Page 21 of Mateo & Nicole
“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.”
