Page 70 of Big Girl Panties

Despite everything, I found myself laughing, really laughing, for the first time all day. "I think Karen approves of your speech."

Matt grinned, reaching down to scratch her ears. "Smart cat. I like her."

Karen preened under the attention, then fixed me with one final judgmental look that clearly said, "Keep this one, you fool. He has good taste in cats."

"I'm sorry." He pulled me into a hug that felt like coming home. "I know you didn't sign up for this level of internet scrutiny. Honestly, I had no idea that kiss would turn into a viral sensation. I thought maybe fifty people would see it."

"The paparazzi are outside my apartment now, aren't they?"

"Yeah. There are about six of them arguing over who gets the best angle of your front door."

I sucked in a deep breath and slowly exhaled, trying to ignore the way his thumbs were tracing small circles on my hips through my pajama top. "Well, I'm not sure how to handle all of this. I'm not a center-of-attention type of girl. I'm more of a 'hide behind the coffee machine and hope no one notices me' type of girl."

I paused, my hands finding their way to his chest, feeling the solid muscle beneath the soft fabric of his hoodie. "But I fell for a center-of-attention type of boy." I smiled. "So I guess we'll figure this out together. Maybe Karen can be our social media manager."

Something shifted in his expression then, his eyes darkening as they dropped to my lips. My breath caught in my throat as his lips lowered to mine. His hands moved from my waist to cup my face, his thumbs brushing over my cheekbones with a tenderness that made my chest ache, and then his mouth was on mine.

This wasn't like our other kisses, sweet, tentative, getting-to-know-you kisses. This was desperate, hungry, full of everything we'd been holding back. His lips moved against mine with a passion that made my knees weak, and I found myself gripping his hoodie to keep myself upright.

He tasted like his favorite energy drink and something sweet, and I couldn't get enough. He deepened the kiss, his tongue teasing mine, and I made a sound that was somewhere between a sigh and a moan.

"God, Brooke," he murmured against my lips, his voice rough with want. "Do you have any idea what you do to me?"

I could feel the evidence of his desire pressed against my hip, and it sent a bolt of electricity through my entire body. "Matt," I breathed, my hands sliding up to tangle in his hair.

He groaned at the contact, his hands sliding down to my waist again, pulling me impossibly closer. "I love it when you say my name like that." His lips moved to trail kisses along my jaw. "Like you need me as much as I need you."

"I do," I whispered, my head falling back to give him better access to my neck. "I do need you."

His teeth grazed my pulse point, and I gasped, my body arching into his. "Those people online," his voice muffled against my skin, "they don't know you. They don't know how you make me laugh until my sides hurt. They don't know how you look when you're concentrating on latte art, or how you hum when you're happy. They don't know how you taste, or how you feel in my arms, or how you make me feel like I'm home."

Each word was punctuated with a kiss, and by the time he pulled back to look at me, I was breathless and wanting.

"They don't know," he continued, his forehead resting against mine, "that you're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. Inside and out. And they sure as hell don't know that I'm completely obsessed with you."

I pulled his face down to mine, kissing him with everything I had. This time, when we broke apart, we were both breathing hard, and I could see the desire burning in his eyes.

"So, what do you say we order takeout, ignore the internet, and let Karen judge us for our life choices like a normal evening?"

"Best idea you've had all day," I said, and for the first time since this whole mess started, I meant it. "Wait. What about LA and filming?"

"We wrapped up filming, and I took the next flight out. I was supposed to make an appearance on The Late Tonight Show, but I rescheduled due to a family emergency."

I laughed. "Internet bullying hardly qualifies as a family emergency."

"No, "he kissed my forehead. "But you, not answering my calls, and me thinking you're going to break up with me is."

"You thought I was going to break up with you?"

"No interview, commercial, or any amount of money is worth losing you."

My heart fluttered. "Breaking up with you was never a thought. Crawling into a hole and hiding for the next decade? Yes. Moving to Ireland and changing my name? Also, yes… but never-ending things with you."

"Good."

Chapter 29

Big Girl Panties and Big Decisions