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With a sense of wonderment, he traced her cheekbone. “I wonder—”
Footsteps clomped across the front porch. “Dad?”
Matt froze. What on earth had just happened?
He’dneverallowed himself to be caught up in such emotion that he’d lost his sense of time, place, and sheer responsibility.
“Dad! I need to use the bathroom! You said I could, just one time. Dad?” The pounding grew louder.“Dad!”
Matt stood wearily. “Come in, Charlie.”
The boy bounded in the door, looking a great deal less stressed than one would have guessed from his pleas a moment earlier. “So, where’s the bathroom?” he called out cheerfully.
Matt looked over his shoulder, but didn’t turn around. “Ask Jolie—I think it’s the second door on your left.”
“Hey, you guys lookweird.”
At least the boy hadn’t walked in the door a few minutes earlier. Like a typical ten-year-old boy, he’d been appalled at that simple kiss up on the mountain. But this one had been more.
Matt lowered his voice, infusing it with meaning the boy couldn’t possibly misunderstand. “Charlie.You know the rules about your time-outs. You have to stay put and be quiet, or the timer starts all over again. Go to the bathroom, then go out on the porch.”
“But—”
“March!” But even as Matt gave the order, he knew why Charlie still stood at the door, staring.
Jolie’s cheeks were uncommonly rosy, her eyes bright. “We’re just having an...uh...adult conversation,” she said. “Bathroom door is the second on the right.”
“How much time do I have left on my time-out?” he wheedled.
“The same. But I’ll need to double it if you don’t do your business and then get back out there.” Matt gave him a sternlook. “I’m also thinking about taking that paint expense out of your allowance, so don’t press your luck.”
“It was anaccident!”
“I know. But you aren’t ever supposed to be in that shop unless I’m in there, too. Nowmove!”
Charlie took a sharp right into the bathroom and was back out on the porch swing in less than a minute.
“I don’t suppose he washed his hands.” Matt sighed.
Jolie nervously scooped her shimmering mass of hair back with both hands. “I just hope he didn’t see...um...that kiss. I think it really bothered him the last time.”
“I didn’t plan on doing that. I just came over to ask if you’d like to join me for supper sometime. Alone.”
He could see her trying to stifle a laugh.
“Sounds pretty quiet without Charlie and Annie along. Are you sure?”
He snorted. “Dead sure. I love them to pieces, but an evening with just another adult to talk to sounds mighty nice. What do you think?”
She tilted her head to study his expression. “Dinner?”
“Maybe the steak house in Big Timber or one of the resorts up the highway? I can’t tell you how long it’s been since I’ve been out with another adult for a nice dinner. At least a year.”
A smile played at her lips. “Sounds like my social life. I could ask Irene if she could watch Annie and Charlie at your place.”
“Dad?” Charlie’s plaintive voice filtered in through the front door of the cabin. “Is my time out over yet?”
Matt searched Jolie’s face. “Well?”
