Page 27 of Big Girl Panties

"Fair warning… I find that weirdly attractive." His gaze held mine.

"Are you going to ask me to share my spirit animal next?"

"Only if dinner goes really badly."

"What's your backup plan if I say my spirit animal is a porcupine?"

He pretended to consider this seriously, tilting his head. "Jump overboard, probably."

I snorted champagne. While trying not to die from embarrassment, I noticed he was watching me with this expression, like my graceless moment was the most fascinating thing he'd ever seen.

"Sexy." I fought to catch my breath while dabbing champagne from my chin.

"Very." His voice was completely sincere.

Something fluttered in my chest—dangerous territory.

"I think we are supposed to get to know each other. See if we vibe."

"Vibe?" I laughed out loud.

"Yeah," he blushed. "My little brother taught me that term."

"You have a little brother?"

"Yes, I mean, n…" he started. He shook his head like I'd confused him. "Yes, I do have a younger brother, but he's not who I'm talking about. I'm part of the Big Brother program. His name is Marcus and he's twelve. We hang out sometimes, and I check in on him. He calls if he needs anything. He's a pretty cool kid who was dealt a pretty shitty hand in life."

I stared for a long moment. "What?"

"So I may have…" I set down my glass, suddenly fascinated by the tablecloth. "I might have looked you up online."

"Might have?"

"Okay, fine. I full-on internet stalked you. Happy?"

His laugh was rich and warm. "What's the verdict?"

"Disappointingly perfect. It's annoying." I smirked. "You run a charity that helps kids set and achieve their goals. You do more than a hundred Make-A-Wish requests a year, and you donate thousands of dollars a year to various organizations and charities."

"Trust me, I'm not perfect. I feel so lucky to have everything I have, which is more than I could ever need, and I like to give back."

Kaylin appeared, announcing dinner was ready.

We ate slowly, the way people do when they aren't hungry for food so much as each other's company. The conversation dipped between playful teasing and quiet moments, the kind of silences that felt full rather than empty. We talked about our families, our interests, and even discussed our exes, and it turned out we had a lot in common.

I caught myself watching him more than once, wondering how I'd gone from someone so selfish, so self-absorbed to… this. To him.

"I didn't think I could do this," I confessed. "Fall for someone again."

Matt reached across the table, his fingers brushing mine. "I didn't think I'd want to make someone believe in love again."

"And now?"

He stood, circling the table. He took my hand, pulled me to my feet, and guided me toward the port side of the boat, where the view was nothing but open water and the burning trail of the sun's last light.

"Now I want everything." His arms circled my waist. "I want you."

The yacht rocked gently beneath us, and I looked up. His face was a silhouette framed in gold and tangerine, and for a second, I didn't need anything else. Just this man, this moment, this warmth blooming where fear used to live.