“You want to grab some dinner at Casey’s?” Helen asked, her voice carrying from around the corner.

No. Heading out was the last thing he wanted right now. “I already ate with the family. I can make you something here if you’re hungry.”

“I’d love a burger, and there’re none in the freezer. I need to go shopping in the morning. Karen was supposed to stock up before she left.” The toilet flushed and the water in the shower turned on.

Matt sat up, a rumble of discontent hitting as he dealt with the condom. After two months apart, he wanted a little more time alone with her before he had to start sharing again. He’d been thrilled to see the message she was back in town, rushing over as soon as he could get away from the family. “I don’t mind hitting the store. Want me to run out quick and bring something back?”

There was no answer. She was probably under the water, the noise interfering with his question. Matt shoved off the bed and strolled to the door of the bathroom. Hmm, there were other ways to get her attention. He tugged the curtain aside, admiring how her muscles flexed as she washed, swirling the sponge over her tanned skin. There were all kinds of things he could do to her wet body. “Want some company?”

She shut off the water, already reaching past him for her towel. “Nahhh. I’m starving, and I promised the gang we’d meet them in a bit.”

Frustration made his words harsher than he intended. “Shit, Helen. You’re back in town for a couple hours and we’re already heading out? I hoped we’d get some more time to catch up.”

She stopped in the middle of rubbing her hair with the towel, her mouth arranged into a delicate pout. “You sex fiend. Haven’t had enough yet?”

Fuck. He hadn’t come over with the intention of falling into bed. At least not first thing—that had been her idea. “That’s not what this is about.”

Helen pressed her naked body against his, and his instant response put lie to his words. She stroked a hand over his cock and raised her brows, the smooth arcs perfectly in place. “It’s okay. I’ll be game for more later. I just want to see the gang. I’ve been gone all summer working, and I missed them.”

His sigh escaped involuntarily. “I missed you.”

She relaxed against him, all familiar curves and well-known touch as she reached out to capture his waist. “I missed you too.”

They stood for a moment, and the tension between them faded slightly. Matt breathed in deep, soaking in her scent, the rightness of having her back in his arms. The awkwardness was normal after being apart. And since neither of them was any damn good at emailing or phoning, not with the ranch chores or her remote summer job at the kids’ camp, it had been a long time.

He had to show more patience, although that’s all he ever seemed to do with Helen. Even making the moves on her the first time—he’d planned it for days before getting up the nerve. It had been worth it. Their first kiss had been magical, stolen by the bleachers at the high school between football practice and chores.

He smoothed her wet hair away from her face, “You remember our first time?”

Helen kissed his chest, running her fingers lightly over his ass. “Sweet sixteen and fumbling around in one of the trailers in the back of the ranch. You were so scared we were going to get caught.”

That wasn’t all of it. “I was scared I was going to blow before I got in you, let alone make sure you enjoyed yourself.”

She scratched him as she pulled away, mischief in her eyes. “I always enjoy myself with you, Matthew Coleman. First time to now, you are one fine lover.”

Happiness welled inside, covering some of his earlier frustration. “I love you, you know. Not just love having sex with you.”

She blinded him with her smile. “You’re kinda my favourite fellow as well.”

A sharp tug hit his gut. She never said the words. Never said I love you back to him. “Someday you’re going to forget and actually admit you’re crazy in love with me.”

Helen yanked on her clothes, her mischievous expression teasing him. “Now, Matt, they’re only words. I don’t deny you turn me inside out with lust, and spending time with you is one of my first choices. But I don’t think love—”

“Is real, or forever? I know.” He dragged a hand through his hair and headed for the shower. Since it seemed they were heading out on the town, he’d better get cleaned up as well. He couldn’t leave this conversation at that, though. She had to get past this issue at some point. “Just because your parents called it quits doesn’t mean love isn’t real. Look at my folks. Look at lots of couples right here in Rocky.”

He rinsed off quickly while Helen used the mirror, talking over her shoulder. “Yeah, but my folks didn’t call it quits, they blew up world war three around us. Their split was more than nasty, it was mean. If that’s how they could act after nearly twenty-five years together, and always saying ‘I love you’ to each other all the time? Total bullshit.”

Matt grabbed a towel. Having this discussion again caused extreme frustration because nothing ever seemed to change. “I hear you. I still wish…”

He trailed off as Helen turned to face him, arms crossed in front of her chest. “Matt, I’m not ready to commit to anything else. Now I’m hungry, and you promised me burgers. We can talk about this in a few days when I’ve got myself back on a regular schedule. Two months of s’mores and campfires every night is more than one woman should have to bear.”

“Does that mean a discussion about us moving in together will be happening sometime after burgers and seeing the gang?”

Helen stared, the naughtiness in her eyes as she looked him over making him regret having agreed to going out. “I have to admit knowing I would get to see more of this view regularly is a positive incentive to that idea. Now get cracking.”

He snagged his clothes from the floor where he’d tossed them in his hurry to get naked. “Was that a yes?”

“It’s a maybe. Dammit, Matt. I’ve been tossing and turning on a wooden-slatted bunk for months. Eating wieners and beans and way too many marshmallows. Food before serious conversations, all right?”

He backed down. Hell, he could see her point. When he came in from finding calves or working the far fields for weeks, all he wanted to do was sit and toss back a couple of cold ones and vegetate in front of the idiot box. There was something to be said for batching it with his brothers at times. They understood completely about having not even one more iota of energy left to be civil, let alone being caring and giving.

He grabbed his jacket and ushered her forward. “Deal. I’m officially moving that discussion onto the future list. I’ll give you a little time.”

When she would have danced out the door, he tugged her to a stop. Held her against him tight as he planted a huge kiss on her mouth, tender but firm enough she couldn’t avoid him without really kicking up a fuss. He kissed her until the tension drained away, and she was all soft and warm in his arms.

Helen smiled sweetly, licking her lips, her gaze darting over his face. “Well. That was a lovely welcome home.”

“That was the intention. I’m glad you’re back, darling.”

He held her close for another moment, their hearts synchronizing as they stood together in the gathering darkness.

Yeah. She was back and maybe this time he’d be able to find a way to convince her that what they had was good enough to take a chance on. To move beyond being good, to being even better.


Jaxi was grateful Marion didn’t rise at five a.m. like usual to start her day. Maybe it was the painkillers, or sheer exhaustion, but the boys were already fed and watered and headed out for their day before Jaxi had to switch into her nursing role.

“We need to go to town today and hit the thrift shop, Mrs. C.” Jaxi helped the older woman out of her husband’s robe and into the tub. She set up a few towels to keep Marion’s cast dry, then stepped back to give her privacy. “You can’t wear oversized clothes until you heal, and I don’t think we should cut up all your regular clothing so your arm will fit.”

Marion sighed. “It’s a little like trying to stick toothpaste back into the tube. You’re right, we can go this afternoon. What else are you up for today?”

Jaxi paced around the room, making it as one-handed-friendly as possible. “I can do whatever you tell me needs doing. I’m here for you, to make things easier. Cook, clean. There are vegetables in the garden to harvest soon, and the apples you picked before you fell. You want those canned or dried? I didn’t plan on making coffee and sitting around all day. I never have enjoyed lazing.”

Marion went through a list of harvest items she had planned on doing that week. Jaxi listened even as she stopped to admire the family picture on the dresser, the six boys ranged in a circle surrounding their parents.

She had missed so much as an only child. Her folks loved her but didn’t understand her need to be around others. They were both quiet, independent people who shied away from social events and thought nothing wrong with their little girl spending evenings and weekends alone with a book. When they moved to Rocky Mountain House and her new neighbours had welcomed Jaxi in, it was like she’d come home. All the time she’d spent at the Colemans’ ranch over the years had opened her eyes and heart to the love of a big family.

The expressions on Mike’s and Marion’s faces in each picture displayed around the room made her heart skip. She saw it, plain as day. They were a team, loving and supporting each other as they worked the land and raised their family. Jaxi had seen that strength in Blake, and she wanted to show him she could create the same kind of team with him. The physical attraction she had for him was one thing, but his responsible character impressed her even more. The kind of a connection his parents had was what she longed for, ached for.