Always Dakota - Debbie Macomber [13]
“I appreciate the offer, but there’s nothing anyone can do,” Margaret told him.
It took Matt a moment to realize she was answering his question. He nodded. “Well…”
“The ranch is going to be all right,” she went on.
Matt took a discreet sip of his coffee. “If you find you need anything, let me know.”
Now it was her turn to nod. “I will. Thank you for offering.”
“I’m sincere, Margaret,” he surprised himself by saying. “You’re a capable rancher and I don’t mean to imply otherwise, but there are times when neighbors need to rely on one another. I’m here for you, understand?” He told himself he would have said the same thing to any local rancher who’d suffered a loss or some sort of crisis.
“And I’m here for you,” she said in a low voice.
Matt downed the last of his coffee in one gulp, eager to be on his way. He’d stayed longer than he wanted, longer than required.
“You’re leaving?” she blurted.
“It’s time I headed out,” he said. Matt could tell she was disappointed, but she didn’t employ any clever means of detaining him. That was one of Sheryl’s tricks. He’d make noises about going home and she’d find some excuse to keep him with her. He had to give her credit; she was inventive—and often very sexy. Lately he’d been more conscious of her efforts and had become amused at the things she’d said and done to delay him. Sheryl could be one manipulative little devil.
“I’ll walk you to your truck,” Margaret told him, taking the coffee cups and tray to the kitchen counter.
He started to tell her that wasn’t necessary, then changed his mind. Being stared at by a woman’s adoring eyes was a flattering sensation, and Matt wasn’t beyond enjoying it.
Margaret quickly put her mud-caked boots back on her feet. She buttoned her coat all the way to her chin and stuck a knit cap on her head without any concern about what it did to her hair.
“I appreciate your stopping by,” she told him as they reached the truck.
“I’m sorry I didn’t come sooner.”
“I am, too.” She blushed then, as if she regretted having said this.
“If you’d like, I could stop by again.”
Her eyes flared with excitement. “I wish you would.”
Matt wasn’t sure what had prompted the offer. His ranch adjoined the Clemens property but this was only the second time he’d come to the house. Dropping by unannounced wasn’t a habit he planned to cultivate.
“Come any time,” she added, “any time at all.” She sounded so pleased and excited.
What happened then was something Matt would always wonder about. One moment he was preparing to climb into his truck and the next he’d wrapped his arms around Margaret Clemens the way he would Sheryl. He kissed her. He wasn’t sure why—curiosity, he supposed. He couldn’t keep himself from finding out what it would be like to kiss her. Since she hadn’t expected a kiss, it wasn’t fair to judge. But he did, mainly because he was kind of shocked. As kisses went, it was pretty good. No, damn good. Uncomplicated and—he hated to use this word—sweet. With other women, those with experience, a kiss was never simple. It involved tongues and teeth and it was often explosive with passion and need. A kiss hadn’t been innocent for him in a very long while.
He broke it off and released her. Margaret faltered and would have stumbled backward if he hadn’t caught her by the shoulders.
An apology would be appropriate, but he wasn’t sorry. If he was anything, it was confused.
“I’ll check up on you later in the week,” he managed to say.
She nodded and pressed the back of her hand