Chapter 10
10
Mateo
I t had been two weeks since Nikki started working at Winding Creek Ranch. Two whole weeks of Mateo dancing around any interaction he had with the woman who was quickly garnering his complete attention.
He couldn’t stop thinking about her—about the fact that she was staying in his home just upstairs.
It was dark outside, and most everyone had gone to bed. But he could hear quiet footsteps overhead, and he knew she wasn’t asleep yet. That was something he’d discovered early on. Nikki was more restless than the average person, and perhaps that had more to do with her being a mother than anything else.
Mateo rested on his bed, staring up at the ceiling as if doing so would give him the power to see her through the plaster and paint. Of course, it wouldn’t. That would be highly inappropriate.
He had half a mind to go up there, knock on her door, and just talk to her. How would she react? Would she brush him off and tell him to leave her alone?
Hopefully not.
Mateo was already getting to his feet when he paused at the sound of the footsteps heading from her room down the hall. His ears strained as he wondered if she was going to the restroom or if she was coming down the stairs.
Moving to his bedroom door, he pulled it open a crack and listened to the quiet house.
When the creaking sound of the stairs reached him, a grin spread across his face. She was coming downstairs for something. Now would be the perfect opportunity to seek her out.
He hurried with quiet steps toward the kitchen. The only reason to come downstairs would be to get something from that room. A drink? A snack?
Mateo made it to the kitchen only seconds before Nikki arrived. He’d managed to get a glass in his hand and position himself leaning against the counter in the most nonchalant way he could when she stopped in the doorway with a gasp.
“I’m so sorry,” she let out breathily, quickly backing up a few steps.
He straightened. “Don’t leave on account of me.”
She stopped.
Thank heavens she stopped.
Nikki glanced around the darkened kitchen, lit only by the light beneath the microwave. “Why are you up?”
He lifted his glass as if that were answer enough. She’d never know that she was the reason for his restless nights as of late.
Her eyes snagged on the glass, and he could have sworn that she blushed when she realized her question hadn’t been necessary. Of course, it was too dark to say for sure, but he imagined it all the same.
“You?” he asked.
She inched into the kitchen and gave him a timid smile, which made her appear even more beautiful. He let his attention sweep over her from the messy bun atop her head to the white tank she wore paired with pajama pants. Her feet were bare, and he couldn’t help imagining a possible future where she was so comfortable in his home that this became a common occurrence.
“Same,” she whispered, reminding him that he’d asked her a question. “May I?” She gestured toward him as she drew nearer.
The temptation to stay put had him stiffening where he stood. The cupboard with the glasses was directly behind him. She’d have to lean around him to get a cup for some water. He’d be able to smell the floral scent of her shampoo.
She stopped a few feet short of him, hesitating when he didn’t move.
One side of his mouth quirked upward, and he took a small step to the side to grant her access. It wasn’t so much that he would miss out on that smell he craved, but it was enough to allow her to get what she came for.
“How are you liking the job?” he asked before lifting his glass to his lips. “Is it everything you ever dreamed of?” He was teasing her, his tone making that perfectly apparent.
Nikki glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, the smile tugging at her lips making his heart sing. “Actually, it is.”
His brows lifted with interest. “Really?”
She nodded, honesty easily readable in her gaze. “Do you know how nice it is to have the freedom to run my own kitchen? I don’t really have to report to anyone—well, except you.”
“I can see the appeal,” he said. His eyes followed her as she put the glass beneath the faucet and filled it with water. Half expecting her to take her glass and escape, he was pleasantly surprised when she remained in the kitchen and took a place a few feet away from him.
Nikki had one hand wrapped around her waist as she held the glass with the other. She watched him over the brim of her glass. “How do you feel everything is going with your expansion? Is it everything you hoped for?”
Mateo cocked his head. No one had asked him that yet. His siblings just went along with what he told them was going to happen. Not even Sophia had any disagreements. They were all happy. Daniel was his employee, and he was doing an amazing job in his position. But no one had asked him if he was happy with the changes. “I’m happy,” he replied.
“That’s good. It’s quite an accomplishment—what you’re working to do here. Expansion is always hard.”
“It is,” he agreed.
She took a sip of her water and placed the cup on the counter. “Paxton can’t stop talking about his riding lessons.”
A grin spread across Mateo’s face. “He’s an amazing kid. A natural, too. Seems like he was born to be a cowboy. Did you know that?”
She laughed. “You’re sweet.”
“No, I’m honest. Did you know that he’s already figuring out how to get into the saddle on his own?”
By the look of surprise that flickered in her gaze, it was clear that Paxton hadn’t told his mother that tidbit of information. After that first lesson, she hadn’t been able to observe for more than a few minutes, so everything she’d know would be straight from the horse’s mouth.
Nikki shook her head. “I know he said you were proud of him for helping to brush his horse down after the ride. He’s fascinated with what’s needed to take care of horses. I know it’s only a matter of time before he begs me to get him one.”
Mateo chuckled. “I remember feeling that way when I was a kid. I think it comes with the territory of having parents who work on a ranch.”
“Yeah, well, it might just be the end of me. I can barely pay to keep a roof over my head. There’s no way I can afford to keep a roof over the head of a horse, too.”
Her words struck a chord within him. When she arrived, she seemed nervous—but not desperate for the job. Every so often, she let something slip that made him wonder just how bad things were for her.
Nikki let out a strangled laugh, but he didn’t laugh with her. He wanted to help her.
“You could keep a horse here. At the ranch. Even if you get a job somewhere else and move on…” He hated that idea—not the helping her part—the her moving on part. He didn’t like the idea of her leaving. And he definitely didn’t like the idea of her finding someone else to be in her life.
Her mouth fell open as she gazed at him. He could have laughed at her shock, but he kept his expression serious. He had been, after all.
“I couldn’t do that,” she finally whispered.
“Sure you could. It’s not like we don’t have the space.” Mateo shrugged. It wasn’t a big deal. In the grand scheme of things, what was one more horse? Besides, he’d been honest when he said the kid was a natural. One day, that kid could oversee a bunch of wranglers just like Daniel was doing for him.
Nikki looked away as she reached for her glass and brought it to her lips. He could see the hesitancy in her gaze—or rather, in the way she didn’t meet his eyes. A smile tugged at her mouth, but it didn’t seem to brighten her countenance at all. “I’ll think about it,” she said.
“You’ll do more than think about it.” Mateo winked. “One of these days, you won’t be able to resist.”
“Is that so?” she mused. “Like the way girls can’t resist you?”
Her words caught him off guard. If he wasn’t leaning back against the counter, he might have stumbled back a step. Mateo wagged his brows at her, pleased that she seemed to be willing to play along.
Mateo leaned closer and lowered his voice. “You’re absolutely right. I’m utterly irresistible. It’s about time that you figured that out.”
“Oh, I figured it out a long time ago.”
He laughed. “Do tell.”
She cocked her head, not backing up from him like he’d expected her to. To his surprise, she drew a line down the middle of his chest. “You remember in high school… when we were in the same home economics class?”
“Yeah?” he drawled, inching closer. His eyes snagged on her lips. He could only imagine the feeling of her lips on his.
Her lips quirked upward—the only indication that she was about to rip his heart out of his chest in the next second. “Who could forget the first day when we were making pudding?” She snickered. “And when you spilled the entire jug of milk all over the counter, your shirt, your shoes, and the teacher standing next to you during the demonstration?”
Mateo frowned as she let out a laugh and moved away from him. That wasn’t one of his better moments. What was she talking about? Out of every memory in high school, she chose that.
He thought about matching her steps and going after her, but at that moment, Sophia entered the kitchen. She glanced from him to Nikki, then back. A knowing grin spread across her face that not even his warning scowl could wipe away.
Unfortunately, she didn’t seem to like the way he was looking at her because she folded her arms and asked, “Did you call Annie back? She left you another message today. She said you still owe her a second date.”
Mateo didn’t have to look in Nikki’s direction to know she’d grown uncomfortable by this change in subject matter. She shifted from one foot to the other several times, and the air felt cooler. “No,” he ground out.
“Why not?” Sophia asked, her voice sounding more innocent than she really was. He knew what she was doing. This was manipulation at its finest.
Nikki murmured something about being tired before he could answer.
But Sophia stepped in her path. “Hey, Nikki. Have you heard about the country club on the outskirts of town?”
Nikki glanced from Sophia to Mateo. “I haven’t.”
“Well, you should go tonight. It would be nice for you to get out and have some fun. I’m sure Mateo could take you if you want to carpool. He goes there at least twice a month.”
“Oh…” Once again, her eyes found his. “Unfortunately, I don’t think I’ll be able to go. I’m pretty busy.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Mateo is your boss. I’m sure he’d give you one night off.” Sophia lifted her eyebrows expectantly, but Mateo couldn’t speak. What was she up to? First, she brought up Annie. Now she was trying to set him up with Nikki?
“Well, I don’t have a sitter?—”
“Let me watch him. He’s such a cutie. I bet we could have a lot of fun together.”
Mateo waited, holding his breath. Was this actually going to work?
Nikki shook her head. “I couldn’t ask you to do?—”
“If this is about having someone to go with, I can ask my cousin Aria. She’s great with kids. And so is Daniel. They could tag team it since they’re hanging out tonight anyway.” Sophia moved closer, giving Nikki her best puppy dog eyes.
This couldn’t possibly work.