by J. M. Madden
She finished the cookies and made Matt an easy lunch of ham sandwiches, but she didn’t stay to chat. After commenting on the progress of the stairs, she forced herself to walk away. When she looked at the supplies on the counter, she decided she didn’t want anything herself right then. Her arm ached, and her tummy was a little nauseous. She shoved everything in the fridge and popped a couple of ibuprofen as she straightened the kitchen. Tiredness dragged at her, and she decided to lay down for a little bit on the couch in the living room. There she would be close enough to hear Matt work, but not in his direct line of sight.
The poufy couch and Matt’s noises lulled her into sleep almost immediately.
Gina was roused seconds later when her cell phone rang in her pocket. She fumbled it out and tapped the screen. The display told her she had actually been asleep for almost two hours, and this was the second call from her mother.
“Yes, Mom.”
Linda Carruther’s voice on the other end of the line was nauseatingly chirpy. “Hello, dear. I didn’t think you were going to answer. I called earlier.”
Gina rubbed her eyes with her casted fingers. “I know, Mom. I was asleep on the couch and didn’t hear it the first time.”
“Oh, okay.” Her mother didn’t sound appeased. “Well, did you get my voicemail?”
“No, Mom. I literally just woke up. Haven’t had a chance to do anything. What did your voicemail say?”
Sighing the way she always did when everybody else wasn’t following along with her program, Linda repeated the message, relating party details and an updated list. Gina was still drowsy, but her ears sharpened when she heard her mother say ‘date’.
“Wait a minute, Mom. What did you say?”
“Just that I got you a date dear. A really nice man from the fitness club I go to.”
Gina groaned and squeezed her eyes shut. “You didn’t.”
“Grayson is a wonderful man, and I expect you to be nice to him.”
Gina counted to ten, struggling to control her mouth. She knew her mother was only trying to do what she thought was best, but it still pissed her off. “Mom, I’m not a child. You can’t just set me up on a date without asking me. Especially with some guy you don’t even know.”
“Oh, but I do know him dear, from the fitness club,” she repeated. “He’s wonderful, actually. A doctor. I’ve spoken with him several times, and I think he would be perfect for you.”
“Mom,” Gina spoke through clenched teeth, “I don’t care if he’s a doctor. I don’t care if he’s a lawyer. I don’t care if he’s a multi-gazillionaire. I pick my dates. Not you.”
Silence stretched on the other end of the line, and Gina knew what was coming. The wounded, ‘I’m just trying to do what’s best for you’ act. So many times over the years she had heard the same thing. Gina loved her mother, she really did, but certain things got on her nerves.
“Besides,” she said quickly, “I already have a date for the cookout.”
Gina’s eyes widened as she realized what she had done. Her mother gasped on the other end of the line.
“What do you mean you have a date? Since when are you dating?”
The doubt was thinly veiled, and Gina had to admit, she hadn’t been dating much recently. It had all gotten boring, and the men were always the same.
“Just recently, Mom, and he’s very nice. A, uh--” Gina gulped before plunging in with both feet, “--carpenter actually. His name is Matt, and he’s very nice.” Her eyes slammed shut when she realized she’d said he was nice twice. “So there’s no need for you to set me up on a date, because I already have one.”
Gina realized there was no noise in the hallway, and when she opened her eyes, Matt was standing at the doorjamb glaring at her, brows furrowed dangerously. Mortification burned through Gina, and it was all she could do to get off the phone with her mother. “Mom, I have to go, I have, uh, an issue. I’ll talk to you later.”
She quickly pressed the screen to disconnect the phone and sat up on the couch. Searing heat burned her cheeks as she looked up at him with a forced smile.
“Um, that was my mother.”
Matt regarded her carefully, not saying anything. There was a small screwdriver clenched in his left fist at his side, and his knuckles were white.
“She set me up with some schmuck, and I didn’t want to do it. I told her I was dating you.” A fresh wave of embarrassment burned her cheeks. “Matt, would you mind going to my sister’s sweet-sixteen birthday party cookout? With me?”
Matt looked down at the floor and was quiet for a very long time.
“I don’t know that it’s a very good idea, but yes, I’ll go with you.”
Without another word, he disappeared. A power something-or-other started up outside the room.
Stale air burst from her lungs in a rush, and the heat in her face receded. Certainly not the smoothest of invitations, but he had agreed to go. The aggravation on his face had been plain to see, but she had panicked. She didn’t want to face a pity date.
Shit. That’s what she herself had just set up.
Groaning, Gina covered her face with her hands. Why the hell had she said Matt’s name? Her mother would be frothing at the mouth right now, dying to know who he was, how they had met, and so many other innocuous details.
She debated calling her back to say she had been wrong; Matt wouldn’t be going with her. But that would be the coward’s way of dealing. And she wasn’t a coward. But she would go back on her word if Matt wanted her to.
Saying that in her head over and over, she crossed to the doorway.
Matt had set up a saw-horse on the porch and was just getting ready to cut through a board with a circular saw when she came to the front door. He looked up without saying anything.
“I’m sorry I set you up like that,” she told him softly. “I was looking for a way out of a difficult situation, and I used you. If you don’t want to go, I’ll call my mother back right now and get you out of it.”
Matt looked down at the saw in his hands. One thumb ran over a gash in the plastic handle.
“Maybe you should listen to your mother. I mean, if the guy’s a doctor, you should be open-minded.”
Shock rocked her back on her heels. “You want me to go on a date with some guy I don’t even know? Just because he’s a doctor?”
Matt shrugged and shifted on his feet. Then his face closed down, and he looked almost angry. “Yes. Because he’s a doctor. You’re a great woman. You’d make a wonderful doctor’s wife.”
Gina decided she didn’t know Matt at all. Why would he even suggest that? She knew her mouth was open in shock, but she couldn’t seem to get her mind around what he’d said. Hurt came to the forefront as she realized he didn’t even want to go on a date with her. Her eyes filled with tears. She turned to the screen door to let herself in. “I’ll call my mother, then, to let her know,” she gasped out, before she slipped inside.
She was jerked to a stop as her arm was caught and she was spun around. Matt gentled his touch immediately, but he pushed her back against the entryway wall. His face was contorted with anger.
“No, I fucking don’t want you to go out with a damn doctor, but I want you to be happy.”
Gina’s heart softened, because she knew he meant every word.
“A doctor wouldn’t make me happy, Matt. A man who would love me and be there for me would make me happy, and believe me, I know doctors. They work terrible hours and usually have terrible home lives. And if Mom met him at the club, he’s either obsessive about his health or vain. Neither of which I can put up with.” She smiled at him and motioned to her hips. “He probably wouldn’t even let me make cookies.”
Matt’s expression eased, but he still held her shoulders. Now the hold was gentle, though, as if he didn’t want to let her go.
“I want you to make cookies,” he admitted.
Her smile broadened. “That’s why I like you so much.”
Her words made him frown. “Gi
na, I’m not good for you. I think I would hurt you, whether I meant to or not.” His hands fell away, and he stepped back. “I don’t do relationships. I wouldn’t even know what to do in one.”
Gina forced herself to shrug lightly, in spite of her wounded feelings. “So let’s just be friends and see where it takes us. There doesn’t have to be any serious talk. Let’s just help each other out.” Smiling up at him, she winked at him with one eye. “You go to the barbeque with me, and I’ll keep you rolling in cookies.”
Matt smiled reluctantly. “Okay, I’ll go to your barbeque.”
Gina made herself stand still and not reach out to hug him in gratitude.
“Thank you. Actually, the grill-out is secondary. It’s my sister Charli’s sixteenth birthday party. It’s a big deal for her, so we’re trying to make it special. It’s going to be kind of an all day thing,” she warned. “I think we’ll probably get there in the afternoon, spend the night and drive home in the morning, if that’s okay with you.”
Matt winced. “I didn’t even ask you where it was.”
“Outside of Dayton, about half an hour east of the city.”
He nodded and stepped even further back. “Just let me know when you want to leave and the details later.”
He turned and pushed open the screen door to the porch.
“I will,” she answered. He waved as he let the door slam shut.
Gina leaned against the wall and listened to him saw the board he had abandoned. Matt Calvin was a good man, whether he knew it or not.
Now she just had to convince him of that.
Chapter Six
Dr. Graham called Gina that night, after Matt had gone home, and asked her how she was feeling. He suggested she start out at half-days on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, then full days the latter part of the week. The suggestion worked for Gina, even though she knew the girls would be especially busy without her there. Her arm still ached and had begun to itch now as well.
The stairs were not done yet, but Matt had promised to be over Monday afternoon when she got home from work. He said if he weren’t done by then, Tuesday definitely. The deadline depressed Gina. She was getting used to his gentle smiles and big appetite, and genuinely enjoyed having him in the house.
Gabe didn’t come over for a couple days. During the day he was at school, and after school Chuck had loaded more chores onto him. Gina didn’t like it, but at least she wasn’t getting him into trouble. She checked on him at night, just like she always did, and reassured herself he was okay.
Matt called her on Tuesday to reschedule. One of his regular clients had had a tree fall through their house and it was exposed to the elements until Matt could get it repaired. Gina told him to do what needed to be done. Her banister wasn’t going anywhere.
She answered his call eagerly on Wednesday, hopeful that he would tell her he’d be over that evening. But it wasn’t to be. There’d been a delay, and he wouldn’t be able to work on her house until the next day. Trying desperately to act unconcerned, she told him to let himself in whenever he could get there.
Thursday afternoon after her first full day of work, she dragged herself in the front door, dropped her keys to the table and collapsed onto the couch. Sleep claimed her almost instantly.
Tugging on her hair woke her up. The afternoon sun shone in her front window, and Matt knelt on the floor in front of her. Happiness bloomed in her chest at the sight of his hat-less head and slight smile. His hand withdrew when she opened her eyes, and Gina was tempted to close them again just so he would touch her. It felt wonderful, soothing and tantalizing all at once.
Smiling, she pushed her hair out of her face and sat up on the couch. She glanced at the clock on the fireplace mantle and gasped. Six o’clock. She had gotten home at four.
“I’m sorry to wake you up,” he told her, “but you’ve been asleep for hours, and I didn’t think you’d get much rest tonight if you slept any longer. I ordered pizza for dinner. Hope you don’t mind.”
“Really? Awesome!” She grinned at him. “I love pizza.”
Gina was touched he had done that. She certainly wasn’t in the mood to throw something together for dinner. If it had been just her, she would have eaten an apple or something and gone back to bed.
“Are you done with the stairway?”
Matt got a funny look on his face. “Uh, no. Not yet. Maybe tomorrow.”
Gina felt like he wasn’t saying something and realized she hadn’t heard a sound from the hallway at all. “Did you get a chance to work on it?”
Matt looked down at his hands, dangling between his knees. “No, I had staining to do outside.”
“Which was probably done hours ago,” she finished.
Matt didn’t say either way, and Gina felt guilty. He had put off finishing the house because she was asleep.
“I’m sorry, Matt. I just walked in the door and crashed. I didn’t expect going back to work to be so difficult.” She held her wrist out in accusation. “This damn thing caused me to fumble so many things today.”
“Is it still hurting?” he asked.
“Here and there.” She winced when she remembered her few hours at work. “I smacked it into a door jamb today, so I took one of the loopy pills. And the itching is really what’s starting to drive me batty.”
Matt had a sympathetic expression on his strong face. “And you’ve only got five and a half more weeks to go.”
Gina gasped and burst out laughing, pushing him lightly on the chest. “You suck. I can’t believe you had to remind me about that.”
The gentle push over-balanced him, and he fell back on his butt. The startled look on his face was precious. Gina clapped a hand over her mouth. She couldn’t believe she’d done that.
Matt laughed out loud, and Gina zeroed in on the sound because he had never laughed with her before. It was deep and dark, and laced with genuine humor that made her skin tingle. His eyes crinkled at the corners and gave his face levels of character. She laughed with him and realized it was the most at ease they had been with each other since they’d met. Perhaps he was as glad to see her as she was him.
Matt levered himself to his feet, brushing imaginary dust from his jeans.
“You’re right,” he conceded. “It was mean. I apologize.”
Gina shook her head at him, pushing her tangled hair away with her left hand. “It’s okay. It’s the truth.” She shuddered as she looked down at her scrubs. “I’m going to go change out of these things. I’ll get plates, and we can watch some TV in here while we eat if you want.”
Gina tried not to hold her breath as she waited for his answer.
“Okay. That sounds good.”
The expectation holding her captive eased at his easy response, and she walked out the door and up the stairs.
Maybe she was making some headway in getting Matt to relax. He certainly wasn’t as defensive as he had been at first, and he was willing to spend time with her. Gina wondered if she could convince him to cuddle later.
Sighing, she crossed to her closet. She’d just be happy he was staying with her and not expect anything more than that.
Matt watched Gina walk out and struggled to rein in his excitement. As mundane as pizza and a movie was to other people, it was novel for him. He’d never actually taken a woman out, anywhere. He’d never wanted to, really, because closeness led to questions he had no desire to answer about himself. About his dad and his childhood. He had lived in South Bend all his life, so a lot of people already knew about him and his history, but Gina had moved to town only four years ago. She didn’t have any preconceived notions about him.
Most of the women in town looked at him as if he were as crazy as his dad had been, even though he had never given them reason to. Some remembered him from school, with all the bruises and excuses. They hadn’t been surprised when he had dropped out.
How ridiculous was it that a thirty-two year old man had never been on an actual date with a woman? Yes, he’d been out with
women, as in, met them in bars and accepted invitations to follow them home, but he’d never actually taken a woman out and bought her dinner.
Gina was setting all kinds of records for him, though it was probably a stretch to classify this as a date.
He’d never met another woman’s family, either. Actually, the thought of being at the mercy of somebody he didn’t even know was chilling. Gina will be there, he kept telling himself. And you’ll have your truck, so you can leave any time. If he said it enough, maybe he would believe it.
The delivery man came a bit later, and Matt paid for the pizzas. The exhilaration at paying the kid the twenty-five bucks was ridiculous, but it was definitely there. He crossed the room and positioned the two boxes on the coffee table, lining them up with the corners. Excitement needled him, and he sat on the settee to wait for her to come down the stairs.
I’ve become a caveman, feeding my woman and taking care of her.
The notion didn’t chafe as bad as he thought it would. Gina didn’t smother him. Actually, he could see the struggle in her expressive eyes, and at times she had pulled back when she knew touching him or saying something would have been too much. And he appreciated that.
He straightened on the settee and looked toward the stairs. Then forced himself to turn away and slouch back as if he were comfortable. He heard her jog down the stairs and cross the doorway.
“I’ll get plates and napkins. What do you want to drink? Pop, tea, water?”
“Pop,” he called after her.
Seconds later she returned, carrying a blue plastic tray loaded with drinks and utensils. The brand of pop he preferred was on the corner of the tray, and he felt his throat get tight. Why would she remember what he drank?
All the knick-knacks on the coffee table were removed, and the pizzas and drinks were spread out. Gina looked up at him across the table. “Are you going to sit over there? You can’t really see the TV from that spot.”
Matt knew she was right, so he moved to the opposite end of the couch from her. The couch itself was good sized, but he still felt like he was going to break it. He sat on the edge of the cushion and waited while Gina flipped open the lids and pulled out several pieces to put on a plate.
