Page 28 of What the Cowboy Wants
“So how does this work?The healing?”Rose asked softly.
“It’s not something I can explain.Very early in my life I discovered I feel much more and much deeper than most other people.A dog I had as a child ended up under a car and I instinctively knew what to do.”
“You healed my wound.”
He nodded.“I prefer to work with animals.I connect with the ones who have been hurt, because I feel what they feel.The healing flows from that.”
“Is this deep empathy—not sure what you call it—always there?”
He nodded.“Over the years, I’ve learned to recognize my emotions, to accept them, to manage them.”Glancing at Rose, he frowned.“It’s just… what I experience when I’m with you, is way more powerful than anything I’ve ever felt before.It scares me.”
“Whatever it is, it scares me too.”
Scarlett whimpered and he focused on her.As he felt her muscles relaxing under his hand, he could breathe easily for the first time.“There we go.”Stroking her steadily, he talked to her until she finally quieted down and he could leave the stall.
“I’d like to take you to my house, but I don’t want to leave Scarlett.”
Checking her watch, Rose shook her head.“There isn’t time anyway, I have to leave in a few minutes.”
“Sure you’ll return?”
“There’s nothing to keep me in Seattle.Besides, I’m keen to get my business going as soon as possible.”
“We should go for a meal or something when you’re back.”
“Why?”
“I like spending time with you.”
“We’ll see…”
He pulled her closer before she could finish her sentence.“I don’t have all the answers yet, Rose, but I do know I want to be with you.”Before she could say anything, he bent down and kissed her.And like every time their lips met, he got lost in her taste, her scent, her softness.
When he finally lifted his head, she sniffed.“You stink, cowboy.”
Laughing, he kissed her forehead.“Took you long enough to complain.”
Grinning, she quickly kissed him before she turned around.“Let me know how Scarlett is, will you?”
And then she was gone, taking all the warmth and light that was Rose, with her.
Oh, man, he had it bad.
*
With Rose’s mindfilled with Cooper, the drive to the airport went quickly.The gentle and patient way he has with animals wanted to make her cry every time.She could so easily fall for him, but hopefully this trip would give her time to clear her head.
After parking in the airport terminal lot, Rose got her bag out of the car and followed the arrows to Departures.
As she was about to enter Departures, someone grabbed her arm.
“You’re Rose Dalton, aren’t you!”A strange woman with her phone in her hand, called out.“I saw the way that bastard dumped you online.We’ve all been wondering where you are.”
Before Rose realized what the woman was up to, the woman’s phone was in front of her face and she was clicking away.“Wait till I share this!”
“Please don’t,” Rose begged, but the woman was already walking away, her fingers busy on her phone.
Groaning, Rose entered the airport building.And just like that, real life was back.While lying low in Marietta all these months, she’d forgotten the madness out there.How was it possible that someone in the Bozeman airport would recognize her?The world had gone bonkers and she’d merrily gone along with all the craziness.
