Lured into Love (Blossom in Winter #2) - Melanie Martins Page 0,131

it true that your fiancé broke up with you?”

What! Her question is enough to startle me, and I blink twice, staring at her.

“Sarah!” Matthew warns.

I can’t believe it! Did Matthew share details about my private life with her? Of course he did! That’s the only way she could know! After all, I didn’t share those details with anyone but him. That was confidential, for fuck’s sake! I squint my eyes in annoyance and look at Matthew straight in the eye. It’s clear he told her about my breakup, and most likely about everything else. Jeez! Letting the reality sink in, I stand up and say, “Well done, Matt.” And I just leave this stupid game.

“You’re not answering the question?” I hear Sarah asking as I walk away.

And Matthew yapping at her right after. “Fuck off!” Then I hear footsteps running in my direction. “Petra, wait!” As he reaches me, he grabs my wrist to make me stop. “I swear, I didn’t tell her anything about your relationship.”

Facing him, I cross my arms and shake my head at his blatant lie. “Stop lying. I didn’t tell anyone about my breakup but you.”

“I didn’t say a word about it either,” he insists. “Maybe it’s because she noticed you haven’t been wearing your engagement ring that she asked you that. I swear I kept my mouth shut.” My gaze drifts away, not wanting to face him anymore. I’m so hurt and mad at what he did. “Petra, I promise I didn’t tell her. Sarah is just drawing her own conclusions. You have to believe me on this.”

I try to find the truth in his gaze, and although he sounds sincere, there’s no way that’s possible. But one thing is for sure: I’m done with this game. “Alright, um, I’m sorry, but I don’t want to play anymore.”

“I totally get it,” he replies just as fast. “I’m sorry for Sarah’s behavior, but I swear everything you told me has stayed between us.”

I look to my left and see the pathway leading to the house, but I decide to sit on the bench first. Matthew sits beside me, and we keep quiet as we listen to the waves coming in and out onto the shore. I take a deep, long breath into my lungs, reveling in the cold air of the night. “It’s a beautiful night.” Then I look up and observe, amid the dark sky, some stars twinkling at me. “Cold, but beautiful.” I rub my hands together to warm them up. What a contrast of temperature now that we’re no longer sitting in front of a campfire.

Matthew slides closer to me and takes my hands between his to warm them up faster.

“You don’t have to,” I tell him, amusement thick in my tone.

“I know.” And as he also knows that as soon as he lets them go, my hands will get cold again, he asks, “You want my coat?”

“Are you serious?” I shake my head in total disbelief, but he seems damn serious. “No!” And I just lean my head on his shoulder as he continues rubbing my hands to keep them warm. “But thanks, that’s very kind of you.”

And Matthew does the same, resting his head on mine. All of a sudden, we hear distant laughter and jokes coming from the campfire. Well, I guess David and the girls are still entertained, playing that game. We, on the other hand, remain quiet, simply enjoying the evening and each other’s company.

“Do you think you’ll ever forget him?” Matthew asks, out of nowhere.

The question squeezes my heart so tightly that I shut my eyes for an instant. I hate having to tell him the truth. Despite everything, Matthew is a good guy. “No, I don’t think so.” I pause for a beat. Then I lift my head from his shoulder in order to look him in the eye. “Matt, you deserve so much better than me. Someone who loves you as much as I love him.”

But Matthew frowns a bit at my answer, most likely hurt by what I said. With a trace of a smile, he starts studying me, my face, my expression, my eyes, my lips…

I know he wants to kiss me. But he knows I don’t want him.

“Petra…” he breathes, quite close to my face—too close actually. “You have no idea how much I care about you.”

And this time I know he’s not only referring to friendship. “Don’t say that…”

“I can wait,” he interposes. “Unlike your godfather, I can wait. I