Chapter 2
2
Mateo Palmer
M ateo turned just in time to see Nikki disappear into the house. He’d nearly invited her to stay for the barbecue. But something had held him back. It was probably the bittersweet nature of her arrival. With everything that had gone wrong in his life, she was a bright spot. She’d been the most real person he’d known in high school.
He’d liked to think that she was his friend, but if he were honest with himself, he had to admit their paths would never have crossed if she hadn’t been friends with Caroline.
His ex’s name was just as bitter in his mind as it was speaking it aloud. He’d promised himself he wouldn’t talk about her nor give her any of his energy thinking about her. The woman was poison.
It had started long before he’d gotten engaged to her—long before she’d left him at the altar with a shattered heart.
He shook his head, forcing those thoughts from his mind and choosing to linger on the woman he’d thought about more than once over the last decade. Nicole Reynolds. There had been moments in his life when he’d wondered what it would have been like had he fallen for Nicole first. If he’d allowed himself to push aside the high school expectations of the football player falling for the head cheerleader, he might have seen what Nicole had to offer.
It was a cruel twist of fate that she was here.
Or maybe it wasn’t cruel at all.
She was just as beautiful and vivacious as he remembered—with curves in all the right places. Her eyes were warm and inviting, like a hazelnut hot chocolate on the first snowy day of winter. The way her hair fell around her shoulders in soft waves had made him itch to run his fingers through them.
What would their lives have been like if he’d sought her out back then? Would they be married?
He sighed. This line of thinking never boded well for him. He always ended up feeling down about missing out on an opportunity for happiness.
If Caroline was the ice queen, then Nikki was a fairy princess who could only bring joy. They were opposites in every way, from their looks to their personalities. He’d definitely chosen wrong when he’d started dating Caroline.
A groan slipped from his lips as he stalked toward Daniel, Aria, and Sophia, dropping down on the blanket beside them. Sophia glanced up at him with a smirk that only a sister could master. “Was that Nicole Reynolds?”
Mateo grunted, setting his eyes on the puppy in Daniel’s hands. “So what’s it gonna be? You keeping it?”
Aria tugged the newborn from Daniel’s arms. “We’re definitely keeping it. Thanks, cousin.” She beamed up at him, nuzzling the tiny pup through the blanket.
Mateo glanced once more toward the house as if he expected to see Nicole standing there watching him. It was a ridiculous notion. She’d come here for a job, not to catch up. He hadn’t even gotten a chance to ask her how she’d found her way to this part of the state. They’d both been raised in Montana. It was strange, and yet a thrill still raced through his chest at the thought that maybe this was what his heart had been waiting for.
“What did Nicole want?” Somehow, Sophia always knew what he was thinking. He didn’t know how she did it, but she could see right past his defenses to the deepest parts of his soul.
He looked at his sister, noting the smug smirk on her lips. He knew that look. She was planning something. Mateo rolled his eyes. Fat chance she’d be successful in whatever it was. “She needs a job.”
Sophia lifted her brows, surprise lacing her features. “Really? Did you give her one?”
He arched an eyebrow. “What do you think? We haven’t had any interest in the cook position. And that’s what she’s wanting.”
At least Sophia looked pleased. She glanced at Daniel and their cousin with a knowing look—one that said they knew her plans. He had half a mind to ask them what it was all about, but a small part of him thought he already knew. Sophia had been trying for years to set him up with someone who could mend the broken pieces of his heart that Caroline had left behind. She’d failed time and time again. Well, maybe this prospect would be the one to get past his defenses.
A small smile tugged at Mateo’s lips. It wouldn’t be the worst thing to find love again—especially with someone like Nikki. He was due something good. Between his failed engagement and the issues his cousin had been through with her abusive father and controlling ex, they needed something to help them feel like their lives were getting better.
If that meant Sophia wanted to play matchmaker? So be it.
He leaned back on his hands and glanced between some of his favorite people. “We’re having a dinner tomorrow with just the family. I want to go over the plans for the expansion now that the wrangler’s cabin is complete and they’re putting the finishing touches on the kitchen. For the most part, everyone will still be doing their usual work with the dogs.” He turned to Daniel. “Since you’ll be spearheading the wranglers, I’ll need to speak to you more about picking someone to help with the cattle side of things. I know we’re not going to be the top cattle-producing ranch in this part of the state, but I want to make sure what we do offer is top of the line, just like what we offer with our dogs.”
“Just so long as the dog part of the business remains the focus, I don’t care.” Sophia shrugged. “We all agreed that we would specialize in that when we moved out here with you. Otherwise, we might as well have stayed behind with Mom and Dad.”
“Mom and Dad don’t own the property that they work in Montana,” Mateo said, not needing to remind her. “You didn’t come out here for the dogs, and you know it. This was our own slice of prosperity—our own future we were building.”
Sophia’s flat expression held a hint of amusement. “Yeah, okay. And there was that part, too.”
“It’s gonna be really different with a bunch of other guys underfoot. Not even Daniel’s ranch has a lot of other men working the property. We’re going to need to show that we’re capable so they all stay in line.”
Everyone gave a nod of agreement. Aria had chosen not to return to her hometown in Georgia because of her love of the country out here. She’d offered to focus on creating a webpage for Winding Creek Ranch as she continued with her freelance writing. There was talk of her looking into veterinary school as well.
Mateo glanced toward Daniel and offered him a smile. “I want you to know that if you choose to move on to a career in architecture after you’re done with your schooling, I won’t stand in your way. But there will always be a job here for you if you’d like.”
Daniel held out his hand, and they shook as he grinned right back. “Why not do both?”
Mateo laughed. “Well, in that case, I might have to make a few requests after graduation. My family has already said they intend on sticking around, and there’s no way we can raise six families in that house over there.” He jerked his chin toward the house he shared with his brothers and sisters. “It’s already feeling cramped as it is.”
Sophia nodded. “I call dibs on the first house. I want one built over at the crest of the hill on the northern side of the property.”
Mateo got to his feet as Sophia continued describing her dream home to Daniel, even though Mateo had a feeling the guy just wanted some time with his girl. He hadn’t missed the ring on Aria’s finger. There would be a wedding in the near future, and Mateo couldn’t wait for it. The more good news they got, the better.
* * *
Their family dinner went well. Each of his brothers and sisters approved of the changes he wanted to make in order to see their business prosper. It was a lot to be the leader of this family—to show strength even after everything they’d gone through. But he’d risen to the challenge and would continue to do so. No one could bring him down. He’d already hit rock bottom in his life, and he had no intention of going back.
An arm tugged him from the hallway into the downstairs office. Sophia faced him in the darkened room and lowered her voice. “Okay, spill.”
He pried her hands from his upper arms and smirked. “Spill what?”
“Tell me what happened with Nikki? I know you’re hiding something.”
He snickered. “I’m not hiding anything. She came for a job. That’s it.”
“Come on. I saw the way you two were together. What did you say? What did she say?”
Mateo gave her a gentle push. “She said she needed a job. She’s just gotten out of a bad marriage and wanted a change or something.” Wait, did she say a bad marriage? Or had she just said she was divorced? Maybe he’d inferred the bad part.
Sophia gave him a shove in the chest and he yelped, not realizing he’d allowed himself to get lost in thought again. He rubbed at the spot with a wince as he glowered at his sister. “What was that for?”
“She’s divorced?” Her smile was even wider than it was yesterday when she’d asked about Nikki the first time. “So, she’s single.”
Mateo sighed. “Look, sis. I get that you want to help or whatever, but I don’t need you to play matchmaker.” His words were so contrary to his thoughts from before that he nearly grimaced. They weren’t honest. He just didn’t want Sophia to think that he was completely on board with whatever she had planned.
“Who said I’m playing matchmaker?” Sophia drawled, still smiling at him. “Maybe I’m just curious why your ex’s best friend showed up out of nowhere. Did she mention ‘she who shall not be named’?”
Mateo groaned, shoving past her. “No. And I didn’t ask. There’s no reason to bring her up or even think about her at this point. It’s been ten years. I’m more than happy to leave that memory good and buried. I refuse to give her any more power than she’s already gotten.”
He headed down the hallway and paused before turning to face his sister, who had followed him a few steps.
“If you’re so curious about Nikki, ask her yourself. She’ll be moving in on Monday next week. I’m sure she would love the company.”
“Maybe I will,” Sophia called after him.
Mateo lifted a hand in the air, dismissing her from their conversation.