Page 1

Waiting for Love

Can a man find two loves of a lifetime?

Macie Sparks’ number-one talent is talking. She’s a huge fan of her own voice. Always has been. But lately the resident Queen of Gossip has been feeling blue. While she’s helped several of her cousins find their happily ever afters, she can’t help but think she missed the boat somewhere.

Lucky for her, widower Hank Cooper is pretty fond of her stories and her off-color jokes and basically everything else Macie has to offer. After the death of his beloved wife, Hank found his way to Sparks Barbeque, where Macie caught his eye. The more time he spends with her, the more Hank starts to think that maybe lightning can strike twice. That a man can find two loves of a lifetime.

And while all Macie knows is dating and keeping it casual and staying single, Hank isn’t willing to dance to her tune. Because he wants Macie in his bed…and his life…forever.

Chapter 1

“I want you to go out with me,” Coop said.

Macie looked out the front window and frowned in confusion. “Outside? Why? It looks like rain.”

Coop shook his head. “Out with me. On a date.”

Macie wasn’t sure how to reply, but that didn’t stop her mouth from opening and producing sound. “Seriously?”

Coop didn’t seem offended by her stupid question. “Yeah.”

She glanced around the bar, wondering if anyone could hear the exchange. Not that she cared if they could. She imagined—like her—any eavesdroppers would be floored by his request.

Hank Cooper was a regular at Sparks Barbeque. He’d come in for dinner one night shortly after his wife’s death nearly a year earlier and it was as if he’d taken up residence. Which suited Macie just fine. He was a nice guy with a quick wit. Coop got her special brand of sarcasm. She liked that about him.

And it had occurred to her that—though he was frequently in the restaurant—he was watching her more closely than usual tonight. In fact, she’d felt his intent stare on her the past couple of times he’d been in. Of course, she’d probably noticed it because she’d been watching him lately as well. It was like she couldn’t help it. Coop came in and for the rest of the night, half her attention was on her job, the other half on him.

“Are you sure that’s what you want?”

Coop took a deep breath as his gaze remained locked with hers. She was used to this expression. People used it with her all the time. She called it the “praying for patience” look.

“I’m sure.” His response was gruff. Coop didn’t mince words, which seemed like an outright anomaly to her. She didn’t understand how people could say so much with so few words.

Macie loved to talk, loved the sound of her own voice as she wove fantastical, far-fetched stories. Why say something in three words when she could use four thousand and eighty-seven?

Then she figured his invitation was extended merely out of boredom or loneliness. She wasn’t a threat because they were friends, and it simply wasn’t possible for her to be any less his type.

Even so…she felt compelled to warn him. He was about to open one big-ass can of worms.

“You realize pretty much every single woman in town is ready to cast her bra into the ring the second you give them the green light to go. Right now, they’re all giving you space and time to mourn. If you and me go out, it’s open season on Hank Cooper. Is that really what you want?”

“I don’t intend to date anyone but you.”

Her eyes narrowed as she looked around the room once more. “Is this a joke? Did my dad put you up to this?”

She started to call out to her father, to give him shit for joining forces with Coop to pull her leg, but Coop grabbed her hand and squeezed it before she could speak.

“It’s not a joke, Macie.”

His tone and expression finally managed to plow through her thick skull. He seriously wanted to date her. Once again, she didn’t know what to say. So she went ahead and spoke anyway.

“Why?”

“You off now?”

She nodded. Her sister, Adele, had come in a few minutes earlier and gone to the back to put her things away. Once she returned, Macie had the evening off. She was planning to go home and masturbate while watching the wedding episode of Outlander for the millionth time. Jamie Fraser melted her butter.

“Get your stuff,” he said as Adele stepped behind the bar.