He shut off the engine and stared down at his clothes. Then he groaned. He hadn’t been thinking when he’d pulled out the khakis and the light blue button-down shirt. River was working today. The likelihood that she’d take the day off or that Rose would even offer the opportunity was next to none.
In all honesty, Mathew hadn’t been thinking past wanting to see her and being willing to hang around and chat while she worked.
Bad idea.
Mathew pressed his fingers to his forehead and sighed.
If he knew his uncle like he thought he did, George would either show him the door or demand he get to work. There were some gym shoes in the back of his car, but he’d taken the dirty gym clothes inside to be washed, so he was stuck in clothes that looked more befitting of a day on a golf course or Sunday brunch.
Oh well. He was here and wasn’t leaving without seeing her.
Mathew reached across the center console and grabbed the bouquet of flowers he’d picked up from the local floral shop, then hopped out of his car and strode toward the hangar where he knew she’d be.
He hadn’t reached the hangar yet when a cowboy emerged, hands deep in his pockets and whistling like he didn’t have a care in the world. He slowed when his eyes snagged on Mathew and the flowers in his hands.
They stared at each other for what felt like an eternity. Then Emerson laughed.
Mathew frowned. “What’s so funny?”
Emerson jerked his chin toward the flowers. “Those better not be for River. She’s gonna hate them.”
“Wait, really?” Mathew lifted the bouquet. Pink gerbera daisies, cream roses, baby’s breath, and greenery that looked like it had been plucked straight from a field. He’d seen it and thought it looked like something River would like. She was bright and kind, just like these flowers.
His brows furrowed.
Emerson nodded. “Yeah. In my opinion, flowers are… excessive. They’re nice to look at, but eventually, they die. You’d be better off getting her a tool set or something.”
Mathew shifted his weight, not sure what to think about Emerson’s opinion. He spotted Lily wandering toward the house and stepped into her path.
“Hey, could you do me a favor?” He held the bouquet out to her. “Can you set these inside somewhere? Out of the sun.”
Her eyes rounded. “Um… sure. For who?”
“Please, just take them inside,” he said, a little too quickly. He exhaled and forced himself to slow down. He’d let Emerson get in his head. “Please.”
Lily took them, still looking confused, and headed toward the house.
Mathew rubbed a hand down the front of his pants and shot Emerson a look. “Don’t you have work to do?”
The cowboy shrugged. “Yeah, but this is more entertaining.”
Mathew’s jaw tightened. “Enjoy the show from a distance, then.”
He brushed past Emerson and headed into the hangar. He could sense him following close behind but chose to ignore him. River was headed toward the doorway, laden with tools.
There was a bag in her hand, and she had a belt full of even more around her waist. Her hair was pulled up into a messy bun, and she had a streak of grease across her chin. All he wanted to do was wipe it clean and pull her in for a hug.
These feelings were getting out of hand, and yet he couldn’t bring himself to care.
River stopped short, her eyes darting from Mathew to Emerson and back. “Hey. What are you two up to?”
“I came to see if you’ve changed your mind about that date.” Mathew grinned, though he hated every second of the audience he had behind him.
She smiled. “Mathew, I already told you it’s not happening.” She brushed past him like she hadn’t just lit him up from the inside out.
A snort from Emerson had Mathew’s jaw tightening.
River paused just long enough to glance back over her shoulder, amusement dancing in her eyes. “Now… if you’d shown up with a peace offering, I might’ve been slightly more tempted.”
