Page 20 of Mateo & Nicole

Nikki blinked several times and forced herself to shake her head. “No. I mean, sure… but…” Her face burned, and she fought to find the words that would get her out of this blustering mess. “What I meant to say was that I hadn’t really thought about it.”

Liar.

Sophia didn’t look convinced, and why would she? Based on the way that Nikki had just reacted to her statement, there was no reason for her to believe her. And now she’d likely go off and prattle on about her findings to her brother.

Nikki’s hand reached out and landed on Sophia’s arm. “I know what you’re thinking, but don’t.”

One side of Sophia’s mouth quirked upward. “And what exactly is that?”

“That you think I’m attracted to your brother.”

“And you’re not?”

Just like that, the heat intensified tenfold in her face. “Of course, he’s attractive. Someone would have to be blind not to see that. He’s definitely good-looking, but not in the way you think. He’s…” She was desperate. This was so embarrassing! “He’s my boss, Sophia. Nothing more. I would never act on any kind of attraction I may or may not have for someone who is signing my paycheck. So please… don’t make this out to be something it’s not.”

Sophia cocked her head like the pleased predator she was. Then she shrugged. “Okay. I won’t say anything.” She practically beamed at Nikki. “On one condition.”

All relief that Nikki had temporarily experienced went up in smoke.

“If Mateo asks you out, you accept.”

“What? I can’t?—”

“You know what I think? I think the two of you would be good for each other. More than you probably realize.” With that, she hurried away—far too quickly for Nikki to make any semblance of an argument to the contrary.

Nikki stared after her, half tempted to chase her down and tell her she was crazy and half determined to stay where she was with her feet planted. Who was she to argue with something that sounded so… right?

Slowly, she turned around and watched Mateo with her son. Her eyes locked with Mateo’s several other times before she had to excuse herself to start making dinner. She was certain she’d hear all about their lesson from Paxton when she prepared to put him to bed this evening.

Her heart fluttered as she went over the conversation she’d had with Mateo’s sister.

If anything, she felt a little less crazy about her growing feelings for her boss.

10

Mateo

It had been two weeks since Nikki started working at Winding Creek Ranch. Two whole weeks of Mateo dancing around any interaction he had with the woman who was quickly garnering his complete attention.

He couldn’t stop thinking about her—about the fact that she was staying in his home just upstairs.

It was dark outside, and most everyone had gone to bed. But he could hear quiet footsteps overhead, and he knew she wasn’t asleep yet. That was something he’d discovered early on. Nikki was more restless than the average person, and perhaps that had more to do with her being a mother than anything else.

Mateo rested on his bed, staring up at the ceiling as if doing so would give him the power to see her through the plaster and paint. Of course, it wouldn’t. That would be highly inappropriate.

He had half a mind to go up there, knock on her door, and just talk to her. How would she react? Would she brush him off and tell him to leave her alone?

Hopefully not.

Mateo was already getting to his feet when he paused at the sound of the footsteps heading from her room down the hall. His ears strained as he wondered if she was going to the restroom or if she was coming down the stairs.

Moving to his bedroom door, he pulled it open a crack and listened to the quiet house.

When the creaking sound of the stairs reached him, a grin spread across his face. She was coming downstairs for something. Now would be the perfect opportunity to seek her out.

He hurried with quiet steps toward the kitchen. The only reason to come downstairs would be to get something from that room. A drink? A snack?

Mateo made it to the kitchen only seconds before Nikki arrived. He’d managed to get a glass in his hand and position himself leaning against the counter in the most nonchalant way he could when she stopped in the doorway with a gasp.

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