Page 87 of Rocky Mountain Desire
A long piece of thin twine was tacked directly in the middle of the patch, and something shiny flashed where it was nestled against the knot. Oh my God, maybe he did know.
There was a ring tied to the quilt and she was standing in front of a crowd of people and if what she thought was happening, Matt had just proposed to her and yet he was nowhere to be seen.
Her cheeks flamed hotter by the second, but she managed to get the bow undone, even with shaking fingers. The shimmer of pale gold slid down the coarse twine to land in her palm.
There were tiny diamonds on the top ridge, the gold band worn but beautiful. Behind her back, Hope heard whispers of conversation, but no one came right out and said anything. Asked anything.
And all she seemed to be able to do was stare. He’d made a quilt and used it to propose?
“He was supposed to be here.”
Hope twirled to find Mrs. Coleman smiling at her. “He…I…”
Yeah, speaking was going real fine this morning.
“The boy’s been burning the candle at both ends trying to get this done and deal with the calves. You want me to take over for you? Man the raffle table?”
Hope nodded, her fingers playing with the ring, clutching it like a lifeline.
Mrs. Colman smiled. “You go on.”
In the middle of turning away, Hope paused. She moved to the wall and removed the Coleman quilt. She couldn’t possibly let it be auctioned off. She folded it carefully, pressing it against her chest before trying to find her voice.
“Whatever the top amount is given for the other raffled quilts, I’ll match it for this one.” She looked up at Matt’s mother. “Do you think that would be okay?”
Marion Coleman grinned. “Nope, it won’t work, because Mike and I already said we’d double it.”
Hope bit her lip, fought the tears. “Really?”
“Matt talked my husband into making a quilt square. You think it’s gonna be up on anyone’s wall but family?”
Hope gasped out a laugh. There was more to the story than she’d imagined.
Marion waved a hand. “Now, go on. Go find Matt.”
Quilt tucked under her arm, ring squeezed tight in her fingers, probably the goofiest grin ever on her face. She somehow made it back to the parking lot and headed toward the Colemans’, wondering where to start looking.
Her first guess was right. She pulled in next to his truck outside his trailer and jumped down. A spring breeze floated past, songbirds escorting her on the trip to the front door and inside.
The quiet was all the hint she needed to find him, stomach down on his bed, face turned to the side and completely relaxed as he slept like a rock.
She didn’t wake him. Just stood there and soaked in the sight. He’d stripped down to boxers and dirty socks, his feet hanging off the bed as if attempting to keep the sheets clean.
The muscles in his back moved as he shifted position, rolling halfway to his back. Long, delicious arms, his wide muscular thighs, six-pack on his abdomen visible even as he lay in repose.
Waking him up seemed cruel. She’d wait until he came around on his own. It wasn’t as if she didn’t have enough to entertain herself, looking him over.
“You going to stay way over there, or come and give me some sugar?”
Hope threw decorum out the window and pounced, body slamming against him as she offered her lips.
He wasn’t as asleep as she’d thought. Not from the way he took her body under his, heavy erection pressed to her thigh, tongue and teeth working her mouth, her neck.
“I’ve missed you.” He breathed the words against her chest before going in for a second round.
“Missed you too. I didn’t want to bother you.”
Matt lifted off where he’d been using her as a chew toy, nibbling along her bra. “You bother me by not being here, got it?”
