Page 54 of Rocky Mountain Desire
“So, Matt, better? I’m clothed. How you doing?”
He remained seated even though being rude was a juvenile response. He kept his eyes fixed above her neckline. “I’m good. Surprised to see you. Hope never said a word about you coming for a visit.”
She shrugged. “Last-minute decision.”
Matt mentally rolled through a list of things he could ask, but most of the usual questions he’d talk about with a stranger—he didn’t really want to know her answers. Immature, maybe, but also the truth. He didn’t care what she’d been doing, what she was up to, except as it affected him and Hope.
“How long you staying?”
Another shrug. “Not exactly sure. What’re you doing here?”
Straight for the jugular it seemed—Helen’s style had remained consistent. So he responded in kind. “I was expecting to see Hope, obviously.”
“You two dating or something?”
He let a smile escape. “Yeah. She’s pretty special.”
Helen hummed and ignored him, turning into the kitchen and filling the kettle. He snorted. They had a ton to talk about, didn’t they?
The front door opened and Matt shot to his feet. Hope’s obvious pleasure at seeing him coloured her entire face. “Hey, you. Sorry I’m late, but you were right. The boys are going to need a little more work on the basics. Clay sewed himself to the practice piece.”
Any other time her sharing that tidbit would have made him laugh out loud. Now he only shook his head. “You’re right on time, but—”
Helen chose that moment to step forward, cup in one hand. She waved with the other. “Hey, sis. You were working late.”
Hope froze. Literally not a muscle moved as she stared across at her sister. All the colour and anticipation Matt had seen on her face vanished. “Helen? What are you doing?”
Matt slipped forward and stood at Hope’s side, taking her hand, rubbing her cold fingers. She glanced up, gifting him with a tenuous smile. They both turned to face Helen. Matt nearly laughed—like they needed numbers to stand against her.
Helen took them both in with a raised brow and a smirk. “Change of plans. I’ll explain more later. But don’t let me keep you from your date or whatever this is. I’m tired. Think I’ll head to bed.”
Nothing more than that, and she was gone, the door to the second bedroom closing with a solid click as she locked it.
Matt glanced down at Hope who was muttering steadily under her breath. When he leaned closer she cut off suddenly, then buried her face against his chest, arms wrapping around his neck.
Her scent, the one that made his knees shaky, enveloped him and soothed the tormenting itch. He carried her to the couch and arranged her on his lap. Hope kept herself tight to him and they didn’t even try to talk. Instead he held her. Rubbed her back and caressed her shoulders until her breathing leveled out.
She finally relaxed her death grip and sat upright, adjusting her hands to press her palms against his chest. A wry smile twisted her lips. “How about I try that again. It’s good to see you, Matt Coleman.”
He met her as she leaned in to press her mouth against his. A soft caress followed by a gentle slick as her tongue darted between his lips. He took the kiss, the tender offering, letting her taste him and take what she needed. Didn’t matter that someone else was down the hall—Matt pretended for a moment what he’d feel like if it were Travis or the twins in the next room, and pretty much decided he wouldn’t give a shit.
So he ignored the fact the world had just blown up around them and kissed her.
His touch, the gentle caress of his fingers, centered her. Her brain raced a million miles an hour, but the shock of seeing Helen faded as Matt stroked away the confusion.
She leaned back and caught a glimpse of his face a split second before he adjusted his expression to a smile. “You’re wishing for a lot more than a kiss, aren’t you?”
His smile twisted into a dirty smirk. “Well, I had some plans that don’t seem to be on the agenda anymore, but that’s fine. How you doing? Seems you were inventing a few new swear words there a second ago.”
“I can’t believe she just waltzed into my place and—” Hope cut herself short. She was going to deal with her sister in a minute, but now there was something more important to address. “How are you?”
Matt adjusted his position on the couch and brought her hips in closer. “I’m horny and staying that way.”
There was the evidence under her of his words, but she ignored the urge to grind down. “That’s not what I meant, and you know it.”
He shrugged. “Yeah, well, after I got over the shock that the naked woman in the tub wasn’t my evening’s entertainment I—”
“Fuck. She was in the tub?” Hope fought for control. Still, he hadn’t run screaming from her place, which was more than she’d have been able to do if their roles were reversed. “Seriously. You okay?”
