Page 51 of Mateo & Nicole
Nikki shook her head. “No. I promised you a nature walk, and that’s what we’re going to do.”
He didn’t look convinced. Her sweet boy was too aware for his own good. She took a step toward him and ruffled his hair. “Come on, kiddo. We’re not even halfway there. You wanted to see the creek, right? It has the best rocks, from what I hear.”
“I told you that.” He laughed, scampering after her.
Nikki glanced over her shoulder at him and allowed herself the little bit of joy she had in watching him grow up. One day he wouldn’t want to take nature walks with his mother. He’d find friends or a girlfriend, and he’d be too busy to entertain her. She couldn’t let her fears and doubts over Mateo ruin these precious moments she had with her son.
* * *
She could feelhis eyes on her as she brought the food out to the serving table. He wasn’t in line for supper, but he was in the room. There, on the far side of the space, he leaned against the wall with arms crossed. Mateo hadn’t moved from that spot since he’d arrived. She’d come out of the kitchen, taking three trips to get everything set out the way she liked. And each time, he’d been there.
Watching.
She refused to accept that he was feeling guilty over his meeting with Caroline. No, when she allowed herself to steal a look at him, she could read that much. If he wasn’t feeling guilty, then what was it? Anger wasn’t apparent, either. Nor was the joy she’d become so used to seeing. Something was up, but she couldn’t figure it out—at least not from this distance.
Nikki wiped her hands on her apron and heaved a sigh. She’d avoided seeing him when she’d returned from her walk. Before she spoke to him, she had to figure out how she was going to break the news to him—that she wanted to move out.
Her job was important, and she could see a scenario where she ended up saying the wrong thing after he chose to leave her. Right now, she needed to prepare. She had to remain professional.
Pain rippled through her hands, and she stared down at them, finding that she was wringing them so tightly that they’d turned white. If she was honest with herself, she’d say she was scared—truly scared—that she wouldn’t be able to follow through with her plan.
She spun on her heel, listening to the sounds of the hungry and appreciative cowboys getting their food. Nikki had insisted that Mark and Jason get their fill early so she could have their company in the back. Mateo might very well come back here to speak to her, and she needed any excuse she could find to not be alone with him.
Not today.
Swallowing the lump in her throat, she tossed a look at Mark, who was currently washing the dishes from the meal prep that had taken place. Jason was in the midst of putting what they didn’t use into the fridge or the large pantry. Then he would set to work cleaning their counters and sweeping their floors. If she moved slowly enough, she’d have them shielding her for the remainder of the evening.
Mateo couldn’t outlast her. Not if he wanted to get to bed at his usual time.
The kitchen door swung open, and Nikki wasn’t the only one to glance in that direction.
“Oh, hey, boss. Can I get you something?” Jason paused his work.
Nikki dropped her attention to the binder she was working through. They’d have to put in another order soon, and she needed to make her list.
Mateo’s eyes burned into the side of her face, but she refused to look up at him. If she did, she knew she wouldn’t be strong enough not to crumble. She’d have to tell him what she saw. The fallout wasn’t something she was prepared for.
Her face flushed as she continued going through the binder, her finger tracing down the page before her. She had to read the same thing three times before she glanced up at him again, hoping her expression was innocent enough to make him leave.
Mateo stared at her hard and then glanced at the others in the kitchen briefly before turning to her again. “Dinner looks good.”
Mark chuckled, not reading the room at all. “It tastes even better than it looks, boss.”
Mateo cleared his throat, shuffled his feet, and rubbed the back of his neck. “Sophia was looking for you.”
Nikki frowned. “She was?” What did Sophia need? They rarely spoke unless there was something important going on.
He nodded. “I think I saw her heading for the house. Maybe you should see what that’s about before you head to bed.”
She nodded, her stomach swirling. She wouldn’t be leaving right now, though. That would open her up for a conversation she wasn’t prepared to have—one where Mateo demanded answers. They stared at each other expectantly for a few moments until Mateo gave her a curt nod and strode from the kitchen.
Jason gave her a concerned look, but he knew better than to ask her what was going on. By now, most everyone on the premises knew that she and Mateo were an item. The last thing she wanted was for any of them to get involved in her relationship. The whole situation was messy enough as it was without people sticking their noses where they didn’t belong.
Nikki forcibly turned her attention to the binder and let out a sigh of relief. It was clear she’d been avoiding Mateo all day today. And it was just as clear that he’d been trying to start up a conversation. What if he needed to tell her that they were breaking up, and she was just prolonging the inevitable?
She let a groan slip and dropped her elbows to the counter before placing her head in her hands.
“Everything alright, Nikki?” Jason asked quietly—so quiet that Mark must not have heard over the sound of the running water at the sink because he didn’t stop his work.
