Once again thank you everyone for the comments, reading and rating this story. As some of you know I have an editor but is very busy at this time so this chapter will have grammatical and other errors present. Once this chapter is edited I will repost it just like chapter one so thank you for being patient.
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The ride into town was silent, but tension was unmistakably present. As Matt and Emiko pulled into the parking lot at city hall Emiko noticed Matt walk to her side of the car opening the door. She had never let a man do that for her being that she always insisted she could do those things herself back at home. This time was different though, she didn't have the fight in her to refuse. Something about the way he carried himself she felt like he wasn't treating her as a helpless woman, but a woman who could be helped.
As Emiko made her way out the door with Matt gasping her hand to help she couldn't help but blush. Her hand was so small in his that she felt as though like a child. As she looked down at his hands she also noticed they were rough looking and callused but she couldn't feel it at the time, only something else that she couldn't put her finger on. Matt then un-grasped her hand and walked with a purpose toward the building leaving Emiko staring to his back. What she didn't realize was that she wasn't the only one that had been looking. Matt had noticed the dainty hands in his grasp so soft and warm and the look of the woman as he stared down at her made his heart skip a beat. He decided to leave her be before he did something that he would regret and made his way into the building.
"Hello my name is Matt Helmsley I'm here to register these documents."
As the woman in her late fifties looked at the strong rough looking young man she couldn't help but smile at the beauty walking behind him, nervously fidgeting with her hands clasped in front of her. She looked more like a teenager compared to this man but with the sight she saw outside just a moment ago she knew there was more. She couldn't help but "guide" this young couple along just a bit.
"Mr. Helmsley since this will take a while so why don't you and your wife go to that wonderful restaurant just down the road, it is one of the most romantic spots in town and the food isn't expensive either."
As the woman finished with a wink she notice the young one's face turn two more shades of red and the young man cough attempting to draw attention away from his embarrassment.
"Um she isn't my wife she's my...friend but I guess I will accept that offer since I am a little famished."
"Yes!! Um me and Matt aren't..together..um but thank you!!" Emiko stammered bowing a little too enthusiastically.
As the young couple made their way out the door the elder woman smiled to herself as she sipped on some tea looking at her family portrait.
To say that the moment in the restaurant was awkward was a severe understatement. As both of them made subtle glances at one another while drinking from their glass. As the waitress made her way to the kitchen after taking their orders Matt made an attempt to end the silence.
"That deal at the hall was a little awkward wasn't it?" He said with a smile. Emiko then looked up at him and smiled herself then they both began to laugh hysterically drawing a few annoyed glances from the other customers. That was then answered by Emiko who looked at one of the elder couples next them and winked and relied rather sarcastically.
"Oh don't worry guys we just got out of the ward, they just cleared us so you can go about your business thank you very much."
The couple gasped in shock Matt just stared at the woman across from him with a huge smile. Never in his lifetime would he have thought to have this much fun with a woman besides his sister. He realized as the days went by he was growing more and more fond of her company. He then realized that what his sister had said all those years ago wasn't as farfetched as he thought.
As they returned to the office to sign the rest of the documents without a few red faced moments along the way, they returned to Liz and Nao's home. As they both entered they realized that no one was there and they made their way to check on the rooms available. As Matt showed Emiko the first guest room and where to put her belongings he made his way to the room across. As he opened the door to the extent it would go he realized what had restricted the door, hundreds of boxes. He had known that the room turned into a storage area and asked his sis to remove them a week ago, but as far as he could tell not one of them had received a brush of a finger upon them.
Cursing to himself he was met by Emiko behind them as he explained the situation.
"I told her to remove these last week I guess I'll have to sleep on the couch tonight."
As he made his way to the front room with Emiko in tow he was met by his sister who had just got back with Nao who had seemed to be nervous standing behind her. As Matt looked past them to the couch he realized that it wasn't there.
"Sis where is the couch?"
As Liz looked at the original vicinity of the couch and then back at her brother he was barely able to hide an amused grin as she spoke.
