In The Sunshine Read Online Free Page B

Hadn't he just rescued her from who knows what?
    "A block up from here."
    "I can walk you or call you a cab?"
    Regan reached for his right hand. It was thick and strong. She looked at his eyes again. "Walk me."
    Many of the Marlin's patrons were still glaring at them. Holding an ice pack to the side of his face, Ray came up to them and asked Regan if she was okay.
    She nodded. "Yeah. I’m so sorry about this. Are you alright?”
    “I’m from Jersey, honey,” Ray said. “Camden. Course I’m alright. That rich bastard’s gonna pay. Knocked my filling out. I’ll sue him and his daddy.”
    He turned his attention to Matt and extended his hand. The two men shook. "Come back tomorrow. Dinner and drinks on me."
    "Not necessary," Matt said.
    "I insist."
    Matt smiled. "Okay, then."
    Ray looked at Regan. "You, too, hun. You'll never have to worry about that bastard bothering you here again. You're safe."
    She didn't reply, but pulled on Matt's hand for them to leave. He nodded at Ray and they left Marlin's.
    Out on Ocean Beach Boulevard, Regan noticed that some of the heat of the day had waned. With just a few clouds accenting the sky, it would be a gorgeous sunset, something she felt she needed.
    To her own surprise, she didn't let Matt's hand go as they crossed the street. He hadn't said a word. It was if he sensed her desire for peace. The moment didn't feel awkward despite all that had just happened.
    In less than ten minutes they were in front of her sun-colored, three-story apartment building. Palm trees dotted the landscape, but didn't obscure the ocean view. It was so different than the elm and maple trees that lined the street of her suburban Chicago home where her aunt and uncle had raised her.
    "This is it?" Matt asked.
    "Yeah," Regan said. She released his hand.
    "Can I walk you to your door?"
    She nodded at Matt and they made their way up to the third floor and her door.
    "Thank you," Regan said.
    "Glad I was there to help," he said.
    The statement made her think of the obvious. Why had he been at the Marlin? Was it a coincidence or had he followed her? She felt a split second of fear and then looked at his face. His right eye was bruised and getting puffy. She reached up and touched it with her left hand.
    "He caught you pretty good," Regan said.
    "I've taken worse," Matt said.  
    "Better get some ice on it."
    "I'm fine, really. Are you? Is there anything I can get for you? Something to eat? A coffee?"
    Her fear vanished. She considered his words for a beat. "No, just your phone number."
    Matt looked surprised.
    "We're going to take Ray up on his offer tomorrow night," Regan said. "You're going to call me and I'm going to tell you what time to pick me up."

CHAPTER FOUR
Getting Ready

    The brief scuffle had done little to raise Matt's blood pressure. Regan asking for his phone number? Different story. He hadn't been on a date within anyone but Jen in seven years. How was he supposed to act? What were they going to do after dinner?
    A thousand questions had rolled around in his head all night. It made for fitful sleep, not that it seemed to matter. Matt felt like his iPhone on a full charge: ready for action. He tried to shake some of the excess energy with a round of early morning exercise.
    No weights. Just push-ups and sit-ups. Despite a thin layer of flab around his mid-section, Matt was able to grunt out one hundred fifty sit-ups in a pair of sets. He did push-ups in groups of fifty. On his fifth set, he collapsed onto the floor and laughed.
    "You're an idiot, Fischer," he said out loud as he rolled over onto his back and continued laughing. "What a dumbass you are. She's sure to notice your pumped up pecs and suddenly toned abs."
    His hotel room television blared. An early morning newscaster seemed to share his laugh, but was really just making a lame attempt at a segue to the weather report. High of 83 with lows in the upper sixties. It reminded Matt of a late August summer day back home in Michigan.
    He