Page 43 of This Time Around
But, what I was getting from her?She wanted it.And fuck it.I did too.I moved toward her with purpose, not stopping until I was directly in front of her.My hand went to her cheek and she shut her mouth.
“We’ll figure it out in the morning.No sense in getting worked up tonight.Will the animals be safe?”
She was soft.So, so much softer than I’d imagined.Her eyes flickered and her dark, surprised eyes met mine.
She didn’t pull away though.Good sign.
“Cattle will protect themselves.All the others will be fine unless lightning strikes.”
“Okay.Tomorrow, we’ll take care of everything okay?”
“Okay, Cooper.”
“You’ve had a hard day.You going to be able to sleep tonight?”
Her lips twitched.“Probably as much as I normally do.I’ll be fine.”
“Fine.My mom always said that’s what women say when they’re anything but fine.”
A soft puff of air escaped her lips, hitting the edge of my palm.Hot.Sweet.Damn, she was cute.“I’m as good as I can be.”
I wanted to make her better.
And screw it.What was the worst that could happen?I move back to L.A.sooner than I wanted to?
Until then, I had nothing but time on my hands to get her to see things my way.
“Good.”My thumb brushed over her cheek.
Her lips parted and eyelids flickered again.A beautiful pink bloom rose on her cheeks and I dropped my hand, stepped away.
Small steps forward would hopefully prevent giant leaps backward.
“Have any blankets for me?”
It took her a minute to respond.“Yeah.I’ll get them.”
She left the room.I took the time to clean up the kitchen, not much besides one of my beer bottles, her wine, and wineglass.The entire house was spotless, cleaner than usual.
“I have blankets.And I found a new toothbrush for you.”
I hadn’t heard her return and she didn’t walk into the kitchen.She stayed in the doorway between the living room and kitchen, holding a pile of blankets so large I wouldn’t need them all even if it hit below zero.On top, a yellow toothbrush still in its packaging.
She made no move to set them down.
I went to her again.I’d do it over and over again.
“Thank you,” I whispered, and reached to take the pile from her arms.
They stayed where they were long after I’d taken the blankets from her before falling to her sides.
She stared up at me, brown eyes no longer void but filled with everything beautiful and hopeful.The pink on her cheeks had darkened.
Before she gathered her wits and got out of there, I bent down, letting my intention be known, and pressed my lips to her temple.“Thank you, Rebecca.Sleep well.”
