Page 19 of What the Cowboy Wants (The Westons of Montana #3)

R ose was back in Marietta in her house late the following Monday night. She hadn’t told any of her friends she was returning, mostly because she hadn’t been sure until the last minute whether she’d be able to get a flight. Fortunately, her car was at the airport.

The worst part of the whole trip had been driving past the entrance of the Weston Ranch. Everything inside her wanted to go through those gates to Cooper’s house, but she hadn’t stopped. It was better this way. The longer time she’d spent with him, the more difficult it would’ve been to walk away.

Unlocking the door, she dragged the big suitcases she’d brought with her on the flight inside the house and locked the door behind her. Switching on the light, she looked around.

Laura had been here. Quite a few pieces of furniture were gone. The house felt empty. It would all change again the following day when her things arrived. She knew just where she wanted to put her grandma’s pieces.

This was her new home, and tomorrow morning she was starting a new life. Dragging her suitcases behind her, she walked toward the bedroom. Oh, my goodness, it was quiet without Molly.

Well, she didn’t have to be alone. She was going to get herself a cat or a dog. Surely it had to be possible to get a pet around here without involving Cooper Weston?

Tomorrow night was book club. Hopefully one of her friends would know where she could find one.

*

Gasping, Cooper woke up Tuesday morning to find Ebony sitting on his chest. He’d just had a dream about Rose and if he could trust his instincts, she was back in Marietta.

He’d hardly slept and had been rolling around the bed till the early morning hours, much to the dogs’ and Ebony’s dismay.

“What’s wrong?” he asked the cat.

Rose is back , Ebony communicated. The dogs also barked, confirming what Ebony said.

He picked up the cat and sat up. “I know but it doesn’t matter that she’s back. She’s got someone else in her life. She’s probably just here to get all her stuff.”

Hissing in disgust, Ebony jumped off the bed. With disappointed looks, Charlie and Prince followed her out of the room.

Sighing, Cooper got up. He had work to do. Someone from town whose son had been diagnosed with autism was bringing the boy to the ranch later in the morning. Usually, he’d be eager to work with the kid and the horses, but since last week it had been difficult to get excited about anything.

The joy he usually experienced every day had been sucked out of his life. Of course, he knew what the reason was, but there wasn’t anything he could do about it, was there?

He fed the dogs and had a quick breakfast. This morning, he didn’t want to face his family. Their constant digs were seriously beginning to tick him off.

As he walked toward his truck, Hayden pulled up. Becket was riding shotgun.

“Come on, hop in,” Becket said. “Mom called, she needs us to help her with something.”

“Help her with what?”

“Are you coming?” Becket smiled. “No dogs this time, Mom said.”

“Sorry, guys,” Cooper told his dogs. “I’ll be back.” Ebony was nowhere to be seen. She was probably sulking somewhere in a corner.

*

Dismayed, Rose stared at the pieces of furniture and the boxes on her porch.

She’d just been to town to get basics food items, but she’d spoken to the movers before she’d left.

They wouldn’t get to Marietta for another hour, they’d confirmed, and she’d only been away for half an hour. Why couldn’t they wait?

Sighing, she went into the house. Well, there was nothing else she could do but move the things herself. She should maybe just change into something more comfortable.

Minutes later she was wearing an old pair of jeans, a top that had seen better days, and had her hair up in a bun. As she walked to the front door, she tried to think of ways to move the furniture. Maybe she could use one of the rugs that had been delivered to pull the bigger pieces into her house.

The front doorbell rang. It was probably Arlene, coming the see if she could help. There was no way she would ask the older women to help, though.

Smiling, she opened the door and blinked. It was Arlene, all right, but she wasn’t alone. Behind her, big and muscled, were the three Weston brothers. Becket and Hayden were smiling, but Cooper was so obviously uncomfortable, she had to swallow the giggle threatening to slip out.

“Arlene! What…?”

“I tried to stop the movers from leaving, but they didn’t even look my way,” Arlene said. “I know you can’t move all this stuff by yourself, so I phoned the boys.”

Boys. Rose couldn’t help a chuckle. The three Westons were anything but boys. “It really isn’t necessary, Arlene, I know they’re busy on the ranch.”

“Nonsense,” she said brushing past Rose. “Just tell them where they should put what.”

Rose shook her head. “Sorry, boys”—she smiled in their general direction, making sure her eyes didn’t meet Cooper’s—“just put everything inside. That would be a great help, thank you. I’ll move it myself later.”

“We’re here,” Becket said. “There are only a few pieces, it won’t take up much time.” He put a hand on one of her grandma’s pieces. “Where do you want this?”

“Okay, thanks. That one can go to the living room, please.” All three of them bent down to pick up the piece, but her eyes, of course, only focused on Cooper. Under his blue denim shirt, his muscles moved, and her mouth watered. Her hands had been on him, she knew exactly how toned he was.

Closing her eyes for a moment, she quickly turned to show them where to put it.

*

By the time they’d put everything where Rose wanted it, Cooper was ready to punch something.

He had a hard time—pun intended—keeping his eyes off Rose.

Every time she lifted her arms, the top she wore moved, giving him a glimpse of soft skin.

The smell of wildflowers seemed to be everywhere he turned.

“So Rose,” his mother said as they put the last piece in place, “Cooper says you’re back with your Seattle boyfriend?”

“Cooper shouldn’t say things he doesn’t know anything about,” Rose said coolly, not looking at him.

“Duncan arrived at my apartment with the real estate agent, but I sent him packing. As I left the building, he was waiting for me. He’d arranged someone with a camera and grabbed me to get a picture.

I pushed him away, something Cooper would’ve seen if he’d waited.

” With arms crossed, her back straight, she walked toward the front door opened it.

“Thank you very much for your help, but I know you have work to do, I won’t keep you.

” With a fake smile in their direction, Rose waved.

His mother hugged Rose. “Will we see you tonight at the book club? And yes, you know you’re always welcome,” she added as Rose hesitated.

“Thank you,” she smiled. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

As his brothers walked toward Hayden’s truck and his mother left, Cooper turned to Rose. “Can we talk?”

She wouldn’t meet his eyes. “Nothing to talk about. You were looking for an escape and found it when you saw Duncan with me. That’s why you jumped to your own wild conclusions so quickly.”

“I reacted to what I saw! I was worried you were going back to… to being the person you’d run away from!” He was struggling not to yell.

Green eyes locked with his. “I thought you know me, Cooper. I let you touch me, kiss me. I shared my story in front of you. I helped you with your horses. You know how I like my coffee, damn it. You should know who I am. You should’ve known I’m not interested in any other man.

You don’t even need your sixth instinct or whatever it is to know what I feel.

I’ve shown you, every time we’ve been together.

” Looking tired, she rubbed her brow. “Look, just forget about it. Besides, you’re not looking for anything serious, remember?

Neither am I right now, but someday I may want to marry and have kids and that’s not something you want. Goodbye.” She closed the door.

For another moment he stared at the door.

“Are you coming?” Hayden called.

Cooper turned around and walked toward the truck where his mother was talking to his brothers.

“Tell me you’ve made plans to see Rose again?” his mother said.

“It’s better this way, Mom,” he said as he hugged her. “Stop meddling. I’m happy as I am.” Forcing his body to move, he tried to change the subject. “You okay?”

“I’m not the problem, Coop, you are. You’re not sleeping, you’re losing weight, don’t tell me you’re happy. I may not have a gift like you and Willow have, but I am your mother.”

“Love you, Mom.” With a wave he got into the truck.

“Talk some sense into him, will you?” his mother asked his brothers.

They were quiet until they reached the ranch. The Westons weren’t very good with talking about feelings, thank goodness for that.

Hayden cleared his throat. “Mom is right. You have lost weight and you hardly eat anything during meals.”

“What’s your problem?” Becket asked looking over his shoulder at Cooper. “Just don’t tell me you’re also feeling guilty about Walker’s death.”

“I’m the one who persuaded all of you to stay for another beer.”

Shaking his head, Hayden caught Cooper’s eye in the rear window mirror. “I get it, I do. For a long time, I’ve felt guilty because I was the one driving.”

“And I could’ve grabbed Walker’s jacket if I was paying attention,” Becket said.

Cooper sighed. “But if we’d left when you said, Hayden, the elk wouldn’t have been there and…”

“It took me while to look at it differently,” Becket interrupted him, “and if I remember correctly, you were the one who pointed it out. It was an accident, man. There wasn’t anything we could’ve done. Walker would be the last person to think you were responsible for his death.”

“I still miss him,” Cooper said.

“We all do.” Hayden’s voice was gruff. “Anyway, why don’t you talk to Walker? You were the one who’d suggested I should talk to him even though he’s not with us any longer.”