A Fallow Heart (Tommy Creek #2)(9)

Brushing against him again and driving him even closer to the brink of lust-induced insanity, Jo Ellen moved ahead to lead the way. He let her. She seemed to know where to go as she took them through a kitchen, then down a hallway to the bottom of a wide, winding staircase. When she started up, Coop released her hand to let her continue by herself. But she tripped on the third step, and a ghastly image of her breaking her neck as she fell down the entire staircase had him reaching out to steady her.

She purred in response and swayed toward him.

“More,” she demanded.

All onboard to deliver and give her whatever she wanted, he groaned. But that single tendril of decency kept snaring him, making him back off.

Frustrated he couldn’t do what he’d always wanted to do, he turned his head aside. “Come on, Jo Ellen. Cut it out. Please. I’m trying to get you home safe and sound here. You’re not helping me out any.”

“But I am home.” She tittered and began to play with his hair, causing currents of heat to trickle down the back of his spine.

He clenched his teeth, wavered toward her, and then tore himself back. “Fine. Do you want me to leave you passed out on the stairs? Or do you me to get you to your bed?”

“Bed,” she slurred. “Only if you crawl in with me.”

Sweat popped out on his face. He cursed under his breath, trying to help her up each step, one at a time, while ignoring the tantalizing trail her fingers made down his chest. Dear God, if she snuck down his pants again, he’d probably—

“Up,” he ordered. He respected this girl. So why did he want to be so very disrespectful right now?

Probably because she tried kissing his neck after she took another step up. He loved it as much as he hated quelling her attempts.

He moved his face aside. “Stop it. I can’t—”

“Need some help?” a low voice at the top of the stairs asked, making Coop about mess his pants. He jerked his head up.

Jo Ellen looked up too. Grinning, she pointed and called, “Grady! Look, it’s Grady.”

“Shh.” Coop slapped a hand over her mouth, though he wasn’t sure why he bothered; her brother had already caught them. Silencing her now seemed pointless.

Two years Cooper’s senior, Grady Rawlings had always intimidated the hell out of him. The oldest Rawlings child had a quiet, intense way about him that made Cooper think he would seriously kick ass if anyone harmed one of his loved ones, say, like one of his eighteen-year sisters.

“I’m home, Grady,” Jo Ellen informed her big brother with a sloppy cheer.

“So I see.” His voice was dry as he moved down the stairs to intercept them.

Coop froze, not sure what to do. “She’s drunk,” he confessed.

Grady treated him to a short glare. “Yeah, I gathered as much. Where’s the other one?”

Blinking, Coop had no idea what he meant. Then it struck him. “Emma Leigh? Uh, she’s still at the party, far as I know. This one stumbled across me, looking for her. So, I thought I’d bring her home.” In an afterthought, he added, “She was wasted by the time I ran into her.”

Grady didn’t respond, just took Jo Ellen’s arm. Coop regretfully let go of his hold. Her brother tried to lead her away, but she looked back at Cooper. Obviously realizing he wasn’t going to follow, she let out an agonized sound and ripped her arm free of Grady, only to dive at Cooper.

“Jo Ellen!” He caught her before she could tumble headlong down the stairs.

She wrapped her arms around him and clung. “Smell so good,” she slurred and kissed his neck.

“Jesus,” he rasped, trying to dodge her seeking hands and mouth, and failing, all the while making sure they both didn’t crash against the railing.

“For God’s sake. Jo Ellen!” Grady once again ripped her away from Cooper. “Quit groping Coop.”

“Coop?” she repeated the name and frowned as if she didn’t think that title should apply to him.

Grady pulled her up a step, making her stumble. Cooper lurched forward to steady her, but her brother threw him a blazing scowl. “I’ve got her from here.”

Cooper swallowed and nodded, reversing backward until he reached the ground floor.

“Thank you, Gerhardt,” Grady added a moment later, though he sounded a lot more dismissive than he did grateful. “But if either of my sisters ever need a ride home again. Just call me, okay. I’ll come get her.”

Cooper nodded, duly noting he’d been put in his place. He lingered, watching Grady haul Jo Ellen up the stairs. As soon as they reached the second-floor landing, she looked back.

Seeing him below, she waved her fingers in a sad farewell. He waved back; mouthing the words, don’t forget.





Cooper woke before the sun rose the next morning. More than ready to get the day underway, he finished his chores early, feeding and watering the calves even before his mom had breakfast on the table. In fact, she was just setting a plate loaded with fried eggs and sausage links in front of his father as Coop pushed his way inside the back door.

Both his parents looked up as he entered. With an apprehensive gulp, he paused to wipe his boots on the welcome mat.

“My goodness, you’re up with the cows,” Loren Gerhardt praised as her eyes lit with motherly adoration. She smiled at her youngest child before turning back to the stove and readying a second plate. “And here I thought you stayed out late with your friends last night.”