“First, I would never,everdo that to you. I have eyes for one woman, and she kind of smells at the moment,” he says with a small smile. “Second, I was talking to Ada West. She ismarriedto an old friend of mine, I went to high school with, Knox West.”
“Why did she kiss your cheek?” I ask. I need to know.
“She was messing with Knox,” he says.
“That’s it?”
“Yep. I love riling Knox up. It’s funny, and he had a couple too many beers, and Ada was making him pay for it because they have three kids, and he’ll probably pass out the moment they get home. They don’t get out much.” He pauses, studying me.
I wring my shaking hands, feeling like more of a fool.
“But I want to be clear about something with you. Even if a womandidapproach me, I wouldn’t let it get that far. These hands, this mouth, this body, is for one woman, and her name is stubborn to the point of pain, but I love her.”
My jaw drops and I think my brain forgot to tell my lungs to breathe. Everything tingles, even the edges of my hair.
“So, what do you think? Are you going to be a little less stubborn with me?”
My mouth finally forms words, but what comes out is not what I wanted. “You love me?” I ask him.
“Yes, ma’am, very much so,” he says like it was written on his forehead the whole time.
“I’m sorry, Cooper.”
“You nearly killed me, but it’s okay.”
“It’s really not. Does Naomi know anything? I … it kills me to think I disappointed her, or she thought I’d leave without saying goodbye.”
He shakes his head and takes another step. One more and he’ll be in the house. He grabs the sides of the doorjamb and leans in. “She’s seven, Mae. There are details she doesn’t need to know.”
I lift my chin. “So you’re not mad at me?”
“Nope,” he clips. “I have plenty of other things to be mad at, honey, and you struggling to beat those fears of yours is far from one of them. But if I can take them and carry them for you, I will,” he says, taking the final step inside and closing the door.
I step back, and he chuckles, still watching me carefully.
“So what’ll it be, stubborn?”
“You … really want me?” I ask him, still dumbfounded.
He grins wider and shakes his head. “I’ll add repeating myself in order to remind you to the list. But yes, Mae. I love you, it’s that simple.”
I stare at him, not sure how this will work. Maybe it means I have to go back and forth to Colorado, but my place is here with him.
“I love you, too. I’m yours … if you’ll have me.”
He huffs and sets his hat on the hook.
“I’ve been dying for you to say that,” he says, and takes my face, pressing a gentle, healing kiss to my mouth. “You’re all I’ve ever wanted,” he rasps.
“You’re too forgiving,” I mutter against his lips.
“Not when it comes to my woman, I’m not. You could stab me in the heart and I’d die a fortunate man. I mean, please don’t we have a kid and hopefully a ton more to raise, but you get the point?”
“I’m sorry my insecurities got the best of me. It was wrong to run, and I see that now. But I know what I want, Cooper.You.I’m sorry it took me so long to see it. I’m an idiot for avoiding it because that’s clearly what I was doing.”
He shrugs and reaches for me. “Idiot? No, maybe a little dense? Sure.”
I frown and he chuckles, leaning in to kiss my cheek, then he rears back.
