Her friends said she was a dreamer, a passionate soul who got restless too easily with the opposite sex. As grounded as she was in nursing, her private life hadn’t been all too...stable.
Cooper drove up in his four-wheel-drive Jeep and pulled in front of her car, grabbing her attention. He parked, then gripped the roll bar in one hand and hopped out.
“Oh, look, there’s Cooper,” her mother said.
How could she miss him? He was slapping dust off his chaps and blue chambray shirt as he began his approach, his stride confident, his smile welcoming. All golden tanned and muscled, he sauntered over.
“Hey,” he said.
The rich, deep tone of his voice made her gulp air. She’d grown up in Texas and rugged cowboys were a dime a dozen.
But Cooper Stone was in a class by himself. And the feminist in her said she could react this way about a handsome guy without tripping over guilt about Roger. Her fiancé.
Plus, Coop was doing her a big favor.
“Hi, Cooper. We made it,” she said lamely. Of course, they’d made it. It wasn’t as if she’d traveled across state lines to get there. Stone Ridge was a mere twenty miles from the Dallas city limits.
“I can see that.” He ducked his head into the turned-down window, which brought his face within inches of hers. “Morning, Loretta.”
“Cooper, it’s good to see you. Looks like you’re working already.”
“I like to get my hands dirty every so often, reminds me of my heritage.” He winked. “I was helping my crew tear down an old shack we had on the property. Glad I made it back in time to greet you.”
He pulled off his tan leather gloves and stuffed them into his back pocket. “Let me help you carry your luggage into the house,” he said. “I’ll show you to your rooms.”
“Are you sure we’re not putting you and Jared out? We don’t want to get in your way,” Lauren said. She’d never even considered the fact that this might inconvenience his brother, too.
“You’re not putting me out,” Cooper said automatically, which made her feel a ton better. “And my brother has his own place. He lives up the road at the other end of the pasture, and he’s on board with having the wedding here.”
“Good to know,” she said. She didn’t know Jared very well. He was younger than Cooper and Tony by a few years. She was happy that Jared didn’t mind. “But if we ever get in your way, you just say the word and we’ll make other arrangements.”
“Lauren.”
Okay, so maybe she was overdoing it, but Lauren wasn’t too good at accepting big favors like this. Or was it something else, something that had to do with her breath catching as soon as Cooper smiled at her?
“We appreciate your hospitality, Cooper,” her mother said.
“Anything I can do to help.” He walked around the car and gave her mother a hand as she got out of her seat.
Lauren climbed out, as well, and popped her trunk. Her life for the next month was crammed into her luggage, four bags in all. Her mom had brought two bags.
Cooper walked to the trunk. He didn’t blink an eye as he hoisted four of the bags like they weighed nothing. “I’ll get the rest on my next trip out.”
“I can get them,” Lauren said, pulling two pieces of rolling luggage out and setting them on their wheels.
“Cooper, for heaven’s sake, I’m not ancient,” her mother said. “Give me one of those bags.”
Copper grinned. “Sure thing.” He handed her the smallest one. “Here you go.”
In that one move, he’d saved her mother’s pride, telling Lauren he had enough confidence in his own manhood to allow her mom to help. Lauren made a mental note. Add that to the growing list of things she found appealing about Cooper Stone.
Once inside, Cooper stood in the foyer and pointed to a wide, winding staircase. “I’ve given you both the rooms facing west. You’ll see some amazing sunsets.”
“Thanks, Cooper,” she said. “Gosh, it’s been so many years since I’ve been to your ranch. This place is completely transformed.”
The living room was huge, with a floor-to-ceiling fireplace made with sleek slate and light wood. A sitting area faced the fireplace and another faced a set of windows overlooking the gardens and green pastures beyond. Overhead, thick beams lent a slightly rustic tone to the contemporary décor.
“I’ll show you around a little later, after you get settled in.” He began climbing the stairs and the two of them followed until they reached the first guest room.
“Oh, this is lovely,” her mother said immediately.
“Then I chose correctly,” he said. “I figured you’d like this room, Loretta.”
It was bright and cheerful with white-shuttered windows and ivory furniture upholstered in a floral motif. The room almost looked too girly for a bachelor’s ranch home.
Cooper dropped off her mother’s bags and then led Lauren to the next guest room, done in light blues with pale gray walls and stained mango wood furniture that instantly made her feel at peace. “This is nice.”
“Glad you like it.” He set her luggage down on the bed. “Here you go. I’ll see you later after a quick shower and change of clothes.”
Her eyes dipped to his body, an involuntary movement that brought a flush to her cheeks. If he noticed, he didn’t react.
“Okay, thanks again. See ya.”
“Lauren,” he said, a serious tone in his voice.
“What?”
“Stop thanking me. Please.”
She scrunched up her face. She couldn’t help it if her mother had drilled manners into her, could she?
“I’ll try.”
He gave her a nod. “Good enough.”
And then he was out the door, heading for a shower.
This time, she forced an image of Roger into her head.
Yes, that was a nice, safe place to be.
* * *
Cooper pulled out a pitcher of lemonade just as Loretta walked into the kitchen. “My goodness, what a pretty kitchen you have.”
Cooper only smiled. He’d had this house built seven years ago on the same spot as the old ranch house. His mother hadn’t minded tearing the old place down. She was quite progressive and didn’t like to dwell in the past. She and his dad had had a good life, but after he’d died, she’d spent all her energy on helping Cooper plan out a new modern-day version of the house. And his mother was a perfectionist, down to the last detail.
The enormous room had white cupboards, dark granite countertops and stainless-steel appliances. There was everything imaginable, from a brick oven to a six-burner stovetop with a covered grill to a table that seated eight. “My mom’s doing.”
“How is Veronica these days?”
“Mom’s good. She’s remarried, as you know, living down in Houston. Her husband keeps her pretty busy traveling.”
“Well, you tell her I said hello next time you talk to her.”
“Will do. Lemonade?”
“Sure, thanks.”
He poured them both a glass and handed one to Loretta. “I’m glad you’re here.”
“Me, too,” she said