Tied with Me

“Good.” He grins and offers me some scrambled eggs.

“So, where did you all send them?” I ask and refuse the next bite, too full to eat any more.

“Italy,” he replies casually and finishes the rest of the breakfast himself.

“Italy,” I repeat with a snort. “Holy crap, that’s some honeymoon.”

“I know.” He nods. “Dominic owns a home there.”

“He seems nice.”

Matt’s eyes narrow on my face.

Is he jealous?

“He’s a good guy. I haven’t known him long. Just a few months.”

“But he’s your brother.”

“Half brother,” he clarifies and sets the empty tray on the bedside table. “We didn’t know he existed until about five months ago.”

“Wow.”

“What do you have planned for today?” Matt asks, effectively changing the subject.

“I could use a trip to the grocery store, but other than that, I don’t have solid plans.”

He looks uncertain when he meets my gaze and says simply, “I’d like to spend today with you.”

“Okay,” I agree. “What do you have in mind?”

“Anything you want,” he replies. “Let’s get out of this apartment for a while, and then I’d very much like to spend tonight here with you.”

“I’d like to go down to Pike Place Market for some produce for the week.” I tap my lip with my finger, contemplating all the possibilities. “Maybe pick up some fresh chocolate from the chocolate place just up the hill from there.”

“You use fresh chocolate in your cupcakes?” Matt asks.

“Of course. I buy all my chocolate from them. It’s the best.”

“Okay. I might have a surprise before the Market and the chocolate place.” He checks the time, then leans in and kisses me softly. “Thank you for this morning.”

He kisses me once more and pulls me from the bed. “Let’s shower and then head out. We need an early start.”

He picks me up in his arms and marches into the bathroom.

“Are we going to get dirty again before we get clean?” I ask with a laugh.

“Oh, definitely.”

***

“God, I love Seattle in the summer!” I exclaim and lean on the railing of the ferry, breathing in the salty air and enjoying the breeze in my hair and on my skin.

It’s a gorgeous sunny summer day in Puget Sound. Matt surprised me with a ferry ride over to Bainbridge Island, which is only about a forty-minute ride, but the view is spectacular.

“I do, too,” he agrees and leans on the rail, watching the Olympic Mountains grow smaller as we drift away from the island toward Seattle. “Did you enjoy the town?”

“It’s a cute place.” I nod and smile. “The bagel shop makes one hell of a sandwich.”

“Next time we’ll rent bikes and ride around the island.”

“Sounds fun, too.”

He steps behind me, wraps his arms around my shoulders and rests his lips on the top of my head, holding me snugly against his chest as we enjoy the spectacular views around us.

I haven’t known him long, and I’ve already placed so much trust in this man. More than anyone in my life before. His quiet calm is soothing.

I hope I’m not making a mistake.

When we dock at Seattle, we walk up to Pike Place Market, one of the most famous outdoor/indoor markets in the world.

“Our first stop is the doughnut guy,” Matt informs me with a grin.

Because it’s a beautiful Sunday, the market is bustling with tourists and locals alike. We join the line for doughnuts and wait.

Matt’s eyes never stop roaming, watching the people who pass by, listening to conversations around us. His hand holds on to mine tightly, as if I might get scooped up into the flow of bodies and disappear.

His protectiveness is a new side of him that I can’t help but enjoy. It makes me feel…wanted.

When it’s our turn, Matt places his order and then offers the plain brown paper bag to me, steaming with hot, fresh doughnuts the size of a baby’s fist.

“No, thank you,” I murmur, secretly yearning for just one. Just one.

“Are you sure?” he asks incredulously. “These are the best doughnuts in the city.”

I nod, my mind made up. I don’t want to pay for it later. “I’m sure.”

“If you’re worried about the calories—”

“I’m not,” I interrupt. “I’m still full from lunch.”

He watches me closely for a moment and then shrugs, tosses a sugar and cinnamon doughnut into his mouth and leads me farther into the market. Despite the throngs of people, Matt stays close and patiently waits while I choose fruit for this week’s cupcakes, as well as produce for my own kitchen.

“Fish for dinner?” Matt asks in my ear, pointing to the fresh fish on display from one of the vendors.

“Sure.”

He leaves me to buy some fish, so I also buy fragrant herbs to go with the fish and the makings for salad.

“Hey, baby.”

I frown and turn at the familiar voice, praying I’m wrong.

Please, God, don’t let it be who I think it is.

Nope, I’m just not that lucky.

“Don’t call me that, Rob.” I roll my eyes and keep moving down the line of produce.

“Hey, you haven’t returned my calls in a while,” he responds, ignoring my request completely.

“Nope, I haven’t.”

“Why not?”

“Because I’m not interested, Rob. Look…” I turn and catch Matt watching us over Rob’s shoulder. He raises an eyebrow, but I square my shoulders and look Rob right in the eye.

He’s short, only a few inches taller than I am, but he’s a good-looking guy with black hair and brown eyes, a crooked nose.

“I don’t mean to hurt your feelings, but I’m just not interested in seeing you. Good luck to you.”

I turn to go, but he grabs my arm. “Wait.”

“I think she already said no,” Matt growls from behind him.

There’s really not enough room to have this kind of altercation here in the middle of the market. There are too many people bustling around us, bumping into us.

“This isn’t your fucking business,” Rob snaps back with a sneer, and Matt’s eyes narrow into deadly slits.

“She’s with me,” he states calmly. “She said no. That’s all you need to know.”