“How about we just rewind and go back to the way it was? I’ll make off-color jokes and you’ll give me that side-eye you’re so good at. Then we’ll get back to work.”
Penny shook her head. “I don’t know how you do that.”
“What?”
“Make me feel better.”
Warmth spread through him at her words. “Let’s try this. We’ll be all business when we’re here, and then in the evenings we can enjoy each other’s company as friends.”
“Just friends.” Penny narrowed her eyes. It was clear she didn’t believe him.
“I’m more than happy to make myself available for whatever you want to do. But there’s no pressure. However, if you can’t stop yourself, I promise I won’t be offended if you take advantage of me.”
A laugh escaped before she could stop it. Matt grinned unrepentantly when she tried to regain her stern expression.
“I think I can control myself.”
“Well, then, you have nothing to worry about. Right?” Matt stared at her until she acknowledged the point with a small nod.
Penny crossed her arms. “What did you have in mind?”
“Nothing special. Just meeting up after you get off. I don’t know anyone else up here and I hate eating alone. You have to eat dinner anyway, so does it really matter if you eat it with me?”
“I guess not.”
“Okay, so I’ll see you tonight. I’ll meet you at you
r house. I’d invite you over, but I still feel weird about entertaining in my buddy’s house. I’m sure he wouldn’t care, but still.”
Matt doubted Eli would care one way or the other, but this was a great opportunity to see where she lived. Eli said he should pay attention to her to find out what she liked. Her house was probably full of clues.
“No! I mean, my house is a wreck.” She flushed a second later when Matt raised his eyebrows. “Let’s meet at the Italian restaurant across the street. I should be done around seven. Is that too late?”
Matt decided not to push. If she didn’t want to invite him to her house then he could wait. “Okay. I’m always in the mood for Italian food.”
Penny smiled. “Me, too. Italian is one of my favorites other than seafood.”
Listen to her.
Matt bounced the ball a few times. “Great. So why don’t you distract me while I practice by telling me what else you like to do in your spare time besides check out new restaurants.”
* * * * *
DINNER WITH MATT that first night was a surprisingly easy affair. He had a refreshingly honest perspective that Penny could appreciate. Matt didn’t know how to be anything other than Matt. When he gave his opinion on something, she knew it was the unvarnished truth, free of guile or agenda.
He met her after work again Monday night and they went to a local pizza place that Penny had been addicted to ever since she’d found it. They’d talked and laughed over huge slices of pizza dripping with cheese. Just a few weeks prior, she wouldn’t have believed she could be so comfortable with him, but the entire night she hadn’t felt self-conscious about how much she was eating or worried whether she had food on her face. Unbelievably, he was keeping to his “just friends” promise. He hadn’t done anything or said anything suggestive. Well, not too suggestive anyway.
It was still Matt, after all.
Tuesday evening when his truck pulled into the lot of the center, she was already waiting outside. She skipped over to his truck and climbed up to the passenger side.
“Am I late?” Matt regarded her with amusement as she dropped her bag on the floor and buckled her seatbelt.
“No, I was just ready. So, where are we going?”
“I heard about this great seafood restaurant that’s near my buddy’s house. Are you up for trying a new place?”
“Yeah. Sounds like fun.” Penny rubbed her hands together and they pulled out of the lot.