Page 57 of Loved By Tandy

“And you’re going to finally tell your family about Mario leaving?”

“Zach and Eli know, so I’m guessing news has spread by now. Or maybe not. They were out to ride horses the other day. You were at your place packing. And they asked where Mario was. No point in keeping it a secret.”

“So I’m no longer sworn to silence?”

“Nope. I meant to tell you, but I forgot. Sorry about that.” He sets my cup on the counter, then makes himself some tea. “And they offered to come out and help, but you could see that they were trying to figure out how to make that work. They have families and full-time jobs. I won’t burden them with stuff I can handle.”

I rub his back. “I doubt they think of this place as a burden.”

“I know, but they don’t have time to take on these chores. For that reason, I’m glad I found someone. Hopefully, it works out. Because I’m not going to be here forever.”

I swat his arm. “Don’t talk that way.”

“I didn’t mean dead. I meant not in this place. This house.” He pulls me close. “I like having you here, but when you move into your house, I’ll probably look at downsizing. This is too much house for one old guy.”

It’s only been a few days since I moved in, but sharing a house with Matthew feels comfortable. And while I might never be ready to share more than that, I have to bite my tongue to keep from suggesting that he might want to live on my ranch. With me. In one of the extra bedrooms of course.

“I’m sure it’ll all work out, sweetheart.”

He kisses the top of my head. “Can I talk you into going on a horseback ride with me next week? We can ride over and check on the other house.”

“No.” I’m usually up for anything, but even I have my limits.

“What about going out in the mule?”

“A mule? If I won’t get on a horse, what makes you think I’ll ride a mule? No rides on farm animals. Or ranch animals or whatever you want to call them.”

He clasps my hand and walks through the kitchen, then opens the garage and points at a golf cart type thing. “That’s the mule. It has wheels, not legs.”

“Why didn’t you say it was a golf cart?”

He taps the body panel where the word MULE is painted in bright white. “Because it’s a mule. Multi-use Light Equipment.”

I make sure he sees my eye roll. “I’ll ride with you in that.”

He laughs, then stops and his entire body tenses. It’s obvious the man is in pain. My mind jumps to the absolute worst conclusion. He’s been working too hard, not getting enough sleep, and it’s affecting his heart.

“What’s wrong?”

After a minute, he unclenches his jaw. “I’m fine. Just a bit of pain.”

“You should go see your doctor if you are having pain, Matthew. Don’t ignore it.”

He shakes his head. “I’m sure it’s nothing.”

“Now who’s being stubborn?”

We go back inside and make fresh cups of tea before settling in the living room. Side by side on the sofa, he listens to one of his fishing podcasts, and I read. He has his earbuds in, so I don’t have to share in the joy of fishing. I’m not even sure how anyone would have enough to say about fishing that they’d have a weekly podcast. But not everyone thinks the same way. Shocking as it is, some people don’t like to read romance novels. I’m not sure I’ll ever understand that one.

When he starts dozing, I nudge him. “I’m going to bed.”

“I think I was asleep.”

“You were.” I give him a kiss. “Good night.”

Before I can walk away, he clasps my hand. “It’s nice having you here.”

“I like being here.” I hurry away before he has a chance to say anything else because I’m already thinking about asking him to move into my guest room when my house is finished. But I’m not ready to talk about that. Not yet.

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