the other hand—”

“Sierra.” A tall man stopped at the tableside, his face lighting up. “What a surprise. What are you doing here?”

Sierra?

Matt’s gaze shifted to Elizabeth’s face. Two spots of pink slashed her cheeks but a pleasant smile graced her lips.

“I was here for a meeting,” she answered, not making any attempt to elaborate. “Matt and I stayed after to talk.”

The guy stared at Elizabeth for a moment and Matt took the opportunity to study him. He was tall, close to six feet four, with light brown hair, cut short and thinning on top. He couldn’t be much over thirty, but his silver-rimmed eyeglasses made him appear older. The conservatively cut three-piece navy suit didn’t do much to alter that impression.

Since Elizabeth didn’t seem inclined to perform introductions, Matt decided to take the lead. But before he could act the man turned to Matt and stuck out his hand.

“Carl Stieve,” he said, giving Matt the once-over. “I’m the Assistant Pastor at First Christian.”

Matt pushed back his chair and rose, taking Carl’s hand and giving it a firm shake. “Matt Dixon, Sierra’s friend.”

The name felt somehow right on his tongue. Maybe because he’d never felt that Elizabeth suited her. It had a staid and stuffy sound while Sierra brought to mind a clear mountain breeze. It was a free-spirited name, well-suited to her personality.

The pastor paused, as if waiting for him to elaborate but when he didn’t the man just smiled. “Maybe I’ll see you in church some time.”

Matt offered a noncommittal smile. “Anything is possible.”

They talked for a few minutes longer and Matt waited until the entrance door had shut behind Carl, to speak.

He lifted an eyebrow. “Sierra?”

She waved a dismissive hand. “It’s a nickname. One from childhood. Most of my friends still call me that.”

He looked at her for several heartbeats. “And what should I call you?”

She met his gaze and that now familiar touch of pink dusted her cheeks. “Sierra. But in business dealings, I prefer you call me Elizabeth.”

Matt thought for a moment, then nodded. “Makes sense.”

“I’m glad you think so,” she said wryly. She lifted a glass of tea to her lips.

Matt smiled and sat back in his chair. “Do you and the minister have something going on?”

Sierra choked on her tea, bringing a napkin immediately to her lips. Finally when she seemed able to breathe again, she lifted her gaze to his. “Whatever makes you ask something like that?”

“He looked at you as if you were a ten-ounce sirloin and he hadn’t eaten in days,” Matt said.

Sierra burst out laughing. “Carl’s a vegetarian. And he likes me as a friend, a parishioner, nothing more.”

Something about what she was saying didn’t ring true. Matt had seen how Carl looked at her and there had been pure masculine interest in the minister’s gaze. “Is he married?”

Sierra paused, “No, he’s not married.”

“Engaged?”

Sierra shook her head.

“Dating anyone special?”

Sierra straightened in her chair. “Carl is too busy to date.”

Matt took a sip of coffee. “I bet he’d make time for you.”

The challenge hung in the air between them. When he saw the anger in her eyes Matt realized too late that he’d pushed too hard, too fast.

“I don’t see how that’s any of your business.” Sierra’s eyes were as cold as jade.

Matt reached across the table and took her hand, refusing to let go even when she tried to pull away. This time, when he spoke he made a conscious effort to keep his emotions under control.

“It is,” Matt said softly, “if I’m going to be your boyfriend.”

“My boyfriend?” Sierra stared at him, slack jawed.

“That’s right,” Matt said, stroking the top of her hand with his thumb. “You can’t blame a guy for wanting to know his competition.”

“You’re not my boyfriend and he’s not your competition.” Sierra’s voice crept up half an octave and she jerked her hand from his. “Why can’t anyone understand that I don’t want or need a man in my life? I have my family, my friends and my work. That’s enough for me. Why is that so difficult to understand?”

Matt considered her for a second. Though on the surface, her words made sense, the strain in her voice told him there was something more behind her vehement declarations. He’d cross-examined enough people to know that what is said isn’t usually half as important as what is left unsaid.

“Pastor Carl is putting pressure on you. He wants to be the man in your life.”

Sierra started to protest then sighed. “Carl means well.”

“But he won’t accept the fact that you’re not interested,” he said softly.

Sierra lowered her gaze but not before Matt saw the look in her eyes. Satisfaction surged as he realized his guess had been right on target.

“It makes things kind of awkward.” She lifted one shoulder in a slight shrug and she kept her voice soft and low. “I volunteer a lot at the church so it’s not that easy to avoid him. I’ve tried everything to change his mind, but nothing works. I think he believes that if he persists, he’ll win me over.”

She raked a hand through her hair and he could hear the frustration in her voice.

Anger filled Matt at the audacity of the guy. If he thought she’d let him, he’d talk to the minister tonight and set him straight. But she didn’t seem the type to let someone else fight her battles and he knew he’d have to come up with a more creative solution than confrontation.

“I’ve got an idea,” he said. “When he mentions running into us, just mention we’re dating. That should put him off.”

“Didn’t you hear a word I said?” Her eyes flashed. “I don’t want a boyfriend.”

“Then we’re even.” He smiled. “Because I don’t want a girlfriend.”

She stared, clearly nonplussed. “You don’t?”

He shook his head. “Nope.”

She hesitated, blinking with bafflement. “I don’t understand.”

“If you tell Carl we’re dating, he’ll back off,” he said. “And if you don’t want to lie, I’d be willing to take you out a couple of times.”

Sierra’s mouth twisted in a wry smile. “How benevolent of you.”

He grinned. “It wouldn’t be a sacrifice. At least not much of one.”

Matt leaned forward and cupped her face in his hand. Then without thinking about the wisdom of what he was about to do, he kissed her.

He’d intended it to be a brief kiss, one that would seal the agreement. But the minute his lips met hers, brief wasn’t enough. He could feel her arms steal around his neck, her fingers sliding through his hair.

The air stirred around them. He’d been so busy lately he hadn’t thought much about women. But as he tasted the sweetness of her lips, he realized that while he hadn’t missed the hassles of being in a relationship, he had missed
this.

“Mommy.” A little girl’s insistent voice resounded in the quiet restaurant. “I have to go to the baffroom.”

Matt ignored the high-pitched whine, but Sierra jerked back and glanced around, her eyes wide and searching.

Matt tugged her back to him. “It’s the family in the corner booth. Doesn’t have a thing to do with us.”

He wanted desperately to kiss her again but she pulled back. It was all Matt could do not to shoot the kid a censuring glance.

“I can’t believe I kissed you,” Sierra murmured almost to herself.

“It’s okay,” he teased, trying to lighten the moment. “After all I
am
your boyfriend.”

“You are not my boyfriend,” Sierra retorted. “In fact, I barely know you.”

“There’s a strong attraction between us,” he said. She opened her mouth to speak but he touched two fingers to her lips. “Don’t even try to deny it.”

“I admit it,” she said with a sigh. “On a superficial level I am attracted to you.”

He smiled and chucked her under her chin. “Don’t look so glum. That’s a good thing.”

Sierra looked at him as if he’d gone crazy. She blew an exasperated breath. “It’s horrible.”

“No, it’s not.” He spoke with absolute certainty. “There’s no way that something that feels so good could be bad.”

“Trust me. Lots of things that feel good can be bad.” Sierra’s gaze took on a faraway look.

“What was his name?” Matt asked quietly.

Sierra blinked. “Who?”

“The man who hurt you,” he said.

Momentary surprise filled her gaze until her lids slipped down over her eyes, hiding her emotions from his view. “It doesn’t matter. What matters is that relationship taught me a valuable lesson. I’m better off alone.”

“What about certain other needs?”

The pink deepened in her cheeks. The rapid influx of color fascinated him. He’d never known a woman who blushed so easily.

“I keep busy,” she said. “Anyway, I don’t see where my love life, or lack of, is any of your concern.”

Matt paused and carefully considered her response. She might look like a thoroughly modern woman but he was beginning to realize that nothing could be further from the truth. And he had the feeling if he didn’t handle this just right she’d be out the door.

“We’re in the same boat,” he said finally in a matter-of-fact tone. “Two busy people not looking for anything permanent. But an arrangement of sorts could benefit us both.”

Sierra looked skeptical but he felt encouraged that she hadn’t immediately said no.

Still, her gaze was sharp and penetrating. “I didn’t think it was a good idea for an attorney to get involved with a client.”

The comment didn’t faze him. He recognized it as a last-ditch effort to push him away.

“You’re right,” Matt said matter-of-factly. “But since I work for your mother and not for you, it’s not an issue.”

She stared at him for a long moment as if trying to decide if she should believe him or not. “Tell me something. Why you?”

“Why me?”

Sierra nodded. “Why should I turn to you?”

Matt spread his fingers and played them against the table, the image of her in another man’s arms doing funny things to his insides.

“A,” he said, “It’s an easy way to get Carl off your back without being mean.”

“But it’s not right to lie—”

“B,” Matt said, ignoring her feeble protest, “Carl has seen you with me, so your story about us dating will be believable.”

“You’ve thought of everything.”

“C.” Matt offered her a smile. “You miss kissing and other men’s kisses might be laden with expectations.”

“Not yours?”

Matt had kissed a lot of women over the years and he’d never been anything but honest. “I decided a long time ago that I’m not even going to begin looking for anything serious until I’m at least thirty-five.”

When she didn’t comment, he continued. “In the meantime, I’m not interested in living the life of a monk. I don’t see any problem with just having a good time, assuming of course that both parties go into the relationship with the same expectations.”

“Expectations?” Sierra’s voice gave nothing away.

“No commitment, nothing serious. And we’d both take steps to make sure there would be no untoward consequences of our relationship.”

“Such as?”

“Babies,” he said. “Or sexually transmitted diseases.”

Contrary to what many supposed, he hadn’t been with that many women. But when he was in a relationship, Matt had never failed to take precautions to protect himself and his partner.

The pink in Sierra’s cheeks deepened to a dusky red. “I can’t believe we’re talking about this.”