Page 19 of What the Cowboy Wants
While she cleaned the living room and washed the dishes, her thoughts, of course, returned to Cooper.Why had he walked out?Was he upset like his mom and sister had said or was because he was disgusted with how she’d chosen to live her life?
As she finally left the kitchen, her phone bleeped.It was Cooper.She didn’t want to think of all the reasons why, but she’d saved his number earlier.
Will I see you tomorrow?
Oh, yes, he’d mentioned Scarlett and a new dog.
Have another date tomorrow.
Three little dots appeared, disappeared a few times.Finally, her phone bleeped again, and the thumbs up emoji appeared.She could’ve told him she was going with his mom and sisters and her friends, he could’ve suggested Sunday, but maybe it was for the best.She’d lived a life he hated.
Anyway, her only focus should now be on getting her life back on track.The last thing she needed was a drop-dead gorgeous cowboy on her mind.
Late in the night, she was still rolling around on her bed.Irritated with herself, she pummeled her pillow.Before she lay down again, she picked up her phone and opened Cooper’s message.Should she tell him thedatewas with her friends?
Quickly, she put the phone down and crawled underneath the blankets.Of course she shouldn’t.It was better this way.He wanted a temporary fling and like she’d told him she couldn’t dotemporaryagain.
Chapter Six
After another restlessnight, Cooper was up early on Saturday.He went horseback riding, something that usually blew all the cobwebs away, but when he and Pepper, his gray and black horse, were on their way back to the stables, he was still… what?Confused?Distraught?Distressed?Troubled?Not quite any of the above, but what?
Listening to Rose the previous night, had confirmed the initial thoughts he had about the wet, shivering woman he’d med the night when she’d nearly ended up in a ditch.She had constantly been on social media, on her phone, always looking to be recognized, to be adored, forgetting to live in the moment.But since she’d moved here, she’d literally left that life behind, and telling her friends about it meant she’d also mentally stepped away from it.What had upset him, though, was the way she’d been treated.It had been brutal.
As they passed the main gate to the ranch he noticed Willow’s car outside.He hadn’t joined his siblings for breakfast this morning, so he didn’t know what Willow’s plans were.Was she having car problems?As he neared the gate, another car coming from the direction of Marietta, slowed down and parked behind Willow.
He got off his horse and after hanging the reins over the gate, walked toward the cars.Vivian O’Sullivan, a doctor in town and one of Willow’s friends was behind the wheel.The back door opened, and Rose got out, meeting his eyes before she quickly turned around and helped his mother from the car.
With one glance, he took in everything about the redhead.Tights jeans hugging her long legs, a green top lovingly draped over her generous breasts, her red hair hanging down her back, big hoops dangling from her ears.
“Mom?Everything okay?”he asked.
“Cooper!”his mom called out and hugged him.“Everything is perfect.We’re on our way to Bozeman to do some shopping.I’m getting in the car with my daughters.”She looked him in the eye.
As his mom moved toward Willow’s car, Rose turned around to get back into Vivian’s car.He stepped closer, put his hand over hers on the door handle.“This is your date?”
She didn’t look him in the eye but nodded.
Shaking his head, he chuckled.“So, I’ve been miserable for no reason?”He spoke softly so that only she could hear him.
Ignoring him, she got into the car.He prevented her from closing the door by leaning inside.“Enjoy your shopping, ladies.”
“We’re getting dresses for Friday night’s dance,” Janice called out.“I hope you have a date.”
“Not yet,” he said, looking at Rose.
For a millisecond her startled eyes met his.Yes, I want to takeyou he communicated with his eyes.No, I’m not ready, the frantic look in her eyes told him.Are you okay after yesterday?A small nod was all he got.
“You should get a dress,” he said to her before he closed the door.
Rose didn’t look at him as Vivian drove away.Damn, she was driving him nuts.
He’d spent the whole of the previous night worrying about her—exactly the reason why he’d never wanted any kind of relationship.After her message telling him she had a date, he couldn’t settle down.Here he was, not even in a relationship with the woman and she was constantly on his mind.
Somehow, she also understood his silent messages.Whether she’d acknowledge it, was of course another question.
As he and Pepper galloped away from the gate, Cooper rubbed his chest.“What do I do with this craziness inside of me?”he asked.Pepper snorted.Cooper laughed.“Yeah, buddy, it’s a woman.Let’s go and see how Scarlett is doing, okay?”
He hadn’t asked Rose to the dance outright, but she surely knew what he’d meant.
