Free Close Your Eyes by Ellen Wolf

cautiously veiled blue gaze. For a second , she thought that his usual honesty would win the battle, but was disappointed to realize her mistake. Whatever prompted him to take on the offer was too private and too important to be talked about , full stop .
    ‘Well, maybe Sonia can make you change your mind . ’ She smiled playfully, hoping she didn’t sound too interested. After all , the decision was his , and her input was totally unnecessary and uncalled for. ‘Unless she is moving with you, that is.’
    ‘ Good grief, no.’ His face wrinkled in a mischievous smile . H e twirled her around, the smooth move suddenly sending her head spinning. The world shr a nk to the tiny private universe where his arms , strong and secure, were the only thing preventing her from falling as he held her close. She could only cling to him . H er seashell - pink nails d ug into the fine fabric of his crisp, white shirt until she felt the firm flesh barely yielding to her touch. The people, the room, the music —they all seemed to have disappeared, leaving her alone at the mercy of the man she had thought she knew inside out.
    But I don’t really, do I? The familiarity, the friendly relationship, and the common memories weren’t enough to disperse the sudden realization that he was something else entirely. Alien and frighteningly appealing, Matt Harper was suddenly light - years away from the easy going , funny boy that had walked in Ry an ’s shadow for as long as she could remember.
    ‘Sonia isn’t interested in us staying to gether . ’
    Their dance slowed, but Megan’s heart rate was still too fast .
    ‘We are kind of cooling it off , really. I guess I am not that much of a catch , after all. We’ve been together for a long time , but she had realized that my future lifestyle isn’t necessarily something she was looking forward to. Instead of a long- term fun and glamour, I ’m going to start working in the family business and be pretty busy.’
    Megan was amazed by the note of bitterness creeping into Matt’s usually smooth voice. She wondered if he was heartbroken or just disappointed.
    ‘I really don’t get it . ’ Her inborn honesty took the front seat . She searched his face as she asked , ‘ You came together and were practically glued together on the dance floor, Matt . It’s not the behavior of a couple that is on a verge of breaking up, I would think.’
    He laughed, his warm, rich voice turning some heads near them.
    ‘Well, I know that’s how you see it.’ His eyes and the smile that stretched the corners of his sensuous mouth were warm. ‘You aren’t used to any other kind of relationship, Meg .’
    She opened her mouth to say something, but he silenced her with a smile , then continued in a low voice, his words for her ears only.
    ‘You see, Sonia and I, we have had an understanding going on for quite a while now . Something like in one of those horrid romantic comedies, just sex with no strings attached. It suit ed us both quite well, I think. Still, it’s over now , and we are trying to part way s on as friendly terms as possible . She didn’t come here with me because of her undying love, Meg . It has been over for quite a while now, but neither of us wanted to do anything about it. We just let it happen and hoped that the other person would make the first move. All she wanted was to come and get the chance to meet some useful people. I figured I owed her that much , and it didn’t cost me anything , really. Plus, I got to annoy my pompous relatives.’ He winked at her conspiratorially, making it impossible to remain totally serious.
    ‘I know, you mentioned it once before.’ She shook her head, disbelieving. ‘Only in those films, the couple usually ends up becoming much more, Matt . You can call them horrid and naïve, but I like it that way.’
    ‘I figured that much . ’
    The music stopped, but they remained standing together, oblivious to the silence. Another song started , and they