Page 100 of The Cowboy's Bullfighter
“That sounds perfect.”
Brooks met his gaze, the hilarity in those dark eyes making Coop bite back a sharp bark of laughter. Woo. That smarted. Maybe Brooks was right. Maybe he did need to go lie down again.
“Brooks.”
“I got you. Look out, you lot. Coming through to get your Uncle Coop.” Brooks lifted him to standing, helping him to the bedroom.
Lucy grabbed Thor as he ran to join them, but Loki zipped by, landing on the bed with a thud.
Coop had to grin. “My babies.”
“They do love you.” Brooks eased him down to the mattress. “Loki, you be good. Thor can come in, Lucy, but let’s get Uncle Coop all piled up with the pillows, okay?”
“Okay, Uncle Brooks.”
Oh, his Lucy was a doll baby. Coop adored all the kids, in fact.
“You just close your eyes, Uncle. Rest. Uncle Brooks is making spaghetti for supper.” Lucy kissed his cheek. “You are all stubbled.”
“I know. I’ll shave here in a bit.”
“You rest,” Brooks ordered him.
“I’ll try.”
They got him all fenced in again, Loki, Thor, and Suki all up against the pillows and his legs, and Lucy waited at the door for Brooks, clearly not wanting to get in the way or maybe afraid to hurt him.
And Brooks bent to kiss him. “Be good, please? When you’re ready to get up, text me, and I’ll come help.”
“You got my word, love. Thank you.”
“‘Love’.” Lucy beamed. “You love him?”
He nodded. “I do.”
“I love Uncle Coop too, kiddo.” Brooks winked at him, then turned to head out with Lucy. “Lots. And I need him to get better.”
Yeah. Coop got that. But for the first time since the kick, he felt like he was on the mend. He’d really been a mess inside, he reckoned.
But now, it was time to rest and heal.
He had to get his kids through the spring.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Coop was chafing at how long the docs had given him before he could do heavy lifting or hard work. Brooks could see it every day.
He was so close to his big final checkup, though, so Brooks had the littles watching Coop like hawks. They herded him around to keep him from doing something that would hurt him. So did Suki, Thor, and Loki. That was kind of Disney-like, in fact. Loki kept luring Coop into naps. It was kind of hilarious.
And when the kids weren’t around and the dogs were tired, it was on Brooks to keep an eye out now that Amanda and Dallas had gone back down to Texas…
When he came up from the barns and Coop was standing on the deck, looking at the work that was ongoing for the hot tub and pool, he snuck up on the man.
“You touch that prybar, and I will beat you.”
“Kinky!” Coop leaned back into him. “I’m bored, Brooks. I want to be better. I want to do things. I want to doyou.”
He wrapped his arms around Coop, low on his cowboy’ships so he didn’t hurt anything. “I want that too. As soon as you’re cleared. Orgasms can pull and tear things.”
