Page 68 of This Time Around
I walked them all toward the edge of the patio where Peter was headed our way with Jordan and Cooper.
It took all I had not to stare at him, watch the way his strong, muscled body carried him all the way toward me.Earlier, when he’d kissed me with Ryan around, I hadn’t felt the smallest twinge of embarrassment.This morning, when I kissed him, I hadn’t hesitated.
Being around Cooper was easy.He still got me in ways no one else did, but it wasn’t just that, everything he did impressed me.
Today hadn’t been any different.He’d worked his butt off all day long, right alongside everyone else who’d been doing this for over a decade, and he’d behaved like he was born for ranch life.
He always did.Everything I taught him he took to like a natural, and he never stopped asking questions, wanting to learn more.
He wasn’t just sexy.He didn’t just kiss like God had gifted him the ability of perfect form.Every single thing about him drew me to him in ways I wanted to stop fighting.
“Thanks for everything today,” I said to everyone as they dished out goodbye hugs and handshakes.I held Jordan tighter than normal.“You’re a pain in my ass and I’m still pissed.”
“Get over it,” he muttered, squeezing me back just as harshly.“I like Tillie and she’s old.Plus, I think she’s getting sick but she’s too stubborn to tell anyone.I’m just keeping her safe.”
Ryan and Kelly lived across the street from her.They always kept their eye out.This had more to do with Tillie’s granddaughter who had put Jordan’s heart through a wood chipper way back before he hit the big leagues.I still hated her for it.
Tillie was sweet, though.“Fine.I love you.”
“Love you, too.”He kissed my cheek and stepped back.“I’m headed to the resort.Need to check on how things are with a wedding reception out there tonight, but you call me if you need me, okay?”
“Will do.”Asking for help was getting easier.Not that I needed to with Cooper here.“Drive safe.”
“Okay, Mom.”
I stuck my tongue out at him.
As everyone headed to their cars, Cooper slid next to me and settled his hand on my hip.We both reeked like sweat and hay but it didn’t stop me from resting my head on his shoulder.It was just so damn easy to lean on him.
“Long day,” he said.Lights on the cars flashed on, one after the other, as they started up.“Good day, though.Can’t tell you how much fun I had.”
Baling hay was not fun.It was long and exhausting, but the company and the camaraderie made it enjoyable.“No kidding.Pie was scrumptious, too.”
He smacked his flat stomach.“Damn, that woman can bake.”
“Gloria wins blue ribbon awards every summer in the county and state fair for her fruit pies.”
“No shit?”He shifted and looked down at me, that now familiar look of awe and excitement in his eyes whenever I told him some small, typically boring fact about small-town life.“They give out awards for that?”
“They give out awards for everything.Pickles and other canned foods, handwork projects, cake decorating, artwork from kids to adults…”
“You had me at cake decorating.I gotta see this.”
I took a few animals, two of my female goats and sometimes one of my bulls to judging every year.I hadn’t planned on it this summer, but there was still time to submit a few entries.The fair hit Kansas every September.
“It’s after Labor Day,” I said, my mood dropping to the gravel at my feet.
“Hmm.”He kissed the top of my head and then rested his forehead in the same spot.“Maybe I can stay longer for it.”
Pleasant trails of happiness slid through me like glitter bombs had cracked open all over me.They dissipated just as quickly.It didn’t matter, he’d still leave afterward.
“We’ll see,” I said.
His hand at my hip squeezed.“We’ll see.What do we do now?Need any more help cleaning up?”
“The girls and I got it all.I need a bath and fresh glass of wine.”
His eyes lit at the mention of the bath.Even with the darkening sky turning shades of purples and oranges as the sun set behind the trees, his eyes were still a glorious color.“Bath and wine sound good to me.”
