Page 56 of What the Cowboy Wants
He didn’t have to ask what she was talking about.“Something Becket said.”
“What did he say?”
With his hand stroking her body, he watched her.“That yes, you could probably do much better than marrying an animal-talking cowboy, but there is nobody that will love you the way I do.”
Her smiled touched all the corners in his heart.“That is so beautiful.Corny, but beautiful.”
Laughing, he bent forward and kissed her.The moment their lips met, the fire was back, burning brighter than ever before.As he deepened the kiss, he gathered her close.What he’d ever done to deserve her, he would probably never know, but he was going to show her every day how grateful he was to have her in his life.
The kiss had, like every time his lips touched hers, stirred the simmering embers and within minutes a fire was raging through his body again, urging him to become one with her.As he pulled her closer, her warm body came willingly, one of those long legs slid over his thigh, and he was lost.
When he next opened his eyes, the rays of the sun were streaming through the window.Something else had woken him up.There it was again.The front doorbell.
Rose was still fast asleep, her red hair spread out all over her window.He couldn’t resist pressing his lips against her forehead before he got out of bed.Slipping into his jeans, he grabbed his shirt as he left the room.
Who would be ringing the bell this early?Okay, it wasn’t that early, but still.His family knew he was here, it couldn’t be any of them.His mind had been on Rose all night, but if anything was wrong, he would’ve known.Shrugging on his shirt, he opened the door.
An older man and woman were standing on the doorstep.It took him another second to realize who they were.Smiling, he put out his hand.“Cooper Weston.And you are Mr.And Mrs.Dalton, Rose’s parents, I take it?”
They both looked stunned for a moment.Rose’s mother was the first one to recover and took his hand.“Rosalyn Dalton, Rose’s mother.What a lovely surprise to meet you… here, in Rose’s house.I take it you’re the one who put the smile back in our daughter’s voice?”
Grinning, he shook her hand.“I like to think so.”Rose had her eyes.The small smile playing around her mouth was also familiar.
Rose’s dad, however, was another matter entirely.He nearly crushed Cooper’s hand.“Miles Dalton.You mess with my daughter, you mess with me,” he grunted.
“Yes, Sir,” Cooper said, doing his best not to wince.“Rose is still sleeping, but please come on in.We have things to talk about.”
“You think?”Papa Dalton was not impressed.
“I’ll make coffee,” Cooper offered.
“That sounds lovely, Cooper,” Rose’s mom said as she elbowed her husband.
He just grunted.
*
With her eyesstill closed, Rose put out a hand to find Cooper, but he wasn’t there.Smiling, she sat up and looked at her ring again.It was still so surreal.Days ago, her heart was breaking because she’d thought Cooper only wanted to be with her for a while, but here she was, engaged to the animal whisperer.She couldn’t be happier.He wanted to get married.Her animal whisperer.Married.
Grinning, she got up.Where was her fiancé?They’d again hardly slept.Every time she’d turned, he was there with his warm, urgent hands and mouth to take her to new heights.She hadn’t known it was possible to be transported to a completely other reality when making love.
But then, she’d never made love with someone who could read her mind, who knew exactly what she wanted.There was definitely something to be said for that.
As she moved toward the door, she heard other voices.Who on earth would be here on a Sunday morning?
Tiptoeing to the door, she listened.That was Cooper talking.Another male voice interrupted him.Her breath hitched.Oh, my goodness, that, if she wasn’t mistaken, was her dad’s voice.
For a moment she was frozen, but then she spun around and ran to her closet.Swallowing down a half hysterical giggle, she quickly put on a track suit and pulled the brush through her hair.
She hadn’t even told Cooper her parents were planning on visiting her.Her mother had figured out there was someone in Rose’s life, but she hadn’t told them about Cooper.When she’d spoken to her mother, she had no idea Cooper wanted to marry her.
“Mom, Dad!”she smiled as she rushed into the kitchen.“Why didn’t you tell me you were arriving earlier?I’m so, so happy you’re here!”
Both her mom and dad got up.Smiling, her mom held out her arms.“We’ve just met your fiancé.Congratulations, sweetheart.I like him, he makes good coffee.”
As Rose hugged her mother, she glanced in Cooper’s direction.Although clearly a bit rumpled, he was dressed.He winked at her.Of course he would’ve handled the situation.
“Hi Dad, I’m so glad you’re here,” she said as she turned to her dad.
