Chapter 61

Once outside in the sunshine, he pulled her closely against his side as they strolled down the sidewalk toward the beach. As it wasn't quite dinnertime, they took their time, window shopping in various little stores. Summer kept pointing out things he'd need to set up housekeeping, and Matt kept grunting. Apparently buying furniture had exhausted his interest in shopping.
The sidewalk ended at a small playground right in front of the sandy ocean beach. They stood together for a while, watching half a dozen children playing on the swings and slide. Matt squeezed Summer's hand.
"You know, we never once talked about kids," he murmured in her ear. "Well, maybe back in high school. But never as adults."
"That's because I thought you were a dream," she reminded him. "Didn't seem pertinent. Whenever we were together, we had better things to do than talk."
"True." His heartbeat quickened audibly.
She was sure hers did too, thinking about the dreams.
"So, do you want a big family?" His voice was little more than a rumble in her ear.
Summer shrugged. "Not as big as mine, I don't think. Maybe two, if any. I can't imagine the loneliness of being an only, but it's a little late in life for me to have half a dozen. And that's assuming I ever get married."
"Two or three sounds like a good number." Once again, she sensed that Matt started to say something more but stopped. Good. She wasn't ready to be talking about families with him. Maybe not ever, but certainly not today. She was still trying to process the fact he was a real person.
Still, as she watched him observe the kids in the park, she couldn't help but think he'd make a great father.
And it said something about her that she never pulled her hand away from his.
After a little while, they made their way over to the beachfront bar and grill and sat at an outdoor table.
"Tell me more about your new job," she said as they sipped their drinks. He'd ordered a beer while she had a fruit smoothie.
Matt launched into a detailed explanation of the design work he'd be doing, starting out as an assistant on a project already in progress. She was sure that in no time he'd be heading up his own projects. He was just that bright.
Then she talked for a while about her work, running the sales and marketing division of the family company. It was nice to chat with someone else who understood numbers for a change. Most of her siblings were artistic, and even Val didn't discuss much beyond how she was mistreating her computer. She loved them dearly, but she'd always felt the square peg - the uptight, buttoned-down sparrow in a flock of brightly colored, exotic parrots or maybe flamingos.
Finally, dinner was over and they'd lingered as long as they reasonably could over a shared dessert.
"How about a walk on the beach?" Matt offered. "There's still a pretty good crowd here. It'll be safe."
Summer smiled across the table. "I'm not afraid of you, Matt. You've convinced me that I do know you, at least to some degree. It's myself I'm unsure of. I've had enough trouble believing in the things that happened to Star or Noel or Val. But the idea that we've been connecting for decades? That still has me thrown for a loop. It's like finding out your imaginary friend was real all along."
"I'm sorry." He slumped his shoulders and gave her a sympathetic smile. "I tried, so many times, to explain it in the dreams. But whatever the magic was, it wouldn't let me. Against the rules, I guess."
"I would have worried about you, of course, when you were in the service. That would have been a lot harder to cope with. But I could have written you, sent care packages..." Summer tried to imagine what life would have been like if she'd known Matt was real all along. The last fourteen years would have been a bitch, that was for sure. And she didn't know if she'd have ever been able to date any other guys - not that there had been many. "So, I suppose I should ask if there's any other woman in your life at the moment. I don't imagine you've been celibate since you were nine."
Matt let out a rusty laugh and ran his hand through his short hair. "No, there's no one. And yes, I've dated - I'm not a virgin, if that's what you're asking. But there's never been anyone serious for me, and no one at all in the last year or so."
"Oh." She took a minute to process that. "Me either - though I think it's been closer to two. And none of them ever lasted beyond a month or so. Most of them only one or two dates." Because none of them ever measured up to Matt. Damn.
"Can I see you again tomorrow?"
It was the last thing she'd expected to hear. Honestly, she'd assumed he'd try to come home with her and spend the night. Part of her was disappointed that he hadn't tried.
But this was probably a lot better idea. They both needed time to think things through.
"We can try out the kites," he added, laying on his Texas drawl. "I'll bring a picnic lunch. You can teach me to body surf."
"Okay." It wasn't as if she had the willpower to say no to him. "Come to the house at noon?"
His grin lit up the night. "Great. You like fried chicken, right?"
"Right. Lots of coleslaw."
"Blech." He made a face. "But for you, I'll buy it. Just don't expect me to eat the stuff."
"Oh - mayonnaise." Summer laughed. "You can skip the coleslaw and just get a green salad instead. The chicken shack on the main road to the island is pretty good. Stop there instead of one of the chain places."
"I was going to. And a green salad it is."
They didn't speak as they walked back to her car, just held hands and looked up at the stars. Even once they were in the car, silence reigned, but it was a comfortable quiet, not an awkward one. When they reached the lot where he'd left his truck, Matt got out and came around to her open window.
"I'll see you tomorrow at noon then."
"I'll be ready." She licked her lips, nervous already.
"Good night, Summer." He leaned down, giving her plenty of time to pull away.
Instead, she leaned out the window farther. "Good night, Matt."
His kiss was soft and gentle, a mere brush of his lips against hers, but she still felt it all the way to her toes. She couldn't help grabbing his shoulder, holding him down for another, longer, more thorough kiss.
When that ended, they were both breathing heavily.
"Noon," he rasped, grazing her cheek with one thumb as he stepped back. "I'll follow you home, make sure you get inside. And, Summer? Sweet dreams, darlin'."
Dreams?
She snickered as she pulled back onto the road. Yeah, as if she were going to be able to sleep tonight.