Page 33 of Rocky Mountain Desire
“You been reading psychology books? What about the whole being what the other person needs?”
His brother grinned. “You change together—that’s what makes it a relationship. Doing it alone is a sorry excuse for masturbation.”
Matt nearly spat out his mouthful of beer. A glimmer of curiosity rose as he waded through all the information being tossed his direction. “You said you had more than one reason to not warn me off Hope—what’s the second?”
Daniel waggled his brows. “She’s hot.”
“What?”
Daniel glanced down the hall and lowered his voice. “Whatever else happens? Enjoy the sex, because you two look as if you should set off fireworks when you stop dancing around each other.”
“Bloody hell, is the entire town watching us?”
Daniel grinned harder. “I’ll try to keep the betting pool quiet, but you know the minute you do start seeing each other, the cousins will have already—”
“Fuck that.” Matt collapsed back on the couch and covered his face with an arm. “Small towns. Bloody small towns.”
“Hey, give me a minute to top up Beth’s glass.” His brother left the room. Matt crawled off the couch and onto the floor, staring into the fire.
Fine. Hope was not Helen. Hope made his body ache and his brain tangle into confusion, and while he could still name a million reasons why he shouldn’t be considering this, there were so many more why he should.
He liked her. That wasn’t a bad place to start.
But he wasn’t glutton enough for punishment to start anything official right now. Not when it was nearly a year ago that Helen had broken his heart and changed their lives.
After the New Year—that was when he’d do something. Only he needed a reason to get out of Dodge for a while. Daniel strolled back into the living room and placed the wine bottle on the table, picking up his beer and resuming his previous position.
“You got any shipments headed for Banff?” Matt blurted out.
Daniel snorted. “Looking for a reason to disappear for a bit?”
“Yes.”
The honest truth rang clear enough Daniel’s smile faded, and he swore softly. “Yeah, I guess you would be. If you’d like to do a haul, I’d appreciate the help. You’d save me money—if you can get away from the ranch.”
“Twins are home…” Matt nodded slowly. “You know, this works. I agree, it’s time for me to move on, but just not this instant.”
“Come by on the twenty-seventh. You can help me load the furniture, and if you do display set-up at the shops, I’ll pay you for that as well.”
“You don’t need to—” His brother’s expression made it clear it was time to stop protesting. “Fine. Pay me. I’m always in need of extra cash to spoil my nephews with.”
“Or maybe to spend on that new girl in your future.”
Matt rose to his feet and gathered his weather gear. “Don’t say that as if it’s a given thing, me and Hope. You know there’s always the chance she’s going to shoot down this idea. Just because…”
The memory of her kissing him senseless drove the words right out of his mouth. There was something combustive between them.
Daniel burst out laughing. “And I’m glad you stopped that bull, because I’d be sorry to have to end such a fine visit by rubbing your face in the snow for being a stupid shit.”
“Who’s the stupid shit? Talking to me when you’ve got a naked woman sitting in your bathtub?”
Daniel thumped him on the back then pushed him out the door. “You’re so right. Now leave.”
The love of family carried Matt all the way to his truck and kept him warm as he adjusted the heaters and cranked everything to high. Now he only needed to do one more thing.
He put through the call while waiting at the first set of lights.
“Matt?” Anxiety tinged Hope’s voice and he hurried to reassure her.
