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hunt.”
    Matthew’s back straightened. “That’s not what happened.”
    He’d never tell him Lorena initiated their sexual encounter the morning after he’d seen her home safely. Not that he hadn’t wanted her before then, but he’d known she was innocent, and he hadn’t wanted to cross the line with her because she was not only his sister’s best friend, he considered her a friend, too. He hadn’t had the power to resist her warm body and the scent of her skin that morning. He should have, but he’d been weak.
    “No? I’ve gathered as much information as I can from her family, and from her, and the same theme keeps coming through. You wanted her, you snagged her, and then you dumped her without a care once you found a new woman. You never stick around long, and Lorena was nothing but another victim in your long line of hookups. She deserves better. She’s not a hookup.”
    “I agree, she’s not a hookup. I care a lot about her.”
    “You have a funny way of showing it.”
    He didn’t need to explain anything to this man, but he still heard himself say, “I made a mistake, and I intend to rectify it.”
    Lewis sat up straight. “What does that mean?” He looked as though he might explode, which meant he fully comprehended Matthew’s comment.
    “It means I intend to get her back.”
    “Over my dead body!”
    “So be it.” Matthew shrugged. “You wanted to talk man-to-man, well, I’m telling you, as a man, what my intentions are. Your relationship can’t be too solid if you’re sitting here trying to warn me to stay away from her. Let the better man win.”
    Lewis leaned forward. “Listen to me. You come within two feet of her for any other reason than to work on the grant, and I promise you, you’ll regret it. Do you understand me?”
    Matthew sized Lewis up with a flick of his eyes. He already knew he was taller and had a wider build than him. There was no doubt in his mind he could take him.
    “I think you better get out of here before I do something that gets me arrested. These kids look up to me, and I’m trying to set a good example for them.”
    He stood, and Lewis jumped to his feet, too, alert. Matthew placed his fists on the desk and rolled his shoulders forward—adopting an aggressive stance, meant to intimidate. It made him look bigger and more formidable.
    “And by the way, don’t ever threaten me again. I don’t like it. If you ever talk to me like that again, the next time I won’t be so nice. The next time, I’m putting my fist through your face, and the consequences be damned.”
    Lewis gave a short laugh, but Matthew saw the unease in his face. “I see there’s no reasoning with you.”
    “Not when it comes to Lorena. You want her. I want her. Now it’s up to Lorena to choose, and I intend to do everything in my power to make sure she chooses me.”
    “You’re making a mistake, Hawthorne.”
    “So are you, Linus.”
    “Lewis.”
    Matthew gave him his bored look. “It doesn’t really matter, does it? Pretty soon neither Lorena nor I will remember your name, because you’ll be long gone out of the picture.”
    “It’s true what I’ve heard about you. You are a troublemaker.”
    Matthew didn’t respond, choosing instead to stare at him with the same bored expression, letting him know he wanted the conversation to be over.
    Lewis’s jaw set in a hard line. “I can see I made a mistake coming here. The gloves are off. Let the better man win.”
    After he left, Matthew stared at the desk in thoughtful silence. If Lorena’s relationship with Lewis wasn’t solid, winning her back may not be as difficult as he’d originally thought. 
    ****
    Saturday afternoon, Matthew arrived at Lorena’s office with two large boxes in hand. They contained documents, photo albums, old event programs, and other items to help her get a complete picture of the center and its work.
    Since she had to stop at the office on her way to a Women in Business dinner, she suggested they