Page 15 of What the Cowboy Wants (The Westons of Montana #3)

R ose’s whole body was still glowing when she and Cooper arrived at Arlene’s for coffee. Cooper had taken her hand when they’d left her house, and even though she’d tried to pull it away when they entered his mom’s house, he was having none of it.

When they stepped into the living room where the rest of the Weston clan was lounging, of course all eyes zoomed in on their clasped hands.

Arlene got up with twinkling eyes. “There you are. Did you enjoy the food?”

Rose stared at her. “Food?”

“She hasn’t eaten yet, Mom,” Cooper said.

“Shared another friendly peck, have you?” Willow chuckled.

Blushing, Rose remembered the plate Cooper had in his hands when he’d arrived at her house. “Thanks, Arlene. I’ll return your plate when I’ve eaten.”

“Don’t worry about it. I’ve made coffee. Coop, will you get some for you and Rose? How do you take your coffee, Rose?”

“I know, Mom. Black, no sugar, right?” Cooper smiled.

Surprised, she turned to him. “How…?”

“He knows, sweetie. He knows,” Arlene smiled. “Come and sit down. Have you been able to book a flight to Seattle?”

Rose took a seat on an empty couch. “Yes, thank you, Arlene. That was also when I realized I don’t have a bag. I’m not taking much with me, but I need something small for a few basics. Do you perhaps have a small bag I could borrow?”

Before she’d finished speaking, Arlene was up again. “Of course. Do you know how long you’ll be gone?”

“You have to be back next Saturday,” Ellie said. “It’s the Autumn Festival dance and you have a dress.”

Just then Cooper entered with two mugs of coffee and handed her one before he joined her on the couch.

“I hope I’m back by then, Ellie. I want to put the apartment on the market, organize the movers to pick up the things I want to bring here and find a way to get rid of everything else.”

“What time tomorrow morning, Rose?” Arlene asked. “I said I’d take you.”

“I’ll take you,” Coop said, looking at her.

“I was planning on driving myself…”

Hayden cleared his throat, interrupting her. “Coop, if you go to Bozeman tomorrow, it’ll be great. One of the water pipes broke and we need a length of PVC pipe.”

“That sounds perfect,” Arlene said. “Okay, so let me see what I have for you. A small bag, you said.?”

“Yes, please, Arlene, thanks. I haven’t needed a bag since moving here. I have plenty of bags in the flat in Seattle for packing up my clothes on that side.”

Suddenly Willow inhaled sharply and jumped up. “Coop…”

He was up already. “Scarlett.”

“Something’s wrong.”

“I have to go back to the ranch,” Cooper said looking at Rose. “Come with me?”

Overly aware of all eyes on her, Rose shook her head. “I… I still have to pack. I can drive to the ranch tomorrow morning…”

“I’ll come and fetch you,” he interrupted her. “Walk me out?”

At that moment Arlene arrived with a gorgeous leather bag in her hands. “Here we go. Are you on your way, Coop?”

“Scarlett,” he said as he took the bag from his mom. “Something’s wrong. Thanks for lunch, Mom.”

“Thanks for the bag, Arlene,” Rose said as Cooper took her hand.

“Is there anything we can do while you’re away?” Ellie asked.

“I’ll let you know, thanks,” Rose waved before she followed Cooper outside.

*

“I’ll walk you home,” Cooper said when they got outside.

“I’m fine, you have a horse that needs you,” she said, trying to take the bag from him.

“I can kiss you here where everyone can see us or I can kiss you inside your house.”

“You like getting your own way, don’t you?” she sassed him.

His lips twitched. “In this case, yes.”

Rolling her eyes, she dropped his hand and ran home.

For a few seconds, he was too stunned to react, but then he ran after her. When she reached her porch, he was right behind her and opening the front door, he pushed her inside.

As he dropped the bag, he pulled her close and kissed her. Finally. Greedily, he drank from her lips like one who had been thirsty for a long time. Stroking her back, he memorized each curve, each supple line. Only when she shuddered did he lift his head.

“The need to be with you, is driving me crazy but I… I have to go. I’ll see you tomorrow morning. Text me the flight details?” While he was talking, he slipped his hands underneath her top and touched her breasts again.

With a groan, she dropped her head against his chest. “Go, Scarlett needs you.”

With a final kiss, he left her there, looking disheveled, her hair all over the place, her lips swollen from his kisses, those green eyes wild.

*

By five o’clock Monday morning, Rose was still awake. She was worried about Scarlett and okay yes, she wanted to be with Cooper She got up before she had time to second guess herself.

Half an hour later, with her heart in her throat, she drove away from the house.

She had no idea how Cooper would react when she showed up unannounced and not invited.

If she was honest, she’d thought she’d hear from him last night.

A text or even a phone call. What happened between them the day before wasn’t something she’d experienced before—the deep intense desire, the deep need to be with him.

Maybe he’d be irritated, but he was probably still busy with Scarlett and she wanted to see him before she left for Seattle in a few hours’ time.

This whole thing had no future, she knew that, but the need to see him was so overwhelming she couldn’t focus on anything else.

He didn’t want anything permanent, and she couldn’t just have a fling with him, but she could be with him while he tried to help Scarlett.

It was a good thing she was leaving. Being away from Cooper for a few days would give her time to think. Maybe the distance would cure this craziness.

Cooper wanted her, he hadn’t made a secret of it, but he’d been very clear about not wanting a long-term relationship.

She’d never felt like this about any man before. Her heart kicked up a notch. What did it mean? Surely, she couldn’t be falling for him? She hardly knew him. What a ridiculous idea.

Her phone rang. It was Cooper’s mom. Rose quickly answered. “Arlene?”

“Hi Rose. I heard your car and just wanted to check whether everything is okay?”

Blushing, Rose swallowed her laugh. A good thing Arlene couldn’t see her now. “Everything is fine. I’m on my way to the ranch. Maybe I can help Cooper. Scarlett and I had a connection when I’ve been there before.”

“What a great idea. Have a safe trip, Rose. I do hope you’ll be able to come back quickly. I’ve gotten used to have you living next door to me. Drive safely!”

“Thank you! Oh, before I forgot. I left a copy of the front door key under the pot by the door in case Laura wants to fetch her stuff. I was going to phone you.”

“I’ll get it and tell Laura, thanks Rose.”

They ended the call and as Rose put her phone away, she left Marietta behind her. She wasn’t overly fond of driving in the dark but fortunately she knew the road.

Within ten minutes, she was going to see Cooper. She had no idea if she was doing the right thing, she only knew she had to see him before she left for Seattle.

*

“What happened here last night?” Cooper asked Will and Kane, the new hands who helped in the stables.

They’d just returned after he’d sent them home last night so that he could be alone with Scarlett.

Only then had she allowed him to enter her stall.

That was when he’d seen the snake. The snake was gone, but Scarlett was still so freaked out and hurt, she wouldn’t let him touch her.

Will rubbed his face. “I don’t know. The one minute she was fine and then she just went crazy, bumping into everything. I don’t know if anything spooked her, she wouldn’t let us into the stall to check what was wrong.”

“It was a snake. Why didn’t you call me?”

“We… um… we thought you’d know.”

He would’ve known sooner if he hadn’t been locking lips with a certain redhead. Damn it. “Next time, call me immediately, okay?”

“Will do,” Kane said quickly. “What can we do?”

“Feed the other horses and clean out the stalls, please. Afterwards you can turn all the horses out. Be gentle with Midnight, though. I’m staying here with Scarlett for the time being” Tired, he turned and walked back toward Scarlett’s stall.

Snorting, the sorrel moved away quickly.

“Steady now,” he crooned as Prince and Charlie, sitting on the floor next to him, whimpered.

Leaning forward, he put out his hand to the sorrel.

“I can’t help you if you won’t let me near you. ”

Becket had arrived a while ago with Prince, Charlie, and Ebony as well as something to eat, but Cooper couldn’t eat before he knew what was wrong with Scarlett. On top of his frustration, he also couldn’t stop thinking about Rose.

In a way he was glad not to see her so soon after the day before. It had been a long night. What had happened between them had been all he could think about.

Talking softly to Scarlett he tried to calm her down so that he could help her. What he’d felt when he he’d been with Rose, was freaking him out if he was honest.

The dogs barked, alerting him to a new arrival. Irritated, he turned around, and the breath simply left his body. Rose was walking toward him. He’d been so wrapped up in his thoughts, he hadn’t realized she was here. Dressed in jeans and a light coat, her eyes on him, she was breathtaking.

Bending down, she greeted his dogs; they lapped up the attention. Even Ebony settled next to her.

With two strides, he was with her. “Rose…” Pulling her up, he read everything she was feeling—she wasn’t sure how he’d feel about her being here, but she was worried about Scarlett, and she wanted to see him.

Cupping her face, he sighed. “I smell like horse and I haven’t shaved yet, but I have to kiss you.”

She sniffed. “Yeah, you stink but I don’t care.”

Grinning, he gathered her silky, long tresses in his hands and kissed her. They were both out of breath when he finally lifted his head. “How did you get here?”

“I drove here.”