M att found her in the barn, seconds after she sent Wind Lover and the foal into the pasture. She had the rifle leaning against the stall. The foal was scampering around trying to get Pip’s attention. She was a spirited little buckskin that was surprisingly healthy considering all that she had been through before she was born .
When Matt walked in, Pip paused, and looked over at him. "Matt, I needed to see to the horses ."
"You should have waited for me. Joel and I discussed it, and I need to stay here until we find out who's responsible. He’s putting a deputy in a car outside your house for tonight once he gets here, but I need to stay here with you. I can't not be here.” He knew better than to force her to do anything. And he would never do that to her. Never take her choices away from her. He understood that that was an important component of who she was. Of who they were going to be together. He hadn't explained himself very well, had he? "I can't not be here, baby, any more than Joel could ever leave Phoebe ."
"Why?" Her lips trembled as she spoke. He followed her out of the stall. Forcing himself not to just reach out and touch her. Once they were clear of the stall, she turned to him. He watched her swallow. Watched her wrap her arms over her stomach, and looked at him directly. Tension twisted his gut .
Now wasn’t exactly how he wanted to have this conversation with her, was it? No, Matt had half thought it would be with them cuddled together after loving each other .
"Why do you think?" It was confrontation time, wasn’t it? It was time he laid himself bare, put it all out there, for her to understand .
"I don't know. I don't understand you. I think I'm starting to, but I can't be for certain. How do you feel about me, Matt? I need to know the truth right now. There has to be honesty. What do you want from me? Are you just here because of what happened to my underwear? Or do you feel what I am starting to ?"
Matt said to hell with it, and he wrapped his hands around her waist. His trembling hands. When had that happened? When had this woman gotten so deeply under his skin that this very moment would matter so much? He didn't know the exact moment, he just knew that it had. "I want everything from you, Philippa Marie Tyler. Everything you are willing to give. But I am an impatient man, and I'm struggling with it. I know you need soft and quiet and gentle and easy… And slow, but I'm not sure I can do that. You burn me, and it takes everything I've got to hold back the flames. Do you understand what I'm saying ?"
She was silent for the longest moment, and Matt knew he’d blown it. He'd find her away completely. She was going to tell him he was crazy and to stay far away from her. That was going to be the end of it for both of them .
And then she shocked the hell out of him when she reached out. One small hand slid up his chest and rested on the back of his neck .
And then Pip leaned closer .