It's In His Heart (A Red River Valley Novel) (4 page)

Coop’s gaze raked the length of those long, graceful legs that stretched from here to heaven and . . . “Wait. Cable? Oh, no.” He shook his head. “If you want all the conveniences of city life, then go back to Albuquerque.”

“I can’t.”

Butch joined them in the den, and sat next to Ella. He sipped his coffee. “Mmm, Ella, you always did make a killer cup of coffee.” Then he gave Ella’s knee an affectionate pat like she was his long-lost daughter.

“Dad,” Coop fumed. “Do you mind?”

“Mind what?” Butch’s blank expression made Coop almost sympathetic toward his mother and four ex-stepmothers. Well, not his mother. She was so much like Ella. Always looking down on Red River and the people here. Always wanting to go on an adventure, live the lifestyles of the rich and famous. Please.

Coop pinched the bridge of his nose. “Why can’t you go back to Albuquerque?”

She fidgeted with a ring on her left hand, turning it in a complete circle. Her wedding ring. Guilt pinged his chest.

“I’ve sold the house and put most of my belongings in storage. I’m leaving New Mexico.” She gave Coop a determined stare. “But first, I’m spending the summer in Red River. It’s the last thing I need to do to say good-bye to Bradley.”

And there it was again. The guilt card.

Yes, Bradley had been his best friend. Yes, Coop owed him. Big. But he absolutely, unequivocally, could not live under the same roof with Ella for the next three months. Not no, but hel—

Wetness shimmered in her eyes and dampened the silky lashes that brushed her cheeks every time she blinked.

No, no. Not tears. Anything but tears.

She sniffed.

Coop closed his eyes. Yep, he just went down in flames.

“Aw, Ella. You’re too pretty to cry,” cooed Cal, looking bashful. His teenage crush announced itself in his lovesick puppy stare.

Butch grabbed a napkin off the coffee table and handed it to Ella. She looked at it like it might be diseased, then used a tiny corner to dab her eyes.

“Now, now, sugar,” Butch soothed her. “This is your place as much as Coop’s, and you should stay as long as you need. I’ll even fix up that old bathroom in the loft for you. That way you’ll have some privacy.”

“And some cleanliness,” she said in between sniffles. “Thank you, Butch, but I don’t want to put you to all that trouble.”

“Nonsense, young lady. I’m retired, and Cal and I live up here year-round now.” Butch thumped his chest and chuckled. “It’ll give this old man something constructive to do.”

Coop made a mental note to remind his dad that blood was supposed to be thicker than water. After he sold his condo in Albuquerque to help pay for his legal fees, Coop had moved here to be near family. Thought it would ease the blow of his tarnished reputation back in Albuquerque, where most of his “friends” had stopped returning his calls. Apparently, neither his father nor his little brother understood the meaning of family allegiance.

Butch draped his arm around Ella’s shoulders. “Bradley was like a son to me. I darn near raised him.”

Ella sniffed, and dabbed, and nodded and sniffed some more. “He loved you like a father. He always said you were the reason he became a chiropractor—because you were a chiropractor.” She gave Coop a dismissive glance. “And, of course, because Coop wanted to be one, too.”

Butch laughed. “Yessiree, always partners in crime. They looked out for each other since they were kids.” He hesitated and lowered his voice almost to a whisper. “And . . . you know . . . Bradley’s parents got into that cult stuff. Always leaving him alone ’til all hours of the night, forgetting to pick him up from school because they were at a ‘meeting.
’
” He did air quotes with his fingers. “Even gave away all their money to the cult leader, then wanted Bradley to support them when he went into practice. That kid worked like a dog putting himself through school.”

“I’m glad he had you, Butch. Thanks for looking out for him and for helping him with tuition. He never forgot it.”

“We’ll be here for you, too, Ella, as long as you need us.” Butch gave Coop one of those looks. The look that said,
Do what I say or I’ll make sure you regret it for the rest of your natural-born life
. “Right, Coop?”

Coop tried to unclench his locked jaw. “Sure. We’ll manage. I guess.”

A whimper drew his attention to the floor vent in front of the window. Atlas lay on his back, Winston doing his best to have his merry way with him. Atlas licked Winston’s wrinkled face. Well, if Coop and Atlas were both going to get screwed, at least one of them should enjoy it.

C
hapte
r
F
our

Ella and the three Wells men drove into Red River, the gargantuan tires on Coop’s truck rattling her brain. Was he
trying
to hit every pothole in the county? Hells bells, she needed her own four-wheel drive.

Still, she enjoyed the scenery as they tooled into the city limits. She’d arrived after dark, with only the moon to cast a glow over the sleepy little town where the sidewalks rolled up at a certain hour. This morning the white crest of Wheeler Peak towered overhead, dwarfing the rest of the mountain chain. Tourists ambled along the sidewalks, and the strips of businesses that lined the streets boasted red-barn or wood-siding facades, giving the town a historic feel. Nothing had changed since her only visit to Red River all those years ago. Not one thing. And that was part of the nostalgic charm of a small community woven so tight that it became a sanctuary of sorts.

When they pulled up in front of the Red River Market, the town’s only grocery store, Ella bailed out of the backseat and considered walking back to the cabin. She clutched the truck bed with one hand, letting the fresh air settle her motion sickness.

Butch climbed out of the front passenger seat. “You okay, Ella? You look a little green.”

“I’m fine.” No way was she going to admit to getting carsick. She wasn’t about to give Coop the satisfaction of thinking she was that much of a wimp.

“Coop, give your keys to Cal,” Butch said, easily commanding his boys.

She envied their closeness. Even though Butch had been unlucky in love, he did a great job with his two sons. An amazing feat, considering he had pretty much raised them on his own. As a high school teacher, it wasn’t hard for Ella to spot the difference between the kids who had involved parents and those who didn’t.

“Cal,” he directed, “you help Ella with her grocery bags. Load them in the truck when she’s done shopping. It’s cool enough for them to keep awhile in the truck.” He turned to Ella, and his tone melted to one of affection. “You take your time, Ella. When you’re done, you and Cal meet us across the street at the Gold Miner’s Café. Breakfast is on me, you hear?”

“Yes, sir.” She smiled at him. Butch had a warmheartedness that her father never possessed. An affectionate side that always touched her. Just like Bradley. She glanced at Coop, who stewed with his hands in his pockets. Amazing how different Butch’s oldest son turned out. Cal got more of his father’s “happy” gene than his older brother.

Her phone beeped.

“Finally,” Cal sighed. “We’ve got reception again.” He pulled his phone from his pocket and fired off a text.

“Thanks, Butch. We shouldn’t be long,” Ella said. She watched Butch and his brooding firstborn head across the street to the café. A Jeep puttered down the street, waving at the Wells men as it passed. Butch waved back, but Coop kept both hands hidden in his pockets. Faded Levi’s hung low on his narrow hips, and Ella pulled in her bottom lip, her eyes grazing over his nice bottom. A blue plaid flannel shirt covered a plain white T-shirt that stretched taut across his broad shoulders, the shirttails flapping in the breeze. She gave her head an infinitesimal shake. What a waste; that perfect male body paired with such a sour personality.

Turning away, she scrolled through her missed call log. Her parents and her sister, Charlene. Ouch. Probably wanting to know if she arrived in Red River safely. They were also more than likely plotting some sort of family conspiracy to get her to move back to East Texas. She’d call them later, after she had a few dozen more cups of coffee.

A couple of missed calls from close friends back in Albuquerque, also probably wanting to check up on her. She sent them a quick group text.
Got here fine.
Well, mostly, but the details were too long to type in a text.
No cell reception at cabin. Call on landline.

She checked her voice mail. Cynthia Caldwell’s name popped onto the screen. Ella glanced up at Cal. “Uh, Cal. Why don’t you go on in, and get a cart for me. I’ll be right there.”

“Sure.” Cal ambled into the small market with a teenaged swagger.

She hit the Listen button, and Cyn’s voice crowed through the line. “Violet! How’s my favorite
New York Times
Bestselling Erotic Romance Author? Girlfriend, I’m still on cloud nine about it,” her editor gushed. “Just making sure you got to . . . where is it you’re staying for the summer? Anyway, your deadline for book three has been moved up. Wanton Publishing has decided to fast-track the next release because sales for the first two books have shot through the roof! Send me what you’ve got so far. And don’t forget, we need an excerpt for book four, like yesterday. That should have the preorders flooding in.” Cyn cackled. “Did you see this morning’s top news story?”

Ella turned and looked both ways down the street, her chest tight.

“A chick fight broke out at a Book-Mart in Cleveland. Apparently, two of your fans tried to grab the last copy of
New Mexico Naughty.
” The excitement in her voice made Ella’s embarrassment grow, and heat eased up her neck into her cheeks. Even the tips of her ears grew hot. “Really, haven’t these women heard of e-readers? I’ll just bet book three debuts even higher on the bestseller list than the first two. Well, tootles, and call me soon.” The message ended, and Ella looked around to see if anyone had guessed her dirty little secret. Even though she wasn’t on speakerphone, she felt exposed. Like after having a dream where she was naked in a public place.

Jeez, Dennings, grow up
, she scolded herself, because really, she was a
grown
woman for crying out loud. Why should she care if her real identity got out? Except that she’d been a role model for her high school students and had grown up in the Bible Belt sitting in the front pew every Sunday because her dad was a deacon. Her family would probably disown her, and if she ever wanted to return to the teaching profession, she might be hard-pressed to find a school district that would hire an erotic romance novelist to teach impressionable teens.

But if she was careful, no one would ever find out.

“I can’t tell Ella, Dad,” Coop insisted, for about the hundredth time since they walked into the Gold Miner’s Café.

Caricatures of famous visitors hung on the wood-paneled walls. Most of the glossy wood tables were occupied with patrons wanting the best home-cooked breakfast in town. Chatter was high, but heads were down, eating and talking at the same time because the food was just too good to let it get cold.

“Tell me what?” Ella stepped from behind a group of customers who loitered in the aisle to exchange pleasantries with another table. She sat down next to Butch, and Cal plopped into the chair opposite her. “That you’re hiding out in Red River until your legal problems back in Albuquerque are resolved? Something to do with a woman scorned, I think Cal said.”

Coop blinked; he tried to speak but nothing audible came out. Then he leveled a deadly look at his little brother. Definitely siphoning off the little rat’s gasoline tonight.

Cal shrugged. “Sorry, dude. She asked when you were going back to Albuquerque. I had to tell her.”

“Really? Did you tell her my shoe size, too? Since you two are so chummy, why don’t you tell her what brand of underwear I use?” Coop wanted to smirk, because she’d probably already figured that out. The way she checked him out last night when he was wearing nothing
but
underwear, she probably knew the brand, size, and thread count.

“Sorry, bro. Ella’s prettier than you. Besides, news travels faster in this town than a class-five forest fire. It’s just a matter of time before someone else tells her.” Cal waved at a cute little waitress that looked about his age.

“He has a point,” Butch offered, and Coop wanted to throttle the both of them.

He raked a hand over his face. “I’m not
hiding out.
” He hesitated. He didn’t want to have to explain this to Ella of all people. “My license to practice has been temporarily suspended, so I had to close my office. Until the investigation is over, I moved up here for some peace and quiet.” He shot her a scowl. “Which has now been interrupted.”

“Hi, Cal.” The server came over, notepad in hand, and tossed her black ponytail over one shoulder. Retrieving a pen from the back pocket of her tight-fitting jeans, she gave Cal a dimpled smile.

“Hey, Kaylee,” Cal said. His cheeks flushed, and his mouth turned up in a bashful grin.

“What can I get you guys?”

While Ella looked over the menu, Cal and Butch ordered their usual fare. Coop asked for a protein-only plate, a large glass of milk, and a coffee. He turned to Ella, who studied the menu like a textbook. Her elegant nose turned up just a bit at the tip. Light auburn hair the color of autumn leaves was neatly tucked behind one ear. Those intelligent green eyes skimmed across the page.

“I’ll have a large stack of buttermilk pancakes, two dollops of butter instead of one, extra syrup, and whipped cream on top.” Ella closed her menu and handed it to the server. “Oh, and a large glass of orange juice.”

Coop stared at her, aghast. Some things never changed. Ella still ate like a man. “That’s what you’re eating? How can you consume all that sugar so early in the morning?” My God, that meal contained enough sugar and carbs to send a diabetic to the hospital.

She turned a furrowed brow on him. “Instead of worrying about my eating habits, why don’t you concern yourself with your own problems?” One corner of her mouth turned up in a cocky smile, and Coop’s eyes locked on to her lush mouth. “Because from what I hear, you have so many.”

“I’m innocent,” Coop said, still staring at her pink, plumped lips. The very ones that always emitted smart-ass remarks when speaking to him.

One of her perfectly arched brows raised high.

“No, really. I didn’t do it,” he barked, finally breaking the spell that her mouth cast on him every time it formed an O. Amazing what one little letter could do to a man.

Kaylee returned with their drinks. Placing each one in front of its recipient, she spoke to Cal. “So, are you going to summer school?”

“Uh, yeah.” His grin faded. “I have to retake English and History.”

“I guess I’ll see you there, then.” Kaylee finished delivering the drinks and fidgeted with the extra straws on the tray.

Cal’s eyes rounded. “You’re going to summer school? You’re a straight-A student.”

She flashed a shy smile at him. “I’m taking extra classes in the summer so I can graduate early. I want to go to nursing school.”

“That’s an admirable profession, Kaylee,” Butch praised her.

“Thanks, Dr. Wells. I’ll be right back with your order.” Kaylee bebopped over to another table.

“Cal, do you mind if I ask why you have to retake classes?” Ella said.

Embarrassed, Cal traced the pattern on the tablecloth with a finger. “I didn’t pass. I have a hard time keeping up with the amount of reading we have to do in those subjects.” He glanced up at Ella, and Coop guessed his little brother was trying to gauge her reaction. Relief washed over Cal’s face when he saw understanding in Ella’s schoolteacher eyes. “I’m dyslexic.”

Ella nodded, compassion etched into her expression. Coop had to give brownie points to Ms. Overachiever for that. It had been painful watching his little brother struggle with the same learning disability he had grown up with. If it hadn’t been for Bradley, Coop wouldn’t have graduated high school, much less gone on to college and chiropractic school. He would’ve never made it without constant help from his best friend. Unfortunately, Coop and Butch both suffered with the same affliction, making them useless to tutor Cal. Embarrassed by his slow and choppy reading, Cal wouldn’t accept help from any of the reading specialists Butch tried to hire, so he never got the same help that Bradley had given Coop.

“I happen to be an okay teacher,” she said modestly. “At least that’s what I’ve been told by most of my students. How about I tutor you?”

“Really?” Cal asked.

A ping of gratitude blossomed in Coop’s chest.