Chapter 11

Matt

I snuck glances at her as she talked about work and the new project she was working on for my father. Something about being around her made me feel fifteen again. She was alive and full of so much passion that it bubbled up around the edges of her persona. I wanted to reach over and run my hand up her thigh, but the subtle touches earlier that day combined with the kiss the night before were probably more than enough.

She knew how I felt about it. The question I'd posed was a serious one. What was I willing to do about all of it? Moving to Seattle seemed the right answer in so many ways, but being away from Damon, and Dad, from Sophia and Bethany? That sounded like hell. All I would have is Erica.

She was more than enough, and yet if things didn't work out between us, I would have to pick up and move back to Dallas. Something about admitting that failure left me not wanting to jump too quickly. I could feign that the move was more about working closer to Jonathan or being a part of the advertising division of M&B, but I would know the truth. I'd moved to see what could be with her. Was love worth all of that?

"Are you even listening to me?" She reached over and poked me in the side.

I gripped her hand and tugged a little before releasing her. "Yeah, I'm listening. I just keep trying to figure out what I'm going to do about this position you keep subtly throwing my way. I wanna be a part of what my father and Damon are building, but wearing a suit and trying to keep up pretenses in a large office building downtown sounds like hell on earth."

"It's not that bad, and honestly you wouldn't have to wear a suit unless we were meeting with investors." She brushed her fingers by her lips and let out a soft feminine sound. "You know what? I bet we could even talk to your father about letting you work remotely. We could get you a killer apartment downtown by the art district, and you could work on your M&B projects there."

"Hmm... that doesn't sound bad, but I hate the thought of getting special treatment because of who my dad is."

"Right, but you can't have it both ways. People are going to know who you are no matter what. At least your special treatment makes sense. I mean, take the situation with Bethany for instance. She's totally getting special treatment, but no one is going to say shit about it."

"No one knows that she's Kent's daughter but a select few."

"Oh." She glanced my way. "Is that because of her and Damon's relationship?"

"Exactly. It's too complicated for any of them to deal with. It's easier for everyone to simply think that my dad married a pretty younger woman and that's all they get. Bethany hasn't been connected to that relationship, nor will she. We rarely do anything with the company and the family that would connect her." I shrugged, trying not to let my thoughts move back to my brother and all of his troubles. I loved him too much to think on it too long or I'd start working through the list of fixes that might work. He'd never listen to me anyway. He was too pigheaded.

When he and Bethany decided to start putting the other first in the relationship, everything would change. It was a lack of communication and a touch of selfishness on both of their parts. They were the main reason why getting into a relationship seemed a bad idea altogether.

"Very interesting." She parked the car and turned the engine off, but didn't get out. "Is it horrible that I'd rather be anywhere but here?"

"No. I felt the same way when I used to visit my mother's grave. I loved her with all my heart, but the way she destroyed Damon and never had to reap any of the pain that she bore him still leaves me sick. I'd force myself to go out to her grave with fresh flowers and sit there almost like I was in penance. It was disturbing."

"Do you still do it?" She reached for the door handle.

The innocence in her voice caused something inside of me to crack open.

"No. I decided that sitting beside a headstone and talking to the air with falsity and lies was a little much. I just make sure to lift a shot of vodka to her from time to time now. She loved that shit."

Erica laughed and got out of the car. I followed her and met up with her at the front of the car, unable to take my eyes off of her.

"Will you at least consider coming up here to work at M&B with me?" She sucked her bottom lip into her mouth and studied my face like she might have the power to change my mind if I said no.

"Yeah. I'll consider it. We can talk more about it this weekend. I need to understand what you have in mind. I've honestly not been paying much attention every time someone brings it up, but that's because everyone keeps shoving it in my face." I shrugged and tried hard not to get defensive. "I'll hear you out and really think it through when I get home next week. I love it up here, and it makes sense for me to be closer to Jonathan with the way things are going with my art. I'm just not sure of the time commitment I can make to M&B. I want other things in life outside of success and money. I'm not the typical billionaire."

"Agreed, but I like you just the way you are." She slipped her arm into mine and pulled me toward the retirement home. "Remember, you're my main squeeze."

"Can we sneak kisses in front of your mom?" I opened the door and smiled as she giggled. It was a feminine sound and drove a stake of desire through me.

"You're corrupt. Don't be touchy feely please. My mom was a lawyer in her past life. She's intensely pragmatic."

"Lovely." I rolled my eyes and moved into the narrow hall behind her. There were a few things I could deny about wanting to be in Seattle for, but she wasn't one of them. Should she question me about wanting to be closer to her, and I'd have to confess. I'd started to fall for the bossy woman in front of me two years ago when she came to work for my father. I'd just been forcing myself not to think about it, and when that didn't work, I turned her into the type of woman that I wouldn't want in my life. Lies. All lies.

I stopped behind Erica and slipped my hands into my pockets to keep from reaching out to touch her again.

She glanced back at me with an uneasy expression. "Thanks again for coming with me."

"Of course." I followed her into the apartment-like place. An older woman with a perfect blond bob haircut glanced up from reading a Time magazine and nodded at me and Erica.

"Is your brother out of town?" The woman's tone was flat and filled with condemnation. I ached for Erica without having to hear more than her mother's greeting. My father had been nothing but overly loving my whole life. I wasn't sure I would know how to deal with one of my parents not wanting anything to do with me, or wanting me to be something different than I was.

"Yes, Mom. This is my boyfriend, Matthew." She moved to the side as I walked up and extended my hand to the older woman.

She shook my hand, but didn't address me. "Why do you wear skirts like that? They make you look frumpy. You have a handsome young man's attention now. Don't fuck it up."

I jolted at the older woman's comment. With the way she looked, she was the last person I expected a curse word to slip out of.

"Right. Thanks Mom. I heard you're going to be moving to another room today. Is that right?" Erica sat down and moved closer to her mother. The older woman stiffened and glared at Erica like she was trying to take her purse.

"I'm going to make a call. I'll be right back." I leaned down and kissed the side of Erica's face. I hated to leave her, but there was no damn way I was going to be able to sit in the room with her mom treating her so badly. I was about to start verbally swinging if Erica didn't take up for herself, but I knew without a doubt that she wouldn't disrespect her mother. The slight rounding of her shoulders told me that she was defeated before anything really happened.

I walked out of the room and let out a soft exhale before pulling my phone out of my pocket. I had a text sitting on my phone from Sophia from the night before. Seeing that I wasn't in the business of lying to people I cared about, I called my old friend back and walked out into the sunny fall afternoon.

"There you are. I thought maybe the she-devil ate you."

I laughed. "She's not a she-devil. She's a hot woman with a big heart and a strong sense of who she wants to be. She scares me because I can't seem to catch my breath around her."

"Nice. I want that, but can we have it be with a really hot rich guy?"

"Yeah, your Dubai prince." I smiled and found a bench to sit on that was perfectly positioned for maximum exposure to the sun.

"Try again. I'm not that lucky."

"What did you need last night? Everything okay at home?"

"Oh yeah. It's great. I just wanted to check on you. I know you were worried about everyone shoving decisions down your throat. Just wanted to remind you that you're your own man. Make the decisions that you think right now would make you the happiest."

"I like that. I think if I had to decide right now, I would choose to move up here and give Erica a try. I like the city as well. I hate the idea of being away from you guys though."

"That's what planes are for. You know I'm about to start traveling next year, so don't let me hold you up. Just remember that even though you've been thinking about this chick for a while that the relationship is basically new. It's in its infancy. Take things slow."

"So no blistering hot sex tonight?"

"Oh that would be fucking awesome. Score that if you get a chance. I would."

I rolled my eyes. "You could have any man in Dallas. Silly woman."

"I'm saving myself for a prince, remember?"

"I knew it!" I glanced up as the door to the retirement home slung open. Erica walked out with tears rolling down her cheeks. "I gotta go."

I dropped the call and put my phone into my pocket as I moved toward her.

"What happened? You okay?" I gripped her shoulders softly before pulling her toward me into a tight hug. She let out a soft sob and buried her face against my chest. It was the only time I'd ever seen the great Erica Hall show pain.

"I hate her. She makes me feel like I'm not even there. Like I don't matter." She pulled back from me and wiped at her eyes. "I'm sorry. I just feel so stupid for bringing you here. This is the last thing I would want anyone to see. Especially you."

"I'm sorry she is how she is. Let's get out of here and get something to eat. I want to talk to you about something anyway. We could spend a little time on a different subject that might make you feel better, and then we'll grab a nap before the concert. We are still going to rock it out with Blink-182 tonight, right?"

She nodded and forced a smile. "Yeah. Let's get out of here."

I wrapped my arm around her shoulders and kissed the top of her head as we walked toward the car. She handed me the keys and as silly as it was, the simple act of letting me drive was proof that she didn't want to lead in a relationship the whole time. Maybe she was just waiting on the right man to take the reins.

Was that me? It sure as hell felt like it.