It's In His Heart (A Red River Valley Novel) (22 page)

“Hello, sweetheart.” Coop’s voice oozed charisma and sensuality.

Ella looked up into Coop’s oh-so-innocent eyes, which twinkled with wickedness. He leaned down and planted a sultry kiss square on her parted lips. She bit back the “what the hell are you doing here” accusation that teetered on the tip of her tongue. He pulled away just enough so his warm breath caressed her face, locked his eyes with hers, then dropped his gaze to her lips.

“These are for you.” He handed her a large bouquet of bright yellow lilies. “They match your dress, so I had to get them for you.”

Three simultaneous “awws” sounded from her friends. The very same friends that wanted to find a tree and a rope and make them a wardrobe accessory for Coop just a few weeks ago, and Ella wasn’t even sleeping with him then.

She just stared at him, unsure how to respond. One of Coop’s caramel-colored brows rose high, coaxing her, provoking her. Their silent battle of wills raged on until Marilyn cleared her throat.

“Hi, Cooper. You may not remember us, but I think we met you once or twice.”

“Oh, I remember you ladies. Good to see you again.” He greeted each one. Becca’s and Carissa’s mouths hung open. When he grabbed each one’s hand, they almost cooed. Ella suppressed the urge to kick them under the table. Too bad they didn’t bring their kids. Ella would buy them double scoops of Blue Bell ice cream and a Red Bull as payback. It would make an interesting ride home.

“And, please, call me Coop. All my friends do,” he said smoothly. He beamed a dazzling smile at Marilyn, who looked like she might melt.

So much for Mrs. Hardass.
And so much for not wanting to talk about Coop, because here he was in the flesh, making a show of his near supernatural ability to charm intelligent women into slobbering fools.

“Coop, pull up a chair and join us,” Marilyn said, all breathy.

“He can’t, can you, Coop. Aren’t you meeting your dad or something?”

He shook his head. “Nope. No plans at all for the next few hours.” He gave Ella another dazzling smile. The kind that had most women eating out of his hand and sucking on his fingertips. The kind that charmed the spandex high-compression pants right off her. Ella licked her lips and tried to refocus.

“Then by all means.” Becca motioned to an empty chair at the next table. “Have a seat.”

“Well, if I’m not interrupting and if Ella’s not embarrassed to be seen with me.”

Ella ground her teeth. “No, of course not.”

“Don’t be silly, Coop, of course you’re not interrupting. We’re finished eating anyway,” Becca said.

When Coop turned to retrieve the chair, Marilyn mouthed a “tsk, tsk” at Ella, who glared and grabbed her iced tea glass off the table. Before she said something she’d regret, she took a long drink.

“So tell us what you two have been up to here in Red River?” Marilyn asked, looking at them intently.

Coop circled her shoulder again and caressed the top of it with his fingertips. “Oh, a little rafting, a little dancing, a little fishing.” He gave Ella a sly smile, mischief flickering in his hazel eyes. “Lots of physical activity.” He turned a wondrous smile on Marilyn. “Gotta stay fit, ya know?”

Ella choked on her iced tea. Taking her glass, Coop handed her a napkin and rubbed the bare skin between her shoulder blades.

“Are you okay, love?” he asked her affectionately.

Love?
Really?

Her three buddies exchanged envious glances, and Ella’s face burned so hot her makeup might’ve melted a little.

“Butch, Coop, and a few others are redoing my bathroom,” Ella interjected, and they all looked at her like she was interrupting.
Seriously
? These ballbusters were just lecturing her on the phone about how unwise it was to get involved with him. With just a few smiles, they were already wrapped around his very capable finger.

And, oh, what he could do with those fingers. Her entire body flushed from head to toe.

“What happened, Coop?” Becca asked, gesturing at the colorful bruises on the side of his face.

Ella gave him a pleading look. If he told them about Lumberjack Guy, they’d never leave her alone. Or they’d go after the culprits themselves, vigilante style. These ladies looked out for their own.

He touched the spot with his fingertips. “Oh, I had a little fender bender. Nothing to worry about.”

“Sorry to spoil the party, but I have to ask, how’s your legal situation?” Carissa said, leaning forward on her elbows. “You know, I’m an attorney. I might be able to help.”

“My attorney said there’s been a break in the case. The plaintiff just changed her story, which looks bad for her.”

Ella’s head whipped around to study his profile. That was important news that he’d failed to share with her. Maybe he didn’t see a reason to share it with her.

Precisely why she didn’t feel comfortable going public with their . . . their . . . their
arrangement
yet.

“Well, what are you going to do until this mess gets settled?” Marilyn asked.

“I’m doing fine right here in Red River.” He shrugged. “I’ve got a job, friends. Family.” He looked at Ella.

“And after all this is over? What then?” asked Becca.

Their third degree didn’t seem to bother him. He still looked as cool as a summer breeze. “I’m not sure. I was just wondering that myself.” Ella’s eyes met his, and he didn’t look away.

Her heart skittered. But this conversation should’ve been private, along with the important developments in his legal case.

Damn him and that thing he did so well with his thumb and forefinger.

“Please, let me get lunch for you ladies. It’s the least I can do.” Coop waved over the waiter and fished several bills out of his wallet.

“Well, Ella, you look like a million bucks,” said Marilyn.

“Yep. Haven’t seen you look this good in . . . years,” said Becca, and an uncomfortable beat of silence went by.

“Besides all the great sex you two are obviously having—” Carissa blurted.

Ella sputtered. Marilyn gave Carissa a scolding look, and Becca elbowed her in the ribs.

“—You went shopping and had your hair done.”

Coop caressed Ella’s shoulder with his fingers. He raked dark eyes over her face. “Ella’s full of all kinds of surprises. You should come by the cabin and see what she’s done with the place.”

“All I did was clean it,” Ella ground out.

Coop ignored her. “It looks like a real home, not the man cave it’s always been.”

“Uh-huh,” Ella said, reaching her breaking point. Placing the fine point of her stiletto sandal into the top of his all-weather hiking boot, she flashed him a wide smile and pressed down with just enough pressure to get his attention. “You’re so thoughtful, Coop. Flowers, you bought our lunch, now all these compliments. What else do you have up your sleeve today?” She smelled the bouquet of lilies and toyed with a petal. Gazing into his dark eyes, she plastered on a wicked smile.

He grimaced.

“Oh! I’m so sorry.” She dislodged her shoe. “I didn’t see your foot there.”

Well, it seemed to work. He sat there quiet as a church mouse until they were ready to leave.

“Take care of our girl, Coop,” said Marilyn, and Coop tried not to laugh at Ella’s thunderous expression.

“You still need to check in with us. We worry about you,” Becca said to Ella.

“I will, but you guys need to stop doting on me. I can take care of myself.”

“Yeah, and Coop, let me know if your attorney needs any help. I’m staying at home with the kids right now, but I can still prepare briefs and do research, you know, stuff like that.”

“Thanks, Carissa. That means more than you know.” And it did, because they didn’t seem to doubt his innocence when so many of his own friends had cut him off without a second thought. Maybe Ella’s friends simply trusted her judgment, but their support choked him up a little, nonetheless. So what was Ella’s problem? He’d thought she’d be relieved that her friends accepted him. “Have a safe trip back.”

After several tearful good-byes, Coop threaded an arm around Ella’s waist, pulled her flush against his side, and guided her to the alley that led to Main Street. As soon as they turned the corner, Ella jerked away and rounded on him.

“What were you doing back there?”

“Me? You almost took off two of my toes with those lethal weapons you call shoes! I’ll limp for a week, maybe two.”

“You had it coming,” she seethed. “How dare you interrupt my private time with my friends. What were you trying to prove? That you own me like one of your other bimbos?”

“And what were you trying to hide? Are you embarrassed for people to know that we’re . . .” His words trailed off, and his forehead wrinkled, because he didn’t know what exactly they were doing. Besides having mind-boggling sex every night, several times a night, and once or twice each morning. He got a little aroused just thinking about it, because she’d even pulled him into bed a few times in the middle of the day. He was glad the nearest neighbor was at least a mile away. Otherwise, they probably would’ve gotten arrested for disturbing the peace by now, as loud as Ella was. The way she whispered his name with an urgency that made his soul quake every time she came had caused him to make some noise, too.

She folded her arms under her breasts.

“My point exactly.” She glowered at him. “You can’t even say it out loud. Do you have any idea how much trouble you’ve just created for yourself? Those women will be like sharks in the water if you suddenly disappear from my life like you have with all your other girlfriends. There is no possible explanation that will pacify their bloodhound instincts. They’ll hunt you down if they think you’ve hurt me.”

He was the one about to get his heart trampled on when she moved from Red River. But he really couldn’t blame Ella. He had made a mess out of his life and lost his career, at least for the time being. He didn’t have anything to offer her right now. But still, he couldn’t let her go without a fight, because he cared so much for her. She’d walked into his life and his cabin and taken him by storm. He hadn’t stood a chance.

He took slow, deliberate steps toward her until she was backed against the red brick wall of the bistro. The alley was empty, but every now and again a car passed on Main Street or pedestrians walked by. So far, no one had noticed them.

He wedged one leg in between her thighs, and her breath caught. The hand farthest from the street traced up her outer thigh and up under her dress. Her chest rose and fell in a quickened rhythm, and those lush lips parted.

“Who says I’m disappearing from your life?” he whispered against her lips, which formed a perfect O. Her lips were so good at that. Lip gloss shimmered under the blue afternoon sky, and its cherry blossom scent made him hungry for the sweetness of her lips. “You’re the one planning on leaving at the end of the summer.” He pressed his hips into hers and she sucked in a breath, her eyes fluttering shut. Pulling away so their noses grazed, Coop whispered against her mouth, “Unless you find a reason to stay.”

Emerald-green eyes popped open and stared at him.

“To answer your question, that’s what I was trying to prove just now—that you have a reason to stay.”

He hoped he really could give her a reason to stay. That his attorney would crack Kim’s lies wide open and get him out of this mess, so he could get his life back.

When he covered Ella’s mouth with his again, he consumed her, owned her. Kissed the damn sense out of her until a beautiful little sound of ecstasy escaped from somewhere in the back of her throat.

He pulled away panting and looked toward the end of the alley where it emptied onto Main Street. “Let’s get out of here before someone sees us. It’ll be all over town before dinner, and I know you don’t want that.”

She swallowed and nodded. He helped her find her footing, and she smoothed her dress.

Coop started for Main Street.

“Coop, wait.”

He turned back to her. She looked so pretty, so soft standing there all dressed up with her hair mussed like she’d just taken a tumble in the sack with him.

“I’m not embarrassed to be seen with you. It’s just so different . . . so unexpected. I . . . I mean this wasn’t exactly part of my plan.”

He took her in, and nodded. “I know. Mine either. I’m willing to take the chance if you are. But I have to be honest, I’m getting the better end of the deal.” And he was. He finally saw what Bradley had seen so many years ago. “You’re the only woman that’s ever made me . . . want more from a relationship. Made me want more from myself as a man. Want more for my life.” He held out his hand to her. “I know it’s a gamble.
I’m
a gamble. But I think we’re worth it. So I’m asking you to roll the dice with me.”

“You know I’ve never been one to take risks.” She studied his hand, and then she reached out and took it, threading her fingers into his. “But maybe that is what’s missing in my life.”

C
hapte
r
T
wenty-
T
wo

“Where are we going on a date that I need to bring a bathing suit?” Ella asked. They’d been driving for some time, the road winding into a secluded part of the mountains that Ella had never seen.

“You’ll see.” Coop’s mouth twitched at the corners and turned up into a wicked smile.

“I don’t like surprises.” Ella grew suspicious.

“You’ll like this one.”

“And I especially don’t like the water if it’s dangerous. Didn’t you get the memo?”

“I did, actually, when we were rafting. But you’ll like this water. Promise.”

“And if I don’t?” Fear bit at her stomach.

He pulled off the main highway onto a secluded dirt road. A large brown sign said “Carson National Forest,” a picture of Smokey the Bear carved into it on the left.

“If you don’t like it, you can torture me with your Taser or pepper spray.” He glanced down at her feet, a worried look in his eyes. “Or those daggers you call shoes.”

Her feet were adorned with the platform flip-flops she had bought on her weekend shopping spree with the girls. Relief washed over his face.

“Oh, good. I like these better. Much safer.” He flashed another devilish grin at her. “Although, I wouldn’t mind if you wore those spiked heels to bed sometime.”

She quirked a brow, and he chuckled. “A man can hope, can’t he?”

He turned onto a winding drive that led them to an adobe building set on several sprawling acres of land. They pulled to a stop, and he grabbed their bags from the backseat.

They walked to the entrance, a sign—“Aguas Rojas – Mineral Springs”—etched into the thick wall like a petroglyph.

Coop checked in, and a staff member showed them to their private cabana.

It was gorgeous. Aromatherapy filled the room with a scent that seeped into tensed muscles and relaxed Ella more with each breath. A spread of cheeses, crackers, fruit, and antipasto was already ready for them, and a bottle of red wine.

“I had them put bottled water in here for you, since you and alcohol seem to have a love-hate thing going.”

“Thanks.” She smiled at Coop.

“After we eat,” he pointed to the expansive window, “we have our own private hot spring waiting for us.
Shallow
hot spring, and no rapids this time.”

She turned to the window. The sun was setting behind the mountains. Purple, pink, and orange streaked the evening sky. A rocky pool of water and a hammock beckoned to them just outside the sliding doors.

“Hence, the bathing suit,” she said.

“Uh-huh, but let’s eat first.” He uncorked the bottle of wine, poured himself a glass, and filled hers with sparking water.

“This is really nice.” Surprised, Ella’s soft stare slid over him.

“It was either this or the drive-in theater in Questa, where at least half the speakers don’t work.”

Ella laughed, knowing that Questa was a town about the size of her big toe. Kind of like where she grew up. With Coop, it actually sounded romantic, though.

“Well, this was a good choice. We can save the drive-in theater for a really special occasion,” she said and slid into one of the chairs at the quaint table set up for two.

Coop occupied the other chair and dished up a plate of food for her.

“Mmmm, this is so good,” Ella said, the flavors of the cheese and salami melting on her tongue.

“Better than Cap’n Crunch?”

She laughed. “My mother tried to teach me to cook when I was in high school. It didn’t take.”

“You? Miss Overachiever couldn’t master something? Say it isn’t so,” Coop teased her.

“I’ll have you know I didn’t always get straight A’s.”

“Oh, really? When did you not get an A?”

“I got a B. Once. In welding class. I took it on a dare.”

Coop snorted. “You in a welding hood, brandishing a blowtorch?” He laughed hard. “I can’t even picture it.” He howled with laughter, a tear appearing at the corner of his eye. Nodding, he snorted between words. “Actually, yes. Yes, I just did picture it.”

Ella smirked at him. “Very funny. Glad I could provide tonight’s entertainment.” She speared another slice of salami.

They ate in silence while Coop regained his composure and wiped his eyes.

“I know from some of the students I’ve taught that it’s hard having a reading disability. Want to talk about it?”

His expression went slack, and he stared down at his plate.

“Maybe I shouldn’t have brought it up.” She tried to soothe what must’ve been painful memories probably replaying through his mind. “I’m a teacher, Coop. I know how cruel kids can be, and how hard it is for kids to grow up with challenges beyond their control.”

He popped an olive in his mouth, chewed, and swallowed. Then he rolled his wine around in the stemmed glass for a minute.

Her gaze raked over him. The angles of his handsome face were so perfect. So superb. So easy to look at. Sometimes she found herself staring at him. Just staring, because he was simply beautiful to her. The athletic curves of his shoulders and arms were even more fascinating, drawing her attention every time they stepped into the same room. Just looking at him made her mouth water, her limbs quiver, her body go wet in all the right places.

“I always thought I wasn’t very smart. I was happy when I got an occasional B. Most of the time I got C’s. My dad’s dyslexic, too, so he couldn’t help me much. When he went to chiropractic school the curriculum was much easier than when Bradley and I went, so he didn’t face as many challenges as I did. Then God sent me an angel named Bradley Dennings. Bradley made sure he took all the same classes as me in high school, at UNM, and in chiropractic school. When we studied together, he read out loud, so I could absorb everything that way. I had to listen to every single word of our class lectures. No dozing off, no goofing off, just listening and learning. That’s how I passed.”

“Bradley never told me any of that,” said Ella. Actually, she’d always assumed Coop
was
a goof-off. Her mistake, because he wasn’t. Not really. When he cared about something—or someone—he gave it his all. It was obvious how much the people in Red River meant to him. Even his job bartending at Joe’s was important to him, and he made a real effort to do his best, never acting as though the job was beneath him.

“I never asked him to keep it from you. I think he knew how embarrassing it was for me, and how people labeled me most of my life. I guess he was respecting my privacy.” Coop took another sip of wine. “My test scores were never that great because I struggled with reading the questions, but I knew the material. Still, everyone assumed I was a dunce.”

Her heart squeezed, and she slid a hand across the table to grasp his. Just his touch warmed her.

He lifted her hand, holding their palms flat against each other, then he threaded her fingers through his. “And now Cal has you as his angel.” He kissed the back of her hand, and her insides melted into hot liquid. “Thank you for that.”

And her heart did a happy dance.

“Are you sure about this?” Ella stood on the edge of the rocky pool and dipped her toe into the water. “The bottom isn’t going to fall out from under our feet or anything?” He was up to his chest, and when she pointed that dainty toe and tested the water right in front of him, he wondered what it would taste like.

“I’m sure.” He pointed to the waterline at his chest. “It doesn’t get any deeper than this.”

With a wary look, she took his outstretched hand and descended into the water with slow, unsteady steps. Coop was a little disappointed when those curvy hips and full breasts, covered only by a tiny purple bikini, disappeared under the steamy water. Her hair was pulled into a messy knot behind her head, and a few strands fell free.

He pulled her to him. “See? Nice, huh?”

The natural mineral waters and hot springs were soothing, and fabled to contain healing powers. Coop wasn’t sure he believed that, but when he was trying to decide on a unique place to take Ella on a date, Aguas Rojas sounded pretty romantic.

She nodded. “Yeah, this is nice.” She threaded her arms around his neck and wrapped her legs around his hips.

He groaned. Even in the water, she still had an amazing effect on him.

“So, this is a private spring? We have it all to ourselves?” Her voice sounded naughty. Cinder-Ella had been a misconception all these years. Ella was more of a seductress than he’d ever have thought. Maybe she’d been reading those erotic books that all the ladies in Red River were talking about.

He chuckled. “It’s completely private, but I didn’t bring you up here for that.”

She let out a disgruntled sigh.

“Later,” he promised. “For now, I just want you to enjoy the water.”

“Do you come up here a lot?” she asked. Her body tensed against his chest.

“Never. This is my first time.”

She melted into him again, her warmth amalgamating to his. Their heartbeats mingling, melding, beating as one.
Nice
. The nicest thing he’d ever experienced, actually.

“Then, thank you,” she whispered against his ear, her voice faint as the mineral water eased the tension from her body. She became less guarded. “I like being the only one.”

He nuzzled her ear. “You’re it, baby.” A shiver raced over her, and she tightened her legs and arms around him.

He waded around the minipool of hot water, trying to enjoy the view. But really, all he could think of, feel, and taste was Ella’s perfect body molded to his. She filled his every sense, her warmth spreading through him until it felt like a burning ember all the way to his core.

“Ella?” he murmured into her ear.

“Hmmm?” she said against his shoulder, her voice sleepy and content.

“Do you want to know why I didn’t visit Bradley very much? I want you to know because it must’ve bothered you.” It bothered
him
, and he still carried guilt over it.

She lifted her head off his shoulder and stared into his eyes.

“You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to,” she said. “I know you loved him like a brother.”

“I want to talk about it with you.” He pulled in a gravelly breath. “I care about what you think.”

Ella tucked a wet strand of his wavy hair behind his ear and caressed his cheek with the back of her hand. “I wondered at first. I was angry for a long time because I thought you abandoned him. But then, when I came to Red River and got to know you better, I think I figured it out.”

His brow wrinkled.

Ella stroked a soft fingertip across his forehead to smooth out the tension. “Coop, I had to sit and watch him wither away in that bed, not even in his right mind toward the end. I was his wife, and I loved him, and even I wanted to get away from seeing him like that. I’d have done anything not to have to watch it. I couldn’t stand it. It almost killed me right along with him.”

“I’m sorry, Ella.” Coop’s voice was a plea. “I should’ve been there for both of you, but when I saw him in that bed the first time, I couldn’t handle it. He was the best guy I ever knew, the best friend I ever had, and there was nothing I could do to save him.”

Coop choked back the pain that stabbed at his heart.

Ella put a finger over Coop’s lips. “Shh. He wouldn’t have wanted either of us to keep suffering. It’s time for both of us to let him go.”

“Is that why you left Albuquerque?”

She inhaled, and nodded. “There were just too many bad memories there. I didn’t want to remember him that way. You know, the way he was at the end. I wanted to remember him when he was young and healthy and happy. Like when he came here to Red River.”

“You made him happy, Ella.”

She rubbed her cheek against his. “Thank you. That means a lot coming from you.”

He waded around the pool with her snuggled against his neck, wrapped around him like a second skin. He caressed her back with his fingers, and she brushed soft kisses across his shoulder.

They were silent for a long time, just soaking in the therapeutic waters. Just
being
. Coop loved the way she molded into his arms, against his chest. Yes, the sex was great, but he loved the simple quiet time they spent together, too. It made him aware of how badly broken he’d been. Severed in two, in fact, but Ella was the glue that had put him back together and held him there, allowing him to be whole and content for the first time.