Page 18 of What the Cowboy Wants (The Westons of Montana #3)

B y eleven the next morning, Rose was ready for the realtor and the possible buyers. She’d been wrapping present since early this morning. Maybe it would even be possible to leave before the weekend. There was nothing keeping her here.

Early this morning she’d spoken to her parents. They were coming to visit her in Marietta in about two weeks’ time. She was so excited. It was going to be so special to spoil them for a while, especially after the way she’d behaved.

The front doorbell chimed. Great, that should be the real estate agent. Smiling, she opened the door. The next minute, her smile froze. Standing behind the agent, looking very pleased with himself was Duncan.

Gary, the agent was smiling. “He didn’t want me to spoil the surprise.”

Duncan elbowed Gary out of the way and tried to put his arms around her, but stunned, she side-stepped him.

“Rose, darling, you look gorgeous! I saw your post on Instagram. I was so happy to learn my Rose was back where she belonged. I don’t have your new number yet, and when I learned your place was in the market, I came up with this plan to come with the estate agent to surprise you.

Of course, I’m not interested in buying your little apartment.

No offense, it’s sweet and all, but not quite where one of Seattle’s hot young lawyers and his wife should live, now is it?

It’s a good idea to sell this place. If we put our resources together, we should be able to afford something really special.

Surely the fact that you’re back means you’ve forgiven my silly little mistake?

It was all Charlotte’s doing, of course. I haven’t seen her since.”

Rose so badly wanted to wipe the grin from his face, but crossing her arms, she pasted a smile on her face. “You’re not welcome here, Duncan. Goodbye. Gary, come in. I have another buyer.”

Duncan’s smile froze.

“Oh, come on, Rose,” Duncan said, trying to grab her arm. “The whole incident was to your advantage. At present, you have about fifty thousand followers where I’ve lost just about every single one I had. We had a good thing going, don’t be like this. Come on!”

Ignoring him, she let Gary into her apartment before she closed and locked the door in Duncan’s face.

Gary smiled apologetically. “I’m so sorry. I know what happened earlier this year and well, he gave me the impression you’re back together and he was surprising you.”

“Let’s just forget about it. I have a name and telephone number for you.

One of my neighbors is interested in buying the place.

” She gave him Millie’s card with all her details.

“I’m probably leaving before the weekend.

I’ll leave my key with my neighbor. If she decides to buy, will it be possible to sign all the paperwork before the weekend? ”

It took a while before Gary had all the information, and she could open the door for him. As he left, she checked the corridor in front of her apartment, worried Duncan might still be lurking around. He was nowhere to be seen, thank goodness. Relieved, she closed the door.

Taking deep breaths, she went to her room to find her bag. What had Duncan been thinking? She’d fall into his arms the moment she saw him? Why she’d ever thought he was attractive, was beyond her. Compared to Cooper… Nope, no comparison.

Grinning, she walked to the front door. Problem was, Cooper set the bar so high, no other man even came close to him.

Argh, and there the cowboy was on her mind again.

Focus, Rose, focus . Getting into the elevator, she went over her list. She still wanted to get something for the kids.

There was Dylan, the Millers five-year-old son, Jane, Vivian’s and Aiden’s two-year-old little girl and of course, Luke, Hayden’s and Laura’s eight-year-old son.

As she stepped out of the building, a pair of arms snaked around her and pulled her close as a camera flashed.

*

With his eyes on the building in which Rose’s apartment is, Cooper lengthened his steps. The traffic was something else. That was why he’d paid the Uber and got out a block away.

Everyone was looking down, fingers busy on their phones as they passed one another on the sidewalk. Nobody smiled, nobody made eye contact. Why people chose to live in cities, he would never know. He couldn’t wait to get back to the ranch, the wide open spaces, but he was here for Rose.

He saw her as he came around the corner but the next moment, his feet stopped. From behind someone bumped into him, but he hardly felt it. His eyes were on the scene in front of him.

A man wearing a suit had Rose in his arms. Nearby, a camera flashed. Several other bystanders had their phones out and were taking pictures of the scene.

Disappointment hollowed out his insides. He couldn’t look away. Over the guy’s shoulder, Rose’s eyes met his for a millisecond. Turning around, he staggered away, his only thought to get back to the ranch as soon as humanly possible.

Of course, the guy would want her back, who wouldn’t?

She was warm and gentle, fierce when she needed to be, and so beautiful, he ached just thinking about her.

This probably also meant she wouldn’t be returning to Marietta.

In no time, she’d be back on her phone, forgetting all about real connections like the one she’d had with Molly, with Scarlett, with him.

It was for the best. Rose deserved the fairytale, and it wasn’t something he could give her. He was hoping to interest her in spending time with him until this deep need to be with her disappeared. It wasn’t as if he’d planned on asking her to marry him.

For a moment, a clear picture of Rose on a horse wearing a champagne-colored dress, her long hair hanging in curls down her back, flashed before his eyes. Stumbling to the one side, he got out his phone. He didn’t want to stay here another minute.

*

Rose was so stunned to see Cooper on the sidewalk in front of the building where she lived, it took another minute before she shoved Duncan away. By that time, Cooper had disappeared into the crowd.

“Come on, Rose, everyone is watching,” he growled as he tried to pull her back.

“That’s your problem. I don’t ever want to see you again,” she said loud enough for everyone around them to hear her.

With her heart breaking into tiny little pieces, she turned around and quickly moved away. Cooper had, of course, seen her in Duncan’s arms, jumped to his own conclusions, and had stormed off in a huff. Wasn’t he supposed to know things?

What about just asking her what was going on? But nooo, he’d just turned around and disappeared. Damn it, he knew how she drank her coffee, shouldn’t he know what she was feeling? The bottom line was, he’d probably been looking for an excuse to end whatever was between them and now he had it.

Angrily wiping her eyes where tears were threatening to spill over, she gnashed her teeth. She was not crying over a man again, she had a few more presents to buy, damn it. Her steps slowed down.

Could she go back to Marietta knowing Cooper was close but she wouldn’t see him, touch him, kiss him?

Squaring her shoulders, she continued to the toy shop around the corner.

Of course she could. She wasn’t going back for him.

She was going back for herself. Her soul had healed in the picturesque little town at the foot of Copper Mountain, she’d made the best friends, and she was planning to start a new business.

No animal-talking, blue-eyed cowboy was going to stop her, no matter how gorgeous he was.

It would mean no visits with her Weston friends when their whole family would be there, but she’d still see them at the book club and she and Arlene were neighbors.

For the past few months she’d been living in Marietta, she’d hardly ventured outside, too busy licking her damaged ego. She was now ready to throw herself wholeheartedly into all things Marietta. Starting with the Autumn Festival next week.

Besides, it wasn’t as if she’d actually fallen for Cooper Weston. It might take her a tad longer to get over him than she would’ve liked, but get over him she would.

Bonus, she didn’t even have to rush home now, she could make sure all her affairs were settled. The main reason why she’d been so excited to go back as quickly as possible, didn’t exist anymore.

*

Cooper arrived back on the ranch around dinner time. He was tired and fed up, mostly with himself. He could go home and avoid the whole why-are-you-back-and-where-is-Rose scene, but he’d rather get it over with as soon as possible.

What the hell had he been thinking rushing after Rose? As he got out of his truck outside the big house, he heard Prince and Charlie barking inside. They’d heard him.

Something touched his leg and as he looked down, Ebony’s big eyes met his.

I’m sorry , she communicated.

Sighing, he picked her up and buried his face in the soft fur. “It’s okay. On the plus side, you don’t have to worry about another woman in the house. She won’t be back.”

The kitchen door opened. Prince and Charlie came bounding out, tongues hanging out, clearly happy to see him. Crouching down, he put Ebony down and stroked and talked to the two dogs until they settled. More or less.

As he got up, he noticed Willow on the back porch, a question mark on her face.

Swallowing his irritation, he walked toward her. “She… there was another man.”

Arms crossed, his sister watched him. “And what? Were they getting married?”

“No, but he had his arms around her. I got the message.”

“Did you talk to her? Couldn’t you sense what she was feeling?”

“How could I? He was all over her.”

“So, you didn’t even try and read what she was feeling? You just turned around and left?”

“Is there any food left?”

Sighing, Willow stepped closer and hugged him. “You’re an idiot, you know that? You’re in love with her. Probably have been since the day you opened her car door, but you’re too stubborn, too intent on carrying whatever guilt you feel about Walker’s death alone and…”

Irritated, he pulled away. “There’s more?”

“I understand why you’re pulling back. Like me, you feel too much, like me, you carry everyone’s pain and you don’t think you have the emotional capacity to carry one more person’s.

But Coop, whether you like it or not, whether you want it or not, you’ve been carrying her pain ever since she’d arrived in town.

And look at you. You’re fine with it. Okay, right now you’re ticked off because someone else had his arms around her, but you’re not falling apart.

And another thing—you’ve been much more pleasant since you’ve been kissing someone regularly. ”

“Hey,” Becket called from the door. “Food’s getting cold, come on.”

As Cooper and Willow entered the dining room, all eyes were on him.

“Where’s Rose?” Ellie asked.

“He saw Rose in another man’s arms and fled,” Willow said.

“You haven’t told her how you feel about her?” Laura rolled her eyes. “Why are all Weston men so slow to admit they’ve fallen in love?”

Hayden leaned over and kissed her. “I was slow, but when I finally understood why I’d been so crazy, I pulled out all the stops.”

“Indeed, you have.” Laura laughed.

“Quick weddings seemed to be in the genes,” Ellie smiled. “I had no plans to marry either, but then this guy everyone warned me about walked into my shop and caught me in his arms.”

Becket kissed her. “Best day, ever.”

“Well, just for the record,” Willow said, “I’m a Weston but I’m not getting married. Ever.”

“So you’ve said,” Hunter replied. “On several occasions.”

While Willow was still glaring at Hunter, Cooper got some food. He wasn’t really that hungry. As he picked up his knife and fork, he found Luke, Hayden’s eight-year-old son’s eyes on him. Those two eyes were way too knowing for his piece of mind.

“Just so you know,” Luke said. “I’ve been a groomsman before when Uncle Becket got married. I know what to do.”

Everyone laughed. Chuckling, Cooper nodded. “Thanks, Luke, I’ll keep that in mind.”

Everyone around him fell silent.

“Not that I’m interested in getting married,” he quickly added.

With a groan, Willow rolled her eyes.

Hunter cleared his throat. “So, Coop, are you saying you’re not interested in Rose?”

Willow’s eyes narrowed as she glared at Hunter.

“She’s in Seattle with someone else, is what I’m saying.” Cooper grunted.

“What if she returns to Marietta?” Hunter asked.

“Why, you interested?” Willow just about snarled.

Looking completely unaffected by Willow’s rude behavior, Hunger shrugged. “Asking for a friend.”

“Yeah, right.” Willow got up. “I’ve lost my appetite. Coop, before Neanderthal here drags Rose into his cave, I suggest you get your head on straight.” With a nod, she quickly left the room.

“Why is Aunt Willow angry with you, Hunter?” Luke asked.

Grinning, Hunter shrugged. “You better ask her, Luke. She’s not talking to me.”

“Why is that?” Ellie asked.

Laura and his brothers also chimed in, but Cooper wasn’t listening anymore. There was no reason for him to feel let down. Even if Rose came back to Marietta—which he doubted—he should keep as far away from her as possible.

He was busy enough as it was. Scarlett still needed a lot of attention and so did Lady. He had to find her another home even if Rose was coming back. She’d been very adamant about the fact she didn’t want another dog. He was the one who kept insisting she needed one.

Maybe Lady could even stay with him. He’d have to see what Ebony had to say about that. Prince and Charlie wouldn’t object, they were always happy for more playmates.

Ebony jumped on his lap, her eyes full of questions, Stroking her, he communicated he was fine. With an I-don’t-believe-you look, Ebony jumped down again.

He got up. It was time to go home. His empty home.