From This Moment On - By Debbi Rawlins Page 0,61

other. He would’ve teased her all the time, and she wouldn’t have liked it. She did now.

She headed for the privacy of the living room, one hand searching her jeans’ pocket for her phone. This was awesome. If she could get Sheila or Gretchen to work for her tomorrow night, it would be even more perfect.

“Nikki?” Matt had followed her as far as the foyer. “Don’t forget our appointment with Mr. Kessler. He’s driving in from Kalispell.”

“No reason for me to be here.”

“You’re specifically named in his will.”

She fisted her hand around the cell phone. “I already told you...I don’t want anything from that man.”

“Fine. Whatever he’s left you, give it to charity. I don’t care.” He raked a hand through his hair and heaved a tired sigh. “Just be here on Wednesday.”

14

TRACE OPENED HIS EYES, stretched out his arms while arching his back, then rolled over and cussed a blue streak when he saw the digital clock. How could it be 1:40 in the morning?

“Son of a bitch.”

He jumped out of bed and grabbed the clean pair of jeans he’d left on his dresser. Before he pulled them on he figured he’d better make a pit stop and ducked into his attached bathroom. He’d showered and changed his boxers earlier after quitting work for the day. Dark stubble covered his jaw and chin but he’d purposely left shaving for the last minute.

His razor wasn’t where it should be. That’s right. He’d abandoned it where he stood this morning the instant he remembered to replace the condoms in his wallet, just before he’d had to haul his ass to work. He found the razor next to the tube of hand lotion he’d bought to help with his calluses. Then grabbed the can of shaving cream and was about to lather up when it finally hit him. He was rushing for nothing. The Watering Hole was closed and Nikki would’ve driven home by now. She could be sound asleep at this point.

Part of him hoped she was since she’d told him she hadn’t gone to bed until seven this—well, yesterday—morning. The selfish part still wanted to curse and punch walls. How could he have overslept? He’d even set the alarm. Yeah, right, getting only three hours after dropping her off had nothing to do with it.

After supper he’d lain down for a two-hour nap, mostly because Nikki had made him promise. Her concern hadn’t been misplaced. He’d spent a good portion of the day branding, a job he disliked when he wasn’t tired. Today had been a mother, chasing and wrestling calves until he couldn’t tell where one ache in his back ended and the next one started. It would’ve been irresponsible of him to drive to town that exhausted. But he’d wanted to see her. He still did, but he wouldn’t be a jerk about it.

Maybe he could at least call her. If she was asleep her phone would be off or charging. If not, he could explain why he hadn’t shown up. Though she’d practically begged him to stay home and hit the sack early. Tomorrow Matt would be in Dallas and they had the whole house to themselves. He grinned just thinking about how excited she’d sounded when she told him. It had been kind of a relief. Nikki wasn’t always easy to read.

That conversation in the car when he’d dropped her off had played and replayed every minute he’d had a breather. He hated her casual talk of hooking up, how she’d been so determined he knew she didn’t want anything serious.

He’d been hoping for more. It still bothered him that he hadn’t said as much. But damn, how could he when he wasn’t certain what he meant by more?

Oh, in his head he was real clear he didn’t want her seeing anyone else, and that he only had eyes for Nikki. But coming right out and asking her to be his girlfriend? That was tricky. Especially when so much was going on in her life.

Then there were his own doubts. She wasn’t like anyone he’d ever known. Feisty as a wild colt, cagey about her feelings, and so damn beautiful it made him ache. She intrigued him as much as she rattled him. The combination had never been on his wish list, but now that he’d met her, other women had started fading into the background.

Maybe he should be more worried about himself and all the weird feelings he was experiencing but couldn’t understand. And maybe