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Lifting an eyebrow, he laughed. “You appear to be getting cold feet already, and we haven’t even set foot on a trail. I promise, we’ll make it easy on you.”
Her bone-deep Maxwell competitive drive kick-started into high, leaving all thoughts of Matthew Dawson in the dust. “Easy onme!Before moving back here, I jogged several miles a day—”
She caught the teasing glint in his eye and sputtered to a laughing halt. “I’ll do my best to keep up with you and your kids, Dawson.”
“We wouldn’t want you to get hurt trying.”
Her coffee cup raised partway, she stilled and looked at him, aware of something much deeper that might be sparking between them.
“More coffee?” Mona had soundlessly materialized at their table.
Jolie stared blankly at her for a moment. “Uh—yes. Please.”
But it wasn’t a good idea to stay longer. Distance would be much, much better. After a few sips, she glanced at her watch. “We’d better get back,” she said a little too quickly. “Your kids will worry, and Mandy will be arriving soon.”
“Yeah.” Matt gave her a wry smile as he tossed a few ones and a ten-dollar bill on the table and rose. “I understand.”
He took her elbow as they threaded their way through the tables, but released her arm when they stepped outside and headed for his pickup.
And though he opened and shut her door, he was careful not to touch her again.
CHAPTER TEN
ONTUESDAY MORNING, Jolie pulled up to the rear of the clinic and dropped her head briefly to the steering wheel.
Okay, Maxwell. You tried to help Thea with Cassie, and you failed miserably on all counts. How are you going to deal best with Mandy?
Mandy had come back after her abrupt departure Monday evening somber, with tear streaks down her face, and had gone to bed early after saying little.
She’d been asleep when Jolie left for the clinic this morning, but even knowing the girl would probably sleep much of the day didn’t calm Jolie’s concern about leaving her alone. Tonight, she’d talk to her and—
Knuckles rapped against her driver’s side window.
Startled, Jolie jerked away and twisted in her seat, instinctively hitting the door locks with her left hand. It took another second to focus on the stranger looming outside her door.
“Bobby! You scared me half to death.” She swung the door open, one hand over her racing heart. “What are you doing here?”
“Stopping to say hi.” From the twinkle in his eye, she suspected he’d snuck up on her car to scare her. Before his accident, Bobby had taken great delight in teasing his sisters. His actions were not always appreciated.
She glanced around, but there was no trademark blue truck from the ranch in sight. “How did you get here?” Taking a deep breath, she tried to soften her sharp tone. “I didn’t think you were supposed to be driving.”
“I’m not.” His expression turned mulish. “Though I think that’s just stupid. I said I wasn’t gonna drink and drive anymore.So what do they want? If they took away the license of every guy—”
“I get the picture.” The fifteen-year span between them had never seemed wider. Bobby might be eighteen, but he had a lot of growing up to do. “You’re in town just to see me?”
That brought out his first real smile since she’d moved back to Montana. “Yeah. Well, I’ve got an hour until I gotta meet a guy out at the fairgrounds for my community service. But I had Herman drop me here so I could see your place.” He ducked his head boyishly. “You being my favorite sister and all.”
His first real smile as well as a bittoomuch of his infamous charm. “I’m honored,” she said dryly. “Would you like a tour?”
He nodded, but didn’t seem particularly interested as she led him through the back door and showed him the layout of the exam rooms, office, and waiting area.
“So, what do you think?”
His smile wasn’t as broad as it had been outside. “Uh. Great.”
After unlocking the front door, she shooed him down to her office. “Sit.”
He sat, reluctantly, looking as if he was ready to bolt.
