Page 58 of The Cowboy Complication

Also boring, but that was okay. Boring was way better than exciting in her book.

Except today, she was about to be more exciting than usual. Hopefully Cooper put on his big boy pants, because shit was about to get real interesting.

“Morning.” He tipped his head at her, gray eyes drinking her in as she walked his way. “You hungry?”

“That’s one of the H words I am.” She breezed past him, stomach already filled with butterflies. “What about you?” She turned, peeking at him over her shoulder. “How many H words are you?”

Cooper stared at her, eyes wide, looking dumbstruck. “Uhh.”

“That’s what I thought.” She marched through the open garage door and into the house, pausing to look back his way. “Are you coming?” She paused to flash him a smile, hoping he read into the words the way she wanted him to. “Because I’m starving, and if you wait too long, I might just start without you.”

Without waiting for him to answer, she strode into the house, depositing her shoes in the mud room before hanging her coat onto the hook next to Cooper’s. Then she took a deep breath, straightened her shoulders, and prepared to seduce Cooper Staks.

Again.

Only this time, she wasn’t going to let him take two steps back.

Walking into the kitchen, she found Cooper standing at the stove, serving up portions of the egg bake she loved so much. It hadn’t been a shock to discover Cooper could cook—he’d made it pretty clear he wanted a family, and families had to eat—but his skills were way more developed than she’d expected. Because it wasn’t just that Cooper could cook. He enjoyed it. Just like he enjoyed cleaning and taking out the trash and caring for the horses and chickens.

All things that showed he wasn’t just looking to be a husband—he was looking to be a partner.

So, while she still thought Eric was an idiot, on some level she was grateful to him. He was the reason she appreciated Cooper like she did. The reason she valued him for who he was. The reason she was about to turn his whole life upside down.

And there was no reason to waste any more time.

“It’s kind of hot in here.” She crossed to the table, pausing in his periphery to peel off the sweater she’d pulled on over her newest purchase. The lace tank she wore wasn’t overly risqué—she’d seen people wear similar things in public—but it was way sexier than anything she’d worn around Cooper in person. The relatively low neckline followed the curve of her boobs, and it was just a little see-through. Not transparent, but her nipples were definitely discernible.

Cooper glanced her way, doing a double take as he fumbled the spatula he was using to serve up breakfast. It hit the floor, and an idea sparked. One that might accidentally kill him, but the man was going to get a clue one way or another.

Stepping in before he could bend down, she crouched, letting both knees fall to the floor as she picked the utensil up. Lifting her eyes to meet his, she held it up, but stayed right where she was.

On her knees in front of him.

Cooper didn’t even glance at the spatula. Just stared down at her, his chest heaving with each labored breath he took.

She should probably do something else, but had no idea what. This was all very new to her and she was sort of making it up as she went.

Cooper stared at her a second longer before clearing his throat and turning his gaze to the offering. “Thanks.” He took it and spun away, dropping the damn thing into the sink without another word.

So maybe she’d given him too much credit. Maybe Cooper really was just as clueless as her grandpa when it came to things like this.

Gross. That wasn’t a visual she needed infiltrating her mind, regardless of its relevance.

With a sigh, Isla got to her feet, feeling all sorts of awkward and shy about what she was about to do. But it had to be done.

“Cooper?”

“Yeah?” He stayed facing the sink, his hands gripping the edge of the counter like he was holding on for dear life.

“Do you remember what you said the other night?”

His knuckles turned white. “No.”

She inched closer, caught in a limbo of frustration and fear. Angst and arousal. “You said you’d do anything for me.” She closed in on him. “Did you really mean that?”

Cooper’s whole body was tense, shoulders creeping up to his ears. “You know I meant it.”

She did. That’s why she was there. Doing what she was.

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