Black Hills Angel (Black Hills Series) (15 page)

Mascara, concealer and foundation, Andy felt presentable. Jenny's style hadn't been disturbed in her mad haste to be ready on time. A quick spritz of
Love Spell
by Victoria's Secret, she admired herself in the full length mirror.
Sweet lord!
She felt feminine. She felt confident. Smoothing her small print floral skirt to just above her knee, Andy nodded in approval.
Now for the big reveal!
She contained the squeal of anticipation and headed downstairs. Just as she rounded the corner from the stairs, Matt opened the front door. Her heart stopped. Her body stopped too. Paused right there in the hallway. Her green eyes widened as she met Matt's even wider blue ones. She couldn't contain the nervous giggle that escaped as the heat in his eyes grew.
Mission accomplished!

"Do you like it?" Andy's voice was soft as he approached her, rounding her as she stood still. Absently she noted Margaret hadn't surfaced with Harper. She was thankful for that little bit of privacy. A shiver skated up her spine as she felt his breath on her neck and heard him sniff. Another giggle.
Oh dear!
She couldn't seem to help that nervous tick. Matt stepped closer still and pulled her back against his body. Her femininity quickly registered the hard length of his arousal cutting into her bottom.

"Shit, baby, you have to ask?" Matt's voice was so deep it was a rumble in his chest. Immediately she was ready for him. It was hard to explain, even to herself, but she wanted him that second at that very minute. She inwardly groaned, but remained still. He shocked her further as his fingers met bare leg and continued a languid drag up her thigh under her skirt.

"Matt." She closed her eyes. She had meant his name to be a warning, but it sounded more as a plea.
We can't! Not here in the middle of the hallway!
Her head knew this, but her burning body cursed at her realism. His lips pressed against the side of her neck where her pulse was leaping. Her new bra was incredibly restrictive, but she was happy she wore it. The heat in her core seemed almost volcanic as his fingers traced the curve of her backside and hitched in her lacy panties.

"Fuck me." Her heart was banging even harder and she just knew he could hear it. He had growled the words and she wanted to repeat them.
This is madness!
His hand was just about to come around to the front of her skirt and they heard a throat clear before they saw anyone.
Margaret.

"I realize I am interrupting, but I took the casserole out of the oven. I should be going home too." Margaret came towards them from the kitchen door, unruffled and smiling. Andy couldn't say the same for herself. She felt a bead of sweat trickled down her back.

"Thanks for watching Harper, Margaret. I really appreciate it." Andy tried to summon some courage to meet the woman's eyes, but she failed miserably. She reached out to take her daughter. Matt chuckled like a boy who had been caught in the cookie jar.
Well he had, hadn't he?

"Good night, Margaret. Thank you." His voice was sunny and unaffected.
How does he do that?
Margaret raised a brow and then smiled. She gathered her purse and headed for the door.

"Have a good night, you two." The door clicked shut and Matt laughed out loud. Harper sniffed with annoyance at being passed off. Andy felt heat immediately infuse her cheeks and she bustled into the kitchen to put the finishing touches on dinner.

***

He felt knocked off his center. She was standing in the hallway in
his
house dressed in a flowing skirt, cute summer top, and her beautiful brown hair now streaked as if the setting sun had bestowed a halo.
Who knew an angel could inspire an instant arousal?!
He couldn't stop his hands from touching her, from making sure that she was real and all his.
His.
Matt's heart swelled and twisted with the thought. She was without a doubt the easiest girl to love and the hardest one to convince that they were the real thing!

Matt took a deep breath as he looked into the bathroom mirror. Margaret's timing had been impeccable. He chuckled to himself. His secretary's eyes had laughed hysterically at him, but only a smile had touched her lips. She was a sly one! He did have to admit that her interruption had probably been for the best. Remembering the molten desire coursing through his veins, Matt was almost positive that he would have taken Andy right there against the wall. Still proud, his arousal hardened further.
This isn't good.
He rolled his eyes. Running upstairs to take a shower hadn't lessened the intense need to sink his body deep within hers. Seeing her so dressed up and fragrant, he had decided the dusty construction look just wasn't going to cut it tonight.

One last look in the mirror, he headed for the stairs to take him to the main level of the house. Matt knew he looked good. Comfortable blue jeans, a short sleeve button down shirt, and his hair still wet from the shower. He wanted to make a similar impression on Andy as she had on him. Her quick escape from him after Margaret left already had him grinning deviously. She was as on fire for him as he was on fire for her. He would just have to continue to stoke the fire until there was no other alternative but to give herself up to him completely. Matt tried not to focus too much of his attention on the niggle of doubt that loomed like a shadow in the corner of a brilliantly lit room. He didn't want her to think that he was only in this relationship for sex. It was great, amazing, and phenomenal even, but he wanted every little hope, doubt, secret, and wish.

"It's about time you get your butt down here, little brother. She has been making me wait to eat since I got home!" Garrett's complaint made him roll his eyes and Andy laughed as he stepped into the kitchen. Matt's eyes immediately fell on Andy and the lovely blush that lit up her cheeks.

"Have you not seen this beautiful girl clearly? I couldn't come to dinner all dirt and stink!" Matt feigned a loud sigh and a hand thrown across his forehead in dramatic fashion. He busted up laughing when Garrett punched him in the arm and Andy shook her head. Rubbing his shoulder against the sting from the punch, Matt moved forward to take the casserole off the counter and into the dining room. Harper was all wide-eyed with wonder from her mother's arms. Together mother and daughter were an arresting sight to be sure.

"I guess I needn't ask how your afternoon went, huh? I half expected to come home and still see you sitting in the Escape in the driveway!" Matt teased as they took their seats. Andy fussed with the napkins and utensils. She wouldn't look at him, but her green eyes were bright and shining.

"I wondered whose vehicle that was. I don't think I would have chosen black, however." Garrett mused as he filled his bowl with salad.

"Your Dodge truck is black, Garrett. I thought it was a good choice." Matt answered, filling his own plate. His brother chewed the bite he had taken.

"I know what color my truck is, brat! It just gets hot and if I had known what I know now, I don't think I would have bought a black vehicle." Garret gestured with his fork for emphasis. Matt cast a glare at his brother and he barely heard the next words spoken.

"I like it." Andy's voice was something close to a whisper, but she looked from Garrett to him. He smiled and Garrett paused before nodding. Just like that, she had stopped an argument. His appreciation for her grew. Motherhood was charming and Matt could see this beautiful girl breaking up all sorts of fights between their children.
Their. Children.
His gut twisted again. The silent wish had come out of left field, but it was there just the same. He shared a soft look when he caught her staring at him.

"Today was fun. Wendy was very nice and she gave me the name of her hair stylist, Jenny at
Un-tangled
. After what I was sure was a HUGE mistake and a waste of time, Jenny introduced me to highlights." She touched her hair softly and looked directly at him again. "Did she go overboard?"

Matt grinned broadly.

"Absolutely not. You look amazing!" He wrapped his fingers about hers on the table and squeezed. Garrett kept quiet on the other side of the table, but looked like he was trying not to gag on their sugary sweetness. As far as Matt was concerned, his brother could make himself scarce tonight.

"Hey Matt, I got a phone call from Nora today." Garrett managed to wedge between the meaningful looks from him to Andy. Matt turned back to his plate. He wasn't really hungry for food at the moment.

"Oh yeah? How is she? How's Mom and Dad?" Matt put a fork full of the Mexican lasagna into his mouth and had to admit maybe he was hungry for food after all. Garrett took a drink of his beer.

"The parents are fine. I guess Mom is driving Nora crazy about this wedding and she wants to know if she can come up this weekend." Garrett took another drink and Matt raised a brow.

"Mom or Nora wants to come up this weekend?"
Lord, help us if it's Mom!
Matt silently prayed it wasn't his mother, because saying no to her wouldn't work.

"Nora. I told her I had to get back to her on that." Garrett glanced at Andy. Garrett had played dumb, because his brother wasn't sure if the whole live in girlfriend thing was acceptable.

"Of course she can. Nora knows about Andy and Harper." Matt smiled, putting his own beer to his lips. He saw Andy sit a little straighter in her chair. Nora was the only one who knew about Andy. She had been a great help in advising him on how to earn Andy's trust.

"Drew is going to stay at the ranch." Garrett added as he finished his meal and prepared to take his dishes to the sink. Matt nodded. It made sense. Nora was coming to feel Andy out and Drew, being five years old, would just be in the way. Family introduction was about to begin considering that Friday was the day after tomorrow.

Harper fell asleep a couple of hours later after she had her warm bath and a bottle. Matt didn't think he had ever been so happy for the baby to go to sleep! Andy had been teasing his senses all night, whether she knew she was doing so or not. He would bet not. She wasn't the type to sway a man with female guile. He couldn't help noticing how the lacy skirt fell over her curvy hips and brushed her bare legs. His hands itched to touch every bit of skin and his lips ached to brand every delicate inch as his own. Andy was sexy as
hell
and she didn't even know it! Matt loved the modesty and realism that made up her armor. It protected her from all the self-aware and fake women of the world. A rare gem!

"She's asleep." Andy whispered as she brushed by him in Harper's doorway. Matt winced. His need for her almost painful. If only he could be knighted for sainthood! He closed Harper's door most of the way and followed Andy across the hall into his bedroom. Almost a week sleeping together in the same bed had made her feel as if she were a long lost appendage. The pulse in his blood sped up.

"Do you think she will like me?"

Matt blinked, her question taking him by surprise. His ardor was clouding his mind and he blinked in confusion for a moment. "Nora. Do you think she will be upset that I am living here with you and Garrett?" Andy added, turning her back to him. Matt pressed his lips together. He couldn't help following the line of her body from head to foot. He groaned softly.

"I talked to Nora about you and Harper after we first met. She doesn't judge like that. All things considered, sweetheart, she was in a very similar situation as you." Matt came up behind her and put his hands on her hips. She made to speak but he shook his head. "No, our parents were understanding, but that is the only difference. She was left to raise Drew without a father." Matt saw the secrets go up like embers in a flame. He wanted to soothe their ache in her soul if only she would let him.

"What happened to Drew's father?" Andy's question caught him a bit off guard, but he righted himself and tried not to read anything into it.
Too late.

"Nora never said who Drew's father was. My mother begged her and our church reverend also asked, but Nora wouldn't give it up. If you ask her, Drew is her son. It's as simple as that." Matt saw respect and even admiration sneak into Andy's expression.
What would I give to know about Harper's father?
Why do I even need to know?
An inner conflict had started.

"I think she and I have a great deal in common. I like her already." Andy whispered, turning in his arms and brushing her body against his. Any questions and concerns turned to ash at the touch.

"Have you any idea what you do to me, Andy? This evening has been
hell
not being able to touch you like I want to." He brushed his palms down her hips to her skirt-clad thighs, snagging the fabric to bunch it in his hands. Slowly the material inched its way up until smooth skin was revealed. He groaned into her neck as he heard her gasp. Circling to her rear, Matt took pleasure in caressing the silky panties over her behind. He gritted his teeth.

"You mentioned lingerie." That little sentence kicked an unforeseen switch and Matt lifted her to straddle his hips. The surprise on her face made him grin wickedly. There was no waiting now!

"You can show me what you bought later. Right now, I want..." He took a breath, falling deep into those lipid pools of green. Words were failing him. Coherent thought was all but gone. Andy speared her fingers into the longish hair at the nape of his neck. Her lips tentatively kissed his.