Page 33 of What the Cowboy Wants
What the hell had he been thinking rushing after Rose?As he got out of his truck outside the big house, he heard Prince and Charlie barking inside.They’d heard him.
Something touched his leg and as he looked down, Ebony’s big eyes met his.
I’m sorry, she communicated.
Sighing, he picked her up and buried his face in the soft fur.“It’s okay.On the plus side, you don’t have to worry about another woman in the house.She won’t be back.”
The kitchen door opened.Prince and Charlie came bounding out, tongues hanging out, clearly happy to see him.Crouching down, he put Ebony down and stroked and talked to the two dogs until they settled.More or less.
As he got up, he noticed Willow on the back porch, a question mark on her face.
Swallowing his irritation, he walked toward her.“She… there was another man.”
Arms crossed, his sister watched him.“And what?Were they getting married?”
“No, but he had his arms around her.I got the message.”
“Did you talk to her?Couldn’t you sense what she was feeling?”
“How could I?He was all over her.”
“So, you didn’t even try and read what she was feeling?You just turned around and left?”
“Is there any food left?”
Sighing, Willow stepped closer and hugged him.“You’re an idiot, you know that?You’re in love with her.Probably have been since the day you opened her car door, but you’re too stubborn, too intent on carrying whatever guilt you feel about Walker’s death alone and…”
Irritated, he pulled away.“There’s more?”
“I understand why you’re pulling back.Like me, you feel too much, like me, you carry everyone’s pain and you don’t think you have the emotional capacity to carry one more person’s.But Coop, whether you like it or not, whether you want it or not, you’ve been carrying her pain ever since she’d arrived in town.And look at you.You’re fine with it.Okay, right now you’re ticked off because someone else had his arms around her, but you’re not falling apart.And another thing—you’ve been much more pleasant since you’ve been kissing someone regularly.”
“Hey,” Becket called from the door.“Food’s getting cold, come on.”
As Cooper and Willow entered the dining room, all eyes were on him.
“Where’s Rose?”Ellie asked.
“He saw Rose in another man’s arms and fled,” Willow said.
“You haven’t told her how you feel about her?”Laura rolled her eyes.“Why are all Weston men so slow to admit they’ve fallen in love?”
Hayden leaned over and kissed her.“I was slow, but when I finally understood why I’d been so crazy, I pulled out all the stops.”
“Indeed, you have.”Laura laughed.
“Quick weddings seemed to be in the genes,” Ellie smiled.“I had no plans to marry either, but then this guy everyone warned me about walked into my shop and caught me in his arms.”
Becket kissed her.“Best day, ever.”
“Well, just for the record,” Willow said, “I’m a Weston but I’m not getting married.Ever.”
“So you’ve said,” Hunter replied.“On several occasions.”
While Willow was still glaring at Hunter, Cooper got some food.He wasn’t really that hungry.As he picked up his knife and fork, he found Luke, Hayden’s eight-year-old son’s eyes on him.Those two eyes were way too knowing for his piece of mind.
“Just so you know,” Luke said.“I’ve been a groomsman before when Uncle Becket got married.I know what to do.”
Everyone laughed.Chuckling, Cooper nodded.“Thanks, Luke, I’ll keep that in mind.”
