Path of Destruction (Broken Heartland, #2)(64)

Her mouth turned down at the corners and he couldn’t help but kiss her frown. “People might say that. Hell, half the town is probably saying that about this farm right this very second.” He placed a chaste kiss on her lips and leaned forward until his forehead rested on hers. “Look at me, Cameron.”

She complied, that profound sadness deepening her expression once again. He wanted to make it his life’s goal to keep that look out of her eyes.

“I wasn’t raised to give up, to back down. So I don’t.” He used both hands to move her hair behind her shoulders. “Now, then. What did you wait all this time in the dark to tell me?”

Something flashed quickly in her eyes, almost so quick he missed it. He leaned his head to the side while he waited. She took a deep breath and wrapped her arms around his waist, causing his skin to tingle where she touched.

“I don’t know how we got here or if we have anything in common or if you even know how much you mean to me.” She gave him a small smile and he returned it. He didn’t know either, but he wasn’t complaining. “But I know that I wouldn’t have made it through this year without you. You’ve been my life preserver, literally. And I am terrified that one day someone will tell you something about me that will make you hate me—or worse, make you wish you never met me.”

“Cameron,” he started, preparing to repeat his I could never hate you sentiment, but she rushed on.

“I don’t want to lose you, Cooper.” It was a whisper and from the way it sounded, the honest to God truth.

He grinned. Her calling him Brantley always felt so formal. Knowing that she’d finally relaxed enough to call him what everyone else did made him happy. And the way her mouth formed around it made him damn near ecstatic. “You called me Cooper.”

She smiled back. “So I did.”

“So that’s what you came to tell me? That you don’t want to lose me?”

Her eyes clouded over again. He struggled to keep up with her ever-changing expressions and the turbulent emotions behind them.

“I came to tell you something completely different, but I can’t. I’m too selfish and I can’t make myself let you go.”

“Then don’t.” Lifting her once more, he contemplated taking her to his bed. But she wasn’t ready for that. Hell, he wasn’t ready for that. So he deposited her on the couch where he kissed her until his lips went numb.

It was even better than prom.



Cooper loved his younger brothers, and he truly didn’t mind looking after them while his parents were on the road figuring out a way to finance their farm, but sometimes Will and Sam could be major pains in his ass—particularly when he was hiding a girl in the barn. Well, sort of hiding.

Cameron had started coming by after her therapy sessions on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Just the fact that she’d confided in him that she was seeing a therapist about her storm anxiety made him feel special. He’d have been happy to just be in her presence, but, surprisingly, she was helpful to have around and didn’t even complain about hanging around helping out while he did his chores. Though it wasn’t long before Will and Sam had noticed her and lured her in the house to order them pizza and play video games instead. It was there that Cooper found them the Friday night his parents came home from a trip to Colorado unexpectedly.

“Brantley,” his mother began when she stepped into the house looking weary and drained and took in the group in front of the television. “Can we speak in private for a moment?”

“Yes, ma’am,” he answered, pulling himself up from the couch where Cameron had been tucked in beside him.

He followed his mom outside to where his dad was unloading a trailer they’d used to sell what few cattle they’d had left.

“I’m beyond ready for a hot shower and bed, so I’m going to get to the point, son.”

Cooper nodded, bracing himself for bad news.

“Will said you’ve been hiding a girl in the barn. While that girl in there didn’t look like she was hiding, I don’t recall you mentioning that you’d be having female company while we were gone.”

Cooper almost laughed in relief. This was what she was so worried about? Cameron?

“I haven’t been hiding anyone. Cameron is a friend and she hangs out over here a lot because her parents are jerks. It’s not a big deal.”

His mom pinned him with her trademark I-know-and-see-all glare. “Uh huh. And does hanging over here include sleepovers in the loft?”

Cooper glanced away to keep from melting under her stare. “Um, she has, on occasion, fallen asleep here. But it’s not what you think. I swear.”

“And what do I think?” Mrs. Cooper asked with a raised brow.

“You think we’re bed buddies and that I’m setting a bad example for Will and Sam. We’re not and I’m not. She’s a friend. Yes, I like her as more than that. And no I’m not having unprotected sex and sharing the details with my younger brothers.”

His mom sighed. “So tell me about this Cameron. Where do you know her from?”

“School. She’s from the Bluffs.”

His mother’s eyes tightened visibly. “Please tell me her last name isn’t Nickelson.”

“Uh, okay. But I’d be lying.”