Page 36 of The Cowboy Complication

“Where are they?” Isla peeked over the top of one of the stall gates, looking for the animals Cooper loved so much.

“They’re outside burning off some steam.” Cooper walked down the center aisle, passing the stalls on his way to the back of the building. “I leave them out a lot when it’s warm outside, but in the winter I try to keep them in at night. They can get a little stir crazy by the morning. I turned them loose before I came to get you hoping they might calm down some.”

“They don’t always come in at night?” She hadn’t paid much attention to the horses at Grady and Evelyn’s because she was more focused on the goats, so all of this was new information. She wanted to soak it all up. Learn everything she could. Just in case she decided to jump all-in and go full on Moss Creek someday.

“No. Not always.” Cooper slid open the back door, stepping out of the way to let her go ahead of him. “When I know the weather’s going to be bad I’ll bring them in, but I try to let them roam around as much as I can.”

She walked out of the building and looked up, surprised to find an overhang still covering her head. One side of the barn continued out, providing a windbreak, but the other two sides were open, allowing the horses to come and go as they pleased.

Cooper whistled, the sound loud enough to grab the attention of the four horses grazing out across the sizable pasture. Their heads lifted, ears perking as they looked for the source of the sound. As they trotted in, a light drizzle started to fall from the sky, misting the already chilly air with a dose of humidity it didn’t need.

She shivered in spite of the warm coat Cooper had bundled her up in and he noticed right away, turning as the first of the animals ducked under the overhang.

“You’re cold.” He moved closer, rubbing her arms as he stepped into the path of the wind beginning to gust. “I think we might have to skip taking a ride today.”

Her teeth were starting to chatter, so she just nodded, trying her best to burrow into the warmth of Cooper’s coat. It was thick and heavy, but was so big there was too much empty space between her body and the fabric for her to be well-insulated. Plus the bottom gaped, letting each blast of wind slide right up and in.

“Let’s get you back inside where it’s a little warmer.” Cooper rested his hands on her shoulders, directing her into the barn. He stopped in front of a low table and turned her to face him. “I’m gonna pick you up, okay?”

She managed a nod, even though it seemed unlikely he’d be able to just?—

Cooper’s hands spanned her waist and he hefted her onto the table without so much as a grunt or grimace.

“Here.” He shucked his coat and layered it over her legs, rubbing both hands up and down her thighs as he watched her face. “Better?”

It was a lot better. In all sorts of ways.

Up to this point, her physical contact with Cooper had been pretty limited. A little shoulder slap here. A palm on her back there. An occasional arm around her shoulders. All of it friendly and innocent. And what he was doing now was probably also innocent. For him.

For her, it was the most intimate touch she’d felt in months. A year? Possibly more if she really thought about it.

The contact Cooper offered was purely to warm her up. To make her feel good. Eric might not have ever touched her for the sole purpose of making her feel good. And that was… Depressing and sad.

“Still cold?” Cooper asked.

She was so messed up after seeing his house and now being touched in such a pure and giving way, that she just nodded even though she was fine.

“Here.” He stepped closer, wrapping both arms around her body and pulling her close, bringing her ass to the edge of the table as her knees parted to bracket each side of his hips. Even with his discarded coat between them, the position was intimate. She was already struggling to control all the emotions rolling around inside, and it was nearly impossible not to react. Not to lean in. Not to tuck her face into the crook of his neck and breathe in the clean, masculine scent of his skin.

“Better?” Cooper’s deep voice rumbled in her ear, low and soft.

“A little.” She was being greedy now, soaking up the physical contact like an addict desperate for a hit. “Thank you.”

“You don’t have to thank me.” Cooper ran his hands up and down her back in slow passes, his body warm against hers. “I’m the one who dragged you out here today.”

“I like being out here with you.” She smiled, closing her eyes and enjoying being held. “I probably could have planned for the weather a little better.”

She had plenty of warm clothes and outerwear, but it was geared more to her old office job in the city and not so appropriate for being in a barn. She’d tried to layer on the items she did have, hoping it would be enough. And not a bit of her was sorry it wasn’t. Because Cooper was a great cuddler, and warm as heck.

“We might need to get you some warmer options if you want to keep spending time in the barn.” Cooper pulled her a little closer. “Especially since winter seems ready to get started.”

“That’s a good idea.” She’d go along with anything he said right now. Whatever kept him close and making those soothing strokes against her back. “Does winter always come this early?”

“Not always. But when she does show up, she tends to stick around for a while.”

Cooper jolted, his body bumping into hers. One of his hands left to block the giant head butting against him. “Back off.” He released her, stepping to one side as his focus shifted to the animal nudging between them. “Jealous.”

The horses had wandered into the barn and the biggest was trying—and succeeding—to break up her first snuggle in years. It sucked, but was still kinda cute, so she couldn’t be mad. Smiling at the glossy-coated horse she said, “I’m sorry I was taking all his attention.”

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