Page 34 of One-of-a-Kind Bride (Home to Texas #1)

And it was. She was only sorry she couldn’t follow through on a crazy notion she’d had to buy the Purple Pansy and make a life here in Last Stand.

Blake had put the bug in her ear, and she’d let the idea simmer in the back of her mind.

But she couldn’t live in the same small town with Coop and not be welcomed as a part of his life.

It would be too hard. So that notion was only a wistful dream that had blown away with the slightest little gust.

*

On Saturday afternoon, Julie and Miguel returned from their honeymoon.

After a round of hugs and kisses, they took a seat in the living room where the newlyweds shared fun stories about the islands.

Taylor was happy for them, they were the perfect complement to each other and it was good to see Julie and Miguel’s love shining so bright.

But their homecoming was bittersweet because tomorrow Taylor would be leaving.

It felt like not only would she be saying goodbye to her cousins, she’d be leaving the town she’d grown to love all over again.

Julie and Miguel lavished her with a water pearl necklace, a floral beach cover-up and plumeria-scented bath oils and lotions. Muffy wasn’t left out either in the gift department, they’d brought her pineapple- and banana-shaped chew toys.

“Thank you both,” she said, taking a whiff of the flower-scented lotion. “You know me so well. These are things I will definitely use, but it’s too much.”

“It’s not too much,” Julie said. “Not compared to what you’ve done for us, coming early to the wedding, being the best maid of honor ever, helping my friends with their wedding gowns, and then watching the house and Muffy while we were gone. I hate the thought of you leaving.”

“I do too,” Miguel said. “It’s nice to have family around, you especially.”

“Ah, thank you. I really have mixed emotions too. I’ll be going back to my life in New York, but I’ll be leaving so much behind too.”

“You promised to come back to visit, right?”

“Yes, I did and I will. And you can come up to New York for a girls’ weekend.”

“Sounds like fun. I’ll do that. I guess I don’t feel horrible now that I have your promise you’ll visit more. And you’ve got that brand-new job waiting for you.”

“Yes, I do.”

“You don’t sound happy, honey.”

“I…am.” She couldn’t fake any enthusiasm.

Julie sensed her mood and hugged her tight. “Remember I’m only a phone call away.”

She nodded, grateful for the comfort. “I know.”

“How about we all go out to dinner tonight?” Miguel said cheerfully to change the mood.

“No way,” she told him. “You two must be exhausted. I made dinner for all of us. And it’ll be done in an hour so you guys have a chance to rest and get settled in.”

“You didn’t need to cook, hon.”

“Hey, after I finished Nicole’s gown, I had nothing but time on my hands.”

She didn’t go to Cassie’s game yesterday and it had bothered her all day. According to Coop, the bond she’d developed with his daughter could stand to hurt her. And that was the last thing she wanted to do.

The roast she cooked came out a bit overdone and the potatoes were not nearly as tender as she’d hoped, but the chocolate chip oatmeal cookies were pure perfection, so all was not lost. Still, Julie and her hubby were good sports about the meal and they tried to keep her spirits up as they dug into the food.

After dinner, Taylor excused herself to begin packing.

In her room, she gathered up her belongings and stuffed them into the suitcases rather haphazardly.

It was so unlike her, but she didn’t care about wrinkles right now.

She had other issues. She sank down onto the bed and closed her eyes.

She couldn’t leave town without saying goodbye to the Coopers.

It was one stop she had to make, one stop she couldn’t neglect as images of a recuperating Joe came to mind.

And of Cassie, the adorable blond-haired tomboy she’d befriended, and then there was Coop.

The man had gotten under her skin. He’d been her white knight on so many occasions since she’d come to Last Stand.

He’d come to her rescue when Muffy escaped on the first day she’d arrived in town.

He’d carried her to safety after she’d been beaned by the baseball at Cassie’s game.

Then more recently, he’d raced over when she’d called for help when Julie’s kitchen was flooding.

Coop was deadly handsome in a purely Texan way, tall and broad with blue eyes she could swim in.

No New Yorker could rival his appeal. But all that didn’t matter anymore.

It couldn’t. She didn’t have a claim on his heart and she never would.

This last visit would be painful, and yet, she had to do it. Had to see them all one last time.

Taylor covered a plate of oatmeal chocolate chip cookies wondering if it was a coincidence or a mechanism of her subconscious that compelled her to bake Coop’s favorite cookies today.

Whatever it was, Cassie would welcome them too, so Taylor hung on to that thought as she grabbed her leather bomber jacket and wished Julie and Miguel a good night.

Stepping outside, she took a giant gulp of air before heading toward the Cooper home.

This was her last night in town and the walk would do her good.

The sun was just disappearing on the horizon as dusk fell over the land, her favorite time of day.

Before long she was facing the Cooper front door. One knock, then two.

Grandpa Joe opened the door, looking better than when she’d seen him in the hospital. “Hello, Taylor girl. This is a nice surprise. Come in.”

“Hi, Joe. You’re looking well.”

“I’m feeling myself again. Got two hound dogs on my case if I don’t.”

He stepped aside so she could enter. “What’d you make me?” he asked.

“Cookies.” She lifted the foil and showed him.

“Mmm, all for me?”

“No way, Dad. You get one.” Coop walked over. “Doctor said you need to slim down a little.”

He was speaking to his father, but his beautiful deep gaze landed on her. She swooned a little, and then caught herself. He’d let his facial scruff grow into a full-fledged beard making those darn blue eyes really pop.

“You see what I mean, hound dog.” Joe aimed his comment at Coop.

But Coop’s eyes remained on her. “Hi,” he said.

“Hi.”

“Well,” Joe said, “don’t just leave her standing here, invite her in.”

“No, no. It’s okay. I’m not here to visit. I came to say…goodbye.”

Coop took a swallow and blinked.

Joe gave his son a disgusted look, took the plate from her hands and shoved them at Coop. “Here, she made your favorite.”

Coop stared down at the plate like it would solve the mysteries of the universe.

And then Cassie came running over, gripping her around the waist. “No, no. You’re not leaving, Taylor. You can’t.”

“Cass.” Coop put his hand on her shoulder and spoke softly. “We talked about this.”

Taylor bent down to her level, her throat tight. “I’m sorry, Cassie. Really. But remember, we’ll always be friends. If your daddy says it’s okay, we can FaceTime together and I’ll be back from time to time.”

“It won’t be the same,” she said, staring straight into her eyes. “It just won’t.”

She couldn’t lie to the child. “No, it won’t be exactly the same.”

Tears spilled down Cassie’s cheeks. “I’m gonna miss you.”

“We all will,” Joe said.

Taylor rose then, because there wasn’t much else to say. She gave Joe a big bear hug that lasted a long time. “Bye, Joe. You stay healthy now.”

“Plan to.”

She kissed Cassie’s tearstained cheek. And a knot formed in her belly. This was harder than she thought. “Talk to you soon, Cass. I promise.”

The girl nodded, but said nothing more.

“C’mon. I’ll walk you outside,” Coop said.

It was better to make a quick exit. “Okay.”

She turned and Coop guided her outside, his hand to her back. Once out of earshot of the others, she turned. “Well, it’s back to New York for me.”

“Seems like you just got here,” Coop said. “But it also feels like you never left.”

“It’s only been a few weeks, but I…”

“Yeah, I know.” He gave her a sad smile. “So, you took the job?”

“Yeah, I did.”

“It’s gonna be good for—”

“Daddy, wait!” Cassie bounded out of the house, her hands behind her back as she ran toward them.

“Cass?”

She stopped up short when she reached them, out of breath. “Daddy, just listen to me. Please. And I hope you don’t ground me for snooping. But if you do, it’ll be worth it.”

“What are you talking about, Cass? And what do you have behind your back?”

Cassie took a second to move, and then slowly put her palms out and unveiled what she held in her hands.

A walnut-stained wooden box, a little smaller than a cigar box with the initials TP and RC carved into the wood.

Stunned, Taylor stared at the box that had grown up with her. The box that had united her to Coop since childhood.

“Cassie, you did go snooping.” Coop’s voice held a dangerous edge. “Did you open it?”

“No, Daddy. I promise. But Grandpa told me about your promises to each other and I think there’s one in there still. I think Taylor shouldn’t leave until she sees what it is.”

Coop’s shoulders fell as if he was being hit by all sides.

“Can I see the box, Cassie?” she asked.

Carefully, Cassie put it in her hands.

“Thanks.”

“I think you should go inside, young lady,” Coop said, more bark than bite. She didn’t think Cass was shaking in her boots. “I’ll deal with you later.”

“Okay, Daddy. But please, please open it.”

Cassie had such hope on her face. And such love. She really was a special child. Once she walked into the house, Taylor studied the box for a few seconds and then turned to him. “You’ve had it all this time?”

“No. One of my crew found it when we were demolishing the gazebo. I, uh, I didn’t think it would be wise to—”

“Technically it’s mine, Coop. You promised to make it for me and you did.”

“I know.”

“I loved this box. I loved what it signified.”

“Yeah, we had a pretty great friendship.”