“Then put me to work,” Matt said, rolling up his sleeves. “I’m all yours for the next few hours.”
The phrase sent an unexpected tingle down Lynda’s spine. If she didn’t get a grip on her emotions, she’d never be able to look Matt in the eyes again. “The hay bales need to be arranged in conversational groupings,” she instructed, falling back on what needed to be done. “And we need to cover the hay with the quilts beside them. It’ll make them more comfortable when people sit on them.”
Matt nodded and immediately went to work, effortlessly lifting hay bales that Lynda had been struggling to drag across the floor. She tried not to notice the way his shirt stretched across his shoulders or the way he positioned the bales so they were perfect for what they needed.
For the next hour, they worked with Carol and Brenda, arranging seating, setting up tables, and helping to organize the auction items.
“So,” Matt said as Lynda covered the final hay bale with a colorful quilt, “Brenda said you’re coming to the fundraiser.”
Lynda nodded. “I was supposed to be on duty at the animal shelter, but another volunteer said they’d look after the animals. Isabel and Kathleen had already bought me a ticket, so it worked out well. Kathleen even convinced Frank and Tommy to come.”
“It should be a good night,” Matt said. He hesitated, then added, “Carol asked me to look after the auction tables, but I’ll have time for a dance or two if you’re interested.”
Lynda’s hands stilled on the quilt. Was Matt asking her to dance? She looked up, trying to read his expression, but Carol called out before she could reply.
“Can you help me with this banner, Matt? It’s too high for me to reach.”
“Be right there,” he called back, then gave Lynda a quick smile. “Duty calls.”
As Matt walked away, Lynda was surprised by how much she was looking forward to dancing with him. It had been years since she’d danced with anyone. After the divorce, she’d avoided most social situations where couples were the norm. But this was Matt. He’d stood beside her as she’d delivered a calf, trudged through ankle-deep mud to rescue a litter of kittens, and made more house calls to sick animals than anyone else she knew.
“Earth to Lynda,” Brenda’s whispered voice broke into her thoughts. “You’re staring.”
Lynda felt heat rise to her cheeks. “I was just thinking about where the rest of the quilts should go.”
Brenda smiled. “You aren’t the only person who’s been distracted. Matt’s been asking everyone if you’re coming to the fundraiser.”
“He has?” Lynda couldn’t keep the surprise from her voice.
Brenda nodded. “When Sarah offered to work your shift at the shelter, I thought he’d be happy.”
“It’s probably because we get along so well,” Lynda insisted, busying herself with straightening a quilt that was already perfectly positioned. “It’s always more fun to go somewhere when you know who’ll be there.”
“If you say so.” Brenda shrugged. “All I know is that he smiles more when you’re around. And that didn’t happen much before you arrived in Sapphire Bay.”
Before Lynda could reply, Matt returned from helping Carol. “Banner’s up,” he announced. “What’s next on the list?”
“The centerpieces,” Brenda told him. “Carol wants each table to have a mason jar with a floating candle inside.”
As they walked to the table holding the empty mason jars, Lynda was super-sensitive to Matt standing beside her. She was caught off guard by the casual brush of his arm against hers as they reached for the same jar, the faint scent of his aftershave, and the way he concentrated on filling each jar with just the right amount of water.
Lynda was grateful when more people arrived to help decorate the barn. The additional volunteers created a welcome buffer, allowing her to collect her thoughts without having to analyze why her heart beat faster whenever Matt was near.
Matt placed a box of candles beside her. “Have you ever been to one of these fundraisers before?”
Lynda shook her head. “This will be my first. We had similar events in Denver, but they were more formal. Most of them were silent auctions in hotel ballrooms, that sort of thing.”
“Our version is a little more rustic,” Matt said with a smile. “But what we lack in glamour, we make up for in heart. Most of the town will be here.”
“It seems that way,” Lynda agreed. “Everyone I’ve met has mentioned coming. It wasn’t so easy to sell tickets to fundraising events in Denver.”
“It’s because we’re doing more than raising money,” Matt explained. “It’s a chance for everyone to catch up with their friends. Plus, there’s something about dancing in a barn that feels timeless. It’s just the mice we have to watch out for.”
The warmth in his voice made Lynda smile. “I’ll make sure I bring a few mousetraps with me.”
“I don’t think you’ll have to worry. The line dancing should scare away the mouse population. If it doesn’t, the rancher’s resident cats might make an appearance.”
Lynda grinned. His enthusiasm was almost boyish and completely different from the serious, professional mask heusually wore. “You enjoy being part of this town, don’t you?” she asked softly.
