10. Maverick

Maverick

I have to admit, Cooper really held his own on the ranch this morning. I didn’t think he’d be able to keep up. And boy, did he look nervous as hell when we first stepped outside, but as soon as he saw his first animal, he was in his element.

After a shower and new change of clothes, we’re seated around my parents’ dining table and digging into my mom’s homemade cooking, which still makes my mouth water, just thinking about it. Especially when I’m out on the road and ordering takeout.

It’s been good to be home, but even better with Cooper here. I thought he might pass out this morning from nerves, meeting my parents. But as usual, he was his normal charming self, and I think they may already like him more than me.

Can’t blame them.

After dinner, we open up a few presents—yes, my mom had time to grab Cooper a few things when I told her he was coming with me yesterday. How she found stuff on Christmas Eve, I don’t know, but he was thrilled with the animal-print scarf and refrigerator magnets with Oklahoma printed all over them.

But it’s starting to get dark, and I know we need to head out. My mom must sense it too when she looks at the large clock on the living room mantel. “Can’t you boys stay another day?”

Cooper looks guilty, but before he can offer to stay a week or two and lose his job, I answer my mother, “We can’t this time, Mom. Maybe sometime soon though?”

She looks disappointed but happy all the same. That’s the thing about my parents—they’re happy. Truly happy, unlike so many other people I’ve ever met. “Sounds good to me.”

We’re buried with a ton of leftovers as we bundle up, and the dogs run out to my truck, probably happy to get home. My mom and dad both hug me tight before they move on to squeeze the life out of poor Cooper.

I have to pry him out of their arms, and there’s a small fluttery feeling deep in my chest when my mom kisses him on the cheek and tells him to come back real soon. Cooper is completely flustered, of course, but assures her he will, and then we head out.

It’s dark and has started to snow a little, but the drive is nice until we get about twenty minutes from my house, and I realize it’ll be another hour if we go to his apartment in the city.

“What do you think about staying at my place tonight? I’ll have you back at your place in plenty of time before work.” I glance over at Cooper before aiming my sight back on the road.

He looks a little nervous, and I’m about to take it back when he answers, “Okay.”

That’s the shortest answer I’ve ever heard from him, and I’m worried he doesn’t want to stay with me another night. I mean, he probably does want to get home. I dragged him away with no notice. “Or we can drive up to your place.”

“No.” I can see him turning to look over at me. “No. I want to stay at your house. I love your house. It’s big and beautiful. Lots of room. God knows, it’s far less depressing than staying at my tiny apartment alone on Christmas night.”

I chuckle because this is the Cooper I know. “Why did you seem so unsure a moment ago? I don’t want to force you to hang out with me if you don’t want to,” I tease.

But it does the job and gets him even more flustered. “What? As if you would ever have to force me. I’ll hang out with you any time. Hell, I almost told your mom I’d quit my job—which I really, really need—just to hang out there for a few more days.”

I frown at the part of him needing that shitty bar job but smile because I knew it. “Well, we’ll just have to go back soon then. Can’t lie to my mom.”

“Never,” he says excitedly, and I smile, so damn content to be in this truck with him. It’s strange, but Cooper really snuck up on me out of nowhere. I don’t think I even realized I was lonely until I walked into his bar that first night. But now, I find myself wanting to spend all my time with him.

We arrive at my house, and the dogs take off as soon as our doors open, scratching at the front door—ready to be in their home. I smile, carrying our bags and letting everyone in.

I watch as Cooper stretches his lanky arms up above his head and yawns. “Man, that was fun, but I’m exhausted. Who knew ranching was so much work?” he says with a laugh, making it clear he’s joking.

“Yeah. Crazy, right?”

He flops down on my couch, and Ralph instantly jumps into his lap, making his little self at home on Cooper. Cooper, of course, doesn’t seem to mind, scratching the dog’s ears. “So crazy,” he teases and then yawns again.

“Let me feed the dogs and then we can head to bed,” I say, walking into the kitchen and opening the pantry door to get to the dog food.”

I fill their bowls, and both dogs run over, acting like they’re starving, even though it hasn’t been that long since they’ve eaten. I try to think about walking Cooper to the guest room—when really, the only place I want him tonight is in my bed.

I know I shouldn’t, but when Cooper joins me in the kitchen and then we head up the stairs, I can’t help the slight lie that falls from my lips yet again. “I don’t know the last time the guest room was cleaned or when the sheets were changed. If you want to sleep in my room tonight, it might be better.”

Lies. I have a cleaner who comes every week. I know better, and I’m sure he does too. But he only smiles brightly and then shrugs. “Sure. That’s fine with me, if it’s okay with you. If you don’t want a bed all to yourself, that is.”

Damn, he’s cute.

“Okay,” I say, my heart beating rapidly in my chest as I push my bedroom door open, and we walk inside. I don’t know why the hell I’m so nervous—okay, yes I do. We’re sharing a bed again.

Totally on purpose.

And I can’t touch him. I shouldn’t. But God, do I want to.

“Do you need something to wear to bed?” I ask, realizing we left the bags downstairs and he only packed for one night away.

“Um, yeah. If you don’t mind. Or I can go down and get what I wore last night. That would work too.”

“No, it’s okay.” I walk to my dresser and find a t-shirt and a pair of joggers for him with a drawstring, so hopefully, it’ll fit him. I hand them over and admire the cute little blush he’s sporting on his cheeks as he takes them and then shuffles off to the bathroom.

I strip and then pull on a pair of joggers but forgo the shirt. I never sleep in a shirt, and if I’m honest I was a little hot doing so last night. Though I do hope I don’t make him uncomfortable.

I’m not sure if it does or not when he walks out of the bathroom, changed into pajamas, and nearly trips over his own feet when he sees me standing by the bed in only my joggers. His eyes travel over my body, and I feel my skin heat from his gaze.

God, I want to touch him. I want to feel his hands all over me, but I just peel back the covers instead and climb into bed, keeping to my side of the massive king-sized mattress.

Cooper removes his glasses and places them on the table next to the bed before pulling the covers back and joining me. He lies on his back, and I lie on mine, both of us just looking up at the ceiling.

I use my phone to turn off the lights in the room, and that’s when I hear and feel him shuffling to his side and closer to me. “You know, if you wanted to cuddle, you could have just told me.”

I hear the playfulness in his tone, and it makes me smile, surprised by his boldness. But before I can say anything, he lets out a startled laugh.

“Oh God, I can’t believe I said that. Ignore me.”

But I don’t want to. I move closer to him instead, and despite knowing how great the temptation will be, I wrap my arm around him and scoot closer, pulling him into me at the same time. “I guess I do miss cuddling a little,” I barely manage to say, my voice like gravel.

I hear him swallow hard, almost like a gulp, and it would be so damn easy to kiss him. To move just a fraction and press my lips to his, but something holds me back. I just can’t do it.

“Goodnight, Coop.”

“Night, Mav.” He barely manages, and I wonder if my body’s closeness is having the same effect on his body as his is on mine. My cock is rock-hard, pleading with me to stop fighting it, but I think about today.

About him with my family. And how kind he is. About his passion for helping animals and then all the articles about me the past year or so. About breaking Phoebe’s heart and having absolutely no privacy whatsoever.

Starting something with Cooper is just unfair to him.

I can’t put him in the spotlight like that.

Lord knows, I hate it and can’t seem to escape it. No way I’m going to do that to him.