Had he gone to bed?
Seriously?
Her mind wouldn’t quiet down. Should she sleep outside in the Bentley if he didn’t answer her knock?
She would tap lightly just to see if he was still awake, so they couldclear the air. Ashley turned off the car and headed up the porch stairs.
She gave the light knock and waited.
The chill in the night air was different than Miami because of the mountains surrounding them. It cooled her temper.
Maybe Matthew had a way to explain. She’d promised to give him a shot.
His brother was clearly gone now.
But as the minutes ticked past,she took a step back.
Maybe she needed to check into a hotel, and they could meet in the morning.
But the light came on and she stayed put—Matt opened his door and part of her heart melted. Bare-chested, as he liked to walk around his house without a shirt, and rumpled just-out-bed hair.
She wanted to run into his arms and hold him tight.
She did not want to imply thatshe would ever be okay with being used, so she stood with her hands at her sides. He widened the door and gestured for her to come in. She smiled and passed him.
No need to have this conversation outside on the front step. She ignored the coldness that crept into her skin at the idea of never seeing him again. “Matt, I’m sorry if I woke you. I didn’t think you’d be sleeping.”
Heshrugged. “I thought you weren’t coming back till tomorrow.”
Right. She’d said tomorrow, but the realization of her cousin’s duplicity changed things. “I left all my things here and Jennifer’s home now.”
Matt closed the door. “I’m glad she’s out of the hospital.”
“Don’t.” She shivered as she stepped back from him.
He blinked and turned toward her. “Don’t what?”
Her voice came out higher than she intended as she said, “Don’t act like you care about my family when you put yours over mine.”
He should wear a shirt in his house. It would be less distracting if he didn’t have those muscles on display as he put his hands in the pockets of his sleep pants. “I should have talked to you. I said I was sorry.”
She lowered her head. They’d alreadygone over this, and Matt had promised to make it up to her, if he could. “Well, Jennifer used us both.”
He joined her by the foyer and their bodies were so close hers got goosebumps. “What?”
She met his gaze and said a small prayer. “Jennifer knew I was with you. She knew I loved you and she used that in some plan of hers.”
Matt’s eyes widened. “What plan?”
Good question.She wasn’t sure, but so much drama was not her life. She was done. Maybe she could be happy living in a small town and fall for a bartender or something. She’d taken her shot here and failed. Matt hadn’t chosen her side either. “I don’t know. I don’t care. But she wanted your brother to take the DNA.”
Matt’s arms crossed. “But she’s been fighting him?”
This was no longer her concern.She was done with Jennifer and it seemed Matt only cared about what affected his siblings. Maybe if she had a family that cared about her, she’d understand. But she didn’t. She never had. She pushed her hair behind her ears. “I know when she’s lying to me and when I saw her tonight, I knew she was hiding something.”
Matt’s voice was deeper when he said, “I’m sorry.”
She let out asmall laugh, determined to protect her heart as she headed to the stairway. “You’re sorry a lot. Look, I’ll just get my things and leave.”
