Free All Your Loving (Bachelors & Bridesmaids) by Barbara Freethy Page B

boyfriend."
    "Okay, I'll agree with that," Liz said. She looked at Matt. "Julie didn't have a boyfriend, but she did have a lot of guys who were interested in her. She just didn't realize it."
    "You are so lying," Julie said.
    "No, she's not," Michael put in. "I know a lot of guys who wanted to date you, but they were afraid to ask you. You had a definite hands-off vibe about you, especially senior year."
    Which had been after her dad left. That entire year had passed in a blur of pain and anger.
    "Julie always thought that the guys only wanted to talk to her because she was Jack Michaels' kid," Liz interjected.
    "That was the reason most of them were interested," she said. "They thought I could get them tickets, or I could hook them up with my dad's agent. It didn't matter that my dad had divorced my mother. They were still convinced I could do something for them. When they finally figured out I couldn't or wouldn't, they quickly disappeared."
    "Not all of the guys were like that," Liz said quietly. "But you were anti-men for a while there."
    She shrugged, knowing that Liz was right, but what did it matter now?
    "I know what it feels like to have people use you to get ahead," Matt said, giving her a compassionate look. "I'm sure Michael does, too. I'm sorry you went through that Julie."
    "Thanks," she said, surprised and touched by his words. A look passed between them that went on far too long, but she couldn't seem to drag her gaze away from Matt. Was it possible that this guy she should hate actually understood her better than anyone else?
    Liz cleared her throat. "We're going to get going. I have to finish up some work before my early call tomorrow. Will we see you guys next week?"
    "I should be able to come," she said. "I'm not sure Matt wants to repeat the class."
    "I'll see what my schedule is," Matt said. "I wouldn't mind doing it again. It was more fun than I expected."
    "Matt, it was great to meet you. I hope to see more of you in the future," Liz said. She gave him a pointed smile. "Don't let Julie scare you off."
    Matt smiled back at Liz. "I don't scare easily.
    Julie sighed. "Again, I'm right here."
    Liz laughed. "Bye. Talk to you soon."
    "Goodnight," she said, giving Michael a smile as he followed Liz out of the restaurant. She turned back to Matt. "Are you ready to go?"
    "Sure."
    "I'm glad you enjoyed the class," she said, as they walked down the street. "Or were you just saying that to be nice?"
    "I never say what I don't mean," he told her.
    "Never? You make a lot of big claims, Matt. You don't break promises. You don't say what you don't mean…"
    He put his hand on her arm, stopping her in the middle of the sidewalk. "Maybe I feel the need to be direct, because it's clear you don't trust me."
    "I don't know you well enough to trust you."
    "That's why we're spending time together."
    "Is that why?" she asked, feeling a little bewildered by it all.
    "Well, there's this, too."
    He lowered his head and covered her mouth with his.

 
    Chapter Seven
     
    Matt's hot breath mixed with the cold night air and all Julie wanted to do was get closer to the heat. He kissed the way he did everything else—with focus, energy and determination to get it right—and it certainly felt right. His lips were firm, his tongue a devilish delight, and the way he slid that tongue in and out of her mouth made her heart pound against her chest.
    He angled his head to gain better access, and she went with him, kissing him back with a fervor that surprised herself. But she'd wanted another kiss since the last one they'd exchanged. And even if it was stupid and reckless, she couldn't seem to stop herself from tangling her tongue with his and letting desire and emotion take over.
    Kissing Matt was like getting on a runaway train. The thrills kept building, but at some point she started to worry what would happen in the end.
    Would they crash or would one of them be able to throw on the brakes at the last minute? And would that person be