The Deal Taker (Book III)

Chapter Eleven - The Honeymooners

"Hmm, I wonder why I haven't left Chicago much since January 4th of 2009? What could the reason be?" His tone oozed with sarcasm, almost as if he were annoyed over it.

Like an idiot, I had no idea what he was talking about. "What happened? New Year's resolution or something?"

His eyes narrowed at me briefly and he shook his head in disappointment. "You honestly don't remember?"

January 4th of 2009? I had a lot of things happening at the time—

"You kidnapped me that night!" I exclaimed as if this was something I had just found out about.

His lips twitched, even though this was a kidnapping we were talking about. "Yes, it was the first day we met. Lovely for you to remember."

"I'm sorry, I was a little bruised and kidnapped then."

"Back to our original discussion," he loudly interrupted. "I haven't done much traveling since."

"...Since you met me? Couldn't miss a night without seeing this beautiful face?" I sarcastically remarked, drawing a circle in the air with my finger around my face. I wanted to lighten the heavy emotions in the car.

He smirked, tapping his fingers along the steering wheel as he once again shook his head. "You're ridiculous. As I believe I have hinted to before, your beauty wasn't what lured me in."

I scoffed, smacking his shoulder with the back of my hand. "Wow, thanks. Just what a girl wants to hear."

His smirk widened and I could tell he was trying his hardest not to laugh. I knew he had only said it to get a reaction to me; after all, my reactions and hardheaded personality were what had "lured" him in. "You're beautiful, Anna. Like a Goddess." He reached blindly towards me and stroked my head like one would pet a cat.

"You're lucky the sun went down, buddy. I'd have thrown open my door and your window and let your ashes blow out the window."

He nearly wrecked the car because his laughter made him lose control. It was strange to see him so, well, light-hearted and carefree. I was used to seeing him sit with a drink in one hand and a book in the other, only speaking about manners and giving an occasional witty stab at me. But instead here he was, laughing freely and hasn't once let the smile leave his face. He seemed so relaxed being away from everyone.

"Here we are," Matthew announced, not noticing my eyes scanning him suspiciously.

Although it was dark now, I could see the house because of the glow of the lights in the landscaping. To my surprise, the house wasn't this golden mansion as I had suspected Matthew would take me to, but instead a stone cottage. It was two stories tall, with wide windows and dark shutters. Growing over the stone cottage was moss and even ivy, nearly camouflaging the house. There were different shaped flat stones leading up to the stone steps of the front door. The front door stood out because it was twice the size of a normal front door and made of a heavy and dark wood with black iron hinges and a matching doorknob. There wasn't much landscaping because leaves and moss covered most of the ground, but there were a few bushes nestled against the cottage where the lights hid under.

Matthew parked the car under a small wooden shelter about twenty feet from the cottage. I climbed out, my legs a bit wobbly from all of the travel, and looked at the place from where I stood in awe. Matthew began pulling luggage out while I lazily leaned against the car and wrapped my arms around my body for warmth. Definitely cooler than Chicago.

I grabbed one of the bags and began to head towards the cottage, my boots crunching on the leaves with every step. I was thankful I was given a pair of jeans, a simple black t-shirt, and a red peacoat instead of the dresses I've been wearing. I had to change on the plane so I wouldn't have to spend the whole flight in a tight and slightly itchy wedding dress. Matthew had also changed on the plane into something not suit-like. Currently he was dressed in a simple black pair of pants, a long-sleeved white button up, and a double breasted black peacoat. I didn't get to actually see his outfit until now, mostly because I was drowsy getting out of the plane. Although I'd never tell him, I liked the more casual look.