Lead Me Home (20 page)

By the time they came in sight of the corral and the small crowd that had gathered there, Houdini was down to a walk, but it was more of a prance. He held his head and tail high as if he’d just won the Kentucky Derby. Matthew smiled and patted his neck. “Enjoyed that, did you?”

Houdini snorted, obviously very pleased with himself.

As Matthew rode the horse over to the corral and dismounted, he accepted the congratulations of the cowhands and the Chance brothers.

Jack clapped him on the back. “And that’s why they pay you the big bucks. This is one case in which I’m more than happy to lose a bet.”

“Thanks, Jack.”

Emmett gave him a thumbs-up. “Knew you could do it, son.” He reached for Houdini’s bridle. “Let me take this fellow and rub him down. Lester can help me.”

Even though Matthew was used to taking care of the horse he’d ridden, he knew when to step back. “Thanks. I appreciate it.”

Emmett grinned at him. “Now go deal with your public.” He and Lester took Houdini into the barn.

“He sure can run, can’t he?” Tucker came up to shake Matthew’s hand. “At first I thought we’d have to send out a search party, but then you brought him back, no problem.”

“He’s a good horse,” Matthew said. “I doubt you’ll have any problem with him from now on.” He looked around for Aurelia, and finally found her at the edge of the crowd.

Her smile trembled as she made her way over to him. “That was magnificent,” she said. “You’re doing exactly what you should be doing, Matthew. I’m so happy for you.”

He would have loved to have her continue that wonderful praise with some dramatic statement that now she’d follow him anywhere, but after giving his arm a squeeze, she turned and walked back up to the house.

Lester approached, hugging a book to his chest and puffing. “I ran back to my room for this,” he said. “Sarah helped me send away for it last week, and it just came today. Will you sign it?”

“Of course.” Matthew glanced once more at Aurelia in hopes she might turn back because that ride had convinced her they should travel the world together. But she kept walking. Apparently she wasn’t
that
impressed.

Lester moved closer, still clutching his book. “I also wanted to tell you something. Something good.” He pitched his voice low, as if he didn’t want anyone else to hear.

Crouching down, Matthew gazed into eyes alight with happiness. “What’s up?”

“Mr. Beckett said I can stay.” The boy quivered with excitement. “I have to keep quiet about it so the others don’t get jealous, but Nick and Dominique are going to be my new foster parents.”

Despite Matthew’s personal misery, he was overjoyed for Lester. “That’s wonderful. Absolutely wonderful.”

“You can’t say anything, though. It’s a secret.”

“I won’t say a word.” Matthew appreciated the trust Lester was placing in him. “Now I’d better sign that book before someone wonders what we’re in a huddle about.”

“Right.” Lester thrust it toward him.

Matthew balanced a copy of
Think Like a Horse
on his knee and accepted the pen Lester had remembered to bring along.
To Lester,
he wrote on the title page,
A born horse trainer. It’s been a pleasure working with you.
He signed his name and closed the book.

Gary sidled over looking forlorn. “Aw, I want a book.”

That sentiment was echoed by all the other boys as they drew closer, but Lester had been the only one with the foresight to order a book last week so he’d have a chance of getting it before Matthew left the ranch.

“Lester thought ahead, guys,” Matthew said. “I’m afraid you won’t have time to order one, now. But I noticed the ranch had promotional postcards made up, so I’ll sign one of those for each of you, including Lester, who can use his as a bookmark.”

The kids seemed reasonably happy with that compromise, although all of them kept eyeing Lester’s book, which he held on to as if he never intended to let it out of his sight.

Clay walked over and held out his hand. “Nice job.”

“Thanks.” Matthew accept Clay’s warm handshake.

“Now all we need to do is accomplish the other task, and you can claim a hundred percent success.”

“Right.” Matthew wasn’t about to tell him that all factors considered, he was a long way from feeling like a success. But he’d concentrate on Lester’s good fortune and take solace from that.

15

A
S USUAL,
A
URELIA HAD
her cookbooks spread out on the table in anticipation of Matthew’s arrival. But for the first time, she felt as if she might be wasting his time with this project. Until this afternoon, she hadn’t fully appreciated his talent.

Oh, sure, she’d read his book. She’d returned Sarah’s copy because her new one had come in the same box with Lester’s. Reading the book should have made her realize that she was sleeping with an international celebrity who had achieved fame because he was incredible at his job.

But the tone of the book was so humble that she hadn’t quite realized that. Watching him with Houdini, however, had brought it home to her in a very dramatic fashion. Matthew deserved his worldwide reputation because the man flat-out knew how to deal with horses.

More than that, he’d been born with wings. Galloping across the meadow on Houdini he’d become a free spirit, the man who traveled the globe and wrote bestselling books, the man who had no business hooking up with an earthbound creature like her.

He must have temporarily lost his mind when he asked her to travel with him. He had a dazzling career going, and he didn’t need to drag along a budding cookbook author. If she hadn’t provided such outstanding sex, one of two things she felt extremely confident about, he would never have dreamed up such a plan.

She needed to let him back away from that idea without feeling a smidgen of obligation to her. Once he’d put some distance between himself and the hot sex they’d shared, he’d be relieved that he hadn’t talked her into going with him. It would have been a terrible mistake for both of them.

When his knock came at the back door, her heart quickened as it always did at the prospect of seeing him. Closing the cookbooks and stacking them on the table, she walked through the laundry room to the back screen door. It wasn’t full dark yet, but the porch light had clicked on.

Matthew stood illuminated by the golden glow, his face shadowed by the brim of his Stetson. He seemed taller to her now, more imposing. This was the man who’d maintained control of a fifteen-hundred-pound stallion as they’d raced together across the grasslands in a glorious blend of power and beauty.

Before this afternoon’s display of his expertise, she’d thought of him as a horse trainer, a cowboy not so different from the other hands working on the ranch. To be fair, he’d portrayed himself that way by hanging out at the bunkhouse, playing cards with the guys and generally staying out of the limelight.

Not today. Maybe someone else could have made that ride on Houdini this afternoon, but Aurelia doubted it. The horse had tested Matthew, but the outcome had never been in doubt.

Matthew gave her a half smile. “Are you going to let me in?”

“Sure. Sorry.” She opened the door and stepped back. “It wasn’t locked.”

“I know, but I always wait to be invited.” Taking off his hat, he walked through the door.

For the first time she noticed that he had to duck slightly to make it inside. “That’s because you have good manners. You—”

“Aurelia.” With a groan he pulled her into his arms and crushed her mouth against his. His kiss was desperate, demanding.

She’d meant to be more reserved tonight and give him a chance to pull away, but she was helpless before his unexpected onslaught. She kissed him back with equal hunger. Even if he wasn’t to be hers forever, she couldn’t pretend that she didn’t want him more than she’d ever wanted another man.

Tossing his hat onto a dryer, he gripped her bottom in his large hands and lifted her up against the bulge in his jeans. She wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist. Carrying her like that, his mouth still covering hers, he strode out of the laundry room, through the kitchen, and into the bedroom, where they fell to the bed.

Clothes flew, a condom was located, and then he was inside her. She rose to meet each deep thrust, her frenzy matching his. When he was making love to her with such urgency, the issues between them faded, leaving only this wonder, this connection, this…man.

She came in a rush of emotion and pleasure that she’d only known with him. He followed soon after, and she knew he’d waited for her, because that was the kind of lover, the kind of generous person, he was.

He gulped for air and gazed down at her in the soft lamplight. Then he frowned and began kissing her cheeks. “Don’t cry,” he murmured. “Please don’t cry. It’ll be okay. I’ll make it be okay.”

She hadn’t realized she was crying, but now that he was kissing away her tears, she felt the dampness on her face. “It’s not…because I’m sad.”

“Then why?”

“I’m just so grateful for you, Matthew.” Her voice was husky with tears. “So very grateful that we had this time together.”

His frown deepened. “I wish you wouldn’t talk as if we’re never going to see each other again.”

In fact, she had decided that would be for the best. She loved him, and that love ran so deep that a few days here and there over the course of a year would give her more pain than joy. She’d want more, and she couldn’t have more.

“Aurelia, what’s going on?”

“Nothing.” She pulled his head down for a quick kiss. “Go take care of the condom, then we’ll play some cards.”

“We can’t play strip poker. We’ve already stripped.”

“Then maybe we can make up another game.”

“Okay.” He didn’t sound as if he bought into her attempt to derail the conversation. “Be right back.”

When he walked into the bathroom, she sat up, noticed that the room looked as if a bomb had gone off, and decided not to do anything about it. The cards were still sitting on the nightstand, so she picked them up and started shuffling.

“You weren’t kidding.” He climbed back into bed.

“Nope. We can play for…I know. Sexual positions. Whoever wins gets to choose.” She placed the deck on the bed between them. “Cut the cards.”

“No.” He picked up the deck and set it behind him on the other nightstand. “I can’t concentrate on a silly card game when what you said is still ringing in my ears. You’re planning to end everything when the week’s over, aren’t you?”

She met his gaze. “I didn’t say that.” And she hadn’t intended to tell him until the last day, but her guard had been down a moment ago. He was smart enough to pick up on the implication of her
I’m grateful for what we’ve had
. She still hoped to bluff her way out of it, though.

“Aurelia, I’m a native English speaker, and a writer, too. Being grateful for what we’ve
had,
past tense, tells me that you don’t see any future tense coming into the picture. I thought we’d agreed to keep up with each other through our blogs so I could stop by and see you now and then.”

She could evade the truth, but she couldn’t tell him an outright lie. “I’ve decided that won’t work for me.”

His voice had taken on a definite edge. “Why not?”

The coward in her wanted to glance away while she delivered the next line, but she made herself look into his blue eyes. “Because after this banquet we’ve enjoyed together, grabbing a quick snack a few times a year would be very unsatisfying for me. I’d rather…” She couldn’t figure out what she’d rather do if she couldn’t have him, and that was part of the problem.

“You’d rather starve? Is that what you’re saying?”

“I won’t starve. You’re being melodramatic.”

“You’re the one who started this food analogy. I’m just carrying it to its logical conclusion. And maybe you won’t starve, but I’m not so sure about me.”

She studied him, her heart full of love and admiration for all he was and all he would yet become. “You won’t starve, Matthew. You’re an incredible man who will flourish in any situation. I knew you were amazing, but after today’s ride, I appreciate exactly how amazing.”

He stared at her. “I was just doing my job. Nothing special.”

“Oh, yes, it was special.
Is
special. I’m honored that I was part of your life for a little while.”

“For God’s sake. Would you stop talking like that? You’re as talented in your field as I am in mine. And as for flourishing wherever you go, look at what you’ve done with this Last Chance gig.”

“That was all you. You saved the day on that, too.”

“Bull! When I arrived, you’d already won everyone’s heart. They just weren’t on board with the food. When you realized that, you adapted immediately. Also, unless I’m mistaken, you weren’t racked by homesickness while you were here.”

“No.” She’d been a little surprised by that. “But I’ve called my folks a few times, and texted a few friends, so it’s not like I’ve abandoned my life in Nebraska.”

“Keeping in touch is normal and to be expected, especially if you’ve never left the state before. But face it, Aurelia, you’ve bloomed where you were planted, even though you didn’t know a single soul besides your aunt before you got here.”

She shrugged. “It’s a friendly place.”

“The whole damned
world
is a friendly place! You would be a hit in Europe with your cooking skills, your sense of adventure, and your happy smile.”

“I don’t have a sense of adventure. Stop assigning me qualities you want me to have because it suits your purposes.” And maybe this argument was just the one they needed to have, so he would distance himself from her.

“Sorry, but you had a sense of adventure long before I ever came on the scene. That’s the only explanation for having the cojones to serve
brochettes aux rognons, de foie et lardons
to a bunch of cowhands. You are fearless, woman. Deny it all you want, but I know the truth.”

“That’s just food. It’s not the same as flying all over creation.”

“Well, it springs from the same basic desire for variety in your daily life, but I’ll add another observation, since I’m on a roll analyzing your character.”