Page 14 of What the Cowboy Wants
The front doorbell rang.Frowning, she put the book down on a nearby table before she hurried to the door.It was probably Arlene.She was the only person who would appear on her doorstep this time of night.
She quickly opened the door.Standing on her porch, big and sexy, his hat in his hand, was Cooper.“Cooper?What are you doing here?”
His eyes never left her face, but she was instantly aware she was in her pajamas and wasn’t wearing anything else underneath.She crossed her arms in an effort to hide her braless state.
“Tonight at dinner, I saw that you’ve given Molly back to Laura.I… well, Charlie and I want to know if you’re okay.”
“I miss her, she’s been my constant companion for the past few months, but I’ll be fine.”
“I can try and find you another dog.”
“I don’t want another dog.”
Those deep blue eyes locked with hers.Shivers skidded down her spine.
“Why?”
“Because it hurts when they leave.”Damn it, and the lump was back in her throat.She swallowed and swallowed, but it wouldn’t budge.
With a groan, Cooper stepped forward and cupped her face with his one hand.“I’ll find you one you won’t have to return to again.Please let me do this for you?”
With a sigh, she nodded.“Okay, I’ll think about it.”
“Good.Another thing.I might have let slip during dinner that I kissed you.”
Stunned and upset, she stared at him.“Might have?Why would you do that?”
“Because it’s all I’ve been thinking about since yesterday.”He turned around before she could say anything.“I’m leaving before I kiss you again.The image of you without anything on under your pajamas, is going to keep me awake for another long night.”With that, he left and walked away.
Her breath was stuck somewhere in her throat.Thebefore I kiss you againhung motionless in the air around her.Of course he’d noticed she wasn’t wearing a bra; he didn’t miss a thing.Her whole body was tingling, her heart was beating at an alarming rate, and her breasts felt strangely heavy.
Aargh!She closed the door, picked up the book she’d left on the table and walked back to her bedroom.
Snuggled against her pillow a few minutes later, she tried to focus on the words in the book in front of her.She’d hoped Jane Austen’s subtle humor would keep her mind occupied, but her thoughts kept straying back to Cooper.
With a groan, she dropped the book and kicked off the covers.The mere sight of Cooper Weston had her all hot and bothered.It was so not something she should be thinking about right now, lying in bed, her whole body still tingling just because he’d been here, touched her.
*
Only when Cooperstopped in front of his house half an hour later, did the fist of desire that had his insides in knots since he’d seen Rose in those flannel pajamas, her red hair cascading down her back, lessen.Damn, the woman was killing him.She was trying so hard to move forward, but she was still carrying a lot of pain with her.He should remember that and stop thinking about her.
As he got out of his truck, he heard the dogs, whom he’d dropped home before going by Rose’s, barking.Strange.They only barked when something was bothering them.As Cooper walked toward the front door, a movement to the right caught his attention.
In the soft light he’d left on, it was at first difficult to decide what it was, so he moved closer until his eyes had adjusted to the light.Only then he saw a small dog, huddled against the wall, shivering and doing its best to disappear into the concrete behind him.
Sighing, Cooper crouched down.It didn’t surprise him any more to find stray animals on his doorstep.Since he’d moved out of the big house to live on his own, numerous animals had found their way to his doorstep over the years—horses, dogs, cats, birds, even one or two donkeys had showed up, all hurt, bewildered, and looking for a safe place.He didn’t know how they found him, he just knew he could help them.
Crouching down, he sat quietly for a few moments.“Hi, buddy.You don’t look so good.Would you mind if I take a look at you?”From inside his house, Prince’s barks turned to a soft whimpering.
It took more coaching and encouraging words before the small body moved hesitatingly toward him, its eyes never leaving Cooper’s.If he had to guess, it was probably a Maltese, but at the moment it was so dirty, it was difficult to be certain.
Cooper put his hand out slowly and waited for the dog to sniff him.After another few minutes only, it moved closer still.Carefully, Cooper stroke its head with his one hand.“Let’s go and clean you up, okay?I think I may have the perfect house for you, but we’ll see.”
Gently he picked up the dog.A sharp yelp told him it was hurt somewhere.Cuddling the dirty body close to him, he opened the front door.Prince and Charlie were waiting and jumped up when they saw the dog in Cooper’s arms.
“You can meet him in a little while, but I think he”—he lifted the dog in the air—“or rathershe, urgently needs a bath.What shall we call her, Prince?”
Barking, they followed Cooper to the bathroom.
