Seeing him there didn't surprise her in the least. That still didn't stop the sudden clench in her stomach and the sudden rush of warmth to her nether regions, though. It had been nearly a year since she'd seen him last, but he looked mostly unchanged. Same glistening, black hair that hung carelessly in his eyes, and dark long lush eyelashes framing the startlingly blue eyes beautifully. He turned to look at her, perfect even teeth bared in a charming smile that had made her knees wobble the first time she'd seen him.
He held up a staying finger to the short blond he was speaking to and shuffled around her before she could respond. Lydia stood riveted, trying to maintain her composure, but feeling the beginnings of sweat tickle her underarms. She cleared her throat, extending her hand to him and letting him know in no uncertain terms that, that was the extent of contact she wanted with him. He seemed not to notice and swept her up in his muscled embrace, planting a lingering kiss on her bare shoulder. For a moment she went completely rigid before reaching around him to pat his back in 'friend like' fashion. "Hello Matt." She said dryly.
He looked down at her, blue eyes twinkling as he stepped back from her, shoving his hands deep into the pockets of the black slacks. "Hello Lydia. This is the last place I'd expect to see you." His rumbling baritone still held the just the faintest trace of his Irish ancestry.
"My..", she cleared her throat again, trying not to notice the hungry way his gaze traveled over body. For a moment her mind flashed back to the stairwell they'd first kissed in, over a year ago. "My mother in law is the caterer. I'm just...marketing...you know."
He nodded and then glanced around the room in that cool aloof way he did. Before she knew what that look meant, she'd found it severely annoying. He was looking around to see if anyone had noticed the two of them talking. All the better if no one did..that way if they disappeared later, no one would place them together. " Yeah...I know. You look...beautiful." His gaze traveled over her once more, lingering appreciatively over the curves she was still getting use to having.
She'd been a thin little something in her younger years. That was before 2 kids and husband. She now had hips and breasts that Matt had once told her made her look like voluptuous fruit. Her own long dark hair was pulled over her shoulder, the not bare one, in a single elegant braid. She swung the almond colored gaze away from him, hoping he couldn't notice the reddish tint her caramel colored skin had taken on. She tucked the Dolce clutch under her left, also bare arm and shifted her weight nervously. "Um...thank you. So, how have you been?"
He frowned a bit, clearly taken aback by her sterile line of questioning before rocking back on his heels and tossing his head back. He reached up dragging his hand through the dark silk hair and cleared his own throat. He opened his mouth to speak when a petite brunette appeared at his side. He jerked as if he'd been shocked and then his expression softened. "Good.." he answered her, then spoke again, placing his hand on the small of this woman's back. "Lydia, this is my wife, Mary. Mary, this is Lydia, daughter in law of the cater."
Mary smiled warmly, extending her hand. Lydia had time to notice the diamond stud sparkling at each ear and felt a pang of envy. Hadn't Matt wanted to buy her those same earrings? She closed her hands around Marys' marveling at how soft the woman's skin was, and gave it two quick perfunctory pumps before releasing her. "Nice to meet you."
"The food is delicious, did you help make any of it?" Mary smiled again, lifting her champagne glass to her lips to punctuate her question.
"Oh...no I just come to sort of...help with marketing. Hand out cards and such." She looked Mary over, noting how slim she was. No hips, mousey brown hair pulled back in a tight chignon, and pleasant hazel eyes. Lydia stared trying see what Matt must see and realized she was staring. "I'm so sorry! I was dazed by your earrings. Beautiful! I'd asked my husband for those very earrings. "
Mary reached up caressing the diamonds and then smiled up at Matt, who's eyes were still riveted on Lydia. "Yes I'm a lucky woman, I know. He surprised me with these last year. Said he saw them and just had to get them for me."
Lydia nodded and then quickly pulled the clutch free of her arms again, dipping hurriedly into it and pulling out a small square and offered it to Mary. "Well, here is my card. As I said I handle the marketing and booking and all of that. So just, call me for any event no matter how big or small. We need at least two weeks advance notice, though we'll take last minute requests if we're not too busy." She moved in closer to Mary who begin to speak excitedly about some sort of party. "She barely heard her as her gaze drifted to Matt who smiled at her briefly before leaning down to kiss his wife and disappeared into the crowd of benefit patrons. The King of Cool as always, he didn't seem at all as affected by her as she was by him. AND he'd left her there to listen to his wife prattle on about warm cherry compotes and how fashionable they were for a summer party. She still felt a sigh of relief, knowing that Matt was not standing there smirking down at her, and remembering things that had almost happened between them.
....
Please Matt..we shouldn't
Tell me to stop then...say it, he wound his hand up in her hair, pulling her head back, his tongue and teeth grazing her neck slowly, roughly.
