Eternal Soulmate (5 page)

~Cooper~

I leave the hotel by 7:00 am to pick up the prisoner and escort him to Austin for his warrants. I’m still ticked at Beau for bailing and making me do his job.
Big shock
. He owes me big time for this one. If his stupid ass would screw his head on right and grow up, he would have done everything right in the first place. I have seen him in action and he’s a piece of work. He thinks he is God’s gift to women. My patience is wearing thin. The only thing that gets me through is hopefully, I’m only in this job for a little while longer. I have such distaste for abuse. When you see some of the things that I have seen, you never forget. The abuse of women, many being wives and daughters. It’s one thing to see two men go at it but to see what a man has done to a woman is… unforgivable. I have seen it through a child’s face and I see it every day as a grown man. I will put away every bastard I can. 

For my sanity I daily dream of the country and how I can’t wait to get out of the city. Not many people want the country life. They love the hustle and bustle of the city. Not me, I never have. I would at a young age, go look for any area that was secluded, walk or climb a tree. I loved to hear nothing but the air blowing and nature. I want to be able to see the stars in the sky.  Wonder how Ashlynn feels about the country? She lives in Taylor, so, I would think she loves it.
Hot damn, a beautiful woman that loves the country. If only I could only be so lucky!

I came here pissed at Beau, but, I might owe him a drink! I met Ashlynn here and God willing I will have met the woman that I want to spend the rest of my life with. Only time will tell.

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~Ashlynn~

I just landed in Austin and can’t wait to get home to Taylor, kick my feet up and relax in a hot bath. The flight was not as bad as I thought it would be. I thought of Cooper the entire flight and day dreamed of us having a life together
. How ridiculous is that? 
I promised myself I would start to try and with Cooper it seems possible.  It is so nice to dream.  It can’t hurt can it? I walked into my modest house I rent and after telling my favorite little man hello, I make my way around to welcome myself back home. I love my little home. It’s small, decorated in rustic furniture and warm colors. It feels country. I promised myself as a young girl, I would depend on no one and I don’t. To be able to support myself and never be in a situation where I can’t leave. Growing up as a child watching your mother get beat will do that to you. She never could leave and I will never be put in that situation, God forbid, with a child.

Lying back on my couch, I close my eyes for a minute. Ever since I left Cooper, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about him. His eyes are so genuine. There is this small part of me that wants him to reach out to me. I want him to text me and see how I am. I wonder if he is thinking about me like I am about him.
Figures, I have to control everything and I want Cooper to take the lead.

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I get a call from my friends McKoy and Grace and they want us to go out to Copeland Dance Hall tonight. I hate going to these dives, but they love it. McKoy loves to dance and she doesn’t care where she does it.  Her favorite band is playing.  I begged and pleaded for them to just come to my house and share a bottle of champagne. They begged and pleaded for me to go out with them. They wanted us to do a toast to mom. In the end, they won and I lost. Grace loves to go dance and drink and be around men. They flock to her as soon as she smiles. She is so damn pretty and can outsmart and outtalk any man. It is a hoot to see and I smile with pride.  

McKoy demanded, “Get your ass ready! Don’t put on your normal boring makeup, and put on the pair of tight jeans I bought you and your boots on. We’ll be there to get you at 10:00. If you aren’t ready, I will come in and drag your ass out so, you best be ready!”

Yeah those were my friends alright! That is how we Texas girls are!  We definitely don’t put up with any shit and that is for damn sure!

I soaked in my bath and thought about the last two days. I met this man that I know I will probably never see again, spread my mother’s ashes over her favorite spot and faced a fear of flying. I actually made it through a flight home without a panic attack. It is time to make some changes in my life and now is as good a time to start as any. I relaxed back into my favorite bath bubbles. I love the smell of vanilla and lavender.  My handsome boxer sitting with his head on my bathtub just watching me. He has been the most loyal male I have ever had in my life. I soak for a good hour. I feel so refreshed and relaxed and ready for bed, but, I have to get ready for my night out with my favorite girlies.

I blow dry my hair out and my bangs across my face lightly so it covers my forehead but not over my eyebrows. I have a little shorter than shoulder length hair. I love my hair shorter. It is easy to blow dry and flat iron. Per McKoy’s orders I apply more makeup than I normally do with my eye shadow and mascara. She is much better with makeup than me. My must haves are always, eyeliner, bronzer, mascara and usually a light lip gloss, nothing too bright.

I slip into my favorite black thong and my tight jeans that make me feel sexy.  I put on a black blouse with a cami underneath it. I pull on my boots that I couldn’t live without. If I had nothing on but my boots, I would feel 100 percent comfortable. I love my boots.

I am ready to go and waiting in the living room when McKoy pulls up and honks.

“Damn girl, you look haaawwt! Let’s go have some fun and get our dance on.”

I get in her car and kiss her check. We giggle and turn on our favorite song “Cruise” by Florida Georgia Line and Nelly swaying in our seats. She is driving her Camaro that I absolutely love. This car is McKoy’s baby. McKoy comes from family money, but no one would ever know it. Her grandparents own one of the most successful wineries in the United States- Synder Winery. Other than her car, she does not flaunt her money. She is a hard worker and busts her ass. McKoy is definitely the most girlie out of us three. She never leaves the house without looking her best and tonight is no exception.  Copeland is about ten minutes from my house but in McKoy’s car and the way this girl drives, we will be there in five.

~Ashlynn~

We pull up and see the place is packed. It is a little hole in the wall, but I’ve always had a good time coming here. I’m comfortable here. I am in control here.  The good thing about this place is I recognize no one from my past. No one knows me from my family, my past life or my childhood. It is not that far from Austin, but just enough to give me a fresh start which gives me the bravery I need to face any circumstance. McKoy and I hook arms and head in. The band starts and we get into our dance groove. Me and McKoy love to dance. Grace joins us and we head to the dance floor. I don’t know that any of us are especially good at it, but, who the hell cares. We dance and are soaked in sweat by the end of the third song. Music is an escape for me. I love to hear the music and zone out.  It was like we were young again and singing into brushes and looking at ourselves in the mirror. We don’t care who was watching us.

I get tired faster than I expected and realize it is time for some water!  McKoy and Grace grab me and we walk over to a small table so we can sit for a bit. As we are walking to the table, I feel a large hand grab me right above my elbow and pull.
What the hell? Someone better get their damn hands off me!

“Is that you Ashlynn?”

Oh Mary mother of God you have got to be kidding me
. I have not seen this asshole since my mom and Nick were together and hoped to never see him again. He was a womanizer and a drunk. Everything about him makes me gag. He was an old wart. Time had not been good to him, and now he looks even older.

“Hey Russell, good to see you. I’m pretty tired from dancing so me and the girls are going to sit out.”

“Come on Ashlynn, let’s dance. Just one dance please…..”

Russell still hasn’t let go of my arm and I am pulling back, but he isn’t loosening his grip.
This asshole has 30 seconds and I am going to have to kick him in the balls.

“Russell, I really don’t feel like it, thank you though. Can you please let go of my arm?”

I hear my name and turn around and see Cooper standing there.

Cooper walked up and before I even turned around, I feel his presence. My mouth drops and I can barely form a coherent sentence. No freaking way is it Cooper. How? How did he possibly know it was me? What are the chances of meeting on an airplane of all places, spending one of the best nights off my life in a hotel with no sex and then here?

Cooper grabs Russell by the elbow, “Excuse me old man, she’s with me. Is there a problem?”

Russell drops my arm slowly and gives me a look that would have made me want to run for the hills and walks off. “Another time Ashlynn.”

I whispered under my breath “When hell freezes over.”

I turn around and throw my arms around Cooper. I hug him like he is my oxygen. I am so happy to see him.

“Oh my God Cooper! What are you doing here? I am so happy to see you.”

“Hey Ashlynn, are you okay? It looked like that guy was being a creep. I came along with my friend Beau here. He is my new partner at work. I have to watch him and make sure he doesn’t do anything stupid. People’s Choice is his favorite band. I actually come to Taylor quite a bit, remember?”

He winked at me and started to introduce me to Beau.

“Beau this is Ashlynn, Ashlynn this is Beau.”

“Shit Ashlynn, how the hell are you? I am here to see McKoy. Where is she? You look great girl!”

He leaned in to give me a quick hug.

“How do ya’ll know each other?”

“We went to school together. He dated McKoy off and on. Definitely not something to get into tonight.”

“Cooper, I had no idea this was the girl you were talking about. Damn we need to talk later dude.”

“Sure, Beau. Later though. I want to dance with Ashlynn on this song.”

“Come dance with me Ash, I love this song.” Cooper grabbed for my hand.

Beau laughed “You might not like him so much after you dance with him.”

“Shut the hell up you douche.”

“That’s where you’re wrong Beau, anything Cooper does, I will like.”

Cooper takes me in his arms and we start to dance. He whispers in my ear he doesn’t like the bar scene, doesn’t like dancing, and really doesn’t like country music. I laughed and he pulls back to see my smile. He moves me around the dance floor with perfection, moving to the beat of the music and twirling me. I hold on tight. For someone that doesn’t like to dance, he sure can dance well. I could dance with him all night. It feels like no one is on this dance floor but me and Cooper. As we dance I can’t keep my smile off my face. I love him whispering in my ear. I thought I was never going to see him again. I love the way his arms feel around me. He moves me to the music and keeps his body next to mine. I can feel the sexual tension between us. It is something I have never felt with any man.

“You look beautiful tonight Ashlynn. I have prayed I would see your face again. Our paths just keep meeting. We must be meant to be.” He winked.

“Cooper, I don’t look beautiful. I look like a sweaty pig. Maybe we are meant to be. I’ve missed you and that has to mean something.” I sure as hell hope I don’t smell like one from all the heat from dancing.

“You look beautiful to me, Ashlynn. You’re perfect. You smell just as I remember too.” 

His words mean so much to me. He speaks from his heart. I started to think about how I met this man on a plane and how he has appeared in my life twice since. Cooper seems too good to be true.

The second song ends and he leads me back to the table with his hand on the small of my back. He smells so damn good. I move really close to his neck almost close enough to lick him, but, pulled myself back. 
Get a hold of yourself
! We rest for a bit and sit with McKoy and Beau.  I start to see he is sweating and he still smells amazing. Even this man’s sweat smells good. It’s intoxicating, all Cooper. 

“Pour Some Sugar On Me” comes on and McKoy walks over and grabs me from Cooper and we start dancing. We dance sexy and are concentrating on nothing other than moving our hips. Out of the side of my eyes, I see Cooper watching me and love his eyes on me.
Why not give him a little show?
When McKoy and I look to the right we see two very handsome men damn near drooling over us. What do we do? We make it even sexier and it sure as hell feels good to tease these men. Me and McKoy look at each other, smile, and wink and know exactly what we are doing without even talking.

“Beau, man, we are in some big time shit here with these women. What are the chances the two women we like are friends? If they don’t stop dancing like that, I’m going to look like a 14-year-old boy here in my pants.”

“Dude, you have no idea what you are in for. I know these girls and we are in for the ride of our life. That’s a fact. I can guarantee it’s going to be worth every fucking minute.” They clink their two beers together and take a long swig.
Yep deep shit.

The song ends and me and McKoy walk off the dance floor, but, Cooper is waiting for me to dance a few more songs. I, unlike Cooper, love to dance. The band starts to play my favorite song and I know McKoy must’ve requested it. I look around the floor to see her dancing with Beau, almost like she was forced to dance with him. She doesn’t look very happy. When she gets beside me, she blows me a kiss and I return it.  My smile is so big I almost don’t have enough room on my face for it.
Damn! That feels good. 

After two more songs the band takes a break. We stop on the dance floor and I just stare into his eyes. The hazel is blue tonight, similar to his shirt. His shirt is almost a black dark blue and fits his chest perfectly and a pair of jeans that fits him in all the right spots. Damn he always looks so damn good. I have never been much for cowboy hats. A baseball cap is sexy as hell and on him it should be outlawed.
Am I blushing
? I guess I am.

Cooper smirks, “Why are you blushing Ashlynn? Is everything ok?”

Oh yes everything is ok
, but all I can do is nod. I realize it’s getting late, so I tell Cooper I need to find McKoy so we can go. She, of course, could dance all night, but agrees. She remembers she got me out on the same night I arrived home and knowing I am exhausted she doesn’t want to push her limits.  Grace is over in the corner with Kyle’s arms wrapped all around her. They look like they are in deep conversation, so, I don’t want to interrupt her. I will wave to her as we pass by to let her know we are leaving. Cooper is about to go as well.

I see Mckoy push Beau away. He is trying to talk to her and she’s walking off trying to ignore him. She finally turns to him. “Listen Beau, I’m not in the mood for this tonight, okay? Another time! I just wanted to bring Ashlynn out to celebrate a bit. Give me some time please. Do I need to say it in a different language so you get the damn message you? I need time. What you did… I just need some time, please, Beau.” 

I see she is trying to be strong, but she is weakening. I’ve been so wrapped up in my own world I didn’t even know what was going on. Looks like me and McKoy might need some one on one time.

“I'll walk you out if you’re leaving. I’m ready to leave too. Hopefully I can get Beau’s sorry ass out of here too.”

“Thanks Cooper that would be great.”

He walked me to McKoy’s car and started to laugh.

“Sweet ride McKoy.” Cooper said.

Mckoy winked at him, “Yep, I know. She’s my baby.” She gets in the car and started her up.

Turning around to tell him bye, Cooper lays a sweet kiss on my lips. He tastes like mint and it takes everything I have in me not to lean into him for another. 

“Get home safely Ashlynn. I can’t wait to see you again.”

Oh right back at you baby.