Chapter 7
MATTHEW
“I didn’t know you were coming in today.” Sam’s eyes traveled over to Lauren. “You usually send Tyler.”
This was exactly why I didn’t want to run into him. Sam was the only person I knew who could stir shit up even when he wasn’t trying. And when he was trying, look out.
“I needed him to do some chores back at the ranch.” As I told the lie, my neck heated, so I tried to think of cold things like sled dog races and snowmobiling. If he saw me blushing, I was dead in the water.
“Boots off!” Cherise shouted.
Lauren flinched and shot me a worried look.
“She’s not talking to us,” I reassured her.
Sam untied his muddy work boots and kicked them off as he spoke. “She’s fussing at me because I’m filthy.”
Cherise muttered, “As usual.”
“Where were you this morning?” I asked.
“Calf was born out at the Taylor place, and they wanted me to check it out.” He stripped off his windbreaker, which was also streaked with mud.
Then he put on a disgusting pair of green Crocs that were sitting in a basket by the door.
I’d never understand his choice of footwear, but he insisted they were the most comfortable thing to wear around his office.
“They thought it wasn’t feeding well, but it’s fine.
He’s just a little guy. A late bloomer like you, big brother. ”
I was nearly six foot two, but for most of my life, I’d been battling it out to be taller than Faith and Bowie.
It wasn’t until late high school when I shot up and filled out, and I still ended up an inch and a half shorter than Bowie.
Faith clocked in at five feet ten, and Sam was the smallest brother at six feet even.
I took a deep breath and bit the bullet. “Samuel Hart, this is Lauren Wagonblast, one of Silver Sage’s new guests this week. She’s from Manhattan, and she’s in town looking for some hiking boots.”
There. I’d stated it reasonably, even if my intro did sound a little stilted.
Sam shook her hand, tossing her the grin he used to charm the ladies. I doubtedit would work on a savvy New Yorker like Lauren, and I found myself hoping it wouldn’t.
“Is that right?” Sam said. “I love New York City. What part are you from?” He knew I was eager to get away and was milking this visit for all it was worth.
“Born and raised on Long Island.” She elided the G and I in Long Island, so it sounded like one word.
She didn’t have a strong New York accent, like you hear in the movies, but it slipped out from time to time, as if she worked a little to cover it up.
“But I’ve lived in Manhattan since graduating college, so that’s really home to me now. Have you heard of Tribeca?”
“Sure, in lower Manhattan,” Sam said casually, as if he were a frequent visitor to the city.
“That’s right. I have a home there.” She made it sound like she had many homes, which wouldn’t have surprised me one bit.
Jake whined and whimpered at Lauren’s feet. “Aw, can I pick him up?”
“He’d love to be picked up by a pretty lady, wouldn’t you, Jake?” Sam paused as Lauren lifted the dog and cradled him in her arms. He squirmed with joy and immediately went in for a kiss, and she giggled as she let him lick her cheek. And now I was jealous of a dog.
“He’s a darling,” she gushed. “Look at his adorable sweater. Did you knit this for him?”
“No, Alma made that one for him. Have you met her yet? She runs the cash register over at The General.”
“Not yet,” I said. “We’re heading over there next.”
“He really is a diva,” Sam said about Jake, who looked like he was in heaven. “I wasn’t going to put a sweater on him this morning, but I guess he knew there was a chill in the air because he insisted on wearing one. How long are you here for, Lauren?”
“I’m booked for this week.” She glanced over at me as she set Jake down on the floor. “But I’m really not sure how long I’ll be here.”
“I hope my brother is a good host,” Sam said, “and ensures that you have an extended stay at the ranch. Right, Matthew? You’ll keep her happy.”
“Uh huh.” I started moving toward the door, taking Lauren gently by the arm so she’d come with me. “See you later, little brother. Bye, Cherise.”
“Goodbye, Jake,” Lauren said, making eyes at the dog. I really didn’t need this kind of adorable competition.
“I should probably stop by and check on Elijah,” Sam called after us. “I’d love to visit with Miss Lauren again, too.”
“Nope,” I said over my shoulder. “I’ve got the medicine, so I’m all set. See you later.”
I breathed a sigh of relief as I slammed the door behind us. Then I turned toward Lauren to see her eyes lit up with amusement.
“Little brothers,” she said. “Am I right?”
I couldn’t help laughing. “He’s the worst.”
“Yeah,” she said. “Tori and I probably deserved my little brother Rocco’s torment. He had twin older sisters who were constantly bossing him around.”
We climbed into the Suburban, and I started it up.
“I’m sure my siblings would say I was the bossy one, being the oldest.” I put my arm over the back of her seat and turned to look over my shoulder so I could reverse onto the road.
“What’s it like having a twin?” She was good at asking questions that got people talking, but she revealed little about herself.
“For me, it was wonderful, but I can’t imagine life without my other half. We’re business partners and best friends, and we live about five minutes away from each other, which probably sounds a little weird and co-dependent.”
“Not at all. I wish all my siblings lived that close to me.” I waved out the window to folks as we cruised down the main street of town toward our destination.
Ella, who ran The Mangy Marmot Bar and Grill, was walking down the street with a cup of coffee, probably purchased from The General Store where they sold the best, and only, takeout coffee in town.
No matcha tea as far as I knew. My neighbor Cal was outside the store aptly called Feed & Grain, loading bags into the flatbed of his truck.
No doubt they’d be asking Sam about the woman in my passenger seat.
In a small town, few things escaped people’s notice, especially attractive new faces.
“I’m lucky,” she said. “Our younger brother Rocco lives uptown with his husband, Jamison. They’re estheticians with their own business up there.”
I could have pretended to know what she meant, but I was too curious. “What’s an esthetician?”
“A skincare professional. They offer services like facials, hair removal, microdermabrasion.”
“Oh.” She chuckled at my surprised expression. “Male and female clients?”
“They serve all genders. Why? Are you looking for a good waxer, Matthew?”
I laughed and scratched my chin. “Uh, no, not at the moment, but if I am, I’ll let you know.”
“They’re the best in Manhattan, so if you’re ever in town you should come visit me, and we’ll go there together and get facials.”
It felt like we were flirting a little, but it had been so long for me, I wasn’t quite sure.
“I’ve always said if I went back to New York City, the first thing would be to find a good esthetician.”
She laughed and patted my arm. “Sometimes dreams do come true.”
I felt a little guilty for flirting with a married woman, but she probably didn’t think of what we were doing as anything more than friendly banter. Asking more about her husband was definitely prying, but I couldn’t help myself.
“Is your husband off sailing his boats right now?” She didn’t answer for a few seconds, and I knew I’d pushed it too far. “I’m sorry, that’s none of my business.”
As I pulled up to the only stoplight in town, she looked down at her rings. “No, it’s fine. My marriage is a complicated situation, though, and I can’t really discuss it. I know it sounds like I’m being evasive...”
“That’s alright. No worries.” Damn. Complicated was never good.
“How about you? I assume that was your adorable daughter eating dinner with you last night. Are you married?”
“Divorced.” I wasn’t interested in discussing my failed marriage.
Honestly, it almost felt like another lifetime, since we’d all moved on.
“My daughter, Gigi, is spending the summer at the ranch with me. You’ll meet her when you’re down at the stables.
She likes horses more than people. If she’s not riding or playing outside, she has her head stuck in a book.
” That last part worried my ex-wife, but I argued that if Gigi was happy, there wasn’t a problem.
“She sounds delightful, and it’s lovely that you get her for the entire summer.”
“I know it. Gigi spends the school year with her mom and stepdad in Denver, so that’s hard on us. I get to see her on some holidays and long weekends, but summer is when I get to be part of her daily life. I wish we had more time together. She’s growing up too fast.”
“Tell me about it. It feels like yesterday my sons were toddlers I could carry on my hip. I can’t believe they’re adults and out on their own.”
“You seem very young to have children that age.”
She smiled at me. “And here I thought your brother was the sweet talker. I had my children when I was young. Julien, my first, was a surprise. We’d planned on waiting longer.”
“Gigi was a surprise, too. A honeymoon baby, but I got married later in life so I was glad to get started on fatherhood. I’m sure my ex would agree that our daughter is the best thing we ever made together.”
“She seems like a great kid.”
I never passed up a chance to be a proud dad. “I think so. She does well in school, and she helps out around the ranch. Everyone on staff adores her. I got really lucky.”
“I’m sure you’re a wonderful dad,” she said. “That makes a huge difference in a girl’s life.”
I couldn’t help wondering what kind of dad her husband was. She certainly hadn’t said anything complimentary about him.
“I try. I’m a little nervous about the teen years, but her mom and I co-parent pretty well, and hopefully we can navigate those waters when the time comes.”
“I have no doubt you’ll do just fine.” She looked up at the wooden sign on our local bar. “The Mangy Marmot. That’s an interesting name.”
“Weekends get a little wild, but it’s a nice place to go on weeknights.
Maybe we can—” I caught myself before I suggested the two of us go on what might sound like a date.
After all, she was married, and it was complicated , not to mention she was a guest at the ranch.
“Maybe we can have a little gathering in the Round Room one night to do some two-stepping.” Lauren nodded, so I continued down that path.
“I think the other families would like that, and I could invite a few locals. I can’t let you get bored in the evenings. ”
I pulled into the parking lot of The General Store and shut off the engine, waiting for her response. Had she picked up on my attraction to her? Was I scaring her off?
“I don’t think I’ll get bored,” she said, “but I’d love to learn to two-step. Sounds like I need some cowboy boots in addition to my hiking shoes.”
“ Cowgirl boots, you mean.” I smiled to myself, hoping she’d pick me as a dance partner. “You’ve got to get a pair while you’re here. When in Wyoming…”
“Exactly,” she said.
We went inside the store, and I waited until she was looking at boots before I approached Alma at the register.
“Good morning, Matthew.” She set aside the crossword puzzle that she’d been working on. “Can I help you?”
“I need some tea.” I spoke quietly so Lauren wouldn’t overhear me. “Have you ever heard of matcha?”
Her wrinkled face creased even more deeply as she thought about the question. “Is that like Machu Picchu?”
“I don’t think so. It’s a kind of green tea a guest requested.”
“Oh, I’ve got boxes of green tea. Go over to the grocery section, and you’ll see it.”
“Has to be matcha,” I said. “It’s special.”
Alma sighed. “People are so particular about their beverages these days. Next thing you know, we’ll have a Starbucks on the corner selling pumpkin flavored coffee.”
I had a feeling we were in no danger of that happening any time soon. “Can you order it for me?”
She didn’t look thrilled, but she picked up her pen, nonetheless. “How many boxes do you want?”
“One would be great. I’ll pay for you to put a rush on it, too.”
She craned her neck to see who was at the back of the store. “Is that lady with the pretty legs the matcha drinker?”
Sometimes I wanted to live in a place where everyone minded their own business. “Yep, that’s the one.”
With a smirk on her lips, she winked at me. “Ah. I get it now, Matthew. Say no more. As my grandson would say, I’ll hook you up with the best matcha I can find. Don’t you worry, honey.”
“Thank you, Alma.” Lord, help me.