Rocky Mountain Heat by Vivian Arend Read Free Book Online

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