Chapter 9
Matt sat in the DBDA’s auditorium, fidgeting like a kindergartener, wondering if Hope would show up. He hadn’t seen her since Wednesday, and he hadn’t texted her or received a text from her to confirm that she’d be at the Dayton Create meeting. In fact, he hadn’t even told her where the meetings took place. If she wanted to be there, it would be easy enough for her to find out.
And he wanted her to want to be there. If she didn’t show, he’d begin to doubt her word that she was trying her best to stay.
Five minutes before the meeting was set to begin, his neck got that strange, inexplicable tingle most people felt when they were being watched. He turned to see Hope at the door. Their eyes met, and he smiled and waved her over. “I’m glad you made it,” he said when she sat down.
She looked at him. “I looked it up online, and the agenda sounded interesting. It’s not just about convincing my employees I don’t want to leave, you know. I want to see the region thrive.”
It was exactly what he wanted to hear, and he leaned back, ready to listen and absorb what the speakers had to say. But Hope surprised him by leaning close to him and taking her camera out. “Let’s take a selfie, though, to show how we’re working together.”
Matt ducked, put his hand up, and gave her his most effective snub. “No picture for me—I always manage to look like I’d rather be somewhere else. It defeats the purpose.”
“Interesting. And it explains a lot.”
He laughed. Now there was clear bait. He decided to take it. “You think I don’t want to be here with you after the stunt you pulled on Wednesday?” She couldn’t be more wrong.
“No, but there’s no picture of you on the DBDA’s website.”
His fun disappeared. But he couldn’t let her see it. “Should I be flattered that you were surfing the site for my picture?”
“I research everyone I do business with.”
“Well, the last thing the DBDA needs is their business development guy looking like he doesn’t want to be there.” A woman went up to the mike on stage, and Matt fixed his eyes on her. During her speech, his mind wandered. He was no longer eight years old, even though he was one of those people who still looked like his younger self. Probably he was taking the no-pictures thing too far, though…
An hour later, after updates on everything from after-school tutoring programs to community gardens, Matt and Hope got up to leave, with Hope excitedly turning to him to outline all she felt Friendly Clicks could contribute if she were fully in charge, with no one but her employees to answer to. Her upturned face was lit up and Matt was enthralled by both her earnest look and her plans. It took her looking down at all the notes she’d jotted down for him to become aware of their surroundings again.
“Ahem!” a male voice called from behind.
Matt turned to see Marty Medina and Johnny Amador. Marty was shaking his head at him, and Johnny had an eyebrow raised.
“What?” Matt asked.
“Dude. We called you three times,” Johnny said. Hope turned then, too and she uncharacteristically squealed, “Johnny! Marty!” as if she hadn’t seen them in forever.
“Hope,” Marty said, surprised. “Hope?” Johnny’s eyes bugged out. His eyes went back to Matt, and Matt pretended not to see the question in his eyes.
She hugged them both with an enthusiasm that had him feeling grumpy. How many hoops would he have to jump through to elicit the kind of response his two bozo friends got just for being present? “Are you two involved in Dayton Create? Why didn’t you ever tell me about it?” she grilled them, in a more Hope-like fashion.
They looked at her as if they didn’t know the response. “I don’t know, maybe it’s because we only ever see you at the café, and it’s difficult to steer a conversation there,” Johnny guessed.
Hope smiled. “Maybe I should stop by Huffy’s Tavern, then,” she said, mentioning Marty’s place of business.
“I’d really like that. We don’t see much of you around town.” Marty met her eyes and squeezed her shoulder for a quick second, and Matt felt like an outsider looking in. It was a feeling he hadn’t had in years. A feeling he’d worked hard to overcome. His whole world now revolved on being part of something. It took him a moment to rid himself of the discomfort. Hope, Johnny, and Marty had to have been friends their whole lives.
Johnny turned to him then and handed him an envelope. “I was hoping I’d see you tonight. I keep meaning to drop by your house, but with all the snow and two-hour delays, school’s been crazy.”
Matt took the fancy-looking envelope and saw that his name was printed on top. “Looks official.” He smiled, guessing what it was.
Johnny grinned from ear to ear. “It is. A double wedding this spring at Star Springs Park. Sam and Cassie, and me and Marissa. Dan and Holly will be best man and matron of honor for both couples, and Ruby will be officiating.” Sam and Dan were Johnny’s older brothers, Holly was Dan’s wife, and Cassie was Sam’s fiancée. He turned to Hope. “Are you coming to our engagement party next Friday?”
She nodded. “I called Marissa to RSVP. I wouldn’t miss it for the world.” It was Johnny’s turn to squeeze her shoulder, and Marty’s turn to give Matt a questioning look. Matt rolled his eyes in response, and Marty laughed. They all chatted a bit longer, until a heated discussion about a baseball team’s new recruit came up and Hope began to withdraw.
Both Marty and Johnny said their goodbyes, and their expressions promised a good deal of grilling. It was ridiculous, because they both knew what he did for a living, and that Friendly Clicks was a major employer in the region. There should be nothing strange about him and Hope attending an event together.
The moment they left, Hope yanked him into an empty, out-of-view alcove beside the stage. “Did you ever tell them about me?”
Confused, he asked, “About our deal to work together? No. That’s between us.”
“No.” She blew out a breath and shook her head. It was the only time he’d seen her looking agitated outside her sleepwalking episodes. “It’s obvious the three of you are good friends—did you ever tell them about the crazy lady who kept showing up at your house at night?”
He put his hands on her arms and bent a little so she could see into his eyes. “No, Hope. I never thought that, and I’d never say something like that.”
She avoided his eyes by bumping her forehead against his chest. “What did you think?” His chest muffled her words, but he was able to make them out. It almost made him smile, because it was clear she wanted to know, but wished she didn’t have to ask.
“I thought that something was troubling you, and that I needed to get you help,” he said in a low voice near her ear, hoping to calm her anxieties about those nights she couldn’t remember. She nodded but didn’t move. It wasn’t a comfortable position. Slowly, he slid his arms around her back and leaned against the wall behind him to anchor them. Stiff as a pole, she plunked against him, as if she were merely letting gravity take over and not leaning into him because it was her choice. Again, he wanted to smile but couldn’t. “It looks like Marty and Johnny are your friends, too,” he said. “I’ll never tell them anything about those nights, but they wouldn’t think less of you if they knew. I’m sure you know that.”
“I know. But they’ll start to worry. And the last thing I need is the whole damn town worrying about me.”
This time he couldn’t help it, he chuckled. “I don’t know—having a whole damn town worrying about you sounds kind of…nice.”
He felt her smile against his chest. “Well, it’s happened before, and yes, it’s nice. But it also makes you literally run away screaming.”
He laughed at that. “I’d think you were exaggerating if that wasn’t what I nearly did on Monday, when you abandoned me at the café. The only reason I didn’t scream was because I had to be stealthy to get away.”
They laughed together, and she sunk further into him as his arms tightened around her. When they were quiet again, he closed his eyes and slowed his breathing, wishing to understand the deeper connection that was buzzing between them. It was more than attraction. It was like that old Aristotle quote about friendship being a single soul in two bodies. “I’m sorry,” she said after a while.
“For leaving me at the café?”
She stepped back to look up at him, and the connections started to wane. “For having a secret plan to push you away. You really are only trying to help, and I’ve been difficult.”
She wasn’t pushing him away just yet, so he didn’t release her. Instead, he searched her eyes. “I am. And you’re doing it again now. Pushing me away.”
She took a step back. He released her. “Everyone’s mingling. It’s what we should be doing.” Her voice was friendly, but she was cutting the connection.
“Can’t—I’ve got to go pick up Zeus from doggie day care.”
Her eyes lit up at the mention of Zeus. “I’d—I’d like to see him again.” He understood her hesitation. Zeus lived with him in the home of her young heartbreak, a home she wouldn’t consciously step into.
“And I’d bet he’d like to see you, too. How about I bring him to our next PR outing?”
“What do you have in mind?”
“Snowshoeing at Sweetcreek MetroPark on Sunday at ten a.m. It’ll help me kill four birds with one stone. The DBDA has a cross-marketing agreement with the MetroParks, Zeus and I need some outdoor exercise, my mom lives down there and I need to water her plants, and of course you get to show the world you’re exploring the region’s recreational opportunities.”
“Won’t Zeus get cold?”
“Not when he’s got the cutest little boots and sweater anyone’s ever seen.”
She bit back a smile. “Sounds like you’ve got it all worked out.”
“No, but I’m trying.”
She began backing out of the alcove. “Meet you at my place on Sunday at ten?”
He followed her out. “It’s a date.”
“No. It’s an outing.”
“It was a figure of speech—don’t read too much into it. I’d hate for you to get your hopes up.”
She rolled her eyes. “Just so we’re clear—the plan doesn’t include me helping you water your mom’s plants. I’ll wait in the car while you do that.”
“Sure thing. It’s only four plants. I hardly need help. Especially not after seeing your heartleaf.”
That seemed to catch her off guard. “I told you, there’s nothing wrong with my heartleaf.”
“It’s lanky. You need to pinch it so it grows nice and full.”
She furrowed her brow. “Pinch it?”
He nodded. “You have to make a clean cut”—he lifted two fingers and snipped the air—“close to the node, being careful not to leave any of the stem. If the cut is jagged, or if you leave any bare stem behind, it will die and then the node won’t grow a new one.” He lowered his hand and stuffed it into his pocket with a shrug. “I can show you my mom’s heartleaf on Sunday so you can see what it’s supposed to look like.”
She gave him a withering look. “You’re not cute, and you’re not clever, Matt Williams. You’re a grown man. Behave like one.” She turned on her heel and left.
The moment he was out of the alcove, Marty and Johnny came up to him from different directions. “So.” Marty slapped his back. “Hope Piper.”
“You know what I do for a living. You know what she does for a living. I’m sure you can put two and two together.”
Johnny smiled. “Yup. And we can put one and one together, too. Apparently, so can the two of you.”
Matt shot him a confused look.
“We saw her pulling you into that alcove over there,” Marty explained, gesturing toward the side of the stage. “You were there for five minutes and thirty-two seconds.”
Johnny shook his head at him. “Not sure I’d like to be in your shoes when Marty tells Rosa and Rosa tells Sherry.”
The banya, was Matt’s instant thought, followed by a mental image of five women thwacking at his half-naked body with twigs. It was hard not to flinch. “Tell Rosa what? We were talking about our next joint public-relations effort. Take a look at the DBDA’s social media accounts, and you’ll see what I’m talking about. She pulled me into the alcove because our negotiations are mostly private right now.”
“You’ve always been pretty good at that,” Johnny observed, looking more serious.
Change of subject. Excellent. “Good at what? Negotiating?”
“Telling the truth while at the same time hiding it.”
Matt shook his head and looked away for a moment. His friend would never know how much those words hurt, because it was something he had never asked to be good at and nothing he’d ever wanted to be good at.
Marty must’ve caught the look on his face because he slapped his back again and said, “Dude. We’re just teasing.”
Matt tried giving them the same withering look Hope had given him moments before. “Yeah, well, you’re not cute. And you’re not clever. You’re grown men. Act like it.” Both men laughed and Matt managed a small smile.
“So. Hope.” Johnny tried again.
Matt rolled his eyes at the ceiling before shrugging in defeat. What the hell? It wasn’t like he had anything to lose. “Fine. It’s true we’re working together, but I also like her, okay? A lot. But I’m not counting on it going anywhere. She’s one tough cookie.”
Marty shook his head at that. “Here’s one piece of advice. If you like her, don’t you ever let her catch you calling her a cookie.”
“I second that.” Johnny nodded.
Matt waited. When they didn’t say anything else, he frowned and asked, “Is that all you have for me? You’re not going to warn me away or threaten me or anything?”
Marty lifted a shoulder. “You’re a good guy, no need. And Hope’s one of my oldest friends. I’d never do anything that would have her believing that I don’t think she can take care of herself. I respect her too much.”
Johnny widened his eyes and looked approvingly at his oldest friend. “Bro. That was beautiful.”
Marty took a mock bow and Matt laughed before turning to leave. “I’ve got to go pick up Zeus at doggie day care.”
“Wait. I have one last piece of advice for you, and it’s important.” Johnny took a surreptitious look around, as if to make sure no one would hear him, before looking into his eyes. “Don’t ever, and I mean ever, play Monopoly with Hope Piper.”
Monopoly again? “Come on.” Matt smiled. “It can’t be that bad.”
Johnny raised an eyebrow. “Fine. Don’t take my word for it. Play. And then tell her I warned you.”
Matt laughed and left.
Sunday morning, he was knocking on Hope’s door at ten a.m. on the dot, with Zeus by his side. Hope opened the door wearing top-to-bottom thermal athletic gear worthy of the Olympics. When she looked down at Zeus, she put her hands to her cheeks. “Oh. He’s adorable!” She bent down to pick him up and started baby-talking to him. “Look at your cute little booties and your cute little jacket. You’re so cute. Yes you are.” She looked up. “How in the world did you find a fleece bodysuit that fits him so perfectly?”
“I had a seamstress make it especially for him.”
“And the ski mask?”
“I fashioned it out the smallest one I could find,” he said, standing straight and proud. Getting it just right had taken more than a few tries. “And I made the boots, too, out of waterproof ski gloves.”
She bit her lip. “Have you two tested his custom outfit out in the snow?”
Matt nodded. “He can walk around for about twenty minutes. After that, I carry him in this baby sling.” He slid the sling from his back to the front. “He’s as warm in here as when he’s lounging in front of the heating vent at home.”
Hope looked up at him, a smile in her eyes. “I have to say, I’m impressed. You’re a good dog father.” She looked him over then, and frowned when she noted his old Ohio State sweats underneath his parka. “What about you, though? Won’t you get cold quickly in those sweats?”
“Underneath these layers, we’re pretty much alike, you and I. Thermal gear keeps us warm.”
“So you’re good to go?” she asked. He nodded. “Then let’s get going.”
Matt picked up the snowshoes he’d left by the front door and followed her out. “Do you mind if we take your car?” he asked. “Mine doesn’t have all-wheel drive. Or heated seats. Or heat.”
She gave him a look. “You really do think you’re cute, don’t you?”
“No,” he answered honestly. In truth, he thought he was pretty pathetic, getting so attached to a car that he was willing to freeze over it. “But you keep bringing it up. Maybe your subconscious is trying to tell you something.”
“And my subconscious is pretty messed up. We both know that.”
He laughed and climbed into her car. It was a thirty-minute drive and along the way they talked about everything from winter sports to favorite seasons and holidays, and told each other old stories about them all.
“So Marty’s first kiss was with a frog underneath a mistletoe at the café?” Matt laughed as she turned to park at the Sweetcreek MetroPark. “Now I can’t wait to see him again. How’d you get him to do it?”
“All us grandkids were helping set up the Christmas tree at the café and Leo—have you met Leo? He’s Ruby’s oldest grandchild, and he knew Marty had a crush on Paige. He told Marty to stand beneath the mistletoe by the door, pucker his lips, and close his eyes—that Paige would be there in a moment. Instead, he brought out his pet frog. Marty cried.”
That made Matt stop laughing. “He cried?”
Hope turned to look at him. “You don’t want to tease him about it anymore, do you?”
Matt shook his head.
“You’re a softie.” She smiled. “Don’t you know that alpha males are all the rage?”
He climbed out of the car. When she did the same, he looked at her over the hood. “Don’t you know that alphas dominate to hide their fears and insecurities?”
“And you don’t have fears and insecurities?”
“I do. But, like you, I don’t hide from them. I try to understand them, so I can conquer them and not let them become a weakness.” He took the snowshoes out, walked over to a picnic table with Zeus, and began putting them on. Hope followed him and began mimicking his movements.
When she was done, she jumped up. “Race you to the first fork in the trail.” He looked up, surprised, as she began trying to run in the snowshoes. The woman looked ridiculous, lifting her knees while trying to widen her stride. It was clear she’d never walked in snowshoes before, let alone run in them. “Is every sport and every game a competition with you?” he got up and called after her.
“Of course! It’s what they should be for everyone! Or else what’s the fun?” she called back just before she fell flat on her face.
“That’s the fun,” he said, laughing so hard he had to sit again. Zeus barked his angry bark at him.
She quickly bounced back up. “No. This is the fun,” she said. “Getting right back up and teaching you a lesson.”
Matt got up again. Someone needed a lesson all right. He ran after her, caught up, and surpassed her. Before he could make it to the first fork, though, Zeus, who was running right alongside him, decided to plant his paws in the snow and wait for Hope. He started barking encouragement at her, while Matt pulled on his front-clip harness, unable to get the dog to budge. The twelve-pound dog had managed to turn himself into a one-hundred-and-twelve-pound force of nature.
When Hope reached them, Matt swiftly picked Zeus up and leapt to the finish line. “I won,” he yelled, sticking his hands and a furious Zeus in the air. “You’re right. That was fun.”
“Well,” Hope mumbled. “I came in second.”
“Third,” he said, pointing to Zeus.
She ignored him. “Left or right? I think I’m finally getting the hang of these things.”
“Left. But no running. We raced like you wanted to, and I’ll admit it was a good idea. I feel great. But now it’s my turn to set the pace.”
“You feel great because you won,” she grumbled, as she moped along.
“Are you seriously moping because you lost?” he asked. She shrugged, and he laughed.
“I’ve tried to change. Really, I have,” she confessed with sad eyes. “But it’s hard. I’m wired too tightly when it comes to competition.”
He wished he could hug her. “You’re wired just right. Everyone needs a quirk or two.”
She blew at her bangs. “Right. Some of us avoid taking pictures.” He didn’t answer. “Ruby thinks you might be a vampire,” she continued, remembering both her vow to turn the tables on him, but treat him like the nice guy he was. There was no reason she couldn’t do both.
“There’s a way you can find out, right here and now,” he said, and purposefully rested his gaze on her glistening red lips. He could almost taste the cherry lip balm she’d spread on them earlier.
She rolled her eyes and began marching forward. “Can we have another race later?” she asked.
“Sure thing,” he agreed, and licked his own lips, as if that could get the cherry taste he was imagining off his mind. “If you promise to look around and take it all in. You haven’t even glanced at the snow clinging to the trees, or watched the river tumbling over the rocks and frozen blocks of ice, or listened to the birds.”
A knocking sound caught their attention, and they both looked up. “A woodpecker. Over there.” Matt pointed to it when he spotted it. She looked everywhere but couldn’t see it. He brought his arm up around her back and placed his hand on her shoulder to guide her. “Blue and white, on the oak tree next to the tallest sycamore.”
“I see it!” Hope smiled. “It’s so pretty. A little spot of color in a world of snow and twigs.” They were quiet a moment. “I hear the river, too. Can we go down and cross the boulders to the other side in these things?”
Matt nodded. “You’re going to want to race me down and across, aren’t you?”
She looked back and grinned, and he was caught by the sparkle in her eyes and the freckles across her nose that made her look more like a cute, mischievous gremlin than the beautiful CFO of a major corporation. “Sure,” he said with a laugh.
Nearly an hour later, they were parked in Matt’s mom’s driveway, and Hope was petting Zeus… and moping. “You’re not still bitter because I beat you all three times you wanted to race, are you?”
“Of course not. That would be silly and immature,” she said, smiling and staring straight ahead. “Now, go water your mom’s plants.”
“Here, try this.” Matt leaned over to gently pick up Zeus. “Look into his eyes for twenty seconds. It increases your oxytocin levels.”
“I’m fine, Matt. I don’t need to raise my oxy-anything.”
“Do it for Zeus. He senses your tight wires.”
“My wires are fine, but all right. I’ll do it for Zeus.” She rolled her eyes. Matt held Zeus up, and Hope and Zeus stared into each other’s eyes. Soon, Hope was smiling for real.
“See?” he said. “It works. Oxytocin is the bonding hormone, and bonding makes you feel good.” Hope shrugged, but she took Zeus from him and began to rub her nose into his fur.
“Are you sure you don’t want to come in?” he asked, opening the door.
“We talked about it on Friday. I’ll wait in the car.”
“There’s an old game of Monopoly inside.”
“Monopoly?” She turned and met his gaze, her eyes as blue as he’d ever seen them. It was almost scary.
He cleared his throat. “Um, yes. Monopoly.”
“And you’d play it with me?”
Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea. Maybe he should heed Johnny’s advice. “If you want to.”
“I want to, Matt. I really want to.”