Vivian Arend - Rocky Mountain Desire

She gasped for a second then pulled away, wiping her eyes. “Sorry for being so silly.”

He wasn’t done with her. “Your instincts to get out of a man’s reach shouldn’t have been triggered. Tell me what happened.”

She went into her explanation, her hands moving rapidly, her chin lifting and her face becoming more expressive the longer she spoke. He led her to the couch and sat beside her, one hand on her leg as she faded off at the end.

“So what do we do? What do I do? My God, it’s as if Helen’s turned into some crazy woman, and not a good crazy cat lady like I joked about becoming. She swings hot then cold—it’s as if she’s not all there.”

Matt leaned back and tucked Hope under his arm. She snuggled in closer, slowly sneaking her hand behind his body. Tentative, careful, as if she wasn’t sure how he would react.

It drove him crazy himself to see her so timid. As if she expected him to reach out and hit her. Or that she thought he might up and walk away.

He was totally going to deal with that issue, but first, Helen.

“She’s not the woman I remember being with for so long.” Matt stared into space, trying to recall her being this vindictive. Other than when she’d actually cheated on him and left, Helen had been careless at times, and selfish, but never truly cruel. “We can talk to the police, but Helen hasn’t done anything illegal. Being a pest isn’t a criminal offense.”

Hope stiffened as he spoke. “But she’s a nuisance. Isn’t there a law about not bothering people? Can I get a restraining order or something?”

Matt shrugged. “Not sure. I’ll take you down to the station and we can talk to my cousin Anna. Or you could phone her and ask for advice. Do you know where Helen’s staying?”

Hope nodded. “I’d call her, but I’m afraid I wouldn’t have much to say right now other than fuck off and leave me alone . Which would probably lead to me being shouted at, and things would go downhill from there.”

He agreed. “Don’t call right now. Give it time and consider the options.”

She struggled out of his arms and surged to her feet. “Damn it. Why did she come back? Why could she not just stay in Calgary and get on with her life?”

It was a good question. “The main thing is to make sure she’s not going to be able to get into your life anymore. We’ll work together to find a way to do that. Are you with me?”

Hope turned from pacing the living room, her arms slipping in front of her as she hugged herself tight. She bit her bottom lip and refused to meet his eyes…and didn’t answer his question. “I’m sorry about Clay—not about him being here, because you’re right that’s not my fault. But I feel like…”

Maybe she was going to bring it up. That weird sensation he’d gotten from her ever since he’d walked into the apartment—there had to be a reason. “Feel like what?”

“Like I’ve done something wrong. Like you’re going to be upset because he was here.”

Matt sighed. “This is because of that damn cock-fight Clay and I were having before you and I started dating, right?”

A tiny smile snuck past her frown. A fleeting sign of the woman he’d been spending his days with. The woman he’d been dreaming about at night.

“Maybe?”

Dammit. Mat rose to his feet and took her hands in his. He tried again. “I’m not upset with you. And I’m sure we can deal with your sister. Do you want my help?”

This time Hope nodded tentatively. “Can we put away my groceries before we do anything else? My ice cream is melting.”

Everything about her remained hesitant. As if the vital, lively woman he was so attracted to was being smothered under a layer of something that Matt suspected was fear. But he’d been around his share of timid animals in the past. The ones who’d been hurt and learned to be suspicious of others. There was a lot some caring and loving could do.

Family held together. Friends worked through the tough times. Misunderstandings happened, but when people were honest with each other, they could work it out.

And that’s what Hope was going to find out big-time, if he had any say in the matter.

Hope tucked the last of the vegetables into the crisper, wondering if he’d noticed it took an unearthly length of time to find places for what she’d bought.

There was a ton she needed to say, but she dreaded it so much that even a foolish prank like drawing out her chores seemed worthwhile. Just to keep him at her side for a few more minutes, their hands and bodies bumping, his familiar scent an addictive drug to her senses.

A couple days ago the realization had hit she’d somehow crossed the line. He was no longer a guy she was obsessed with. The one she could find instantly in a crowded room.

She had gone and fallen in love, and now her sister had to come and remind her all over why she’d avoided serious relationships. It wasn’t anything Matt had done, not yet at least. But all her hard-won confidence from the past year was fading fast as Helen tore away her control.

This is why you can’t have nice things. The smart-ass remark popped into her head, and she snorted in spite of her frustration. Yeah, right. If she clung to her sense of humour, it might help her get to the end of the day with her mind intact.

A quick turn brought her face to face with Matt, his grey eyes staring intently at her face. Like a Band-Aid, the quicker she did this, the better.

“Thanks for dropping in. I’ll call the police department and…”

He was already shaking his head, moving in closer. “That sounds as if you’re trying to get rid of me. What’s the rush?”

The rush was she had to do this before her courage failed. Helen had pushed so hard, so often. At some point Matt was going to throw up his hands and wish he’d never gotten involved with either of them. Hope would prefer to cut the ties before her heart got more involved—as if that was possible.

She tried to make it seem casual. “I’m tired. All this melodrama has been too much. How about I’ll call you in a few days?”

Walking toward the door was the hardest thing, but maybe if she actually opened it and pushed him out, he’d go.

He didn’t budge.

If anything, he got a little more settled against the wall he was now pretending to hold up, his broad shoulders easing back. Arms crossed in front of him, the entire long length of him relaxed and muscular and good enough to eat.

Hope swung the door open.

Matt laughed. Outright laughed. “I don’t think so, darling. Whatever it is that’s biting your ass is gonna get worked out right now.”

“There’s nothing—”

“Hope.” All the relaxation vanished as he straightened and moved in like a predator intent on its prey. “Go to your room, strip and lay on the bed.”

Her mouth was open far enough if this was summer, she’d be catching flies.

Matt raised a brow. “You hear me?”

“You expect after this kind of day that I’m going to—”

“Listen to what I’m telling you to do without a single fucking complaint? Oh yeah. You said you wanted me to take, then, goddamn, I’m taking. I need to grab something from my truck, but by the time I get back I expect you to be naked on your bed. You got that?”

Hope swallowed hard as she clutched the door. The cool wintry March air floated in, knocking some sense into her.

It might be the last thing she got from him, so…why not? The why was easy—the goose bumps pebbling her flesh weren’t caused by the chill brushing past her. It was all him.

His voice, his body—the way he stalked in and made every bit of her quiver.

The way he looked at her. Heated, dirty passion waiting to be forced on her, and she knew in the midst of all of the chaos that this afternoon would be something she’d never forget.