Chapter 1
Cooper
“Cooper!Areyouevenlistening to me?” Pam screams.
She came tearing up the gravel driveway when I was on my way to the main house for lunch, and I’ve been standing here for twenty minutes looking at the river as it bubbles and pushes over the rocks off to the left. I knew this day was coming. I was going to be a gentleman about it, but she’s not giving me the chance to let her down easy because I’ve been dodging her calls, trying to figure out how to tell her, but I realized she’s a little dense. Once we had a couple of dates, I knew she wasn’t the one.
But she didn’t pick up on that.
I sigh and look up at the beautiful blue sky. It’s a nice day. Naomi might want to go fishing with me later this afternoon.
Pam growls, and I drop my gaze to hers. “Yes, Pam, I am. But I’m not sure you’re hearing me.”
She scoffs and crosses her arms. Her low-cut top shows off her cleavage, and I make a point not to look.
“Pam, you’re a sweet woman, but this isn’t going to work out. Can we leave it at that?” I ask her.
She purses her lips and stomps her foot — like a child.
I’m pretty sure Naomi did that the other day when I told her we couldn’t stop at the Booked Bean for a cupcake because it would ruin her dinner.
“This is ridiculous. I thought we really had something.” She pauses. “Butshekept getting in the way.”
My hackles rise, and I would growl if I wasn’t a gentleman.No one.And I meanno onegets between me and my girl.
I puff out a breath, slow and steady, trying to calm myself. “Pamela. Let me make myself clear. I do not like you. There is no choice. I choose Naomi. I always will. That’s not up for discussion, or whatever you want to call this.” I gesture between us. “Won’t work,ever.”
“But why?” she whines.
I groan and mentally punchpastCooper in the face because I have no clue what he was thinking. Maybe it was the jeans painted on her ass, or maybe it was the way she smiled when I said something funny.
“I can’t believe I’m saying this … but the mere fact that you said I have to choose between you and my daughter is really the only reason that matters.”
Pam huffs. “Fine, your loss. See you never,” she says and spins on her heel back to her car and will probably pout to some other man by the end of the day. Hell, that’s how she got my attention.
When I turn back to the main house, I spot my cousins Fletcher and June staring at me through the window, chuckling.
I climb the stairs and push through the door.
“Well, that was entertaining,” June says, and goes back to the kitchen.
Fletcher winces and claps me on the back. “You alright?” he asks.
I shrug. “I’ve been better.”
Fletcher leads the way into the kitchen, where Aunt Dixie has the lunch spread set up for the whole crew.
“Maybe I need to chill with the dating for a bit.”
“Or maybe you should—”
“Uncle Coopy!” Naomi screams, coming around the corner and leaping into my arms.
My sour mood immediately changes with my girl in my arms. “Hey, sweetheart, what are you doing?” I ask her and kiss her on the cheek. She might be seven, but she’s small for her age, and I’ll take all the hugs I can get.
“Grandma Dixie and I made bread for lunch, and then I did an art project.”
“Sounds like you’ve been busy. Did she help you with your math practice?” I ask her.
