Read Online Your'e Still the One by Debbi Rawlins - Free Book Online

she’d just cleaned, opened one oven and then checked inside the other. “Where is it?”
    Rachel shouldered him out of the way so she could get into the pantry. “It’s not for you...therefore, you don’t need to know.”
    He’d already pulled off his work gloves and stuffed them in his back jeans’ pocket, and she knew darn well he’d try to filch a taste if he found it. “Boy, somebody’s grouchy.”
    Not really, just in a hurry, but she could’ve been nicer. “Do you want lunch?”
    “The casserole?” he asked, with a hopeful look.
    “No.” She sighed, accepting it was pointless to keep mum about her plan. “I made it for Nikki and Matt.”
    “They coming over?”
    “I’m taking it to them.”
    “At the Lone Wolf?”
    “Yes.” She was prepared for him to call her crazy, but she’d never personally had a run-in with Mr. Gunderson.
    “Why?”
    “Why do you think? I’m being neighborly.” Okay, there was more to the gesture. She wanted to see Matt again, but that was her own business.
    “I should go with you. Give me a minute to change my shirt.”
    “No,” she said, shaking her head when he opened his mouth to object. “I’m just dropping off the casserole. I don’t need a bodyguard.”
    “I know.” He raked a hand through his hair, shrugging. “I wouldn’t mind seeing Matt again.”
    For being one of those effortlessly charming guys, Trace was a bad liar. Eyeing him, she pulled foil out of the drawer. “You’re trying to weasel out of giving the new guests riding lessons.”
    “Wrong.” He turned on the sink faucet to wash his hands. “For your information I already pawned that off on Josh.”
    “Thanks,” she said with enough sarcasm to get his full attention. That he could look pleased with himself blew her mind. “I really need Cole in my face for pulling away one of his wranglers to entertain guests.”
    “He won’t be upset. Don’t get so jumpy.” Frowning at her, Trace dried his hands. “Is it because of Matt?”
    “Of course not.” She busied herself with checking the semi- cooled casserole sitting under a dish towel on the kitchen table.
    Trace stared at it and shook his head. “I know you had a crush on him back in the day....”
    Her first impulse was denial. She paused. “You did not.”
    “Yep, we all did.”
    “Huh, really.” She chuckled. “I thought I was being so sly. Anyway, that was a long time ago, and he’s with Nikki now.”
    “They’re just friends.”
    “Right.” She’d spent an hour in bed last night analyzing Matt’s assertion they weren’t a couple. She believed him, yet there was a strong connection between them she couldn’t put her finger on.
    “He’s not sleeping with her, if that’s what’s bothering you.”
    “Nothing is bothering me.” She yanked a piece of foil from the roll a bit too enthusiastically. “How do you know he’s not?”
    “Can’t explain it. I just do. If you asked Cole, he’d tell you the same thing.”
    “Jeez, I’m not asking Cole.” She glanced toward the door to the dining room. Too late to worry about someone eavesdropping. “And don’t you say anything.” She exhaled. “About anything.”
    Grinning, Trace held up his hands. “Got it.”
    She felt a smile tug at her lips. He really was a good brother and a friend. When he wasn’t being annoying. “I’ll make another cheesy chicken casserole for you.”
    “Damn right you will.”
    “But I’m still going to the Lone Wolf by myself,” she added, and noting his resigned nod, finally understood his motive for wanting to accompany her. “You want to see Nikki.”
    “I sure wouldn’t mind.” He reached into the ceramic cookie jar and stuck a chocolate chip cookie in his mouth while he pulled on a glove.
    Nice trick. Rachel would have to remember that the next time she wanted to end a conversation. Though she was quite willing to let the matter drop. Too many thoughts about Matt were spinning inside her head. Their short time alone