What the actual fuck? “Scarlett we talked about this. You’renot supposed to answer the door alone.”
She blinked up at me. “It was another accident.”
“Scarlett, you’re in big trouble…”
“Nuh uh, Uncle Matt. You’re in big trouble. Mommy saidso.”
“Your mom said that?”
Scarlett nodded and then looked over at Tanner. “She talkedabout you too, Mr. Tanner.”
Tanner smiled. “Am I in trouble too?”
“No. She said you and Uncle Matt were…” Scarlett scrunchedher face up as she thought. “I didn’t know the word. And I forgot it.”
“Like you forgot you’re not supposed to answer doors?” Iasked.
Scarlett smiled. “Yes?”
Luckily for her, I had her back. She’d be safe now. At leastfrom the Pruitts and Cannavaros. But from random strangers at the door? “Scar,”I said and crouched down to look at her. “How many times are we going to needto have this conversation?”
“Maybe…once more.”
“Stop opening up the door, kiddo.”
“I don’t think you’re allowed to tell me what to do, UncleMatt. You’re not my daddy.”
“So you want me to tell your dad what you did?”
She stuck her hand out. “Deal.”
I’d taught her about the art of negotiation a few months ago.She didn’t quite get it. But I’m pretty sure she thought the deal was that Iwouldn’t tell her dad. Not the deal she’d actually just accidentally made whereI would tell him. “And you won’t do it again?”
“Deal.”
I shook her hand.
“Is that present for me?” She gestured to the gift bag I washolding.
“Not today.” I patted her head.
“Who’s it for?”
“Your dad.”
“Oh.” She sighed. “He’s working. I’ll get my mommy.” She ranoff. “Mommy! Mommy! Uncle Matt is here!”
“Such a cute kid,” Tanner said. “Pretty terrible at thenegotiation table though.”
I laughed. “Yeah, she could use some work in that area. Andin the area involving telling the truth. Why does she keep saying she accidentallyopened the door? You can’t accidentally do that.”
“Did you accidentally shove your tongue down this horridwoman’s throat?” Penny said as she stormed into the foyer. She lifted up a tabloidwith a picture of Poppy and me kissing before hitting me with it. “She’s aPruitt!”
I grabbed the tabloid out of her hand. “Technically she’s a Cannavaro…”
“Are you kidding me, Matt? You know what that family’scapable of. She just threatened my daughter and you’re making out with her?”
This was a funny misunderstanding. Maybe that’s why Icouldn’t seem to wipe the smile off my face. Or maybe it was because I hadn’tstopped smiling since I asked Kennedy out. “I can see how that looks but…”
Tanner started laughing.
“And you,” Penny said turning to him. “Of all people, you shouldbe upset about this too, Tanner.”
“Why me exactly?” Tanner asked. “I’ve never actually met thewoman.” He lifted the tabloid from my hand. “She’s rather attractive, albeitapparently insane.”
Penny looked back and forth between us. “I don’t know what thehell is going on. Or why you both look so happy. But Matt, I am so done withwhatever mind games you’re playing. Sending me on a wild goose chase trying toset you up with people when the whole time you were…I honestly have no ideawhat you’re doing. But you can’t come into my house if you’re seeing thatwoman.”
“Penny,” James said as he joined us in the foyer. “I canhandle this.”
“I’m serious, Matt,” Penny said, ignoring James. “She’llnever step foot in here. I don’t trust anyone from that family. And if you do,you’re completely insane.”
“Penny,” James said more sternly.
I’d never heard him talk to Penny like that. His short temperwas usually reserved for…well, me. And I understood why what she saidupset him. He was worried that I’d be offended that Penny had said thatfamily. Because of Brooklyn. But honestly? I was just happy tonight. Andthe Pruitts did suck balls.
“Good luck,” Penny said to James. “He’s clearly lost his mind.Poppy Cannavaro. What is it with you men and evil brunettes from crime families?”She left the foyer as quickly as she had come in.
“Still a little touchy about what happened with Isabella, Isee?” Tanner said. “It’s best to let things go, I always say.”
“Tanner, if you’ll excuse us, I need to have a word with Mattin private,” James said.
Every word that left his mouth made him look more and moreagitated. I’d been on the other side of one of his fists before. And I didn’tfeel like icing a black eye tonight. Kennedy would have too many questionsabout that.
“It’s fine,” I said. “Anything you want to say to me you cansay in front of Tanner.”
Tanner nodded.
“Whatever you want,” James said. “Both of you come this waythen.” He turned around and started walking toward his study.
Tanner looked at me.
I shrugged and we both followed him.
The lights were off in James’ study, and as soon as westepped in, the door was slammed and locked behind us. Then the lights turnedon.
James, Rob, and Mason were all sitting in a semi-circlestaring at me.
“Um, what’s up, guys?” I asked. They were all looking up atme awkwardly. It felt like I’d just walked in on something really weird. “Ithought guys’ night was tomorrow?” Actually, this was good. I could apologizeto all of them at once. Wonderful.
“For fuck’s sake,” Rob said. “Who invited Tanner to theintervention?”
“Intervention?” I asked. I stared at them staring at me. Oh.I should have expected this. I’d been a fucking mess recently. But nottonight. Not now. So I just did the only thing I could do and laughed.
“Why are you laughing?” Rob asked. “This is serious.”
I tried to wipe the smile off my face to no avail. At leastnow I knew why James looked so serious. “And what exactly is this interventionfor?”
“You being…sad,” Mason said. He was staring at the smile onmy face that I couldn’t get rid of.
I shrugged. “Right, that. I’m good. Actually, I’m great. Iappreciated you guys worrying about me, but I’m seriously doing a lot better.” Iwould have told them about Kennedy. But I wanted it to be a surprise when Ibrought her to guys’ night tomorrow. It was a silly idea for our first date. Itwould make her smile though. And that’s all I really cared about. She wouldn’tbe impressed by a fancy dinner or anything. Kennedy wasn’t
