Page 10 of Spark
“Thank you!” Sophie was astonished at Caitlyn’s quick agreement. She had expected that she’d have to make a case for working atMythtrust News.
“Well, Eddy already told me that I'm no longer welcome at his resort, and you’ve got friends who work there, so maybe you’ll have an easier time of it.” Caitlyn smiled wryly. “I’ll send you a confirmation email with our payment rates, style guide, word length requirements, and some other things you need to know about writing forMythtrust News.” Then her gaze sharpened. “But please be careful. I don’t know what’s going on here, but one person's already gotten badly hurt.”
Chapter Four
Sophie nodded. Chris’s arm tightened briefly around her in a one-armed hug.
“Got it,” he said, cockily.
Despite her doubts, Sophie felt instantly reassured.
The meeting broke up a few minutes later.
As Sophie, Chris, and Daniel were leaving Caitlyn's home, she spotted Matt coming out of Grandma Elle’s big yellow Victorian house nearby.
He waved at them, and immediately began walking in their direction.
“Junior, I’m gonna head back to the restaurant now,” Daniel said, returning Matt’s wave. “I’ll see you later.”
He broke away from their little group and headed for his Jeep, which was parked behind one of the ranch’s big white pickup trucks.
“Sophie!” Matt’s face lit up in a big smile as he drew near, and her breath caught.
Matt had always taken after his Dad in the “tall, dark, and handsome” looks department, but he had definitely filled out in the past year.
Sophie hadn’t remembered his shoulders being quite that wide, or his biceps looking like he could easily lift her new car.
Realistically, as a bear shifter, Matt probablycouldlift her car. One-handed. Without breaking a sweat.
He caught her up in a firm hug. “I’ve missed you a lot.”
She hugged him back, inhaling his scent.
Like all the shifters she knew, he never wore aftershave or cologne, or even used scented soaps, but he still smelled good, clean and masculine with a faint sweet tang of fresh hay and horses.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Chris’s expression change, and she could swear that he was pissed off about something.
“What’ve you been up to?” Matt asked, without releasing her.
She felt oddly safe and sheltered in his arms…and very aware of every hard muscle currently pressed up against her.
“Have you gone to see Oreo and Coconut yet?” he continued, referring to their childhood ponies, who were still going strong, and being used to give riding lessons to the ranch’s younger guests.
Sophie shook her head. “I was going to do that next,” she told him, feeling a pang of guilt.
Coconut had been the most amazing Christmas gift that a ten-year-old girl could ever dream of receiving, and her new stepdad Mitya had teamed up with Matt and his Dad, Dane, to make it happen during her first holiday season on the ranch.
She had never felt so grateful…or loved. And it had convinced her that she was really and truly accepted in her new home.
“I just convinced Caitlyn to give me a summer job writing forMythtrust News,” she said. “Did you hear about what happened at Daniel’s restaurant last night?”
“Everyone’sheard about what happened,” Matt said, reminding her that news travels fast in a small town like Bearpaw Ridge. “Poor Javier. He’s on my softball team, and a really nice guy.” His arms tightened around her. “Wait—Caitlyn wants you to investigate that killer ghost or whatever it is? That sounds dangerous.”
“Oof,” Sophie said, reminding him of his strength, as she had so many times while they were growing up.
“Sorry,” Matt said.
His hold tightened, but he still kept his arms around her. It felt…good. Solid. Reassuring.
