Chapter 9

"Matt?"

He embraced her before she could say another word. Her entire frame stiffened underneath his touch, eyes wide in shock. When he pulled back, he had a soft smile on his face,

"Hey, I'm glad I caught you." He extended the bouquet towards her and she looked between him and the flowers, "I heard your favourite was lilies."

Her nose scrunched instinctively but she accepted the flowers, pretending to smile. The truth was, she hated flowers, especially lilies. She'd never known why but that was how it'd always been, a natural distaste for them. But nobody knew that,

Nobody except her mother. And her mother had always told her that beautiful women were supposed to like flowers, so she made her lie and pretend like she liked flowers.

"Thank you." She said softly, balancing the heavy bouquet in her hands. She didn't miss the way his eyes kept flickering to Louisa or the way her cheeks pinkened at the attention.

A flare of jealousy shot into her heart and she slid sideways, blocking hi