wondered if he remembered those painful words he’d uttered on the night of her eighteenth birthday. The night he’d broken her heart.
A flicker of awareness leaped in the azure depths of his eyes before he masked it.
‘Well, you’re far from little any more. You look gorgeous. It’s a shame we haven’t stayed in touch over the years.’
Kara could drown in the endless blue of his eyes. She’d never seen a colour like them, that potent mix of violet and sapphire, with the barest hint of emerald. A corny way to describe them, yet nothing but flowery language could come close to describing their brilliance. Purple, blue and green would be far too ordinary for the likes of Matt Byrne’s eyes.
Her skin warmed as a slow blush crept into her cheeks. She could guess what it would have been like to ‘keep in touch’, Matt-style. His hands lightly caressing every inch of her skin, his lips trailing over her body, exploring her most intimate secrets.
As if sensing her thoughts, he reached towards her and cupped her cheek.
‘You look adorable, blushing like that. Still the same old Kara, huh?’
His low, husky voice rasped across her nerve endings. She yearned to lean into his hand, to feel the comfort that only he could give.
Instead, she remembered the crushing kiss, frantic hands and then the powerful rejection that had lasted a lifetime. Matt Byrne had pushed her away in the cruellest way possible, belittling her to the point where she couldn’t speak to him again.
Now here he was, sauntering into her life like a superhero and acting the part: flexed muscles, broad chest, chiselled face, killer smile. All he needed was the cape and his underwear on the outside of his designer suit and the picture would be complete.
She laughed. The underwear image did it. Once lodged in her brain, she couldn’t stop thinking about it.
‘What’s so funny?’ Matt’s hundred-watt smile faltered.
‘Sorry. Just old memories. You know how it is.’ She wiped the tears from her eyes, hoping that her mascara hadn’t smudged.
‘I didn’t think our memories were that funny.’ He rubbed her upper arms, running his hands under the sleeves of her T-shirt. It was an intimate caress, one that frightened her with its power to arouse.
She pulled back before she did something really stupid, like stand there helpless and let him kiss her. Which was what he looked like doing, though she couldn’t fathom why.
‘All ancient history. I hear you’ve moved on to bigger and better things. Your life as the corporate-lawyer-cum-playboy must be filled with more excitement than old memories.’
His eyes narrowed, some of the light vanishing. ‘Don’t believe everything you read. The media thrive on gossip to sell their print.’
‘Well, you must have shares, because your reported behaviour could sell a million copies alone.’
She sounded catty but couldn’t help the annoyance at some of his antics, if the newspapers were correct.
Matt featured in the gossip columns on a weekly basis, an endless supply of beautiful, silicone-enhanced women draped over his arm. And other parts, no doubt. His reputation as a playboy was plastered all over the Sydney papers. She’d had a lucky escape. So why did she always screw up the newspaper in a tight ball and fling it across the room every time Matt Byrne and his latest acquisition were mentioned?
‘Speaking of reputations, what are you doing here? You’re the last man I’d expect to see waltzing into a dating agency. Problem with your charm?’
Though her teasing was light-hearted, she noticed his smile waned. Matt wasn’t as cool as he pretended. She had struck a nerve.
His laugh sounded forced. ‘Nothing wrong with my charm, Kara. You should know that.’
She could hardly disagree when he was standing right in front of her, resurrecting provocative memories that she’d successfully suppressed. Until now. ‘So, why are you here?’
His reply was short, sharp and ominous. ‘Business.’ Damn, Sally must be in more trouble than she thought if lawyers were already on her tail.
‘Go easy on her, won’t you?’ she said, wishing once again there was something else she could do for Sally.
She didn’t understand the look that flashed across his face momentarily. His face was an intriguing combination of angles: smooth yet hard, straight yet curved. A faint stubble darkened his jaw, typical of his end-of-day growth. Lord, she’d give anything to feel that stubble rubbed along any part of her body. Or all of it for that matter!
‘Kara? Are you OK? You look kind of flushed.’
Wrenching her attention back to the present, Kara knew she had to escape. Now. He still held a strange, hypnotic power over her. She’d always been prone to fantasies around him and it looked as though nothing had changed. In nine long years she hadn’t mastered her feelings where he was concerned. The knowledge was scary.
The years and countless dates since had done little to erase the image of this man from her mind. He was imprinted on her mind and soul, seemingly forever.
Definitely scary.
Given the fight or flight option, she chose the latter.
‘Yes, I’m fine, Matt. Great seeing you again. Hope whatever you’re here for works out.’
She hesitated, memorising every detail of his face.
Old habits die hard.
‘Thanks; nice seeing you too. Perhaps we’ll catch up for a drink one day soon?’
She ignored her thudding heart. ‘I don’t think so. Thanks anyway. Bye.’
She rushed out the door before he could respond.
Don’t look back. He’ll think you’re still hung up on him.
She’d never been any good at listening to reason and risked a quick glance over her shoulder. He stared at her through the window. Funnily enough, he stood directly under the sign ‘Matchmaker’, which was emblazoned on the glass in red lettering. No chance of that ever happening. Matt Byrne, playboy extraordinaire, finding his perfect match and settling down? Not a hope in hell.
Matt stared at Kara’s back and tried to ignore the erotic images that filtered through his brain. She’d grown up. And then some. The statuesque strawberry blonde was all hot curves and big green eyes now. Not to mention everything else. Wow!
He was used to beautiful women. His world was inundated with them. Intelligent, gorgeous women who were more than eager to spend some time with him: lawyers, accountants, stockbrokers. The list was endless. However, none had captured his attention in a long time. Until Kara. She was a stunner, from her cat-like eyes to her shiny, reddish-blonde hair that hung in a sleek curtain down her back.
She’d been a nice-looking kid who had blossomed around the age of sixteen. He still remembered their endless talks, the sharing of confidences, the easy friendship…then Kara had grown up. Almost
