I shake my head and watch as Jacob spins them around. The happy smile is gone from Mae’s face, and she keeps looking over at us.
“Do you want me to say something? She might believe me,” June says.
“I don’t know how you’re going to manage that since they haven’t been apart for ten minutes,” I grumble.
June sighs. “It’s called the ladies room, Cooper, we go in pairs.”
I glance at her, and she leans her elbows on the bar. I don’t miss the way she peeks over at Sterling, making a few women laugh.
“Or I could punch Jacob in the face. We all know he deserves it.”
June hums. “You’re right, he absolutely deserves it. In fact, we should probably call Ledger because I’m sure he could arrest him for something. However, you don’t need to get yourself arrested for assault. Naomi doesn’t need that.”
I sigh, knowing June is right. The Cooper without a kid would have already taken Jacob out back because Jacob is not only being disrespectful, but all the gossip in Paxton isn’t just rumors.
He’s done some things with women that were borderline, and everyone knows about Kensington Ranch and their extra curriculars. All of those things, I’m positive Mae would not want to be associated with whatsoever.
I study Mae and Jacob on the dance floor from my barstool, refusing to move. It’s loud, and the beer is flowing, but I’m laser-focused. A few people come up to me and I give them a brief hello but keep watch. Is it a little creepy? Yes. Would I want a man staring at Naomi as an adult like this? No.
But the reckless part of me is coming through, and I want to let it all out.
Mae says something to Jacob, and he releases her.
“That’s my cue,” June says, moving in the same direction as Mae.
Chapter 14
Cooper
Theydisappearintotheladies room and I glare at Jacob as he saunters up to me with a satisfied look on his face.
“You jealous, Cooper?” he asks me.
I ignore him and watch for June and Mae to come back.
“It’s almost too easy sometimes, you know? I’ll probably take her home tonight, but after I’m done, she’s all yours.”
I grit my teeth and squeeze my fists while I recite my daughter’s name in my head over and over. A good man, a real man, has self-control. Unfortunately, mine is on a razor thin edge. But I force myself to keep my composure for the sake of Naomi, but also Mae. The last thing I want to do is give her a reason to ignore me for the rest of her life.
Jacob recognizes that he’s not going to get a rise out of me so he turns to a woman I don’t recognize, must be from the next town over, and starts flirting with her. She hit on me ten minutes ago, and I politely declined.
June is smiling at Mae as she speaks, and I sit up straight as they approach.
Jacob’s back is still to me, which means he doesn’t see Mae coming up to us. Our eyes meet and hers brighten, then instantly dull when she spots Jacob over my shoulder. I keep my mouth shut as she puts together what’s happening.
Last time I checked, if a man is on a date with a woman, his eyes are only on her, even if he doesn’t see it going anywhere.
I catch June, and her eyes widen, and she looks away, hopping up on the stool, about to watch this play out.
Mae steps past me and taps Jacob on the shoulder.
He looks down at her and smiles, and then he does a double take, realizing she’s seen everything.
Mae tilts her head and drops her hand to her popped hip.
Oh boy.
“Oh, hey, this is…” he trails off.
