My nerves were showing in my voice. “I hope I don’t crush your toes.”
Matthew’s gaze connected with mine, and I mirrored his smile as we glided around the room. Slowly, my leg muscles gave up their clench, and I relaxed into the simple movements of the dance.
“You’ve picked it up already,” Matthew said. “Last night you were camping under the stars and here you are two-stepping. Look at you, adopting a Wyoming lifestyle.”
Despite my nervousness about riding and camping without a tent, I felt surprisingly at home here. There was a wild, stark beauty about southern Wyoming that was honest and raw, and although I’d come out there to hide, I’d found a piece of myself that had gone into hiding over the years. Being outdoors, riding horses, and doing physical labor made me feel alive again. The thought of going home and working at a desk all day had me wanting to leap out of my skin. I had to remind myself to stay in the moment here at this beautiful party because I wasn’t going back to New York just yet.
“What are you thinking about?” Matthew asked.
“When I first arrived, you told me Silver Sage was a magical place, and you were right. I haven’t felt this happy in a long time.”
“I thought you were having trouble relaxing?” he said with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes.
“Maybe I didn’t need to relax. Maybe I needed to do new stuff. You know what I mean? Have a new adventure.”
Matthew raised his eyebrows. “How do you think I ended up running this ranch? I started asking myself questions like that, so be careful.”
I threw my head back and laughed, nearly losing the rhythm with my feet. “You had an existential crisis too, huh?”
“I think it happens in middle age. Some guys buy a Ferrari. I took over a ranch. Now get ready for a spin.” He twirled me in a circle, making my skirt billow out at the knees. “Not bad for a beginner.”
I fluttered my eyelashes at him. “Thank you, sir.”
Matthew might have been my dance partner, but he was still the ranch’s owner and manager, and he had to be professional at what was ostensibly a work event for him. There would be no kissing or snuggling for us in the Round Room. That’s why I’d decided to ask him to come to my cabin later that evening. I needed time alone to tell him my real name and why I had to get out of the city so quickly. I owed him the truth. Of course, I also wanted time alone with him so I could knock his boots off.
Before I extended an invitation, Tyler appeared and tapped Matthew on the shoulder. “Our new guest has arrived at the gate, boss. I’m heading that way. Be back in a few minutes, unless you want to go yourself? I know you like to make sure everything goes perfectly when first timers arrive.” The boy could hardly contain his grin. I hoped he looked that way because he knew Matthew wouldn’t want to leave me to greet his new guest.
“No, you can go,” Matthew said. “I trust you to get him settled. Plus, we have to practice our spins some more.” Without further warning, he twirled me out and then back again, leaving me breathless. It wasn’t my finest dancing moment, but it was certainly the most thrilling.
“Give me more warning next time,” I said as Tyler walked away. “I’m new at this.”
“You seem like an old pro. You always underestimate yourself. It was the same thing with riding. You looked totally comfortable in the saddle.”
“I want to get back on the trails again soon. I feel like I might be ready for a horse that’s not geriatric. No offense to Alma.”
Matthew laughed. “She’s a good old girl, but I think you’re ready for a more energetic horse next time.”
“There’s so much more I want to do before I leave the ranch. Aside from the blisters, courtesy of my new hiking boots, I can honestly say this has been a perfect vacation.” I gazed into his blue eyes, hoping he could feel the sincerity of my words. “Silver Sage has brought me back to life in so many ways.”
His gaze settled on my lips, and I was dying for him to kiss me. Maybe we could find a dark corner away from prying eyes?
“Do you want to get a drink and go out on the porch?” he asked, reading my mind.
Immediately, I stopped dancing and let my arms drop to my sides. “Please lead the way.”
It might have been a while, but I knew that when a man asked you to step into a more private area, something romantic was about to happen. All that dancing had been excellent foreplay, but now I wanted Matthew to press me up against a wall and kiss me until my legs buckled.
Once again placing his hand on the small of my back, he led me toward the bar in the corner of the room where he gave Kyra our drink orders. After we got our lemonades, I wanted us to make a quick escape, but Sam, Ella and a serious-looking man around our age called us over to them, and they widened their circle to include us.
“Nice to see you again,” Sam said. “I would have said hello earlier, but my brother has been monopolizing your attention all evening.”
“It’s the other way around,” I insisted. “I’ve been taking up all of his time.”
Sam smiled at his brother. “I’m sure he doesn’t mind one bit.” His good manners and angelic dimples didn’t fool me. He was going to harass his older brother as much as possible for dancing with me.
“I certainly don’t mind.” Matthew took a sip of his drink, and I couldn’t help noticing his cheeks had turned a rosy pink.
Sam gestured to the man and woman with him. “These are our friends Callan Colter and Ursula Watson.”
