Matt listened. He could hear the distress in her voice and he didn't like it. It didn't suit her at all. The way her words came at him...but she wasn't the only one of them that was nervous. She wasn't the only one who had gone a long time without anything steady and true. Rose was a fine woman, gorgeous and Matt knew she could have any man on the planet she wanted. And he wanted her to want him most.
From what they had felt in the hallway, that lingering snippet of a moment between them...he felt that she had. That maybe she still did.
As the glass, now empty, settled back against the table Matt set his fork down on the plate. "I didn't invite you here to pity you, Rose. To make up for anything that you lack," he explained, looking up at her. "I wanted you here because I hoped you'd enjoy yourself. And maybe because I was nervous that you wouldn't ever take me up on the offer. Any man could ask you to dinner, and I wouldn't begrudge you obliging. You're an amazing woman."
A breath. Matt smiled and leaned toward her, pressing a gentle kiss against her cheek. "Any man would be lucky to have a woman like you in his life. I consider myself fortunate to be able to be around you. But you run on your heart and I can't tell you what's right or wrong when it comes to what you feel. I want you to want...well, whatever it is you want when you're ready."
The pull back was slow, and only so he could look her in the eye again. Not that he could see her, but he wanted to know that he valued her. She was worth waiting for. And he would wait for her forever until she made up her mind.