Page 35 of Protective Cowboy

Matt grinned down at her. “I’m not easily scared. Plus, I’ve got good fire insurance, remember?”

∞∞∞

A few hours later, after she’d finished unpacking her suitcases and boxes and Jayden was in bed, Autumn joined Matt on the porch. He was sitting on the rattan sofa, his booted feet propped up on the low tiled table.

It was a warm summer night, with just the faintest traces of deep scarlet lingering over the western ridge. Crickets sang a rasping lullaby as stars winked to life overhead.

“Beer?” he asked, offering her a bottle.

“Thanks,” she said, taking it and settling herself next to him. “And thanks again for helping us.”

“You’re welcome, and you can stop thanking me now. I have the space, and it’s no big deal.” He clinked bottles with her, then took a swig of beer. “But we should get our story straight before we go public with our pretend relationship.”

She took a sip of her own. “Don’t I know it! I’ve already gotten a few comments about our supposed romance this past week.”

“So, remind me: when did we start dating again?” he asked.

She frowned, considering. “We told Phillip it was while we were getting ready for the Vintage Railroad Days festival.”

He nodded, and she continued, “If anyone really wants to know, how about we tell them it all started when we went out to dinner over July Fourth weekend to discuss, uh, security arrangements for the festival?”

“That sounds plausible,” he agreed. “It helps that nearly everyone around here knows we used to be an item.”

A silver thread streaked across the sky and winked out.

“Hey, remember that time we snuck out of your bedroom and climbed on the roof to watch the meteor shower?” Autumn asked.

“I remember the part where my dad scared the living daylights out of us, because he heard his bedroom ceiling creaking as we crawled over that part of the house, and came out to investigate, shotgun in hand,” Matt said, his tone wry. “I’m only glad we were both dressed.”

“So much for being stealthy with our sleepovers.” Autumn smiled at the memory. “But it was worth it.”

“Definitely worth it,” he agreed, taking a deep pull from his bottle.

Autumn swallowed hard. “Matt, I need to tell you something,” she began, looking away from him.

“What?” His body language was still relaxed, but he wasn’t looking at the stars now.

She’d been waiting for the perfect moment to talk to him. The time had finally come, but making her confession was a lot harder than she thought it would be. “I—I messed up. When we broke up… I thought Phillip was everything I wanted. But I was wrong.”

His features shadowed in the dim light. “Autumn, you don’t have to—”

“No, let me finish,” she insisted. “Ever since things went wrong with Phillip, I keep thinking I should’ve known better. I should’ve stuck with you, Matt. I’m sorry.”

“Hey, we were both young and stupid. And if we’re talking about regrets, I always wondered if I should have fought harder for our relationship. Or moved to Bozeman with you when you left for college.”

“They say hindsight gives you 20/20 vision,” she whispered, forcing the words around the lump in her throat.

“But I want you to know I never stopped caring about you.” Matt put his arm around her shoulders. “I’m glad we can still be friends.”

Friends. Matt didn’t hate her for dumping him? Phillip would never forgive something like that. Her eyes stung with sudden tears. She sniffled. “I’m glad, too. And thanks for helping me now.”

He smiled. “It’s what friends do. And what did I say about thanking me?”

She gave a watery laugh, and he cupped her cheek with his big, warm hand.

The air between them crackled with sudden electricity. Her heart began pounding at the heat in his eyes.

Then the sound of approaching voices broke the tension. They both turned to look at the trio of shadowy figures approaching them.

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