Say You Won't Let Go Google(13)

He smiles. “Sure you do.”

“You know how it is.” It’s the way it’s always been and how it always will be. “Listen, I’m only in town for a few days, but I’d love to catch up.”

Wade writes his number down, and I shake his hand. “I’m around this week, but if I get a job, I may be gone without warning.”

“I get it. It was good to see you.”

“Good to see you, too, Coop.”

We part ways, and I find myself practically running to the car. Now that I know I’m going to see her, I need to get to her immediately.

During the drive, I think about all the responsibilities I’m blowing off right now. I’ve never been one to walk away from something that involved the ranch. My sister was able to turn her back on things, but I couldn’t.

Though I’m not the only one around to run things, so it isn’t such a big deal. A year ago, I knew I needed to bring on a partner. Presley was the one who caught onto how much money we were losing because of how quickly we were growing and we couldn’t keep up. I needed more help so we could scale the business, buy more land, and also sleep more than two hours a night. So, I offered the job to Wyatt Hennington, who had been my foreman for eight years. It made sense to bring him on. Between the both of us, it’s allowed us to expand and grow.



Me: I’m going to be a few more days.



Wyatt: No worries. We have things covered.



Me: I’ll call you when I have more info.



Wyatt: What has you tied up?



I debate what to tell him. I can be honest or play it off as something work related.



Me: A girl.



Wyatt: I figured. One in particular?



Me: Emily.



Wyatt: Nice! We’ll talk soon.



This is why I like having him as my partner. He gets it. Girls make us do shit we’d never consider any other time. I’ve been a very patient and practical guy. I don’t make a fool out of myself very often; yet, here I am, driving four hours because she said she misses me.

Women.





Chapter Six


Emily



I chew on the tip of my thumb as I pace in the tour bus. The guys are all partying in the hotel, but I wanted to be far away from everyone.

Then I got the flowers, and all I could think about was him. How perfect he is. I was so overcome with emotion, I couldn’t stop myself from texting him.

This could go very good or end in disaster. I’m not sure what I was thinking, other than I had to see him again. It was far beyond just want—it was need. Once I broke the dam, allowing the feelings to flood forward, I drowned in them.

I need his touch.

I need his arms.

I need him to give me air.

I hear a car door close, rush to the window, and my stomach flips at the sight of him.

Okay. I can do this. It’s Cooper, and I like him. He clearly likes me since he drove almost four hours, and this doesn’t have to be anything more than tonight.

Right. I’m a freaking liar and a fraud.

The knock on the door forces me to move.

When I see his face, my smile is instant. Cooper stands before me, looking a little tired and just as nervous as I feel. His deep green eyes bore into mine as he moves forward, climbing the steps without taking his gaze from mine.

“I’m here.” Cooper’s deep voice fills the space.

“You are.”

He takes another step, and we’re eye to eye. It feels like all the oxygen is sucked from the room. My head spins, and my legs grow weak. Cooper turns, closing the door behind him. I try to step back, give him room to come in, but he grips my hips, holding me firmly in place.

“I want to be clear,” he says while pulling my body closer to his. “I don’t know what we’re doin’ or where this is going, but I’ve never felt so…”

“Pulled?” I ask, trying to explain what I’m feeling too.

“Yeah.” Cooper grins. “I couldn’t get here fast enough. I had to touch you again.”

My hand lifts to cup his cheek. The stubble pricks my palm, a soft scratch that reverberates all the way to my heart. He’s doing something to me, and I don’t think I’m strong enough to stop it. Years of wanting and wondering all come to this moment.

Here goes nothing.

“I’m feelin’ the same thing. It was as if as soon as I allowed myself to see you as more than my friend—”

His lips crush down on mine, and I tangle my hands in his dark brown hair. He moves us back to where we laid the other night. Only tonight, we won’t be just talking.

He sets me down in front of the bed. I see the hesitation in his eyes, but there’s none in mine. I want him and whatever tonight brings. It might be fast, but I feel like we’re about ten years late on doing this.

I lean forward, gripping his shirt, pulling it over his chest. My hands move across the taut skin, feeling the muscles flex beneath my fingertips. He’s gorgeous. Absolutely freaking gorgeous. His body is even better than I dreamed of, and I did a lot of dreaming. I move slowly, trying to commit each dip and rise to memory. I move from his defined six-pack, up over his chiseled chest, and rise slowly to his broad shoulders, loving the way he feels against my palms. Cooper Townsend is going to ruin me for all men.