Page 36 of Rocky Mountain Desire
“I can pick locks.”
She snorted. “Ha, you can not.”
“With my teeth.”
Matt was still laughing when he made it into his trailer. The fire had gone out, and he shuffled through the cold room to light it one-handed as he clutched the phone. “I’ll call you when I get back into town, you crazy woman.”
“Don’t leave it too long or you’ll find I’ve given your quilt space to the cats.”
Matt clicked off, a high-energy rumba on a saxophone echoing in his ears, and the most optimistic sensation in his heart—happier than he’d been in a long time.
Chapter Ten
Hope checked out the menu, but she was more interested in examining the restaurant. Matt had asked her to meet him at a new spot on the east side of town, an eclectic place that was somehow wildly appropriate as a location for them to begin this unusual relationship.
She sipped her water as she glanced around, the butterflies refusing to settle.
“Is this seat taken?”
He slid in opposite her, and she was glad she’d just swallowed or drool would be dribbling off her chin. That facial hair of his got her every time. “Hey. No, I managed to keep that one for you. Just don’t sit in the chair by the wall or my invisible friend will beat you up.”
Matt’s smile flashed white. “I hope he’s not planning on staying for long.”
A snort escaped. “Nahh, he’s got a date.”
“Invisible friends.” He laughed. “Did you ever hear about the time the twins decided there were dragons living in the hayloft?”
She shook her head, not bothering to pretend she wasn’t checking him out. Matt kept talking, but all the while she was examining his beard, the way his eyes sparkled as his hands rose to help with the storytelling. Hmm, hands.
She knew how firm they were. His lips as well.
Hope pinched her thigh and sat a little straighter in an attempt to throw her mental process from full-throttle forward into physical admiration to what this was supposed to be about. Making friends.
And then the sex, her mind whispered, and she pressed her lips tight to stop from moaning.
Matt leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms. “I think we might need to start again.”
She shook herself alert. “What? I’m sorry.”
“You’re objectifying me already. I know this is going to be tough, but I thought you could at least keep your hands off me for thirty minutes.”
His teasing smirk helped push her thoughts the proper direction. “Busted. I’ll wait with theguhcomments then. You’re mighty fine, Mr. Colem—”
He threw up his hand. “Whoa. There’s nothing more mood-killing than thinking you’re checkin’ out my dad with lust, okay?”
“Oops.”
That deep chuckle of his sent goose bumps all over her. “What we need to discuss has nothing to do with the drool-worthy state of your being—although let me just get it out there that you look awesome—and everything to do with dinner. See anything you like?”
“Yes.” She stared him over.
Matt laughed and poked at the menu. “This list.”
Drat. “I haven’t decided yet.”
He winked then picked up his own menu.
Hope relaxed as she checked the options, impressed with his tactics. If he’d ignored the simmering heat between them, it probably would have made things harder to deal with. Acknowledging their attraction, putting it right out in the open instead of being an elephant in the corner—well, the desire was still in the room but it was a lot easier to deal with saying it was there.
