Page 16 of Rocky Mountain Desire
Hope took a deep breath and pulled a fabric bolt from the pile on the floor, refolding it to give her something to do with her hands. “Well, it is hectic running the shop.”
“It’s demanding working on cars and pulling people out of trouble. I still make time for fun. ”
Oh boy. Fun. She could go for some of that. Hope stopped her fidgeting and leaned forward on the table, glancing over his tall frame. Good looking, a decent dancer—she’d enjoyed his company in the past. “I have been busy.”
Clay shrugged. “That’s why I haven’t been bothering you more. You ended up with a shop to run on your own. Just figured that you could use a little time away from being completely grown-up. Come and play for a while.”
She was tempted. Not only would she enjoy some adult company, it might be what she needed to knock Matt Coleman permanently out of her system.
Guilt at making Clay almost a rebound date, when he didn’t deserve that, held her back. But only a little.
“Okay.” His face brightened and she held up a hand. “But not right away.”
“Hope…”
“I’m not putting you off, really. Just give me a few days to finish dealing with the extra orders from the ladies who need help finishing projects in a rush for Christmas. I could end up with—” Clay crossed his arms and she stopped, partly because of his expression, partly because she was distracted by the sheer size of his biceps in that position. “Maybe instead of the quilts I should organize a beefcake calendar or something. Good God, you’re making me drool.”
He rolled his eyes. “Way to change the topic. I’m holding you to calling me when you have time.”
“I will.” Hope let her appreciation show. “Honest, I will.”
Clay stepped into her personal space. Close enough she had to look up at him. Close enough she wasn’t sure if the heat she felt was from his body or hers.
He tilted her chin with a finger. “And Hope? If you don’t call before we start working on the quilts, I’m going to think you’re just after me for my sewing skills.”
Hope laughed. “I’ll call.”
Someone entered the shop and Clay made a quick getaway. Hope switched her focus, but there was a different feel to her day. A pile of questionable supplies she needed to deal with, a car she needed to arrange repairs for.
But…more happiness coming her way in the future? Maybe it was time to work harder for the things she could have.
Time to put aside the things she couldn’t have.
Things like Matt.
Matt flew around the corner and pulled up sharp to avoid crashing into his sister-in-law.
“Damn it, Jaxi. What the hell are you doing?”
The tall blonde gave him a dirty look. “What? I’m not allowed in the barns anymore?”
He snorted. “As if I’d try to boss you around like that. No, I meant right now. It’s damn cold outside.”
“Oh, you noticed?”
Her sarcasm was so blatant warning bells went off. Jaxi had been a part of the Coleman family officially for just over a year, but she’d been around forever. He grinned and mock bowed. “Did I screw up? Because life is much more manageable if you simply tell me what I’ve done wrong.”
Jaxi grinned. “Sorry, although, you’re right, if everyone would do what I want all the time, the worldwouldbe far more fabulous.”
She skipped past him and grabbed a rake. Figured. She couldn’t just talk. Had to work at the same time. Matt followed her example and headed into the next stall with his own rake.
“Heard you had a little run-in with Hope the other day.”
Gossip around small towns never slowed down. “Rescued her, more like it. The woman shouldn’t be allowed on the road with that death trap of a vehicle. Herbie should be crushed and buried.”
Jaxi’s snort of amusement carried over the top of the stall. “Herbie?”
“Her car.”
