Page 100 of This Time Around
Thirty-One
Cooper
I was staring at a hundred condoms, at least, littered and spread all over Rebecca’s bed.Brooke had shown up with a large paper bag in her hand and I’d sent her right upstairs, letting her know that Rebecca was probably napping, but she’d been doing that for hours.She’d slept through lunch, and it was closing in on time to start getting ready for dinner.
I buried the cattle, the hard work fizzling the anger and desire I had to stomp over to Jefferson’s land and return their care in shooting a coyote by putting a bullet in one of their animals but thought better of it.
No sense in doing anything of the sort until there was proof.Instead, I spent the rest of the time in her office, going through the cattle records like she’d explained to me once, filling out the paperwork on the cattle she lost.
“I don’t have to explain a thing,” Rebecca said.She walked right up to me and tugged the condom out of my hand.I didn’t even know they made pineapple flavored ones…but the ideas it gave me were something else.“You’ve met Brooke, you know she’s nuts.”
“Yeah, I know that, but I’m more wondering why she brought them in the first place.”
Rebecca nibbled her bottom lip and rubbed a finger across the spot.“Because I asked her to,” she said, and I had to lean in to hear her, she spoke so quietly.
Halle-freaking-lujah.Bet Gloria wouldn’t want me praising God at the thought of sex coming my way.
I brushed the woman out of my mind and grinned at Rebecca.“Why did you ask her to?”
If she thought I was letting this one go, especially since she was adorable with her cheeks darkening by the second, she was dead wrong.
She shrugged and grabbed a handful of the wrappers.They fell through her spread fingers like candy and she laughed, shaking her head.“You know why I did.Don’t make me say it.And I only called her because I knew I’d be busy today.”She turned to me and pointed.“And you promised we’d finish what you started this morninglater.”
My dick jerked and pressed against the zipper.Apparently, both of my brains were excited about that delightful possibility.
“I see.”I moved to the floor, close to the dented wall, which I tried to ignore and grabbed my bag.I flung it onto the bed and unzipped it.Digging through my crap, I grabbed the box I’d brought and added it to the pile.“Looks like Brooke and I think alike.”
Her hands settled on her hips and she laughed.It was cute and sweet, and she shook her head.“I honestly think there is not enough time in the world to have enough sex to go through all of these.”
I’d be willing to prove her wrong.I considered teasing her about it but changed my mind.
She nibbled on that lip again, and she only did that for two reasons, she was either nervous or thinking.
I didn’t want her doing either of those things when I brought her back here later.
“Come on.”I took her elbow in my hand and tugged her toward me.“Brooke took off.Said she had to get home before the boys had to be picked up from camp.But she did tell me to enjoy my night…which now makes so much more sense.”
“Brooke sucks.”
“Brooke loves you.And she’s hilarious.”
“Yeah.She still sucks, though.”
I’d give her that.Her friend was a complete nut, but everything Rebecca told me about her before I ever met her still rang true.She was crazy and loud, but loyal as hell.It actually felt good to know I had Brooke’s approval.
“I’ve got steaks marinating, ready to grill for whenever you’re hungry and I have some wine opened for you.How about we eat dinner”—and since I couldn’t resist, I continued—“and then see how many of those packets we can use tonight.”
“Oh God.”She made a choking sound and stumbled on her feet.“You are ridiculous.”
Yeah, but I made her laugh, too, and hearing that sound, knowing I’m the one who made her make it, always made me feel like a king.
Dinner wasdelicious and the company even sweeter.When we got downstairs, Rebecca had set to work roasting a pan of Brussels sprouts and whipped up garlic mashed potatoes.While she cooked, I kept her company near the kitchen counter, stealing snack-sized bites of whatever she was working on until she whacked my hand with a spatula.
It was just so damneasyto be with her.There were no pretenses, nothing hidden besides what she kept locked up in her brown eyes.Rebecca wasn’t only beautiful and determined and one of the hardest workers I’d ever met in my life, she was justher.She wore little makeup, casual clothes that hugged all her sexy curves, typically tank tops and frayed denim shorts.Her hair was down around her shoulders, but still held the kink of a ponytail band she’d put in it earlier.
She stunned me breathless not only with her beauty but the ease in which she simply invited everyone around to come closer.She had the vulnerability a man like me wanted to protect, the backbone to stand on her own.
Fucking hell.I’d gone and fallen in love with a woman who not only lived half a country away from me but was still in love with her husband.I’d known I was falling for her.Knew I cared a hell of a lot about her, but it was this moment, that night, where we were sitting in the fresh air, doing nothing more special than enjoying each other’s quiet company and easy laughter when it hit me.
