Ha.” The volume of expression in the short word made Matt laugh in spite of his concerns. Jaxi cleared her throat. “No, Helen didn’t really try, although the comments about ‘you teenage Coleman bitch’ would have been funnier if I could have planted my boot on her ass when she headed out the door.”

“You didn’t.”

“Nope, I was amazingly reserved. Only showed my teeth for a second. The woman eventually figured out it was time to shut up. About five minutes later than she should have, but it’s not as if I’m going to melt from a few cuss words being tossed my direction.”

“Damn. I should have—”

Jaxi cut him off. “No, you were right to call me. Hope got the shop open in time, and it could have been far worse if you had been the one there. Hell, who knows? She might have even done something stupid like accuse you of attacking her or…something insane.”

“How’s Hope really doing? She called me, but she sounded so tense—I’m not sure what’s going on with her.”

Jaxi hummed. “I saw her before I left. She’s upset, but okay. There were customers in the shop so we couldn’t talk. But, Matt…”

He pulled in next to the barn. The day loomed long and monotonous ahead of him with everything that had to be done when what he really wanted was to head over to the shop to see for himself Hope was okay. “What kind of advice you hesitating over giving me now, Dr. Phil?”

“Do I really have that reputation?”

“From what I hear, you’re cuter than him, but you know damn well you boss us all around, especially since you and Blake got married. So spill.”

“Fine. It’s possible this entire storm can smooth over in no time flat. I mean I wasn’t happy about being insulted, but it’s only words. They only have power if I let them. If Helen has moved back, so what? She knows now that Hope isn’t going to cave instantly in to her demands. If Helen gets a place to stay, finds a job…she’s just another person in town. Unless we give her the power to upset us. Right?”

Which was pretty much what Matt had concluded the previous night. “If all she does is live in town and act like anyone else who’s sort of known to the family, then yeah. You’re right. But if she tries anything to hurt Hope, then she’s out of line.”

“Agreed. But can we hope for the best? The woman isn’t stupid. I know she hurt you bad, and part of me hates her guts for that, but it’s time to move on.”

Matt stared out at the snow. The ice and cold that had wrapped around him for so long after Helen had left—he’d been free of it for just a little while.

Because of Hope’s warmth.

“Not what I expected to hear from you, Jaxi. I thought for sure you’d be heating pitch to tar and feather Helen before running her out of town.”

“The thought crossed my mind, believe me. Maybe I’ve gone soft after having the babies, but there are more important things to do than waste time on revenge. Happy things like kissing toes and cuddling and—”

Matt laughed out loud. “My images of those things and yours aren’t the same, I’m thinking.”

She blew a raspberry. “Dirty Coleman mind. So, anyway. I’m saying let’s see what Helen does before declaring war. If she behaves, we can spend our time on the things that matter.”

“Hope is one of those things.”

“Right. I think she’ll call you if she needs anything. Could be she’s a bit embarrassed. Since you’re going over tonight that should be soon enough to reassure her she’s got people who care about her, even if she feels awkward. Hope’s one of the most stubborn people I know when it comes to accepting help.”

Matt groaned in frustration. “Yeah, I gotta get back to work if I’m going to get done on time. Thanks, Jaxi. For everything.”

The sound of a kiss being blown hit his ear, then she hung up.

He headed into the barn and the dirty work of the day a whole lot more relaxed than he thought possible. But his plans for the night? He revamped what he’d had on the agenda. After the shock of her sister’s arrival, Hope needed a different kind of care than to be ordered around like some sort of sex slave.

Although he was sure they would get back to that scenario another time.

Chapter Seventeen

Fortunately, there was enough business to keep her distracted all day long. After Jaxi had given the all clear on her sister’s departure from the apartment, Helen hadn’t shown her face in the shop even once.

The smooth resolution to the situation was almost anticlimactic. Hope had envisioned all kinds of shouting and tossing of breakable things. It was evil, but the idea of calling the police and getting Helen’s ass hauled down to the cop shop had played out in her brain as far too attractive a scenario.

Hope pressed her palms over her eyes and exhaled her frustrations. All the relaxation therapy she’d learned over the past year was sorely needed right now, because that vindictive thought wasn’t her style. The revengeful bitch-woman who wished her sister would just disappear and never be seen again—was someone else. That woman was the result of too much stress and too many hard moments caused by Helen’s actions.

Still, Hope had to congratulate herself. She’d dealt with the pain and anger. Pushed through the rough times and moved on. Another couple deep breaths later she was ready to head upstairs. She needed a shower and some chocolate.

She turned off the shop lights and armed the security system, then paced up the inside stairs to her apartment. Hiding out sounded like a marvelous idea.

Only—she wanted to see Matt more than she wanted to be alone.

Upstairs, with the door bolted shut, she looked around the apartment with new eyes. What had Helen seen, walking in after a year of being gone? Something she liked? Something she decided she wanted after all?

The phone rang and she checked the call display cautiously, happy to discover Matt’s name and not her sister’s.

“I’ll be there in about forty-five minutes, and I’ve ordered supper to be delivered then as well. Sound okay?”

God, yes. “Wonderful. I need some downtime. Don’t know how good company I’m going to be.”

“Don’t worry, I’m not expecting you to entertain me. Just let me come and give you a little caring.”

It sounded far better than it should. She was supposed to be a strong, independent woman, but tonight? She’d take all the coddling he was willing to give.

Hope turned the shower as hot as she could stand it. Matt’s comment regarding finding Helen in the tub flashed to mind. She grabbed cleanser and scrubbed the entire thing so that all that was possibly left was the smell of disinfectant slowly covered by the scent of her shampoo and the candles she’d lit everywhere.

It was a silly response, but she felt much better after finishing. Like she’d washed away a bit more of the heaviness that had descended upon setting eyes on her sister.

It only took a minute to tidy the bathroom. Far less time than standing in front of her dresser and deciding what to pull on for the evening.

Screw it. She picked her most comfortable pyjamas, which were flannel, faded and made her feel about twelve years old. Matt was going to get her as she was, in spite of what Helen liked to wear.

He hadn’t mentioned what he’d ordered for dinner, so she pulled out a couple plates then poured herself a glass of juice, crawled onto the couch and tucked herself in with one of the quilts draped within easy reach.

No music. No television as white noise.

Just silence.

There was a faint rumble of sound from the street, but nothing too jarring. She took in the peace and attempted to spread it through every bit of herself.

Calmness.

Quiet.

The heat of the quilt slowly soaking in.

Her plan worked so well that by the time Matt knocked and she rose to let him in, she felt far looser and relaxed than she thought possible.

His gaze darted over her outfit as he held forward a case of beer. “You look comfy. Should have told me we were having a pyjama party.”

“You’re always welcome to wear whatever you want in my place. There was no way I was going to dress up tonight. Sorry.”

“Trust me, I’m not complaining.” He tilted his head toward the door. “The delivery car pulled in just behind me. Let me grab the food and we’ll get cozy.”

“You want a drink?”

He nodded then slipped outside. Hope wandered into the kitchen and found room in the fridge for his beer, opening one and setting it on the table. The scent of Chinese food wafted in with him, the door clicking tight at his back, and she hurried to grab the paper bags from him.

“Holy cow, who else is joining us?” There was enough to feed far more than two people, even hungry ones.

Matt squirmed but kept unpacking the silver-lidded containers onto the tabletop. “I didn’t want to bother you and check what you wanted. But then I realized I had no idea what you liked or disliked, so I got a whole bunch of stuff. I figured anything you hate I can take home. Everything else? Dig in.”

Hope caught him by the arm. “Thank you, but before we load our plates, you forgot one thing.”

His confused expression made her smile. She’d been waiting all day for this. Actually, she’d been waiting all night as well. A light tug brought their bodies into contact and his eyes lit up.

The kiss was better than any appetizer she remembered. Matt held her an extra moment after their lips parted, his strong fingers caressing her neck. “You okay?”

The soft-spoken question carried a ton of meaning. If anyone understood the frustrations she’d experienced over the past day? He did.