Lib Novel Page 21
“Can I help?” Pia’s small hand landed on his shoulder.
She didn’t ask what was wrong because she already knew.
He shook his head. He was torn up inside fromone fucking nightwith this woman. He didn’t want his mother to be right about how easily love could detract from legacy. He also didn’t want to watch Pia drive away, knowing he wouldn’t see her again. Matt was a problem-solver, an idea man, but he saw no solution to the issue of wanting more of her.
Instead, he entwined a hand into hers and dropped a kiss on her fingers. Unease yanked on his belly as they walked to the elevator. He pushed the down arrow, his thoughts tangled. If he could just—
“Matt?”
Pia’s warm body pressed into his. Up on her tiptoes so she could reach, she kissed him lightly on the lips. He sighed again, this time in relief. Their bags fell to the floor as he pulled her closer, kissed her deeper. Maybe a goodbye kiss is what he needed. A real one, without Célia’s scowl as an accompaniment. Closure.
He sunk his whole being into her lips, against her body. He took and he gave. Matt let himself disconnect from every part of the world that didn’t have Pia in it.
A chorus of throat-clearing behind him drove them apart.
Matt knew without looking that they’d been joined by the Mademoiselles Bonnivard, ancient sisters who lived in the flat next to his.Merde. Smiling reassuringly, he placed a final light kiss on Pia’s mouth and bent to retrieve their bags.
He turned to the sisters. “Bonjour, mes demoiselles.”
They eyed him with identical arch expressions. In pantsuits and chunky heels, Matt was sure they were off to join friends of similar ilk for a late brunch at some nearby café. Odette’s gaze lingered on Pia’s bare feet, while Katrine gave the two of them a slow once-over. He felt Pia shift next to him.
“Mattias.”
The elevator door opened, and all four shuffled in. Matt could tell from Pia’s pink cheeks that she was highly aware of her missing shoes in that moment. As he hit the button for the main floor, he thought she’d never looked more beautiful.
“A rather disruptive morning, was it not?” Katrine’s raspy voice cut through the awkward silence.
Panic flashed through his veins. “Pardon?”
Odette snickered. “The next time you engage in carnal relations, Mattias, I hope you do so indoors, not on the balcony that we all share.”
Matt clapped his hands over Pia’s ears. Fuck, he hoped she hadn’t been able to decipher any of those words. She’d be even more mortified than he was that they’d been overheard by these bourgeois geriatrics.
She let out a squeak. “What is it?”
“Rather energetic, this guest of yours,” Katrine commented. “Quite interrupted my morning ciggy.”
“Matt?” Pia whispered.
Odettetsked. “Broken dishes too, it sounded like. Scandalous. Even more scandalous than the fact that you seem to have literally knocked her socks off. Not that we’re complaining, are we, sister?”
Pia made a strangled noise. Even with the French, she knew this conversation wasn’t good.
“Certainly not. Most action we’ve had in decades,” Katrine agreed.
Matt cursed under his breath and dropped his hands from Pia’s ears. He was at a loss at what to say to any of them. He finally settled on, “Her shoes are in my car.”
“Oh, it’s none of our business, I’m sure.”
“None at all,” Katrine replied. She eyed Pia again. “Bare feet, no stockings. Though she is quite lovely, Mattias. You’re lovely,” she repeated to Pia, switching to English.
“Um, thank you? You’re wondering about my shoes, right?” Her smile seemed to be part placating, part prayer. “They’re in Matt’s car. Heels and Paris walking tours don’t mix. My feet were killing me.”
Odette and Katrine exchanged a look. “So Mattias has said. A lady never admits her feet hurt though, dear. Surely you know that.”
The soft ding pulled a relieved sigh straight from Matt’s belly. They were saved.
“Surely you also know that a lady doesn’t curse like a sailor when reaching completion,” Odette admonished in English. “Neither does a gentleman, Mattias. You should remember that for next time.”