It's In His Heart (A Red River Valley Novel) (24 page)

“What if I were willing?” she asked, her voice taunting and seductive.

His eyes flew wide, and he stared down at her.

She shrugged. “I’ve never done it in the backseat of a car, but I’d do it with you.” She bit her bottom lip. “It might be fun.”

His eyes glazed over with desire, he began to move in her with slow and gentle strokes. “So, Miss Straight-Lace wants to live on the edge? With me?”

Her laugh was coupled with a moan of pleasure as his strokes grew more determined.

“Only with you.” She stared up at him. Her breath caught when he sank so far into her, her insides began to quiver on the brink of another orgasm.

In a movement so smooth and quick she squeaked, Coop had her on top, guiding and moving her hips in a circular motion with one hand while he stroked her cleft with a thumb.

He lifted her to his tip, then plunged her down on him again. The sexual tension built and roiled inside her with every stroke. Close to the brink, Ella reached up and grabbed the headboard, taking control of the force of her body pounding into his. He murmured her name, one hand clamped to her hip, the other still stroking her sex, and he rose to suckle one breast, then the other.

She came with a desperate cry of his name, which pulled him with her, and she collapsed against his heaving chest.

In sweet silence, Ella slid down his body to cuddle against his side. He bundled her onto his chest and pulled the covers up around them. After feathering sweet kisses across the top of her head, he settled into his pillow, still wrapped around her like a straitjacket.

When Ella heard his soft snore, she murmured against his chest, “I love you, Cooper.” Then she drifted off into a peaceful, content sleep, hoping this would last forever.

C
hapte
r
T
wenty-
F
our

Coop and Ella pulled into a parking spot in front of the post office and got out. In a town the size of Red River, the post office served as a social gathering point just as much as Joe’s did. If the crowded parking lot was any indication, the locals were out in force.

“The gossip must be flowing today,” Coop said, nodding to another car that inched into the lot off of Main Street. “Donna’s got a full house.” He opened the door for Ella.

Ella laughed as she walked through. “She’s the best source in town.”

Two older women chatted it up about their last visit to Doc Holloway’s office, while people milled in and out of the post office buying stamps, mailing vacation postcards, or picking up mail. Ella stopped to talk to Donna behind the front desk, while Coop went to his box and dialed in the combination. He picked a few envelopes from the box and thumbed through them, walking over to the counter.

Sheriff Lawson walked in. “Just the people I wanted to see.” He made a beeline for Coop and Ella, tipping his gray cowboy hat to the other ladies. “Just wanted to let you know we picked up that group of troublemakers last night over in Questa. They got into another barroom brawl over there and we caught ’em before they got out of the county.”

Ella closed her eyes and sighed her relief.

“Thanks, Sheriff.” Coop shook his hand. “I was worried every time I had to leave Ella alone, but she wouldn’t stay at my side twenty-four-seven.”

The sheriff gave her an appraising glance. “Looked to me like Ella can hold her own.”

And that was the problem. Ella didn’t need him. She’d said she loved him when she thought he was asleep. No begging him to stay with her, no needy latching on or smothering him. She loved him, but she was willing to let him go if he didn’t fit into her plan to move on.

Just like his mother.

Ella’s smile was bright and illuminating until she looked at Coop. Her eyes scanned his face, and her smile faded, a wrinkle appearing across her forehead like she’d read his thoughts.

Coop ignored it. “Donna, you left a message that I got a package.”

“Sure did.” Donna retrieved it from a box at the back of the mail room. “From Amazon.” She handed it over. “What you readin’?”

Coop hesitated. “Chiropractic journals. Boring stuff.”

“Speaking of books,” Donna interjected. “Violet Vixen’s new book is coming out next week. Finally! Ella, you up for a trip to Santa Fe with us gals? A few advance reviews are out and it’s supposed to be even hotter than the first two books.”

Ella rubbed the back of her neck and looked away.

“Uh, I think I’ve got a call. Or something.” Sheriff Lawson tipped his hat. “See y’all later.” He made a quick exit, and Coop wished he had a call to take. Or something.

“I, um.” Ella’s weight shifted in quick, jerky movements. “I download my books.”

Donna clucked her tongue. “Lorenda has an e-reader, but she’s going anyway just for kicks. You should come, too.”

“You
should
go, Ella. Someone has to keep them out of trouble.” Coop winked at Ella, and he clamped the unopened package under his arm, jamming his free hand in his pocket. Ella’s curious look skimmed the package.

“I just
might
go lookin’ for some trouble while I’m there, Mr. Smarty Pants.” Donna tossed her curly bob to one side.

“See?” Coop said to Ella. “They need a responsible chaperone.”

“Uh, well, there is something I need to do in Santa Fe, so I guess I could go along for the ride.”

“Great! What is it you need in Santa Fe?” Donna asked.

“I need to buy another vehicle. Coop’s had to drive me everywhere.”

Which he didn’t mind in the least.

“And I can’t keep inconveniencing him.”

Why the hell not?
He kind of liked being inconvenienced by her, because he didn’t see it as an inconvenience. The extra time with Ella had been nice, and they’d settled into a comfortable routine together.

“I need my own car.”

Okay.
Another car wouldn’t hurt.

“I don’t like being at the mercy of others.”

Coop’s jaw clenched so tight he thought he’d have to pry it open if he ever wanted to speak again. Or eat. Or kiss the little sex goddess standing next to him. Because what she really meant was
I need my independence.

Was she still preparing to move on just in case Coop lived up to his reputation and left her high and dry? Was she preparing herself to cut him loose if necessary? She wasn’t the scared little kitten he once thought she was, looking for a savior, a protector like Bradley. She was fully prepared to move on alone and make a new life somewhere else, with someone else, if that’s the road she found herself on.

And why wouldn’t she? She’d had it all with Bradley. He was twice the man Coop would ever be. Coop was just a poor imitation.

“Sounds like a plan. We’ll drop you at the dealership, and you can take care of business while we shop,” said Donna.

Coop cleared his throat. “You ready?” he asked Ella.

Before Ella responded, Donna stopped them. “Oh, I almost forgot.” She grabbed a letter from behind the counter and handed it to Ella. “This came for you, Ella. It’s from Wanton Publishing. Probably some sort of publisher’s clearinghouse scam or an order form for magazine subscriptions, but since Coop was coming in for a package, I didn’t call.”

Ella’s rosy cheeks turned white as snow.

“Yeah, junk mail, I’m sure,” Ella gushed, a little too fast.

But instead of opening it or tearing it up and throwing it in the trash can that conveniently sat within an arm’s reach, she shoved it deep inside her purse.

That evening, Coop stood behind the bar at Joe’s, drying glasses. A few tourists dined, and Ella and their gang of misfit friends occupied their usual table.

Joe lumbered out of the back office and sat at the bar.

“How’s business?” he asked.

“Slow,” Coop and Dylan answered simultaneously.

“If one of you wants to clock out, go ahead.”

“Actually, there is something I need to do.” Coop looked at Dylan.

Dylan nodded. “I’ve got this.”

“Joe, do you mind if I use your computer for a minute? I don’t have one at home.”

Coop wasn’t up on the latest technology and didn’t really care to be. He still used a flip phone, much to Cal’s horror, who claimed a real ladies’ man would at least have a smartphone and Netflix. Ella had installed Wi-Fi when she first got to the cabin, but he still didn’t have his own computer. Didn’t see a need for one, since the point of Red River was to rusticate and relax.

“Sure,” Joe said. “You know where it is.”

Coop found Joe’s computer in the back room and Googled Wanton Publishing. “The World’s Front-Runner in Erotic Romance,” or so the tagline proclaimed. A myriad of racy book covers came up,
New Mexico Naughty
and
Southwest Sizzle
being the most prominent. They were front and center on the website. A
New York Times
bestseller, with the next book,
Rio Grande Romp,
set for release in a week. A must-read, a sure success, another bestseller, according to the website. The author, Violet Vixen, lived in New Mexico with her English bulldog and was a sponsor of several literacy programs.

The skin at the back of Coop’s neck prickled. He shook it off.

The website didn’t offer a picture of Ms. Vixen, so he searched the net for any information he could find. Nothing more came up than what the website offered. At a dead end, he logged on to Amazon and bought Ms. Vixen’s first two books, then preordered the third. He set delivery to his new e-reader, which he still didn’t know how to turn on. Tonight was as good a time as any to figure it out.

He logged off Joe’s computer and went to find his friends.

“How about Arkansas? The houses are big, the pay is better, and there’s lots of eligible men,” Donna said to Ella as Coop walked up to their table.

“Seriously, guys. I haven’t thought that far ahead. I’m staying in Red River for a while. I’ve gotten a little attached to you guys,” Ella said, and shot a warm smile at Coop.

“So, Ross,” Lorenda spoke up. “Where’s Sandra?”

He shrugged. “She dumped me for some corporate exec from San Francisco that was vacationing in Taos.”

“Told you.” Lorenda eyed Ross.

He smiled and took another drink of beer. “It was fun while it lasted.”

“Go on, Lorenda, dance with Ross and make his day.” Donna tried to shoo them toward the dance floor.

“I’ll be happy to dance with Ross, but I’m not making anybody’s day. I’m off-limits. Period. At least until my boys are grown, and by then I’ll be an old woman.” Lorenda’s chair scraped across the floor as she stood and pointed to Ross. “You. Come on, let’s dance.”

“Yes, ma’am. I never argue with a pretty woman.” Ross followed her onto the dance floor, and they waltzed to an old Hank Williams, Jr., tune.

Coop stood beside Ella’s chair and nudged her. “Want to dance?”

She smiled up at him, warm and affectionate. He held out his hand and she took it, following him onto the dance floor. When he took her into his arms, she melded to him and matched his steps in perfect unison.

“You’re a really good dance partner.” She rubbed her cheek softly against his.

“So are you,” he said, his voice gravelly. “The best.”

She nodded against his temple. “I’ve never partnered with anyone so perfectly.”

He pulled her tight against him, and didn’t want to let her go. Ever.

“When we dance together,” she whispered, her voice gone all breathy, “it’s almost as good as our lovemaking. But not quite,” she added. “I’ve never felt anything as good as when you make love to me.”

Fire shot through every nerve ending and pooled below his belt. He breathed her in, the scent of flowers and sweet spices dialing up his desire even more and making his mouth water.

“You smell good,” he said, exercising an incredible amount of self-control by not sinking his teeth into her delectable earlobe.

“You don’t. I think you need a bath.” She tightened her grip on him.

“Uh, thanks for the heads-up.” He sniffed under his arm, the lust-laden spell broken.

“I have a surprise for you when we get home,” she said, the word “home” making Coop’s insides go warm and soft.

The corners of her mouth still turned slightly up into a flirtatious smile. Amazing how she could insult him and flirt with him at the same time. Women were an elusive enigma, especially this woman who’d turned out to be so different than he’d once thought.

“A new stick of deodorant?” He raised a brow at her.

“Nope. Much better.”

“Mmm, that sounds interesting. Give me a hint?”

“Your dad and Cal have been working on the bathroom while you’re at work. They finished today.”

“And that’s a surprise for me? They were explicit that the bathroom is for you.”

Her lashes fluttered down to brush her cheeks. “I had them add a few features that we can both enjoy.” She raised both eyebrows. “At the same time.” Desire sparked in her green eyes, turning them a deep shade of pine.

He ran his hands down to cup her exquisite ass, not really caring if anybody saw. “You’re right. I think I need a bath.”