A Cowboy To Come Home To

“I trusted you,” she repeated, softer now, and a sadness took over where her anger had lived. Sadness and acceptance.

“I was friends with both of you. Have you even considered for one moment how caught in the middle I was? I swear, as soon as I found out I confronted him about it. I begged him to put a stop to it. I demanded.”

“Did you threaten to tell me?”

“Yes.”

“And yet you didn’t.”

He swallowed and looked away. “No.”

“And why is that?”

He didn’t answer, but they’d come this far and she wanted to know. He’d been the one to open the can of worms, and now he would have to deal with her questions. “Why didn’t you tell me, if you told him you would?”

Cooper took a few moments to respond, and when he did his words seemed measured. “Scott said he would deny it, and that you’d believe him.”

She frowned, puzzled. “Maybe I would want to believe him, but don’t you think I’d ask why you would tell me such a thing if it wasn’t true? Come on, Coop.”

He shoved his hands into his pockets. “Look, my intention wasn’t to relive this thing from start to finish, okay? I just wanted to say I was wrong, and that I’m sorry. Isn’t it time we moved on?”

It bothered her that he was probably right. It had gone on a long time. She’d picked herself up and dusted herself off, made a good life for herself. The one thing she hadn’t done was let go of her resentment for Cooper. Funny how she’d been able to put Scott in the past and not miss him a bit, but not Cooper. She supposed it came from staying in the same town and being faced with seeing him on a regular basis, even from a distance.

“I forgave you a long time ago, Coop.”

“You could’ve fooled me.”

“Forgiving isn’t the same as forgetting. You’re right. It’s over and done. But you know the old saying, ‘Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice…’”

“‘Shame on me’,” he finished.

“Our friendship as it used to be is over, Cooper. We can’t go back. It’s how I’m built. Once someone hurts me, they don’t get a chance to do it again. Once I learn a lesson, I don’t forget it. So maybe we can just call a truce, okay? I can live with that. If you’re expecting more…”

She didn’t finish the sentence, but she didn’t really need to, did she?

Cooper took a step back, out of the circle of lamplight. “You should go in. It’s getting late.”

She didn’t like how they were leaving this, but knew there was no other way. “Thank you for the walk home.”

She’d turned and taken two steps along her walkway when his voice stopped her once again. “Mel?”

Her heart quaked. Why did this feel like goodbye? Why did it feel final? Final had been three years ago when she’d said she never wanted to speak to him again.

The words had been extreme, but that had been an extreme period in her life.

“I lost two best friends, you know. You might think I sided with Scott, but I didn’t. I hated what he was up to and begged him to do the right thing. It was the end of our friendship. I did not condone or support his behavior in any way. You need to know that.”

Sadness swept over her. “You didn’t stop it,” she whispered. “To me, you condoned it by doing nothing.”

Silence spun between them, until finally Cooper gave a curt nod and turned, walking away. She watched until the sound of his boots faded and his tall form turned the corner, out of her line of vision.

Only then did she realize that she was still wearing his jacket. She curled her fingers around the edges and pulled it close, drawing in the scents of hay and fresh air and the cologne he’d worn for as long as she could remember. The smell of it was imprinted on her brain, bringing a wealth of memories and emotions. It took her back more years than she cared to count.

She’d worked so hard to put the past behind her, but as the scent of him wrapped around her, she grieved just a little bit for the life she’d nearly had and the dreams she’d lost.

CHAPTER THREE

COOPER SAT IN HIS TRUCK a half block from her flower shop, trying to muster the courage to go in. The other night he had come this close to telling her the truth. It had all been going so well. Not quite like old times, but at least they’d been talking. He’d gotten the impression that she’d be open to his apology, so he’d made it.

Only it hadn’t gone quite according to plan. She’d pushed. He’d thought for a long time that she hadn’t spoken to him for years because of simple pride. The longer the impasse, the harder it was to swallow pride and end it, right? It was difficult to take the first step. But he’d miscalculated. It wasn’t just pride with Melissa. He had truly, honestly hurt her.

He’d never intended for things to get so intense the other night. With any other woman he could try flowers to ease his way back into her good graces. Considering Melissa owned the flower shop, he’d had to come up with something else. Besides, she’d see right through that sort of thing.

So a plastic container of his mother’s peanut butter chocolate chip cookies sat on the seat beside him as a peace offering. She’d always had a weak spot for those.

He was still trying to figure out what he hoped to achieve by mending fences. Was it simply a need to put the transgressions of his past behind him? To receive absolution from his guilt for the part he’d played in the breakup of her marriage?

Then there was the problem of his feelings for Melissa. They’d been good friends since junior high school. By the time he’d figured out he wanted more, she’d only had eyes for Scott. What was worse, Scott had known how Coop felt, but had never said anything to him. It had been an unspoken rule—that they didn’t talk about it. To Scott’s credit, he had never rubbed Coop’s nose in it. Not until Coop backed him into a corner. Then Scott had shown what sort of man he truly was. And what sort of man Cooper was, too. The kind of guy who would choose to save his own skin rather than do the right thing.

So what did he really want? Coop drummed his fingers on the steering wheel. He considered the idea that maybe he should let her go. Until he did, he couldn’t move on. And he really should at some point.

He was twenty-seven years old and he’d never had a serious relationship. All because of Melissa Stone. It went beyond his mom and dad asking when he was going to settle down and give them grandbabies. He wanted that, too. He loved his business, but he wanted a wife and a few kids running around his big empty house. He wanted to teach them to ride and coach their hockey team. More than that, he wanted a partner to share things with. A meal at the end of the day. A beer while watching the football game. A woman he loved waking up beside him in the morning.

It was just that it seemed impossible to make the connection from his life as it was right now to his vision of the future. Melissa—and their unfinished business—was in his way.

So he’d go in there and give her the cookies and get his jacket back and wish her well, and finally, finally, move on.

Resolutely, he shut the door to his truck and gripped the dish in sweaty hands. This was stupid, wasn’t it? A grown man going home and asking his mother to bake special cookies, of all things. She’d even remembered Melissa’s fondness for them. His pulse beat at his wrist and the muscles in his chest tightened with nervousness as he reached for the door. Dammit, he felt about fifteen years old and not anything like a man preparing to let someone go.

Amy Wilson stood behind the counter, a cordless phone pressed to her ear when he walked in. She looked up and smiled, and his pulse jumped again—not because he was particularly fond of Amy but because she was a notorious flirt and gossip. The last thing he needed was her overhearing anything he’d come to say.

“Cooper?”

He turned to his right and there stood Mel, dressed in a soft sweater the color of red wine and a pair of gray trousers. The sweater draped over her body like some sort of shawl, and it was utterly feminine and flattering. She held a finished bouquet in her hands, an arrangement of red roses, white carnations and baby’s breath. Her brown hair was caught up in some sort of clip that left little pieces sticking out. It was one of those casual, purposefully messy looks, and it suited her perfectly.

“Hi,” he said, so struck by the sight of her that he lost the few words he’d put together in his mind. Instinctively, he reached for his hat, then remembered he’d left it in the truck.

“Something I can do for you?”

“Um…”

She smiled, but he saw lines of tension around her mouth as her gaze strayed to the front counter. “Let me put this in the cooler.”

Amy hung up the phone and tore a piece of paper off a pad. “An order for a get-well arrangement, any color, no more than fifty,” she said. “For between five and six.”

“I can do that.” Melissa pushed open the sliding door to the cooler and put the roses inside. “The Carson arrangement is ready. Joe said he’d be in around three for it.”

Cooper shifted his feet as Amy’s gaze slid to him. “Something we can do for you, Coop?”

“I, uh…”

He felt Melissa’s eyes on him and wondered if he was blushing, because his cheeks suddenly felt on fire. “Sure. I’ll take…” Panicking, he scanned the fridge. “Sunflowers. One of those silver buckets with the sunflowers in it.”

“Sure thing.”

Amy moved to take it out of the cooler, but Melissa’s voice stopped her. “I’ll get it, Amy. You’re already late for your lunch break.”

“Oh, I can eat here, I’ve brought a sand—”

“You wouldn’t pick me up a coffee from the Wagon Wheel, would you? I’m not sure I’m going to make it through the afternoon without an extra shot of caffeine.”

Amy’s gaze slid between Melissa and Cooper. “Oh, sure. Just let me get my purse.” She retrieved her bag from beneath the counter. “See you in a bit.”

The bell jingled behind her.

“That was probably stupid. It’ll be all over the diner, within five minutes of her arrival, that you’re in here.”

Coop grinned. Amy wasn’t a bad sort. She tended to be unlucky in love and a bit vocal about it, but she wasn’t intentionally mean or vindictive. “Well, it’s probably better than having her eavesdrop.”

“Is there something to eavesdrop about?”

He held out the plastic container. “It’s a peace offering. For upsetting you the other night.”

She came forward and took it from his hands. “Is this what I think it is?” She peeled back the cover and he watched, fascinated, as she closed her eyes and took a deep sniff. “Peanut butter. These are your mom’s cookies, aren’t they?”

“I remembered they were always your favorites, and begged her to make a batch.” He grinned. “You only got half. Sorry.”

“I should have had Amy bring me milk instead of coffee.” Melissa smiled at him in a genuine, easy way. “Thank you, Cooper.”

The warm smile hit him right in the solar plexus, robbing him of breath. “You’re welcome. I was thinking about what you said and…I can’t change anything that happened. I just want to offer a truce, like you suggested.”

“Bygones be bygones, that sort of thing?”

He nodded. “I know you were affected so much more than me, Mel. I’m not disputing that. But the whole thing has hung over me like a black cloud. I know I can’t make things right, but will you please accept that I wish I could?”

She put the lid back on the cookies. “Oh Coop,” she sighed. “If it were only that easy.”

The door jingled and they were interrupted by Callum Shepard. Cooper stood back as the local farmer stepped up to the counter, a wide smile stretched across his face. Cooper was pretty sure he had never seen the normally reticent Callum look quite so happy.

“What can I do for you today, Callum?” Melissa tucked the dish discreetly beneath the counter. “You look like you’re in a good mood. Anything to do with the cupcake joint opening up down the street?”

For Pete’s sake, the man was practically bouncing in his boots, Cooper thought irritably.

“You heard about that?” Callum asked. “Avery Spencer’s opening it. She and Nell are moving here for good.”

The latest bombshell in town was finding out that newcomer and all around keep-to-himself kind of guy Callum Shepard had a baby daughter no one knew about.

“That’s great,” Melissa replied.

“We’re getting married,” he blurted out, and Cooper nearly choked on a laugh. The guy sounded both thrilled and scared to death.

“Congratulations,” Melissa said, smiling. “Have you already done the asking? Or is this wishful thinking?”

Callum finally seemed to chill out and he chuckled. “Sorry. It’s still so new. I asked her yesterday and she said yes. But it wasn’t planned, so today I’m surprising her with a ring. I thought flowers might be nice to go with it… .”

“Absolutely.”

Callum seemed to just realize that Cooper was standing there. “Oh, gee. Sorry. You were here first, Cooper.”

Coop grinned and held out his hand. “I’m in no rush. Congrats, man.”

“Thanks.” Callum gripped Cooper’s hand and he gave a shake of his head. “You just never know. A year ago the last thing I planned on was getting married and having a kid. Funny how things work out.”

“Isn’t it?”

Mel interrupted. “What were you thinking, Callum? Something simple, or a grand gesture sort of thing?”

He grinned. “Grand gesture. Roses?”

“Perfect,” she decreed. “A dozen, long-stemmed? Maybe in red and white. You can tell her it stands for love and unity.”

“That’d be wonderful. Thanks, Melissa.”

“It won’t take but a minute.”

Cooper watched as she deftly selected half a dozen of each color from buckets of roses in the cooler, then arranged them on a huge sheet of green-and-gold floral paper. In no time flat she’d added a touch of greenery and sprig or two of baby’s breath and had the bouquet wrapped up and taped and ready to go.

Cooper studied her as she worked. Melissa was good at what she did, and She truly loved the business she’d built. No matter how her life had derailed, she’d landed on her feet and with a smile. She was a strong woman, no doubt about it.

The register dinged as the cash drawer opened and she shut it again, then handed Callum the arrangement and receipt.

“There you go,” she said cheerfully. “Good luck.”

Cooper wished Callum would hurry up. Before long Amy would be back and any chance to finish his conversation with Mel privately would be gone. But the farmer had other ideas.

“One more thing…I picked out this ring today, but I’m not sure she’ll like it. Would you mind…?”

Callum reached into his pocket and pulled out a box. He handed it across the counter and Melissa flipped open the lid. It creaked, as all jewelry boxes did, and she looked down at what nestled inside.

Cooper couldn’t see what the ring looked like, but he could see the way Melissa’s face softened as she gazed upon it with a mix of wistfulness and tenderness, pain and happiness.

“It’s beautiful, Callum. Just gorgeous.”

She closed the box and handed it back. “Avery’s a lucky woman. I know you’ll be very happy together.”

“Thanks,” he replied. “And thanks for the flowers.”

“You’re welcome.”

“Go get ’em, tiger,” Coop said, lifting a hand as Callum made for the exit.

“He’s excited,” Melissa observed as the door clicked shut.

“He’s marrying the woman he loves. Of course he’s excited.” Cooper surprised himself with his sentimental observation. Seeing Melissa look at that engagement ring had affected him more than he cared to admit. She deserved something like that. Happiness. She certainly deserved better than what she’d gotten the first time around.

“Well, I hope it all works out for them,” she replied, tidying up her countertop.

“Why shouldn’t it? Just because your marriage didn’t work doesn’t mean every couple is doomed to unhappiness.”

“I know that.” She looked hurt at his observation.

He stepped closer to the counter. “I didn’t mean that the way it sounded. I just meant…you can’t stop believing in love just because it didn’t work out once before.”

“Did I say I had stopped believing?” Her hands paused on the tape dispenser.

“No.”

She fussed about, but he could tell she was just trying to keep busy.

“So, have you considered giving it another try?” he asked.

“No.”

“Why not?”

She looked up at him sharply. “Just because it exists doesn’t mean it exists for me, okay? Why the sudden interest? Boy, you’ve been all up in my business lately. Thanks for the cookies, Coop, and we can shake hands and let bygones be bygones like you wanted. But let’s just leave it at that, okay?”

He looked out the display window and saw Amy turning the corner, coming down the block. He frowned. “You mean that? About letting bygones be bygones?”

“Sure.”

“Then shake on it, like you said.”

He held out his hand and waited. Silently counted the seconds. Amy would be back at any moment, curse her busybody self.

Slowly Mel’s hand stretched out. Met his. Her fingers curled around his palm.

Her skin was warm, her fingers slightly callused from working with flowers and chemicals all day long. He turned her hand over in his, looked at the closeclipped, unpolished fingernails that were part of the profession she’d chosen. Years ago she’d grown them long and always had them painted.

Mel wasn’t the same girl he remembered, and perhaps it was time he accepted that.

She slid her fingers from his while a strange silence filled the shop. “There,” she finally said, her voice oddly tight. “Truce.”

“Truce.”

The word seemed hollow somehow, and left him wanting more. So much more it left him floundering.

“Mel…”

Amy came back inside, rosy-cheeked and bringing a rush of fall wind with her. “One coffee, cream and sugar, just as ordered,” she announced brightly.

It was time Cooper got out of there. He’d done what he’d set out to do—given her the cookies and made peace between them. More than that, he’d realized that all this time he’d been holding on to a vision of the girl he’d once known and loved, rather than the woman she’d become.

“I’ll see you around, Mel,” he said quietly. “Amy.”

“See you around,” Melissa replied, while her assistant merely smiled and gave a waggle of her fingers.

Outside the shop the air had turned suddenly cold. Coop shivered as he realized two very annoying things.

First of all, he’d forgotten to ask for his jacket back.

And second, his whole plan had backfired. Instead of letting go so he could move forward, he was starting to realize that the woman Melissa had become could be even more of a threat to his heart than the girl she’d once been.

Melissa watched Coop walk down the street, and tried hard to ignore the shocking way her stomach seemed to be tangling in knots. Her pulse still raced, beating at the hollow of her wrist where his fingers had rested only moments ago. That had been no ordinary handshake. Things had tingled. In a way they hadn’t since she’d been sixteen and had finally given up on him ever looking at her as if she was a girl. Scott had kissed her one night after a school dance and that had been the end of any crushes on Coop. She’d accepted that they’d only just be friends. It had been fine while she’d dated Scott, and after, when she’d married him. Coop had ended up being more like a brother.

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