Page 40 of Rocky Mountain Desire
“Hoy shit.” He scrambled for the handholds on the tube, spreading his legs to counter-balance their bodies. Hope lifted her head and shrieked with enthusiasm. Snow flew up on either side of them, a fine icy spray that coated everything before instantly melting to run in rivulets down his face and under his collar.
He laughed, the sound escaping in staccato bursts as they rocketed over a series of small bumps. “We’re all going to dieeee…”
It seemed forever before they spun in a slow circle, coming to a stop. They were both still laughing uncontrollably. Matt relaxed his hips, and they sank into the hollow in the middle of the tube, Hope collapsing with him. They were cradled together, but it was the bright smile on her face and the enthusiasm in her eyes that beaconed louder than the sexual chemistry between them.
Hope kissed his cheek then scrambled out of reach, slapping snow off her shoulders and knees. “That was awesome!”
“Next time I get to use you as a landing pad.”
She grinned. “You told me to smack you.”
“I did.” Matt grabbed the tube with one hand and reached for her with the other. “May I suggest we go for thespinning demonmy brothers invented?”
“Sounds scary.”
“Only if you’ve had too many eggnogs first.”
They took the tow again and again, laughing and sliding until they were exhausted.
Not even the thought she was going to drive home in the devil’s junk heap could darken his good mood.
Chapter Eleven
“Four more companies have signed up already, so you guys need to look at the calendar and make some decisions about when you want to start your preparations.” Hope taped the last corner of the poster in the shop’s front window, advertising thatThompson and Sonswere official participants in the spring Quilt Raffle contest.
Clay wiped his hands on a cloth and spun the desk calendar around, pushing it to the front of the counter. “Take a peek. Any time that’s empty we can book for the first session.”
Hope leaned over and checked the weeknights hopefully. She wanted to keep her weekends as free as possible to spend time with Matt when the shop wasn’t open. “I can’t believe your dad got on board so fast with doing the challenge.”
Clay laughed. “We forgot to take into consideration that him and Captain Fraser at the fire hall have had a long-term feud going for years. All Len and me had to do was mention the captain was taking part, and Dad folded like a bad card hand.”
She tapped the upcoming Wednesday evening. “I’m free here. What do you think?”
Suddenly, there were two rock-like bands of muscle on either side of her, Clay’s big body a heated cage at her back as he stepped behind her and leaned in. “I think we can do that.”
He reached forward for the pencil, his entire front pressing against her and Hope froze with uncertainty. Was it deliberate? “Clay…?”
“Hmm?” He wrote lazily, circling and adding her name to the seven o’clock time slot.
He didn’t change position and she sighed.Damn.No action for the longest time and now she had two guys interested in her? Life was totally unfair.
“Back off, Clay. I told you I was seeing someone else.” She wiggled free, snatching up the rest of the posters into her arms like a shield. “I’m not going to date you both at the same time.”
“Matt. Yeah, I remember you said that.” He looked her over, taking his time and not holding back from showing his interest. “I think you should reconsider. I’m a much better choice than him.”
He turned that killer smile on, and Hope had to respond with a grin of her own. “And oh-so-modest?”
“As always.” Clay eased away and shrugged. “Seems I’ve been waiting for you to be available for long enough to show I’m serious. But if you think he’s going to make you happy, it’s your life.”
“Damn right, it is.”
He stopped her, his hand gentle on her upper arm. “But if you change your mind and decide he’s too much like baggage, let me know. I’ll be watching.”
Great. She didn’t want another guardian. Hope pulled away from his grasp. “I think you guys should both get over yourselves. I’m not a needy puppy or something.”
He returned to his spot on the other side of the counter. Those tight muscles may have walked him away, taking his bulk farther into a safety zone, but his too-perceptive gaze stayed put, staring right through her. “You’re needy. You just won’t admit it.”
Hope batted her lashes and flashed him the finger at the same time. She joined him in laughing as she pushed the front door open and headed back onto the street. How she had gotten stuck in the middle of a male ego-fest, she wasn’t sure. That sort of battle was fought over other women, not her. Sure she’d dated, but never had more than one guy hanging around at a time.
