Nathan’s smile disappeared when he looked at Matthew. “Are you wearing that shirt?”
Matthew looked at his plaid cotton shirt. “What’s wrong with it? Mom bought it for me.”
“She gave it to you years ago. Haven’t you got something that doesn’t look as though it’s been washed a few million times?”
“When did you turn into the fashion police?”
“The day after Ashley went back to New York. You’ve been moping around the ranch so much that’s it’s a wonder you remember to get changed each morning.”
“I haven’t been that bad.”
Sean snorted. “Believe me, you have.”
“The shirt stays,” Matthew muttered. “Come on kids. It’s time for Uncle Sean to drive us into town.”
Catherine held his hand and Sean swung Toby into his arms.
Nathan didn’t look impressed.
“I’ve done my best,” Sean said as he walked past their older brother. “It isn’t easy when you haven’t got a lot to work with.”
Matthew frowned at his brothers. “I don’t know what the two of you are up to, but it better not be a blind date. I’ve got my girl right here.”
He squeezed Catherine’s hand and her grin warmed his heart.
“Can we have some hot chocolate while we’re in town, Uncle Matthew?”
“Of course we can. Uncle Sean might buy you and Toby a cookie, too.”
Catherine’s big brown eyes looked up at Sean, and he smiled back. “We’d better get you and Toby buckled into my truck. It sounds as though we’ve got a busy night ahead of us.”
Everyone seemed happy with Sean’s plan except Matthew. He would sooner have stayed home, drowning his sorrows in coffee while he wondered what Ashley was doing.
“It’s all right, Uncle Matthew,” Catherine said far too seriously for a seven-year-old. “You’re going to love the lights.”
He picked up his niece and gave her a hug. “I love you more.”
Catherine grinned at her dad. “I told you Uncle Matthew would be okay.”
Nathan’s gaze dropped to Matthew’s chest. “If he’d changed his shirt he’d be near perfect.”
Matthew ignored his brother’s not-so-subtle dig at his dress sense and carried Catherine to Sean’s truck. Apart from spending time with Catherine and Toby, the only other highlight would be seeing the woman who had the power to make Sean blush.
That, if nothing else, was worth a night in Bozeman.
***
When Ashley arrived in Bozeman two hours ago, she didn’t think she would be helping Tess bake muffins and cookies. But one sick employee and hundreds of people coming into town for the Festival of Light had changed her plans.
Tess walked into the kitchen from the café. “The fireworks will be starting soon, so I’ve stopped taking orders. How far away are the muffins and cookies?”
Ashley picked up a tray and handed it to Tess. “I’ve just finished frosting some gingerbread cookies. The muffins are five minutes away.”
“What would I have done without you? You’ve been a lifesaver.”
“It’s the least I could do.”
Tess smiled at the star-shaped cookies. “These look wonderful. Can you bring the muffins into the café when they’re ready?”
