Page 41 of What the Cowboy Wants
“How wonderful, Rose!”Ellie said and hugged her.“I’m so happy for you.When do they arrive?”
“I’ll have to check with them.I spoke to them while I was in Seattle, and they said two weeks, but it’ll depend on when they can get a flight.I’d love to introduce them to all of you.”
“It will be so nice to meet them, please let us know when they’ll be here.Maybe we can organize something on the ranch…”
But Rose was shaking her head.“Rather not.”
Ellie sighed, “Have you spoken to Cooper?”
“Briefly when Arlene got her sons to help me move the furniture into the house.He wanted to talk.Anyway, I told him he should’ve known how I feel about him, not simply jump to wild conclusions.The point is, I’d rather not see him right now.”
Ellie cocked her head.“And how do you feel about Cooper, Rose?”
“I… I mean, he’s…” she stuttered, her mind trying to find the right words.As she stared at the package in her hands, pieces of the very messy puzzle that all have parts of Cooper in it fell into place.Of course she loved him.She’d probably fell for him the night she nearly ran her car off the road.His first instinct was to try and help her.At the time, she didn’t know why he’d been running his hands over her, but he’d been trying to find out if she was okay.He was a healer and felt deeply.How could she not fall in love with someone like that?
“I love him,” she whispered, looking at Ellie.
“Of course you do,” Ellie sighed, giving her another hug.“He’s in love with you, too, he just doesn’t know it yet or he doesn’t want to know it.These Weston men drive me crazy.He’s lost so much weight, he’s not eating.Usually, he’s the sweetest guy, but lately everyone is walking on eggshells around him.”
“He doesn’t want anything serious.Let’s spend time together until we get this craziness out of our system, was how he put it.”Sighing, Rose shook her head.“The problem is, it’s difficult enough now to know I could run into him any time.If I spend more time with him, it will be so much harder when he ends it eventually.”
“He might not, you know?All I know is that you’re both miserable.Why not be miserable together?”Ellie asked.
Chuckling, Rose hugged her.“Very logical.I’ll see you later at the festival?”she asked as she moved toward the door.
“Of course!”Ellie smiled.“And happy knitting!Oh, and remember to take a jacket for later.The days are still warm, but the evenings are turning cooler.”
Rose looked over her shoulder.“Thanks, Ellie.I don’t say it enough.I appreciate all of you in my life.”
“Life in a small town,” grinned Ellie.“One of the great things about living in Marietta is there is always someone who will lend a hand.”
With another wave, Rose walked out.A pity nobody could help with a broken heart.Oh, my goodness, she sounded like a sad country song.You’re done feeling sorry for yourself, remember?
As she ran toward her car, she glanced at her watch.There was time to shower and put on something stunning before she joined the festivities.Even if she was feeling sad, she didn’t have to look miserable.
Chapter Twelve
Friday evening Cooperopened the door of his fridge.Isabella wasn’t cooking tonight.Apparently, everyone on the ranch was going to the festival in town.
He wasn’t going.Scarlett was doing better, but Lady was still unsure of her new surroundings, and you never know, another stray animal might just come looking for help.
Yeah, right.He should at least be honest with himself.He was still trying to come to terms with the fact that he was in love with Rose.It probably happened the moment he’d opened the door of her car way back in May.Since then, she’d occupied his heart, his thoughts, his dreams, damn it, every breath he took.
She felt something for him, she’d told him, but was it enough?She’d seen him with Scarlett; she’d experienced his healing and she hadn’t freaked out.Well, okay, she had, but not much.But was she ready for a lifetime of living with someone like him?
The fridge was bare.He couldn’t remember the last time he went shopping.Fed up, he slammed the door shut.There would be something to eat at the festival, maybe he should go.Just to eat.And maybe he’d be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of Rose.She’d be there, Willow had told him.
Grabbing the keys to his truck, he walked toward the door.Both Prince and Charlie barked.Even Lady let out a startled yelp.
Frowning, he crouched down and stroke them.“What’s wrong?You know I’ll be back.”
Searching their eyes for answers, he waited.Prince got up and ran toward Cooper’s room, Charlie and Lady on his heels.Ebony was looking down her nose at him.
“What?”he asked, getting fed up with the lot of them.With a sigh, he followed the dogs.
They weren’t in his room.“Where are you?”
He found them inside the shower.The moment they saw him, they barked again.Even Lady was very insistent: he needed a shower.
