Page 25 of The Cowboy Complication

When she turned back, the cowboy was out of sight, blocked from view by a broad chest. She didn’t have to lift her eyes to know who it belonged to. The dark color of the uniform and the badge fastened to it narrowed the pool down considerably.

She lifted her eyes to Cooper’s, the air rushing out of her lungs as her shoulders relaxed. “You’re here.”

“I am.” His lips lifted in a small smile. “And it seems like I got here just in time.” He tipped his head in the direction of the table the girls occupied. “They were about to start some shit while you were gone, but I broke things up before it could get anywhere.”

Isla frowned. “Really?”

Cooper tipped his head in a nod, his smile lifting a little more. “I don’t know if you’ve heard, but they try to start a fight pretty much every time they go out.”

That had her eyes going wide. “Everytime?”

Shouldn’t someone have filled her in on that little tidbit of information? Maybe given her a heads-up that being their designated driver also involved being a personal bouncer?

“Every time.” Cooper rested one hand on the small of her back, his palm wide and warm against her body as he directed her through the crowd, back toward the table where the girls sat, looking like chastised children.

Isla inched closer to his side, lowering her voice as much as she could given the volume of the bar around them. “Did you yell at them?”

“Yes.” He grinned. “But that’s not what they’re mad about.”

She looked around the group as they got closer, trying to discern their expressions. “What are they mad about?”

“They’re mad because I told them they’d have to go home early if they couldn’t act right.” As they reached the table, Cooper turned his smile onto the scowling group. “Have we calmed down any?”

Muriel glared at him. “Careful, or you’ll be the next one to get the business end of my cane.”

“Really?” Cooper pulled out the chair Isla had occupied, holding it as she sat down then dragging another one over from the next table. “Are you seriously threatening to assault an on-duty police officer?” He sat down in the newly-acquired seat, scooting around a little until he was close enough his knee rested against hers. “Because I’m pretty sure that’s not how you want this night to go.”

Muriel met his gaze, leaning against the table as her eyes narrowed. “I don’t think you picked up what I was putting down, Officer Staks.” One brow angled as she glanced Isla’s way then refocused on Cooper. “Maybe you need to think about your own actions a little bit before you start causing problems.”

Cooper continued staring Muriel down for a second before his expression changed, a hint of surprise flashing across his features. Leaning back, he shifted in his seat. “No idea what you’re talking about.”

“Mm-hmm.” Muriel lifted her chin, a smug smile curving her lips. “Sure you don’t.”

Isla grabbed her drink, sucking down a few gulps to distract herself from the tension tightening around the table. She was three swallows in when her eyes dropped to the glass, brows pinching together as she remembered her whole reason for needing to hit the ladies’. Wasn’t this empty when she left?

“I told Paige to keep them coming,” Cooper murmured in her ear. “I know it’s not tequila, but maybe it’ll be enough to help you survive tonight.” He took a sip from his own glass of water before leaning back in conspiratorially. “Especially if Muriel gets the barfs.”

A little laugh snuck free as she peeked his way.

Only to discover Cooper’s expression was serious.

“Oh God.” Isla widened her eyes at him. “Please tell me you’re kidding.”

“I can’t help it.” Muriel lifted her chin. “Some nights my tummy just gets a little upset.”

“It’s got nothing to do with your tummy.” Gertrude pointed at the sugary cocktail in front of Muriel. “You just can’t hold your liquor.”

“Don’t worry.” Betty gave Cooper a sweet smile as she batted her eyes. “Officer Staks always keeps extra puke bags in his car.”

That was good news. On two counts. Because, for one thing, she didn’t come prepared for anyone to heave on the drive home. Plus, it offered a reminder she already needed—Cooper was prepared for tonight because, as one of Moss Creek’s finest, he’d been assigned the task before.

That’s why he was there. Because he was being paid to be. It was his job. Nothing more. He wasn’t any more interested in her than the other men in Moss Creek. Not romantically anyway. They were just friends.

And that was… Great. Nice. Fine.

It only made sense that he would see her as that and nothing more. She was at least ten years younger than he was, didn’t have any sort of goals or plans for her life, and—as Eric so kindly pointed out when he ripped the rug out from under her—was boring and reserved and as unsexy as it got.

But damned if she didn’t wish, just a little bit, it could be different. That she was the kind of woman Cooper could—would—see as something more.

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