“I don’t know.” His words carried a ring of truth. “But I won’t accept it.”
“I don’t know what you can do about it right now, except to pay her back. Apparently, the account is settled except for this extra day.” Liv bit her lip, knowing the next suggestion was going to go over like a lead balloon. “Maybe you can work out a payment schedule with her.”
Tim exhaled, then winced, since Dr. Bates had dropped the level of pain medication and apparently every movement hurt. “I don’t see where I have any choice.”
Liv walked over to lay a hand on her father’s shoulder. She couldn’t help but feel for him—a proud, stubborn, self-sufficient man lying in a hospital bed, the recipient of unwanted charity. And he’d just shared intimate details of his life. Three of his worst nightmares come true.
She gave his shoulder a squeeze. “We’ll work this thing out, Dad. Pay Margo interest and the whole nine yards.”
“Yeah. I will,” he agreed. “It’s the only thing I can do.”
Liv shook her head. “Any chance that you could take it easy for the next day so that they let you out of here?”
“I’ll do my best,” he said grimly. “Because I want out like nobody’s business.”
“Then behave yourself and I’ll pick you up Sunday morning.”
* * *
LIV AND BECKETT had their best performance ever at the Twin Bridges rodeo—which wasn’t saying a lot, since it was only her third performance and the first dry one. The only strange part was dealing with Margo. Or not dealing with her. The woman, who’d been friendly up until Liv had overheard her conversation with Tim—making Liv wonder if Margo had known she was there—now kept her distance. She didn’t make eye contact and only spoke if absolutely necessary.
But she had paid a gigantic hospital bill in cash. She was a widow, yes, but how well off was she? And why pay Tim’s bill?
Did she dare ask?
Margo’s demeanor did not invite confidences or questions.
This was Tim’s problem. It was not Liv’s job to smooth the waters and make everything all better for him, in spite of her old instincts rearing up and threatening to take hold again.
“Who’s a good boy?” she asked Beckett to distract herself as she took off his bridle and haltered him. As usual she pulled a treat out of her pocket and offered it to him before unsaddling.
“You’re spoiling him.”
Liv stilled at the unexpected sound of Matt’s voice from behind her, anticipation quickening her pulse. Oh, man.
“He doesn’t bum,” she said as she turned to face him, keeping one hand on Beckett’s neck as if to ground herself. The heat unfurling deep inside of her intensified as she met Matt’s dark eyes, saw the answering heat there.
How could he possibly look better than he had before? Because she now knew what he looked like naked...and wouldn’t mind seeing him that way again.
“That’s because he’s a gentleman,” Matt said, patting the horse’s rump. Liv forced herself to move, folding the stirrup over the seat of the saddle and pulling the latigo from the cinch ring. A few seconds later she dragged the saddle off, the cinch hitting the ground because she hadn’t tied it up as usual.
“Want me to do that?” he asked as she started lugging the saddle to the tack room.
“No, no.” She stepped up into the small room at the front of the trailer, slid the saddle on the holder. Breathe. You need to breathe.
She felt Matt follow her in, once again forgot to breathe, then turned to tell him not to close the door, somehow sensing he would. He, of course, closed the trailer door before she could get a word out and the space immediately got very, very small. Liv was aware of the scents of the leather, horse sweat, grain. And Matt. That wonderfully masculine scent made her even more aware of him.
“That sometimes locks itself,” she said, raising an eyebrow in the direction of the door.
“In that case we’ll call for help.”
“Perhaps you’d like to check it now.”
Matt turned toward the door, but instead of checking to see if it was open, he clicked the sliding lock sideways.
“Now you’ve done it,” she said.
“I certainly hope so.” His mouth came slowly down onto hers as she backed against the trailer wall. The kiss was possessive, deep. Knee-buckling. Liv realized that her hands had somehow come up to clutch his shoulders.