Love in a Nutshell - Janet Evanovich [22]
“You’re probably right,” he said. “But I shouldn’t have to tell everyone my every last move. For all the time I’m there, I deserve some privacy when I’m not.”
“It was just a suggestion.”
“I know, but I’m used to running my show my way.”
“Sorry. I’m hardwired to just put it all out there.”
“So I’ve noticed,” he said. “I think it might be one of your better qualities.”
They smiled at each other, and she found herself considering how it would feel to close the distance between them on that flowery sofa and kiss him. It would feel good, she thought. Really good.
It was like a dreadful out-of-body experience as she witnessed herself begin to lean toward him like a teenager crushing on a new boy. The lean was immediately followed by panic, and Kate shot to her feet and set the metal bird on the coffee table. “It’s getting late. I’m sure you’re really tired.”
Matt rose and reached out to touch her hair. “I could never be that tired.”
Holy Moses, Kate thought, the panic mingling with flat-out lust.
“Before this goes any further,” he said, “I have something I need to tell you. I’m the guy who owns your mortgage.”
For a moment, Kate thought she’d misheard. “What?”
“I didn’t know it was your house before tonight, I swear. I’m really sorry, but I have a lot of money already invested in this, too, and I made a fair deal with you and your parents.”
“You think it’s fair to take my home?”
“Kate. It’s falling apart and nobody would pay what I’m offering.”
Kate felt her blood pressure hit the stroke zone. “It doesn’t matter what somebody would pay, because it’s not for sale. I’m going to get the money to fix the place somehow, and I’m going to turn this place into a home and a business.”
Matt shuffled his feet and looked into Kate’s eyes. “Look. I’ll give you until Thanksgiving to get caught up on your mortgage. Just ignore the foreclosure papers.”
Kate’s eyes were as wide as saucers. “Foreclosure papers! You’re serving me with foreclosure papers?”
“Not anymore. At least, not right now.”
Kate turned Matt around and hustled him to the door. “I don’t have much of a choice. I’ll take the deal. And I’ll see you at work tomorrow. The sooner I find your saboteur, the sooner I get my bonus and the sooner I can pay you. Good night!”
Kate listened to the crunch of gravel as Matt’s car drove off. She hated him for taking her house, but she had to admit he’d been honest with her, and even generous giving her until Thanksgiving. She leaned her forehead against the door and gave up a sigh. The worst part of the whole hideous mess was that she had very friendly feelings for him. Feelings that might be misinterpreted now. She worried that he might have a hard time sorting out her genuine attraction from a cheesy attempt to bail on a mortgage payment.
FIVE
Matt and his three-legged dog, Chuck, had hunkered down to watch the flames dance in the large fieldstone fireplace that anchored the great room in Matt’s log home.
Chuck gave his standard contribution to any conversation: a thump of his tail against a pine floor scarred from his constant quest to discover if the darker knots in the wood might actually be hidden dog treats.
Matt stretched his arms across the back of the brown leather sofa. He took in the family photos that sat on the fireplace’s rough-hewn oak mantel. Chuck starred in more than one of the shots.
Five years ago, Matt had found Chuck tied to a newspaper box outside a gas station. Apparently, someone had stuck him there the prior night and no one had laid claim to him during the course of the day.
Matt liked to think of himself as a practical guy. He’d known that a three-legged hound, no matter how much he otherwise appeared to be bred to hunt, was going to be ornamental at best. But one look at that dog’s chocolate brown eyes and hopeful expression, and there