Your'e Still the One by Debbi Rawlins Read Free Book Online Page B

the two empty bottom shelves letting Jamie pass him the bottles, which he laid on their sides to maximize space.
    “You putting anything else in here?” he asked before getting up. The question was meant for Jamie and Rachel, but his gaze lingered on Nikki.
    He was cool about it, not making an ass out of himself, or being obvious, but Rachel knew him too well. For one thing, as willing as he was to help when she asked for it, he wasn’t one to volunteer.
    “Sandy and Krista are bringing two more,” Jamie said. “But I think they took a detour first.”
    Trace nodded and straightened. Rachel saw the set of his jaw and knew he’d forgotten about the other two and probably hoped they stayed detoured.
    The room was spacious even with the massive stone fireplace, pool table, overstuffed leather couch and club chairs. But the way the furniture was set up, if you weren’t playing pool, you either stood and watched or sat by the fire. It had never been a problem when it was just the family, but since taking in guests who often converged here after dinner, Rachel had to rethink the arrangement.
    After their game was finished, Cole and Trace quit playing in favor of talking to Matt and Nikki. They moved to the couch and chairs along with Jamie, and the table was quickly claimed by a pair of wranglers who’d come in after dinner and were keeping the guests entertained.
    Sandy and Krista seemed determined to stick close to Trace, and though Rachel could tell he was unhappy with the situation, there was really nothing she could do about it.
    Three women had accompanied the wranglers, and a few minutes later, two more had wandered in to cheer the men on. With so many people squeezed in, the room was noisy and too warm, and making Rachel itchy for some fresh air and solitude. As soon as she could slip away, she picked up empty glasses and carried them to the kitchen.
    Relieved to be alone, she opened the dishwasher. The sink had been clear an hour ago when her mom had gone to lie down because of a headache. But dishes and glasses had accumulated and Rachel started loading them, glad to be able to hear herself think. It had been one hell of a day...a birthday she wasn’t likely to forget.
    Matt Gunderson, here in the flesh. It still didn’t seem real. Every time her gaze had touched on him she’d received a small jolt of awareness. One minute he’d laugh or turn his head a certain way, looking like the old Matt, and the next, he was a handsome stranger who made her pulse race.
    She would have to look him up on Google later. Just out of curiosity. Whether the thing he had with Nikki was serious or not, Rachel was quite clear where she stood in his eyes. Damn, but she really wished he hadn’t given her that peck on the cheek. If he hadn’t, at least she could’ve fantasized about him a while longer.
    “Need help?”
    Matt.
    Aware her butt was sticking up in the air as she tried to reach the back row of the dishwasher, she calmly deposited the plate in a suitable slot, then straightened.
    When she turned around he didn’t try to pretend he hadn’t been checking out her ass. Which just confused her. “Good timing on your part. I’m almost done.”
    “You’re the birthday girl. You shouldn’t have kitchen duty.”
    She shrugged. “Just another day.”
    He set his empty bottle on the counter. “So you’ve stopped counting down right after Christmas?”
    She smiled, surprised he remembered. “Every kid loves their birthday. I’m not a kid anymore.”
    “No,” he said, his voice lowered, his gaze sweeping her lips. “You’re not.”
    Rachel grabbed the dish towel off the counter, needing something to do. “You want another beer?”
    “I’ve had two already. That’s enough.”
    “I guess you have to keep yourself in good physical condition.” It was a perfectly innocent and natural observation. Except she panned the breadth of his shoulders, and her lips parted without permission. “Where’s Nikki?”
    He