Cowboy Boone (Cooper's Hawke Landing Book 4)
Page 20
Damn, what was that awakening below his belt?
He had some issues. He didn’t even know the lady.
“Who’s that?” Coop nudged Channing’s arm.
“Who?”
“Her.” Coop subtly pointed her out.
“No clue. I don’t remember seeing her in here before.” Channing went back to his conversation with Blue while Coop continued to watch the pretty stranger. He emptied his glass, swiped the back of his hand across his lips, and set it down on the table with a clank.
The woman investigated her surroundings and when her gaze stopped on him, Coop didn’t bother pretending he hadn’t been staring. One corner of her mouth lifted, and then she carried her attention away and back onto the band that was now playing Garth Brooks. Damn, he loved Garth.
She tapped her hand against her knee to the beat. She must like Garth too.
Pushing back his chair, he made his way around the tables and up to the full bar, squeezing between mystery woman and drunk Jimmy ‘Milwaukee’ Jones who wobbled slightly.
“Jimmy.” Coop touched the brim of his hat.
“Hey, Coop, my boy,” the scraggly man slurred. “Want to buy me a round, friend?”
“I think you’re a round past drunk, buddy. How about I call you a ride?”
“Pfft. I’m just getting started.”
Meeting Hershel’s gaze, Coop said, “You got this?”
“I’ll make sure he makes it home okay.” Hershel set a steaming cup of black coffee on the bar. “Drink this or I’ll call a ride.”
With a scowl, Jimmy settled for the coffee knowing there was no use in arguing with Hershel.
“Need another pitcher for the table, Coop?”
“Sure. Have it sent over.” His brothers didn’t need another pitcher, but he used it as an excuse for getting closer to the cute brunette who cradled her cup between slender, bare, fingers. Years had passed since he’d approached a woman in a bar and he was probably a bit rusty and awkward.
She lifted her chin, her bright gaze settling on him, when behind them came a robust, “Howdy, ma’am.”
It was Stewart Riddle. The middle-aged cowboy swiped off his hat and offered her a slick smile. “I don’t think we’ve had the pleasure.” He stuck out a hand. “Stewart. And you are?”
She hesitated only a second then offered her hand. “I’m Melanie.”
“Melanie? Wow. That’s a name fitting for a beauty like yourself.” He wedged in the small space between her and Coop and propped his elbow on the edge of the bar.
“Thank you.”
“Care to shake a leg?”
“Sorry. I’m waiting for my chicken tenders and then I have some place to be.”
Stewart eased in a few more inches. Coop caught a strong whiff of the man’s cologne and wanted to hurl. Stewart was a good guy but just a bit lonely and presumptuous. “Come on, doll. Just one little itty-bitty dance.”
Then he saw the woman’s smile slip some.
Coop patted Stewart’s shoulder. “Buddy, she doesn’t want to dance with you. Go ask Patty. She’s all alone over by the jukebox and she looks like she’s longing for a dance partner. I heard she and Doug split recently.”
Stewart swung his gaze around and grinned. “Okay. Good idea.” He strode across the room.
“Thank you,” the woman said.
“He’s harmless. Tends to forget his limits though. I hope you don’t judge all us cowboys by his misdeeds.” Coop propped his elbows on the bar.
“Of course not.” She plucked another cherry from her Coke and popped it into her mouth.
Warmth spread into his gut.
Gathering his senses, he muttered, “I’m Coop.”
“Melanie.”
“You here with the band?”
“No. I’m visiting Dove Grey for a few days. Is this place hopping like this every weekend?”
He searched her left hand again. Ringless. Feeling a bit of anticipation, he eased in. “Pretty much. Mostly cowboys wanting to unwind after a long week of hard work.”
“Order’s up, ma’am.” Hershel handed her a white take out bag. “Cook put in extra barbecue sauce.”
Coop shot the bartender a scowl and Hershel shrugged. Damn tenders.
“Thanks, Hershel.” She slid off the stool and gave Coop a half smile. “Nice meeting you.”
“Have a nice evening, ma’am.”
Then he watched her sway out of his life, just like that.
“Sorry, I should’ve held back those tenders, man,” Hershel said.
“Nah, it’s okay, my friend. It was destined to never happen.” Coop bid him farewell and didn’t bother going back to the table. He was dog tired.
Fifteen minutes later he pulled onto the ranch, glad to be home.
Parking, he shut off the engine and strolled into the quiet house. “Ma, you here?”
When he didn’t get an answer, he guessed she was still with her sisters working out the kinks of the wedding that never happened.
Grabbing a water from the fridge, he chugged half of it then went to sit on the porch. The sun was starting to set. In the distance, he could see deer grazing along the wooded edge. They lifted their heads then darted into the brush. The horses in the field swished their tails, and that’s when he saw the dust cloud on the gravel lane.
Expecting to see Ma’s Toyota, he was a bit taken back when he saw the sleek white convertible Mustang.
Emptying his water bottle, he smashed the plastic then tossed it into the bucket sitting in the corner. He glanced over at his old coon dog, Wisp, who barely tweaked an ear at the stranger’s arrival. “Great watch dog you are, buddy. Don’t worry, I have this handled.” Coop stood up from the rocker and lingered at the top of the steps as the car came to a stop next to his truck. He lifted a hand in greeting. There was no sign of life coming from the car. Maybe they were put off by Wisp’s aggressiveness.
Chuckling, Coop hooked his thumbs into his front pockets and waited. He had all night. Finally the driver’s door opened. He blinked rapidly, thinking he might be dreaming. Melanie, the woman from Corby Q’s, was at his house. Was this a gift from the gods?
The petite brunette seemed as shocked to see him as he was her.
Apparently, she wasn’t there on purpose. She was lost. Figured. That happened on occasion out here in the middle of nowhere. People turned the wrong direction heading to the interstate and ended up surrounded by nothing but open fields, and the Dawson Creek Ranch.
She strolled up the walkway, those flared hips swaying like a pendulum.
He stepped off the porch. “What road were you looking for? I can give you directions.”
She was all curves and then some. Just the way he liked his women, although he’d never thought he had a certain type that he preferred more than another.
“This is Dawson Creek Ranch, right?”
Coop groaned, feeling his gut twist in envy. So she was here to see one of his brothers? What the hell?
“Whichever brother you’re here to see hasn’t made it back yet.” In his head he tried to work out the details of how one of them had met her when she left the bar before Coop did.
There was a long hesitation as her face flushed. “I’m here to see Cade Dawson.”
What. The. Fuck?
His chest jerked. His throat constricted. His lungs deflated.
Was this some joke? Even his brothers wouldn’t sink this low.