Matt"You look good. Happy." Damon patted me on the chest as we walked into the showing an hour before the crowd was supposed to arrive. My father had gone up to the office to make an appearance and check in with everyone. He'd show up at six with the guests for the evening, which was fine by me."I am happy." I reached up and fixed his tie as we stood in the foyer. "You know that picture I did of you the day you found out about mom's cheating is in here, right?""Yeah." He rolled his eyes. "It's fine. I know it shows a depth of human emotion and you need that. I would imagine that most people aren't going to be able to tell it's me anyway. I was just a kid then.""Most people don't realize that you're just a kid now." I checked my watch and swallowed hard. Why did the evening feel like a make-it-or-break-it time in my life? It was just a showing. Worst case scenario, the attendees hated my work and left without buying anything. I still had my job at M&B, and most importantly... I had
EricaButterflies danced in my stomach over the way he looked at me. It wasn't a passing thought or a hopeful wish for the future, but our reality. He wanted exactly what I did... us, together forever."Matthew. Erica. Let's get ready for the big reveal." Jonathan clapped his hands together and turned, walking toward a large canvas covered in velvety black cloth. "Everyone. If I could kindly have your attention please. Now comes the time in the evening when we're proud to share Matthew Bryant's centerpiece. The bidding will start at five hundred thousand dollars and go up from there.”I glanced around to find Lanie talking to a handsome, older guy near the bar that Jonathan had set up in the corner. His suit fit him well, and she seemed lost to him. Interesting. I'd have to get the scoop later.Matthew and I moved up to stand beside Kent and Damon as I realized what the painting was of. Me. Naked."Hey, guys." I glanced over at the two of them as embarrassment swirled in my belly, dou
Matt"You sure you're going to be okay without me?" I smiled down at Erica as she stood encircled in my arms tightly. "I'm the only one that knows how you like your coffee in the morning."She laughed, but the sound was far from joyous. Something was wrong and had been since the fucking art show. I couldn't pry from her what was going on, so I'd forced myself to stop trying over the last week. I'd just love her through it, and when she was ready to talk - if ever - she would."I've been making my own coffee for many years before you came along, Matthew Bryant." She lifted to her toes and pulled me down for a long kiss.Every cell in my body woke up and begged for me to push the moment farther."You know I love you, right?" I reached up and cupped the side of her cheek as the sound of my father's private jet roaring to life stole her attention.She turned and looked toward it before stepping back from me. "I know. I love you too. Please be careful, okay?""I will." I pulled her in agai
Matt"Where are mom and dad?" I set Bethany down and glanced around."They went away for a few days together." Bethany shrugged and slipped her arm into mine before dragging me to the kitchen. "Tell me all about the art show.""I already told you all about it." Damon glanced over his shoulder as we walked into the kitchen. "He lost his million-dollar virginity that night."I rolled my eyes and moved to sit down at the breakfast nook. "Dumb."Bethany laughed and turned to stand across the counter from me. "Did you enjoy it? Was it everything you thought it would be?""Yeah." I smiled. "Erica was brilliant, but she always is.""Hey. Speaking of Erica..." Damon turned and tilted his head to the side. "What the fuck was going on with you and that painting you did of her?"Anger swam in my stomach as I thought about the situation with Mitch. "I didn't want Mitch to have the painting.""What painting?" Bethany asked."The one of Erica naked." Damon moved over to stand beside Bethany. "Why d
EricaAfter dropping Matt off at the airport, I wanted to go home and face plant in my bed, but unfortunately, I'd set up a meeting with my staff to go over some new ad specs that morning.I glanced in the rear-view mirror to see Matt stop by the stairs of the plane and glance back. My heart filled with a warmth I didn't know if I would ever have. Being raised by a loving father and hateful mother made for a less than steady experience.Tears burned my eyes as memories washed over me. The one that stuck in my mind's eye as I drove through the city was being at the opening night of Matt's showing.Fucking Mitch Roberson."Goddammit," I growled and turned to face the studio. What was Mitch doing? Why was he messing up the one thing Matt had going for him? This night meant everything to him. Everything. I pulled out my phone and texted Mitch, grateful that we exchanged numbers the week before. Me: What the fuck are you doing? You're messing up this night.Mitch: So ask me to stop. Off
Erica"Right. Sorry." I set my stuff down and let out a soft sigh. "Give me some advice. I need to shake him. He's becoming a little more than work friendly.""Why on earth would you want to shake him?" She tilted her head to the side, her eyes piercing me as if she could somehow see into my future."Because I'm dating Matthew Bryant, and I'm quite happy with him.""Erica. Can I speak freely?" She crossed her arms over her chest."Of course." I sat down in my chair, knowing that she wasn't going to have anything nice to say about Matt. The whole office saw him as a playboy child with a pipe dream of being a great artist. To the business types, it was laughable."I think you're much better matched with someone like Mitch. You're beautiful and so incredibly talented." Her expression grew almost sad. "You need a man who can provide for you and help you build a strong, solid future.""I understand how you could want that, but what if I didn't want security?" I leaned back in my chair and
Matt"Matthew?" My father's voice woke me from a dream I was having about Erica leaving me. I jerked up in the bed, my body covered in sweat, my heart racing."Yeah. I'm in here." I pulled the covers up to cover my lower body and glanced toward the door as my father stopped just inside the room and smiled at me."I thought you were coming later this week?" He was fully dressed and wide awake.I, on the other hand, was not. "What time is it?""Just after eleven. Karen is in the kitchen with Maria, so make sure you put some pants on before you go in there." He lifted his eyebrow at me."Yeah. Alright." I flopped back down on the bed. "What are your plans today? I need to chat with you about work.""I'm free for the next hour. Get your lazy butt up and come talk to me in the office. I'll be working on a few things in there until I head to downtown.""Is that bacon I smell?" I breathed in deeply. Something about being back in my dad's house had me feeling like a teenager. There was a freed
Matt"Shit. Alright." I got up and walked to the bathroom to clean up my mess. I should have forced Erica to come to Dallas with me on the trip. Being away from her sucked far too much.After I got myself together, I walked out of the bedroom and made a beeline for the kitchen. My father sat at the table with a paper and a cup of coffee. The sight of him sitting there brought back a million memories, not all of them good."Sorry. I was on the phone with Erica." I grabbed a plate and filled it with everything left over from breakfast. After finding a fork, I walked over and sat down across from the man I'd always seen as a hero. "You have a good time on your getaway with Karen.""I sure did." He folded the paper and leaned back in his chair. "Let me guess what you wanted to talk to me about. Leaving McKenzie and Bryant?"I stiffened. "It's that obvious?"He chuckled. "I never want you to be something you're not. I do want to know that you're growing up and becoming the kind of man who