Chasing Dreams (Devil's Bend) (12 page)

Tessa
looked over her shoulder at the swing he was referring to and had she been
drinking something, she would’ve choked. The dilapidated swing appeared to be
hanging by a thread as opposed to the two rusty chains that actually secured it
to the wood rafters. Jerry had never wanted to replace it for as long as she
could remember.

“Don’t
worry, I checked. It’s stable. It’ll do for a while.”

Tessa
wasn’t sure she believed him, but she nodded her head anyway.

When
the food was laid out between them, the plastic utensils and the paper plates
within reach, Tessa looked up at Cooper. “This is great, by the way. I was
worried you’d be the fancy type, and I won’t lie, I’m not big into that stuff.”

“I
think I knew that,” he replied, grinning.

“What
are you trying to say, Krenshaw?” Tessa tried to sound stern, but her smile
probably gave her away.

“We’re
a lot alike. I’d much prefer to sit out here all night as opposed to wine and
dine in some fancy restaurant. I’m claustrophobic in social scenes like that. I
like wide open spaces. I don’t think Marcus ever truly understood that.”

Tessa
knew he was referring to his manager, and she noticed the frustration that
lingered briefly in Cooper’s eyes. For the last couple of weeks, she’d
overheard bits and pieces of several of his phone conversations, and although
she only ever heard a few words, she sensed that he still wasn’t happy with
Marcus or what he was telling him.

“Do
you plan to just walk away from your career?” she blurted as she watched him
scoop potato salad onto his plate.

Cooper’s
eyes met hers, his lips a thin line as he seemed to be trying to read her
intention. Smiling, she made an effort to lighten the mood. “Don’t worry, I’m
not planning to go talk to the tabloids.”

He
smiled back, but it didn’t reach his eyes. Feeling as though she overstepped
and invaded his personal space, she followed up with, “Sorry. We can talk about
whatever you want.”

“No,
I’m good. Where you’re concerned, I’m an open book.”

Tessa
wasn’t sure she wanted him to be an open book because that would mean he would
expect the same from her and there were too many things that she shied away
from talking about. Her history was one of them.

“I
like this,” he said as he motioned with a tilt of his head toward the fields,
“but I don’t want to give up my career altogether. Maybe slow down some. I want
to do something more. There’s a part of me that is constantly looking for a
challenge. I think I found that here.”

Tessa
wondered whether he was referring to the potential of the farm or her.

“And
you’re up for the challenge of a farm?”

Cooper
tilted his head, as though studying her again and Tessa fought the urge to
squirm.

“It’ll
be the biggest challenge of my life no doubt. Not only will it take a
tremendous amount of time, but the back breaking work will keep me occupied.”
Cooper paused, his gaze still intently focused on her. “Financially, I can help
in a lot of ways, such as getting the center off the ground, but I know it
won’t be enough for me. Being able to work with children and horses and to see
the benefit of them together, that’s where the true reward is.”

“What
made you want to work with kids?” she asked.

There
was a distant sadness in Cooper’s eyes that made Tessa’s heart ache in response,
but for the first time, he didn’t answer her.
Open book, huh?
Well, it
looked like he had some things he wanted to keep to himself, so Tessa didn’t
feel so guilty about not sharing her life story with him just yet.

Changing
the subject, she asked, “So, you don’t want to stop performing?”

Cooper
forked potatoes in his mouth, his gaze intently focused on her to the point she
was about to start fidgeting when he finally spoke. “No, I don’t want to stop
altogether. The fans are the reason I keep doing what I do. But, honestly, I
like
The Rusty Nail
,” he replied, sounding serious.

“So,
what? You’re going to give up all the world traveling and just sing at a small
town bar a couple of nights a month?”

“I’m
thinking about it.” She had to break the eye contact, fearful that he would see
the lust that was slowly building inside of her as she watched him eat.
Luckily, the food looked wonderful, effectively redirecting her attention.

Cooper
hadn’t skimped on dinner. According to the napkins, he ordered from Charlie’s
Restaurant: roasted chicken, potato salad and corn on the cob. She remembered
he was a man of routine and couldn’t help but think that this was definitely
not his normal meal.

“Would
that bother you? Me hanging around your bar indefinitely?”

Tessa
grinned. She couldn’t lie to the man. “I kinda like you hanging around.”

“Well,
that’s good because if I have anything to say about it, I’ll be hanging around
for a long time.”

They
ate in silence for a few minutes, both of them glancing out over the landscape
as the night descended upon them. When they were finished, Tessa helped Cooper
clean up the mess, using a large black trash bag to dispose of the containers
since he didn’t yet have a trash can.

When
he disappeared inside the house for a few minutes, Tessa moved over to the
rickety porch swing and decided to test it out. There was a new cushion on it,
probably the ugliest one he could possibly find, too. The dark red with even
darker blue flowers was not at all appealing to the eyes. She liked the idea of
him planning ahead for their date though and the longer she was there, the more
she liked the idea of being somewhere that no one would interrupt them.

Getting
comfortable, Tessa gazed out at the acres of empty space in front of her. There
was no denying the jealousy she felt when it came to the land and the fact that
Cooper had purchased it. It was the perfect place to build an equestrian
center. She could almost picture where the barn and the stables would go, as
well as the various areas that could be sectioned off for events. And despite
the fact that she didn’t own the land outright, it was as though she now had
the opportunity to live her dream vicariously through Cooper.

She
wanted to believe that she wouldn’t harbor any ill-will toward the man for
having the opportunity she knew she’d never have, but she wondered whether that
was even possible.

Cooper
managed to clean up what he could and then grabbed two beers from the
refrigerator. He wouldn’t let Tessa know that the beer was the only thing he
had stocked up on prior to picking her up. Considering the refrigerator had
seen much better days, – probably back in the seventies when it was new – he
wasn’t all that keen on putting anything else inside. Thankfully, his
refrigerator would be delivered later in the week, and he would be able to
donate that one to someone else who could put it to good use.

Making
his way back outside, he let the screen door slam behind him, the loud slap
making him smile. It reminded him of growing up, running through the house and
right out the back door, his momma yelling at him not to slam the door seconds
before it did just that. God, he missed her even though he talked to her
practically every single day. Sometimes more. That was probably the only thing
about being in Texas that he found disconcerting. He had always been close to
his parents.

Realizing
he was on a first date – although technically, it was officially their second –
with a woman he actually wanted to know more about, Cooper shook off the train
of thought.

When
he walked back outside, he found Tessa sitting on the swing, her legs curled up
beneath her as she stared out at the overgrown fields that surrounded the
house.

“What
are you thinking right now?” he asked as he approached, handing her one of the
beers.

“Huh?”

She
was stalling, so he merely smiled at her, letting her know he’d caught onto her
game. “I can tell you’re lost in thought. Where’d your mind go?”

“Nowhere,”
she lied and Cooper frowned.

Figuring
they knew each other better than most first date couples did, Cooper went ahead
and sat on the swing beside her, wrapping his arm across the back and around
her shoulder, easily pulling her up next to him. He loved the way she felt
against him. The soft skin of her bare arm brushing against his, the sweet
smell of her hair, it was a combination that brought out his protective side in
a bad way. Then again, everything about her seemed to do that.

“See
the old barn out there?” he asked her as she settled against his side, sighing
as though she’d resigned herself to his questions.

“The
one that’s falling down?” she giggled.

“That’d
be the one.” Cooper took a swallow of his beer, then rested the bottle on his
knee. “I’m gonna tear it down and build another one. I want to push it back a
hundred yards or so. Get it farther from the house.”

“I’m
assuming it’ll be bigger?”

“Yeah.
I’m hoping to stable at least six horses and have more animals, so I’ll need a
place big enough to store stuff. At first, it’ll probably seem like overkill.
I’ll probably only start out with two or three horses, maybe a dog or two.”

“I
think that’s a smart move. See where it goes.”

Cooper
heard the sadness in her tone. According to everything he had learned since
arriving in town, Tessa had the same dream he did. Although hers was probably
more thought through… planned out.

“Would
you do it differently?”

Tessa
glanced up at him, her pretty green eyes sparkling as though he’d found the one
thing she loved to talk about. He suddenly really wanted to get her input.

She
turned back to look out at the fields and said, “The first measure of business
should obviously be clearing the land, ensuring the outer fences are in shape.
Check the barbed wire, get all of that repaired. I don’t think you’ll have to
worry about a bunch of garbage to be hauled off with the exception of that
barn.”

That
was one thing about the property that Cooper had been happy about. The land was
entirely fenced and based on what he saw, the majority of it was in decent
shape. Only a few sections needed to be rebuilt, but certainly manageable.

“Got
it. Clean and repair first.”

Tessa
peeked up at him briefly. He ran his hand slowly down the side of her cheek,
encouraging her to continue.

“From
there, I’d probably start out small,” she continued, resting her head back
against his shoulder, sipping her beer before holding it in her lap. “Obviously
dispose of that,” she nodded with her chin toward the barn. “Depending on what
you’re planning to replace it with, that could take some time.”

“I’m
not looking to take a lot of time,” he informed her. Not that he flaunted his
money, but he had enough to do what he wanted to do and then some. “It’ll
probably be the first thing I really focus on. I’d like to see it up in a
couple of months, if possible.”

“That’s
definitely possible, but again, that depends on the size,” she stated. “From
there, assuming you’ll build the stables at the same time, you should start out
with three horses, maybe four. If you’re hiring a trainer, you’ll have some
help in taking care of them. They’re a lot of work for one person, so you’ll be
busy just with their upkeep. Are you going to hire someone to help?” she asked,
lifting her beer to her lips again.

Cooper
glanced down, watching as her lips touched the edge of the bottle, the way she
tipped it up just a little before moving it back to her lap and sliding her
pretty pink tongue over her bottom lip. He suddenly had a craving to lick that
bottom lip himself.

Maybe
it was the fact that they were somewhere private for the first time since he’d
met her, maybe it was just being outside with nature, or maybe it was simply
the woman… Any way he sliced it, Cooper hadn’t felt this content in a long
time. For years, he’d been going ninety miles an hour, never slowing down. But
here, this place, this woman, he felt as though he had a chance to enjoy it.

“Do
you think I should hire someone?” Lifting his gaze back to the rapidly
darkening expanse of sky in front of them, Cooper listened to the crickets as
they chirped loudly around them.

“I
don’t think it’s a bad idea. You can check in with the high school. They’ve got
an agriculture program and might have some kids looking to learn.”

Cooper
liked that idea. A lot. Apparently Tessa Donovan had done her homework. It
confirmed for him that she’d been telling him the truth from the get go.

They
sat in silence for a few minutes, neither of them needing conversation to make
things comfortable. Cooper loved sitting outside like this. With nature being
the only sound disrupting the breeze flowing across the acres of tall grass.
Other than the light from the kitchen spilling through the screen door and
spraying a soft, buttery glow over the wooden planks of the porch, it was now
almost totally dark. There weren’t any other lights in the distance, no other houses
within miles to disturb the perfection of the evening.

“Why
haven’t you done this yet?” he asked, using his hand to gesture toward the barn
in the distance.

When
Tessa flinched in his arms, her soft body no longer pliant, he tightened his
arm around her, unwilling to let her run from him. She didn’t have to answer
the question, but he didn’t want her to go. Not yet.

“You
just seem so passionate about it, especially when you talk.”

Tessa
tried to pull away again, but Cooper held her tight. “Don’t.”

“Don’t
what?” she asked, once again trying to sit up straight.

“Don’t
run away. I’m sorry. Forget I even asked.”

Long
seconds passed before Tessa eased back against him, but Cooper noticed that she
wasn’t relaxed anymore. Her body was rigid beneath his arm, her shoulders
tense. He lowered his head toward her, pressing his lips against her hair and
inhaling her sweet, fresh fragrance.

He
could get used to this. Get used to this woman. Although he hadn’t known her
all that long, Tessa was the type of woman he’d been looking for. Sweet,
honest, maybe a bit too apprehensive though. She had all of the characteristics
of a woman who could withstand a long term relationship if she’d give herself
another chance. Something he was looking for, more so now than in previous
years.

Ever
since he hit thirty, Cooper had been looking for long term. Maybe not actively
pursuing women for a happily ever after, but he had kept the thought in mind
when entertaining the women he came in contact with.

From
the minute he stepped off of the stage in Chicago, Illinois, Cooper had known
he was ready to slow down. To settle down. And as he walked out of the concert
arena, he decided there was never a better time than right then. He found
himself heading south soon after that.

A
year ago, he had wanted to believe he had found his happily ever after, although
the circumstances hadn’t been within his control, he figured fate had been
dealing him a surprise hand. Unfortunately, he’d learned soon enough that his
life had just taken an off-road detour, and he was forced to find his way back
to his original path.

Now
that he was in Devil’s Bend, he felt like he had finally found the place he was
meant to end up and no matter how much Marcus threatened him, Cooper wasn’t
going anywhere. Was it possible that he had found everything he was looking
for? Could Tessa be the woman?

“Have
you considered a petting zoo?” Tessa’s sweet voice drifted over the sound of
cicadas chirping in the towering oak trees.

Cooper
laughed, and this time Tessa did pull away. Completely. She pushed up off the
swing, sending it rocking wildly until he managed to still it, moving to the
edge.

“Where’re
you going?” he asked, looking up at her as she paced away. “Come here, Tessa.”

When
she stopped abruptly, Cooper held his breath, waiting to see what she would
say.

“Why’d
you laugh?” she asked, her voice suddenly sad.

Choosing
not to spook her, Cooper remained where he was, placing his empty beer bottle
on the porch beneath his feet.

“Come
here, Tessa,” he repeated more firmly, his eyes never leaving her. Ok, so she
was definitely skittish, even more than he thought. They needed to work on that
knee-jerk reaction of hers.

He
wasn’t sure whether she won whatever internal struggle she was having or not,
but Tessa finally turned to face him and he locked his gaze on hers. There
wasn’t an ounce of the sadness he had detected in her tone written on her face.
No, she looked more pissed than upset, but he was ready to remedy that.

He
tilted his head slightly, lifting one eyebrow as he waited for her to give him
a piece of her mind, or worse, turn and run. Cooper might be laidback, he might
be easing into the slow life, but he wasn’t a patient man for the most part.
With Tessa, he realized he wasn’t going to have much of a choice but to adapt.

She
took a few steps closer, putting her beer bottle on the table. When he lifted
his eyebrow once more, she moved even closer. Once she was within feet of him,
he put his hands on her hips and pulled her closer, causing her to stumble. She
righted herself by placing her hands on his shoulders as he looked up into her
face.

“I
wasn’t laughing at you, Tessa.” He kept his voice firm, making sure she
understood that he preferred talking to running. “I was laughing because of how
perfect you are. Or rather how ironic it is that we have so much in common, yet
we’re so different.”

Tessa’s
expression didn’t change, but she wasn’t trying to pull away from him, so
Cooper considered that a win.

“I’m
sorry if you thought I was laughing at you. I promise, I wasn’t. I’m not
surprised that you’ve come up with a million ways to make this place into
something only dreams are made of. You’ve managed to consider all of the
possibilities.”

Tessa
didn’t say anything as they stared at each other, the defining moment upon
them. If she was going to put up a wall every time he did something she didn’t
like, they weren’t going to get anywhere.

“I
don’t want you to run,” he admitted openly, his hands involuntarily gripping
her hips more firmly. Being this close to her made his body hum and his brain
buzz. “I’m going to say and do stupid things from time to time. Bear with me.”

“I
don’t want to run, but…” Tessa left the sentence hanging between them.

“Then
stay. Right here with me.” Cooper allowed his voice to drop, brown eyes locked
with green as he willed her to understand what he was feeling.

“I
could ask the same from you,” Tessa whispered.

His
brow furrowed as he tried to understand what she was telling him. Apparently
she realized his confusion because she continued.

“It
seems to me that you’re the one running. From your career, from your fans.
Who’s to say you’ll stay here? Why would I even want to believe you would?”

Cooper
let go of her hips, forcing himself to his feet as he moved away from her. Was
Tessa right? Was he running? The thought pissed him off because that was the last
thing he wanted to do. He didn’t run. When things got tough, he wanted to
believe that he would stick it out, but maybe Tessa was right. Shit. Maybe he
was just being selfish again.

“This
isn’t easy for me,” Tessa stated from behind him, but Cooper didn’t turn to
face her.