“Stepfather.”
Matt opens his mouth to say something, but I cut him off.
“I don’t want to talk about them.”
He holds up both palms. “Okay.”
“I’m here to talk about Grace.”
“Ah, the woman you pulled from that fire. How is she?”
“Fine... physically. She puts up this front that she’s coping but I see right through her. I admire her courage, but it isn’t healthy in this case.”
“And who’s going to help her get back on a healthy emotional track?” Matt grins. “You?”
“There’s an insult in there and I’m not amused.” I glare and he chuckles.
“Not an insult, just the truth,” he says.
Yeah, I’m the last person who should help anyone sort through their emotions when I deliberately lock all of mine away. “I was hoping I could recommend you as a listening ear in case she wants to talk to someone.”
“And you don’t think a professional therapist would be best?”
I snort. “You’ll do. You're basically my therapist.”
“And look how you turned out,” Matt deadpans.
I stroke my jaw to hide my grin. He can be such a sarcastic bastard sometimes.
“Fine.” He sighs. “If Grace wants to talk,” he waves his hand to encompass his office, “my door is open.”
I nod. “I had lunch with her today.”
He sits forward. “What happened to staying away from her?”
“I had to deliver her new ride.” I shrug.
“You could have had someone else bring it to her.”
My eyes skate away from him. “I wanted to check on her.”
“It’s called a phone.”
“Are you an ass to your parishioners, too?”
Matt smiles. “Never. You’re special, my friend.”
Looking skyward, I continue, “She thinks I have some dark motive for helping her.”
“Honestly, Row, you’re helping a little too much, and that’s coming from a priest. I get why she’d be suspicious.”
“I don’t have an ulterior motive.”
Matt steeples his fingers and stares intently at me.
I break within seconds. “Okay. I thought maybe I could get her out of my head if I help her get back on her feet.” I eye him suspiciously. “What? Do you have priestly powers that make people spill their guts?”
He rolls his eyes. “You do realize how ridiculous that sounds, right? Helping someone to get them out of your head?”
“Oh, I realize.” I groan, massaging the bridge of my nose. “She’s gotten under my skin, Matt. I admit, I’m attracted to her.”
“Obviously.”
“But I won’t act on it.”
“What’s the problem?” Matt stares at me as if I’ve lost my mind. “You’re a man, she’s a woman. Do I need to get biblical?”
“You know, for a priest, you’re a real smartass.”
He laughs and shrugs. “Well?”
“She’s twenty-three. She’s still in college, for Christ’s sake.” Not to mention the whole virgin thing. I don’t want to go there... for Grace’s sake.
Matt sighs. “Seriously, Row, what else is going on? You’re attracted to Grace, but what else makes her so special? There has to be more to it. You’ve rescued and helped many others. You change women like you change underwear”—he points a finger at me—“I don’t condone that, by the way. What is it about Grace?”
When he’s met with silence, he sighs. “If you want to help Grace, by all means, go ahead. And even though you don’t want to act on your attraction, it won’t kill you to make another friend. Who has just a priest as a best friend?”
“What are you saying, Matt? What’s wrong with our friendship?”
“I’m just saying you can try to open up to someone else other than me and your sister. And one more thing, name your dog already. You’re so closed off you’re afraid to get attached to a puppy. The world won’t end if you admit to liking your pet.”
I gaze at Matt with mild amusement. I’ll take his advice about the dog, but I’m not sure about getting closer to Grace.