Page 98 of Dream Weaver

Cooper looked over with a faint smile.

“The best!” Claire launched into a detailed description of everything she’d done on her sleepover at Twin Moon Ranch.

“Wow… Great… Amazing…” I interjected at appropriate intervals.

A few syllables from someone like Jay could ruin my day, but a few words from Claire made me an optimist again.

Then Claire launched into a long, feverish sales pitch about why she really, really ought to be allowed to stay one more night. Apparently, Twin Moon Ranch had an old-time covered wagon, and all the kids were going on an outing that day.

“Please, Mommy. Please?” Claire pleaded.

Wow. A covered wagon? As in, pioneers? I’d never gotten to ride in a covered wagon. I’d never gotten to do a lot of things. All the more reason to say yes now, no matter how much I would miss her.

Claire passed the phone to Lana, her host “mother” for the night.

“It’s no trouble, really,” Lana assured me. “The girls are having a great time, and we can bring Claire home tomorrow — Sunday.” She chuckled. “I’m sure you can use a day off.”

A day off was fine. And another night with Cooper…

A gutter cut through the parking lot, and my dirty mind jumped right into it.

Oh yes. I had a few ideas on how to fill the time.

My cheeks heated, and I exhaled upward, reminding myself to get real. We’d been ambushed by a gang of cougarsanda dust storm. How could I think about getting down and dirty at a time like this?

But think, I did.

And honestly — was that so wrong? No one had ever made me feel so…special. Capable. Interesting. Was it crazy to want to dive in and paddle around that pool for a while?

“I guess I could,” I told Lana. After profuse thanks — and a last, quick chat with Claire, I hung up and stared at the phone.

Cooper had to have caught the gist of the conversation, though he didn’t say a word.

I’d never been shy when it came to speaking my mind, but for once, my tongue was hog-tied. Maybe because I’d never wanted to say something like,I have the rest of the day and the whole night off, and I’d really like to spend them with you.

And not just that, butI really like you.

I made a washing motion with my hands, then caught myself and stopped.Nervous raccoonwas not an attractive look.

Or maybe it wasn’t so bad, because Cooper gently tugged my hands apart and clasped them in his.

“So, I was thinking…” he started.

My heart leaped, and I was all ears.

“Maybe we could—” he continued.

My phone rang, and I nearly groaned.

I fumbled with my phone. “Hello?”

“Abby? Are you okay?” It was Ingo, and he sounded worried.

Pippa echoed him in the background, and she sounded downright frantic.

“Yes, we’re fine,” I assured them. Then I glanced at Cooper, who nodded grimly. “But we need to talk. Now.”

Chapter Twenty-Four

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