Follow Your Heart

Chapter 11

Her happiness was short lived. During the ride home, he drove her car and they acted like a couple of school kids - laughing, tickling each other and just holding hands. They made a quick stop at one of the rest areas to stretch their legs. Skylar quickly bought a bag of chips and a soda while waiting for Matthew to come out of the restroom. She was looking out the window thinking about him when she felt a pair of strong arms wrap around her waist and a soft kiss on her neck.

"I don't know who you are but you'd better hide quick, my boyfriend will be joining me any minute."

He turned her around. "So do you always let strangers hold you and kiss you?"

"No, only the cute ones." She reached on her toes and gave him a quick kiss on his nose.

"You know I like the sound of that."

"What?"

"You said 'boyfriend'. It sounds nice."

"Well you are a boy and my friend."

He gave her a stern look. "Oh, we're back to that, are we?"

"Can't you take a joke? I'm just kidding."

He smiled at her. "I know. Now who's the one that can't take a joke?"

She pushed herself away from him and went to the car. Being the perfect gentleman, he opened the car door for her. He watched as she brought her slender legs into the car before he closed the door. Skylar reached over to unlock his side. Matthew smiled as they buckled themselves in with their seatbelts. Before starting the car, he held out a paper bag to her.

"What's this?" she asked.

"Open it and find out."

Like a child unwrapping a present, she ripped open the bag and found a little jar filled with sand. Painted on the front were the words, THE HAMPTONS.

She looked up, flashing a smile of thanks. "I love it."

"Every time you look at it, I want you to think of me and where our relationship started."

"Our relationship? Is that what we have?" she asked tentatively.

Matthew forced himself not to get angry with her. Every time he thought he had her figured out, she'd surprise him with a comment. He just nodded his head. "Yes, a relationship. Not a business friendship or anythin' like that." Just so she would completely understand, he added, "A real romantic relationship."

"Well then, you really should have gotten me a Mexican hat or something."

He laughed, "Yeah, maybe a bottle of tequila."

She blushed and stuck out her tongue. "Don't even kid like that." She gave him her paper bag.

"You got me somethin' too?" He opened it up and laughed. He pulled out the bag of chips.

"I feel bad that I didn't give you something, so take my chips."

His fingers tenderly traced the line of her cheekbone and jaw. "You've given me so much, you have no idea. Your trust, your smile and eventually your heart.

"Oh Matthew." She didn't know what else to say. Her heart sang with delight at his words.

"I want you to know that you can trust me, whatever happens. I want you to remember that." He spoke in an odd, yet gentle tone.

She listened with bewilderment and was about to ask him what he meant when he leaned over and kissed her. This kiss was surprisingly gentle, yet it cleared her mind of all thoughts save for him.