Page 38 of What the Cowboy Wants
“Oh, I…”
“Nope,” Vivian said with a smile.“You’re not going to miss this again.It’s time people in town see you.It would help to stop all the wild stories about you.”
Rose threw up her arms.“Okay, I’ll be there.”
“I’ll pick you up,” Willow grinned as she stepped out of the shop.“Bye!”With a wave, she escaped.
Everyone got up to leave.As they moved to the door, Janice pulled Rose to the side.“I was wondering if you’ve thought about the idea of talking to the kids at school about the pitfalls of social media?”
“I haven’t, no,” Rose said, “but you know what?I want to live a different life than the one I had.If I can help someone in any way, I’ll gladly do it.Just let me know when.”
Janice beamed and hugged her.“Oh, that’s great.I’ll text you some possible dates, would that be okay?”
“Sounds perfect, thanks, Janice.”
As Rose got into bed later, she felt more at peace than she had in a long time.See?She didn’t need Cooper Weston in her life.
Yeah, right, the little voice chirped in.So, you wouldn’t miss him?And what about his kisses?
Okay, she’d miss those, but she would be fine.She had friends, soon she’d own her house, and she now had time to focus on her business.Her parents were visiting in a few days’ time.With time, Cooper Weston would become a bittersweet memory.
The little voice had of course, the last say.You really think so?
Pressing her face into the pillow, she willed away the images of her hands all over his broad, muscled chest, but minutes later, she gave up and switched on the light.She’d read.Picking up her phone, she opened an app.Nothing remotely romantic, please.A thriller should do the trick.
Chapter Eleven
By Friday, Cooperwas ready to slug everyone around him.He wasn’t sleeping, he had no appetite.He’d decided to keep Lady and had brought her home.Working to make her feel safe and loved would distract him, he’d thought.Prince and Charlie were very happy to see her, but Ebony was still sulking because he hadn’t warned her that he was bringing someone else to live with them.
The dogs, including Lady, were worried and followed him everywhere.Ebony had lost patience with his sulking and kept out of his way.Not that he blamed any one of them.He was fed up with himself.
He missed Rose with every breath he took, but nothing had changed.She was better off on her own.He’d always known it.
Sighing, he parked in front of the big house and got out of his truck.He’d left Prince and Charlie at home with Lady.She was fine when they were at home, but she was still wary of other people.It would take time, but she would get there.
His brothers and Willow had been on his case this whole week because he’d skipped most meals.So even though he wasn’t hungry, he was here for breakfast.If one of them mentioned his appetite again though, he wouldn’t be responsible for his actions.
Willow wasn’t at the table, thank goodness.Nobody said anything, but he could feel his sisters-in-law’s eyes on him.Fortunately, Luke was already at school otherwise he’d had to endure the little boy’s scrutiny as well.
“So, Cooper,” Laura said as he sat down next to Becket.“I hope you’re joining us tonight and tomorrow evening?”
Blankly, he looked at her.
She laughed.“It’s the Fall Festival, remember?There are all sorts of activities tonight and tomorrow night is the dance.”
Shrugging, he poured himself coffee.“I don’t know.I’ll have to see.I don’t like leaving Lady alone.”
“I can look after her,” Isabella said as she sat down to have breakfast with them.
“There you go,” Ellie smiled.“No more excuses.”
Willow wandered in, her eyes narrowing as she saw Hunter was still at the table.“I thought you guys had already left for the day.”
“Cooper has just arrived,” Ellie said.“He says he’ll join us for the festivities this weekend.”
“Really?”Willow’s all-knowing eyes swept over Cooper.
“I said I’ll think about it,” he grunted.
