Wandering Heart (8 page)

"They should
see you now," Cooper said shaking his head and walking around the
kitchen aimlessly. "A home, a great kid, and soon to be the
Congressman's wife. What more could Ed want?"

Angela
shoulders shrugged as she turned away from his probing gaze. "I
suppose that might impress Dad if he knew."

"If you ask me,
you've done all right for yourself."

"You wouldn't
have thought so with Raif. They never did accept our marriage."

"That's too
bad. Raif wasn't a bad guy. A little on the spoiled side, but
until, a good guy. So, then you came to live with your mother's
uncle?"

"After I tried
making it on my own for a while. I failed miserably. Dad was right
about that part of it. We lived in some real dumps, thanks to my
hard-headedness. Sometimes food was scarce. I don't know what I'd
have done without Uncle Henry."

"I sure liked
that old cuss."

"Did you?" She
glanced up at him as she began preparing the cornbread.

"Yeah." His
voice sounded far away. "When we got through with the day, we'd
grab us a bite to eat. Chili, stew, something that cooked all day
usually. Then we'd sit out on the porch, watch the sunsets, and
swap tall tales sometimes for hours. I got the feeling he was
lonely at times. The man was a real talker. No one ever did that
with me before; I mean, listen to my troubles. But he never allowed
me the privilege of feeling sorry for myself."

Again her gaze
strayed to him, meeting his glance for a brief moment. "You were
very lonely as a child, weren't you, Coop? I mean, you didn't get
along with Brag very well. Everyone knew that. And, because your
dad forced you to work all the time, you didn't have much social
life. It must have been hard for you."

"Now don't go
feeling sorry for me." He shook his head. "I had the best of
friends."

"Oh, who? Your
brother Brag?"

"Hardly. Brag
and I were from two different planets. You knew that. I'm not sure
we spoke the same language. I'm talking about Cadet."

"Cadet?"

"Sure, my
dog."

"Oh, yeah. I
almost forgot about him. I rarely saw you without him. He was a
beautiful dog. Whatever happened to him?"

"Dad shot
him."

"What?"

"Oh, one day
when he took him hunting. He said he thought it was a coon. I think
he did it on purpose. You see, I got to where Cadet was about the
only one I talked to. I think he was trying to communicate with me
then. Although at the time I didn't see this."

"But to shoot
your dog? How could your father do that to you?"

"I don't know.
I never had another dog. I guess I was afraid of losing another
one. But I'll admit, I always liked them. Guess that's why Partner
and I get along so well. I guess I just have a weakness for
dogs."

"He can smell a
dog lover a mile away." She glanced at Partner.

When he said
nothing she asked, "I hope watching Tim and Josh wasn't too much
for you today. I mean, when I said keep an eye on Josh, it didn't
include the entire valley."

Cooper shook
his head again, "You always seem to think Josh is going to be in my
way. I can't help but wonder why? Strange as it may seem, I like
kids. I've always liked kids. And Josh is a good kid, works hard,
and does what he's told. How could I not like him? Or Tim either
for that matter? Well raised, well mannered kids."

She set the
cornbread in the oven and wiped her hands on a cup-towel. "Well, I
don't mean to sound that way, it's just that I'm sure he probably
gets on your nerves. Most of the men I've hired hinted that he did.
He's so interested in all that machinery out there. Most
ten-year-olds spend the majority of their time asking too many
questions, and Josh is no exception."

"That's how
they learn, Angel. But I haven't had such interesting company in a
long time. I guess that's the problem with adults today. They don't
pay enough attention to their kids."

She cast him a
quick scowl. She was guilty of that herself, especially
recently.

But as she
looked at him she saw he was smiling, really smiling. He suddenly
looked much younger, much happier, and her fingers itched to run
rampant in his hair. He had beautiful hair. But what was she
thinking? She glanced down and saw her breast tightening against
her t shirt; she turned red. If he saw that she'd die.

"You know you
haven't had any company since you've been here, Coop. Nor taken any
time for yourself. I could always give you the weekends off. I feel
guilty for not already offering."

She had turned
away, so he couldn't see the affect he was having on her.

"You've noticed
my dedication then? Good." He winked when she glanced over her
shoulder. "I'll have to hit you up for a raise soon."

"Is that what
it is, dedication? But I'm sure you wouldn't mind a little time
off. You must have friends, a girl . . ."

"I'll ask for
it, when I need it."

He wasn't
commenting on her question, and she let it slide. Perhaps he didn't
want to confide in her. "All right, fair enough."

Her hand went
to the back of her neck and she plopped down in a chair at the
table. She was exhausted, and her eyes ached a little from scanning
the computer at work.

"Hey," he
barely murmured and stood up. He came closer. "You've had a hard
day. Eyes bothering you?"

"Hmm," she said
with a long sigh.

"I'm sorry
about that. Hope the Congressman won't be too mad about it. But I
might have a remedy for some of it," he said softly, standing just
behind her.

Slowly his
hands came around her neck, almost hesitantly, wrapping her in a
warmth that cajoled her into a lazy sense of awareness. His long
fingers began a magic all their own. Her head rolled against his
hands. She sighed aloud.

Her breasts
grew hard and warm, and pronounced against her shirt. Instantly the
hair on the back of her neck prickled with reaction to his touch.
Thank God her back was to him.

His callused
fingers worked meticulously. She felt the muscles in her neck begin
to relax, as long fingers moved sensuously over her neck and
shoulders. She closed her eyes, and daydreamed about those hands,
moving over her. Magic hands. Dear God, had she lost her mind,
letting herself wander in that direction.

"My goodness,
you do have a soft touch there. Ever try to sell those hands?"

"Think I could
get anything for them?" His smile was magnetic.

A hint of lime
assailed her, a hint of raw, sensual man. A warning of danger
Angela kept telling herself. Greg Thompson was the man for her, not
Cooper, she had to remember that. Yet what was the real harm in two
old friends being together?

"If I had money
you could. You've missed your calling."

He squeezed one
shoulder,and then moved totally away from her. He was through and
she couldn't help feeling sorry that he stopped.

"So, what's
been so awful about today?" he asked refilling his glass and
glancing at her from the corner of his eye.

She watched him
while his back was turned. He wore a faded pair of jeans and a
rather worn chambray shirt, and until managed to look better than
most men. She had to drag her mind away from such thoughts. Despite
his casual appearance, he always wore clean clothes, and always
managed to look devastatingly handsome.

"Greg wants me
to move into town." She glanced up at him, saw him frown as he half
turned. "Into an apartment, so I'll be close to work, and him, and
far away from you. In fact, the farther the better."

He glanced at
her 'Native Texan' shirt and she blushed. She couldn't hide her
bodily reactions from his all seeing eyes. It was a natural
reaction, and she planned to ignore it, if he did.

"And that
bothers you?" he queried, a brow shooting upward in what looked
like surprise.

He had nice
hands, clean, with short cut nails, and big, she mused before she
came down to earth and answered. "Of course it bothers me. He
doesn't trust me."

"Or me?"

"Or you."

"So, what are
you going to do?"

Angela
swallowed the last of her lemonade and put her glass on the table.
"Do? I'm not doing anything. This is my home. Josh's home. I'm not
leaving here just because of his insecurities."

Cooper moved to
stand by the back door.

"Look," he
turned to look at her, which was a mistake. Their eyes connected.
"I didn't come here to make problems for you and Josh. I thought I
was helping solve one. But I can move on …if that's what you
want."

"No," she burst
out, before thinking. "I don't want you to leave." Getting up and
coming to stand in front of him. The urge to wrap her arms around
him was so strong she reached a hand to his arm.

"You don't?" he
asked.

"No, I don't.
You're doing a great job with the place, and with Josh. I couldn't
replace you if I tried. Why, I go to work every morning knowing you
can take care of it all. I don't even worry about Josh. And Josh,
he thinks you're right up there with his father, tops."

His eyes met
and held hers for a moment. A long, breathless moment.

"I'm glad. I
like him too."

"So, I don't
want to hear any more about you leaving."

"And Greg?"

"I'll handle
Greg. He'll just have to cope with it."

Cooper's eyes
suddenly danced, a lazy smile spread over his handsome face, as he
paused at the doorway.

"You know, this
Greg fella is evidently a pretty smart guy. But I guess it never
really dawned on him that if I wanted you badly enough, an
apartment in town wouldn't stop me. And about the girlfriends,
there aren't any…yet."

CHAPTER
SEVEN

The next
evening Angela sat at the supper table listening quietly as Cooper
and Josh discussed everything from the farm to his father.

Even Angela
seemed to be able to talk about Raif with Cooper around.

Angela cleared
the table and a knock came at the front door. Obviously not
expecting company, she looked shocked to see the woman standing at
the door.

"W e l l, it's about time I met this handsome
rogue," the woman announced as she pranced into the living room and
gave Cooper an instant once over.

"Maxine, how
unexpected." Angela's voice seemed strained even to Cooper. "Maxine
Taylor, Coop Johnson."

"Maxine."

Maxine was
dressed like a female vamp out to kill or collect something. Her
tight mini dress and high heels were ordinarily no match for blue
jeans and t shirt, but there was something about the way Angel
wore those blue jeans, Cooper quickly decided.

"So, you're the
new farm manager," Maxine cooed.

"I don't like
titles. Don't be so formal, just call me Coop," he said with a
smile and noticed the edge of Angel's mouth tighten.

"Coop, I like
that."

A short silence
prevailed as the two sized each other up. Then Cooper glanced at
Angela. "Nice meeting you, Maxine, but I promised to fix a couple
of things for Josh. If you'll excuse me?"

"Can't it
wait?" Angela frowned. "I think Maxine came to meet and get to know
you."

"I'd love to
stay and chat but I promised to help him with a science project."
Cooper explained firmly.

"But I can do
that."

"Oh?" Coop's
brow went up skeptically. "Are you in to dissecting frogs?"

"Oh!" Angela
gasped. "Forget that."

"Maxine,"
Cooper said taking her hand in his, marveling at the beautiful long
fingernails, assured the woman had never done a hard day's work,
and smiled. "It's been a real pleasure."

Maxine smiled,
letting her full breasts heave just a little, obviously just enough
to be noticed. "Don't be a stranger."

"No,
ma'am."

*****

Left with
Maxine's company Angela settled herself in the wooden rocking chair
in the living room and offered Maxine the softness of the sofa.
"So, what brings you all the way out here?"

"Him, of
course!"

Was she being a
spy for Greg or simply interested in Cooper herself?

"Does he work
all the time?" she asked.

"Dawn until
dusk, I'd say. By choice only."

"Really, I like
that. I like a man that isn't afraid to work. And shame on you,
Angela, for keeping such a dish to yourself. I mean he is a hunk, a
real hunk. He's not overly tall, but he gives that impression. No
wonder you hired him so quickly. Where ever did you find him?"

"Maxine, you're
a riot. So subtle. I didn't find him at all. Why, I've known him
most of my life. We sort of grew up together. We were next-door
neighbors. And I just happened to bump into him a few days ago. He
needed a job. I needed a farm manager. That's all there was to it.
Why, I hadn't seen him in ten years. But I'll be the first to
testify that he is a great farmer."

"And I suppose
the fact that he's overly good looking had nothing to do with
you hiring him?"

"What are you
getting at?"

"What am I
getting at? Really, Angela? Are you trying to make Greg jealous?
Because if you are, it's working."

Angela pinked.
"With Coop? Don't be ridiculous. We have no interest in each other.
But he works magic on a farm. See for yourself. He's already got
the north pasture in great shape. That was the reason I hired him.
He's a natural in the fields. He's practically taken over the
place, and Josh. And besides he used to work for my uncle."

"Really? I'll
bet a farm isn't the only thing he can work magic on," Maxine
purred, her big blue eyes wandering about the place, obviously
hoping to get a glance at him again.

"I wouldn't
know about that." But if Angela were really truthful with herself,
she'd admit she responded to that smile much more than she should,
and being near him brought all her senses to awareness.