She felt him watching her but she ignored him, poking instead into the fire. She really did like him and wanted nothing more than for them to be friends. And maybe she was reading too much into it. First Bobby, now Roger telling her that Matt wanted more than friendship, she took everything to mean more than it was. Maybe Matt simply enjoyed her company as much as she did his.
"Can I ask you something, McKenna?"
"Of course." Here it comes, she thought.
"Well, I need some advice. On women," he added.
She cleared her throat. "On women?"
"Well, I mean, you are one and you date them, right?"
It was with difficulty that she swallowed the coffee she had just sipped. Again she cleared her throat. "Well, I do know women, yes."
"It's Donna, at the Rock," he explained. "I mean, I've been here four years now. I've always liked her but she treats me like her pal. You know, like you and me."
Chris nodded, thinking how very ironic this conversation was turning out.
"I've seen her through a terrible marriage and now a divorce and still, she talks to me as if we're just buddies."
"But you're attracted to her?" Chris asked.
"Yeah. I mean, surely she knows. I talk to her all the time."
"Matt, you talk to everyone all the time. I've been to the Rock with you. You make the rounds, you know nearly everyone there, why would she think she's special?"
"I've stayed there past closing before, just talking with her. She's confided in me, I've confided in her. I mean, we are friends, but I want it to progress to the next level and I don't think she knows that."
"Matt, it is very rare for men and women to be friends. I mean, especially straight men and women. And it's just because there is always that sexual undertone lurking. Maybe she's felt safe with you, because she didn't think you were interested in her that way and she's allowed a friendship to build between you. Maybe she sees you treating her the same way you treat everyone. As friends. Maybe she sees you there with me and thinks something's up with us. Who knows?"
He shook his head. "No, McKenna, everyone knows which way you lean."
Chris stared at him. "Everyone? It's not like I have a girlfriend or anything."
"Can we deal with me first?" he asked.
She laughed then and he joined in and she felt herself really relaxing around him for the first time.
"You know, Matt, I really like you. I was actually afraid you wanted... well, that you thought we could be more than friends."
"Oh, come on, McKenna, surely you didn't buy into Bobby's matchmaking?"
"No, of course not," she lied. "It's just that we've never talked about it, you know. And I do like going to the Rock and having a beer with you and not having to worry about anything."
"Me, too." Then he nudged her shoulder. "But back to my problem. How should I approach this with Donna?"
Chris laughed, relieved that they finally had everything out in the open. "I would probably invite her over to my place for dinner, which I have elegantly prepared myself. A nice bottle of wine, maybe fresh flowers on the table, some quiet music. But don't lose what's brought you together in the first place." At his raised eyebrows, she continued. "Your friendship. If it's a nice evening, you might sit outside and just talk. Don't leap directly from friendship to dating, Matt. Make it subtle. Let her know that things don't have to change between you just because you start dating. And don't rush things. Have a nice dinner and when it's time to end things, a soft kiss, just to let her know that it wasn't just two buddies having dinner."
"What if she doesn't want me to kiss her? I mean, what if she really only does want a friendship?"
Chris shrugged. "Maybe she's not thought of the possibility of anything else. It may take her time to readjust her feelings, Matt. Like I said, don't rush things. Start doing things together, outside of meeting at the Rock, just the two of you. Get to know each other on another level."
"You know, all of this sounds really good, but I'm not exactly a great cook," he said. "I may run her off just by preparing the meal."
"I'd offer to help, but if I could cook, I wouldn't spend damn near every night eating Dave's crap."
Matt was silent for a moment, then looked up and waited until Chris looked at him. "You know, Hatcher's been talking to her a lot lately. He never paid her the time of day before, but it's like he knows I'm interested so he's making this some kind of competition."
"Hatcher is a bastard. And people around here know it. I wouldn't worry about him, Matt."
"Yeah, but women just fall all over him."
"Hell, you look at him from a distance and he's gorgeous. I'll be the first to admit he's one of the most handsome men I've ever met. But you get close and look into his eyes and they're just empty. And then you get to know him and find out what a bastard he is and you really know the meaning of 'beauty is only skin deep.'"
"You're probably right."
"Can you name one person around here who he's friends with?"
Matt shook his head. "No. He usually eats alone when he comes to the Rock. Other than flirting with the women there, he doesn't really talk to anyone."
Chris slapped his shoulder once. "Right. So don't worry about him, will you?"
They sat in silence awhile longer, one of them occasionally stirring the fire but they were both lost in thought. Chris let her mind drift to Jessie Stone, wondering what she was doing tonight. Sitting alone in her cabin, thinking of her father, no doubt. Or Annie. Why did she really come back here?
It was early afternoon the next day when they came upon the backpackers. The two groups had joined up and all were accounted for. The only problem was an annoying blister one of the women had developed and Chris offered to wrap it for her. Matt radioed Roger and they headed back, leaving the backpackers to finish their hike alone, but only after Matt had sufficiently teased Chris. The woman with the blister was a cutie and she had scribbled her name and phone number down and shyly slipped it into Chris's pocket.
At twilight, they were still some six miles from the trailhead, so they camped again, this time near the creek. They fell asleep listening to the water softly tumble over the rocks and down into the canyon. Chris thought it was the most peaceful night's sleep she'd had in weeks.
They took their time over breakfast the next morning, making it back to the station by noon. She and Matt gladly accepted Roger's offer of an afternoon off, even though the weekend crowds were starting to come into town.
"Ellen's cooking tonight. Why don't you come over?" Roger offered.
"No, thanks. I think I'll stay in and keep Dillon company. Maybe next time."
Chris was tired after two days on horseback and two nights sleeping on the ground. She took a long, hot shower and for the first time, wished there was still a tub. A long soak would do wonders. She was drying off when her cell phone rang and she walked naked into the kitchen to answer.
"McKenna," she said.
"It's Annie. I missed you last night."
"Oh, Annie, I completely forgot. We were out on the South Rim the last two nights. I just got back today."
"Is everything okay? Anyone hurt?"
"No, no. We were just checking on some backpackers coming from Tahoe." She changed ears as she walked back into the bathroom to finish drying off. "Listen, can we make it tonight?"
"Of course. As long as you don't mind leftovers."
"Annie, your leftovers are better than my cooking any day," she said. "I'll be there at six."
Chris hoped Annie didn't bring up Jessie tonight. If there was one person Chris wanted to tell about Jessie being in town, it was Annie. She parked in her usual spot under the juniper and went inside after a brief knock. She had been joining Annie for dinner at least once a week, sometimes twice, ever since Roger had introduced them. She looked forward to their visits and the chance to eat a good vegetarian meal that was something other than Dave's surprises or her own pitiful attempt at cooking.