he was too interested in his meal. He had already eaten half his plate full. He scooped some corn into his mouth and smiled appreciatively. His blue eyes smiled.
"Yes, I have an older brother, Garrett and an older sister, Nora. Well, it's actually Sonora, but if you call her that be prepared to get punched. She hates it!" Matt chuckled on remembrance. Andy wished she could know them. She wondered if his siblings were anything like him. "Nora has one son. His name is Drew and he is five." Matt took another bite of noodles. Andy had to tear her focus away from his well-sculpted mouth.
"Obviously your brother, Garrett, isn't married. Is your sister?" She tried to keep her curiosity about his family low key, but she really wanted to know. She felt like knowing more about them, she would understand their younger brother better. Plus she had always wanted siblings.
"No, Nora isn't married yet. She's been stringing her fiancé, Randy, along for quite a while. I finally got an invitation for the wedding two days ago. Guess they are going to do it right after the Buffalo Round-up." Matt finished his food and leaned away from the island. Andy was scooting her food around the plate. She had yet to take more than a bite.
"Buffalo Round-up? What is that?" It sounded unusual, but most things about South Dakota were. Matt smiled, looking like he had just caught a big fish !
"The Buffalo Roundup happens once a year in Custer State Park. Park rangers and ranchers like my family help bring in the herd. Then they are auctioned off to buyers to replenish their herds."
Andy watched as Matt's eyes lit up as he talked about home.
"It sounds amazing! I bet the photographs would be lovely." She thoughtfully put a piece of noodle and cheese into her mouth. Matt nodded.
"You have no idea how cool it is! It's like reliving a piece of history with those huge animals thundering across the prairie. It's majestic and inspiring. All sorts of people come to take pictures and experience it."
Andy pushed her plate away, already lost in the idea of seeing such a thing let alone taking pictures. It was something she used to be good at.
"Does your family help with it?" She wasn't sure where she was steering this conversation. Matt smiled, nodding at her.
"Oh yeah. My dad helps every now and then. It just depends on how many men volunteer. It varies from year to year."
She caught him staring at her again so she got up to put the dishes in the sink.
"Let me clean up. You made dinner." Matt half stood from the stool, but she shook her head.
"I like to do it. Besides you are just a guest tonight." Cracking a small smile, Andy took out the aluminum foil, measured out a strip and covered the casserole dish. Put the dish in the fridge, she stuttered in her footing. He was watching her again. Their conversation had faltered and now he was following her every movement.
***
Matt finally saw her curiosity blossom as she asked questions about his siblings and his home. Well not so much about the place he grew up, but about the Buffalo Roundup. It was a very thrilling event and one that he looked forward to every year. She had also mentioned photographs. Hmm.
He watched her movements around the tiny kitchen, her steps much like a graceful dancer. Her bare legs were slim and he couldn't help but follow them up to where her shorts met. Matt couldn't help taking in her softly rounded stomach and her full breasts. His imagination was running wild with what it would be like to run his hands over her skin. She was a goddess and sexy as all hell!
Andy slowed, casting wary glances over her shoulder at him. She knew he was watching her. Heck she knew he was very near salivating all over the counter. The awareness crackled again as it had since they had met many hours ago. This was crazy! Oh, but crazy feels so right! He slowly got up from his stool and pushed his jeans further down his hip. He was trying to disguise the heavy erection from her, but it had to be so
Barbara Boswell, Copyright Paperback Collection (Library of Congress) DLC