Before I could answer, Gigi ran toward us, her glasses askew on her little face. “Dad! Dad! Did you get them?”
“Everything is okay,” he assured her as she arrived at his side, messy-haired and panting hard. “The herd is back where they belong, but Lauren got a little scare.”
Gigi nodded. “You’re not used to cows.” She wasn’t asking me, she was telling me. And she was right.
“No, I’m not. I bet you are, though.”
She nodded. “Yeah, but I like horses a lot better.”
“Me too, Gigi.” I gave her a shaky smile. “Me too.”
She tilted her head to one side. “What are you doing tomorrow?”
“Gigi—” Matthew started.
“I have no plans,” I said, interrupting him.
“Let’s go on a ride, just you and me. Dad has a full schedule.”
“I’d love that.” It was true. I preferred Gigi’s company to riding with a group of other people.
“Cool.” She was acting blasé, but I could tell she was excited. “What time?”
“I know you’re an excellent rider,” Matthew said to her, “but you can’t take guests out alone yet. Walt can lead you two.”
She looked so forlorn that I had to do something. “Maybe you can help me pick out an outfit for the dance after we ride and teach me a few steps so I don’t make a fool of myself.”
Gigi kicked the dirt. “Okay. I still think I’m old enough to lead a ride though.”
Matthew patted her shoulder. “Give it a couple years, and you’ll be leading rides, honey. I promise.”
I could have stayed and chatted with them all night, but I knew he had to get her to bed, and, frankly, I needed a moment to relive the stampede and freak out in the privacy of my cabin. Then, something terrible dawned on me.
“Matthew, I think it was me. I probably left the gate open. I was taking pictures during my hike this morning, and I got distracted by this beautiful bird. I might be the one who let the cows in.”
He put a hand on my shoulder, and even that small touch grounded me as I whirled with panic.
“It’s okay,” he said softly. “These things happen. No harm was done.”
“I feel so bad, though.” I was the type of person who could ride this guilt trip for hours if I let myself.
“I’ve done it before,” Gigi said. “Don’t worry, Lauren. As Dad says, shit happens.”
“Gigi!” Matthew pressed his hand to his forehead, clearly mortified.
“That’s one way to put it.” I tried to suppress my laughter and failed. The tension in my body uncoiled. “Thanks for being so understanding. I’ll be more careful next time.”
“I hope you get some good rest tonight,” he said.
Gigi waved to me. “See you tomorrow at breakfast.”
As they walked away, Matthew put an arm around her shoulder, and a lump formed in my throat. He was a good dad. A really good dad, admirably committed to running his family’s ranch. After being married to a man whose only passions were sailing, spending money and sleeping with beautiful women, it was refreshing to meet someone with values like my own. Unfortunately, I’d have to settle for being his friend, and not let it go any further than that. Then again, I couldn’t help what my late night imagination would do with him, alone in my room with the curtains drawn. That was a whole different story.
CHAPTER12
MATTHEW
While Gigi spent the morning riding and giving Lauren two-stepping lessons, I finally got caught up on some office work. It was the first uneventful day I’d had in a long time, and it occurred right when my brain kept wanting to return to the moment Lauren threw herself into my arms. I’d felt her heart pulsing against my chest as she clung to me, and I didn’t want to let her go. I wasn’t about to manufacture another cow stampede, but I was hoping the two-stepping party would allow me an opportunity to hold her in my arms again.
