Page 25 of Mateo & Nicole
He shifted beside her before turning an imploring stare on her. “You sound like you speak from experience.”
Nikki failed miserably at keeping her blush contained. There was no way she would be able to ignore his statement. Already she could feel her ability to keep her own secrets in check. There was no way to pull her gaze from his, and the longer he stared at her, the harder it became to keep her mouth shut. “Paxton’s father—he wasn’t the kindest man.”
Mateo scowled as if he could do something about what she’d confessed, but there was no way. She hadn’t heard from him in years. Their marriage had been quick, and they’d gotten pregnant shortly after. But as soon as she found out she was expecting, his demeanor changed.
She swallowed back the bile that the bad memories dredged up. “Let’s just say he didn’t hold back when he wanted to put me in my place.”
“Did he hurt you?” Mateo snarled.
Her eyes flew wide. “What? No. Well, not physically, at least. But words can cut just as deep.” This was so embarrassing. She couldn’t believe she’d stayed with him as long as she had. Thankfully, he hadn’t fought her on ending their relationship. A lump formed in her throat, and she attempted another nonchalant shrug. “He told me I’d never amount to much and that I would never find anyone to love me. Stuff like that.”
Mateo’s jaw was set in a sharp line that could have cut glass. When she dropped her eyes to avoid seeing the fury in his, Mateo didn’t appear to like that. He lowered his face closer to hers so she had no other choice but to listen. “He waswrong, Nikki. Anyone with eyes can see that you’re special. You’ve got to be one of the most beautiful women I’ve laid my eyes on.”
She couldn’t even snort at his comment because he had her so captivated with his words.
He moved closer still until his breath fanned against her face—the heat of it adding to what already hovered beneath the surface of her skin. His focus dipped to her mouth, and his lips parted.
Was he so willing to break the rules just to prove a point? Stealing a kiss was a bad idea, and yet she hadn’t wanted anything more in her entire life.
Raucous laughter spilled from the doorway. Mateo immediately stepped back.
Cold air whooshed between them and she exhaled heavily, lashes fluttering wildly. Nikki didn’t dare meet his eyes as they stood there in silence.
That had been a close call.
Way too close.
12
Mateo
Sophia was dead meat.
Mateo didn’t know what his sister had been thinking! Was she trying to sabotage him? Or was she trying to set him up with someone? Because he’d clearly told her he wasn’t interested in Annie. Heck, when Sophia had set them up on that first date, he’d only gone along with it because of scenarios like this one. Sophia was incorrigible.
If she was so worried about their family settling down, then she needed to be the one to find someone to fall in love with first. She’d probably seen one too many Keagans fall in love over the past few years.
His jaw ached from all the clenching he’d done since last night. He was on the verge of a mental breakdown with how frustrated he’d become. No matter what he did, Nikki seemed to fill his mind. She took it over and made him want to get closer to her with each passing day.
It wasn’t even just her.
The kid was amazing. Each and every one of Paxton’s riding lessons had proven just how much the boy deserved to be in a place like this one. If Mateo had his way, he would make sure neither Paxton nor Nikki left the ranch. He’d ensure that Nikki had a job she loved and a place to call her own. And he’d help teach the boy to ride and how to care for the animals.
Mateo caught himself up short. What was he thinking? From the sounds of his own thoughts, it sure appeared as though he wanted something more from Nikki than he’d allowed himself to admit.
“Everything okay, boss?”
He jumped, realizing that he hadn’t moved for the last several minutes as he’d let his thoughts send him into a spiral.
Nikki was worth fighting for. That’s what this came down to.
He nodded to the wrangler, who adjusted his hold of the ropes he had draped on his shoulder. “I’m fine. Thanks.”
The cowboy nodded and headed into the barn behind Mateo. All around them, his men were hard at work. Daniel ran a tight ship, and Mateo couldn’t have asked for a better man for the job. Honestly, it should have been harder to merge the business he’d had with the one he dreamed of having.
It was moments like this one when his heart seemed to get cocky. If he could have his dream future with this ranch, then why couldn’t he get the girl, too?
It had been difficult, to say the least, opening up about Caroline—and yet, at the same time, it had been excruciating not discussing what she’d done to him. The cathartic result had made that conversation worth it.
