Page 29 of Mateo & Nicole

His lip quivered, and she couldn’t take it any longer. Nikki scooped him into her arms as gently as she could. “I’m so glad you’re safe.” She shifted to place her hands on either side of his face. “I still don’t understand why you were on that ladder to begin with.”

Paxton looked away. “I wanted to help feed the horses. There was some hay up there that I could give them.”

Nikki twisted to look at Mateo. She could get upset with him. To a degree, Paxton’s interest in taking care of the horses was his doing. But how could she? Mateo had merely been trying to instill in her child a sense of responsibility. Her son had wanted to help. He’d figured out what he needed and taken charge. To get upset about the situation wouldn’t do her or any of them any good.

She swallowed back the frustration and turned her attention back to her son. “Next time, how about you ask one of the cowboys for help—but only after you get permission from me. You weren’t supposed to be in that barn. You know that.”

He nodded, only briefly lifting his gaze to meet hers. “I know. I’m sorry, Mom.”

Mateo moved closer and ruffled his hair. “If you ever want to do something with the horses, you come find me. I’ll make sure you stay safe.”

Nikki gave him a warning look, and somehow, he immediately understood.

“After you ask your mother, of course,” he said with a chuckle.

A shy smile graced Paxton’s lips as his focus shifted between the two of them. Today had felt so long, and it wasn’t even time for supper.

Mateo brought them back to the ranch and set Paxton up with a movie at the house while Nikki got to work prepping for supper. Her mind continued whirling while she was on her own. There could have been a very different outcome today. She shuddered to think about what would have happened if something worse had happened.

She’d been so deep in thought that she hadn’t noticed Mateo’s arrival. His presence had a gasp ripping from her throat, and she dropped the carton of green beans she’d pulled from the commercial fridge.

He stood there, leaning against the wall as if he had all the time in the world. Immediately, her thoughts shifted back to what they’d been discussing before her son had gotten hurt.

Chaos erupted in her stomach. She couldn’t even think about anything romantic occurring between them right now. And yet, everything he’d done for her and Paxton was shoved to the forefront of her mind.

Tears prickled behind her eyes, and Mateo’s smooth expression shifted to one of concern. He swept across the room without comment and pulled her into his arms. At first, she attempted to push him away, but it had been so long since she’d been wrapped in an embrace like this one. It didn’t feel like he was expecting anything from her. Nor did it feel like he was laying any sort of claim on her. It wasn’t forced. It was just… nice.

She waited for him to bring up the conversation that had been interrupted—to take her chin in his grasp and claim a kiss from her. While the idea was both thrilling and terrifying, she couldn’t deny the relief she felt when he said, “Everything is going to be okay. He’s a strong kid. He’s already milking his break for all it’s worth.”

Nikki let out a strangled laugh. “Really?”

Mateo pulled back and swiped at a stray tear with his thumb. “Really. He’s got both Sophia and Camilla eating out of the palm of his hand. They made him popcorn and helped him find the perfect movie. When I left, they were discussing the possibility of building a fort.”

Her eyes widened. “You’re kidding.”

His smile did things to her she wasn’t proud of, and a sliver of herself wanted that smile to mean more than it did. But this was just the way Mateo was. He hadn’t brought up his interest in anything more. Perhaps he’d realized it just wasn’t a good time—for either of them.

She refused to be disappointed. She wasn’t ready for anything more. She didn’t need to be dragged into a relationship with someone as perfect as Mateo Palmer because it would inevitably end in heartbreak.

No one stuck around for her. She’d learned a long time ago that she wasn’t meant to have unconditional love. And that was okay. Nikki pulled back and tucked her hair behind her ear with a swipe of her wrist. “Thank you, Mateo. I really appreciate everything you’ve done today.”

He gave her a funny look, and she frowned.

“What?”

Mateo shrugged. “Nothing.”

14

Mateo

It wasn’t the win Mateo wanted, but it was a win. As he stared up at the ceiling of his bedroom with his hands behind his head, he went over in painstaking detail everything that happened that day.

He’d confessed his feelings to Nikki—well, sort of. And she hadn’t run from him or told him he was being highly inappropriate. Before Paxton got hurt, he had the feeling that she might be open to something more.

Then Paxton had broken his collarbone, and Nikki had let him step in and help. He probably should feel guilty over the joy it gave him knowing she was willing to let him take the lead on that. She hadn’t pushed him away or asked him to leave them alone to deal with their family matter. And when the nurse mistakenly called him Paxton’s father, Nikki hadn’t even corrected her.

Of course, that could have been because she didn’t hear it. But Mateo had. And if the small grin Paxton gave him at that very moment was any indication, the kid had heard, too.

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