Storm Warning (15 page)

“I know you think you’re a man, and hell, in some ways you are, but sometimes things aren’t fair, and the sooner you learn when it’s the right time to walk away, the better off you’ll be.”

F
ULL
of angry energy and nowhere to put it, Coop was looking forward to seeing the only friend he felt like he had. Kyle had plans for the Fourth
—
something with his mystery chick
—
so this year it would be him and his Ellie May. Just the two of them. He really needed to get his mind off the situation with the farm, and he knew exactly where he wanted his focus to be.

Tonight was the night. He pulled over at Thompson’s Grocery and bought a dozen multicolored wild flowers. The bouquet was a bit more than he could really afford but he wanted to do this right.

It wasn’t every day you told the girl you’d wanted forever that you loved her. He knew from his parents that relationships were about friendship, trust, and compromise. He was ready for that. He and Ellie May already had that. He was even ready for whatever beating Kyle Mason would put on him. The bruises and possible broken bones would heal. He grinned at the image of Kyle being his best man at the wedding one day. They’d laugh about the day he’d got his ass kicked for finally manning up.

He’d sworn to look out for her. What better way to do that than as her boyfriend? After the horrific incident in the barn, he’d vowed never to hurt her like that again. From now on, the only expression he’d be causing to pass across her beautiful face was a smile.

“D
ID
you have a good week, Miss Cameron?” Sophie’s voice pulled Cami from her daydreaming.

“Yeah,” she beamed, stirring her spoon around in her half-eaten bowl of Cheerios. “It was awesome.”

“So you left the house?” Sophie asked as she wiped down the kitchen counter.

“Nope.” She shook her head, looking up into Sophie’s warm green eyes. “Didn’t have to. Have you met Kyle? The landscaper.” She grinned to herself. He was so much more than that.

“Haven’t met him, but I’ve seen him.” Sophie chuckled, running her fingers through her sandy-colored hair. She had been the Nickelsons’ housekeeper for as long as Cami could remember. She knew everything about Cami. From her favorite food to how she liked her bed made and each and every time she’d snuck out of the house to go meet her girlfriends or Hayden. There was an unspoken agreement between the two. Sophie took care of Cami, and in return, Cami treated her with respect, unlike her parents, who just fired off orders at her day after day.

“What about the Prescott boy?” Sophie rested her arms on the counter and smiled.

The creases around her eyes, which she lovingly referred to as laugh lines, appeared. Cami’s mom had offered to get Sophie an appointment with her plastic surgeon as her Christmas bonus one year, but Sophie wore her age with pride. She may have been on the better side of fifty, but she’d told Cami’s mother that she’d earned her stripes and was grateful for each and every one of them.

Of course, Theresa had laughed her off and couldn’t fathom why Sophie would want to look her age. But Cami knew that Sophie was the proud single mother of two and had worked extremely hard when her husband died suddenly to provide for her children. Both of whom were on their way to becoming successful professionals—a doctor and an architect. In fact, Cami was sure that, once they were out of college and able to support themselves, Sophie would leave her. The only reason she kept the job with her family was to pay for her childrens’ education.

“We’re on a break.” Cami shrugged. “Besides that, I haven’t gotten so much as a text from him, so he obviously isn’t missing me too much.”

“I’m glad you’re having a good summer,” Sophie commented, picking up the cereal bowl in front of Cami. “You deserve to be happy, sweet girl.”

“Thanks, Sophie.” Cami reached out and squeezed Sophie’s hand with hers. “Funny story about how I met him. I thought he’d broken in the gate…” She started to tell her all about how she and Kyle had run into each other—minus the part about her being topless—when her father stepped into the kitchen.

“Who broke in the gate?” He sauntered over to the counter and pointed at the coffee pot. Sophie knew what was expected of her at this point and started to fill a travel mug with coffee—one sugar, one cream—just the way Mr. Nickelson liked it. To-go.

“No one, Daddy.” Cami averted her eyes. “It was just a misunderstanding. I didn’t know you’d hired a landscaper for the summer.”

“Yeah, well, if he doesn’t take care of the mess around the gazebo he’s going to be looking for a new place to work,” he noted, grabbing the coffee from Sophie without so much as a thank you.

Cami held her breath at the thought of not seeing Kyle again. She wanted to confess exactly how she felt about him to her father, but she didn’t because she knew that he’d oppose the idea of her getting involved with the help. Besides that, Derek Nickelson and Kevin Prescott had been friends longer than Cami had been alive. They’d all but betrothed their children to one another. Bottom line: Cami’s father only saw Hayden Prescott as a suitable match for his daughter.

“I’ll let him know.” Sophie held her shoulders back and appealed to Mr. Nickelson with a take-charge attitude. “I’ll make sure he cleans up the gazebo and the rosebushes, too. You’ll get your money’s worth, Mr. Nickelson.”

“That’s what I like to hear, Sophie. I knew there was a reason I hired you to oversee this place.”

Cami felt the air return to her lungs as Sophie smiled a silent “You’re welcome” in her direction.

“Ladies.” He raised his coffee in one hand and tugged a suitcase behind him with the other. “I’m headed to Tulsa for a conference. Take care of my girl, Sophie,” he added as he walked out the door.

Cami didn't waste time being hurt that he was leaving without so much as pretending to miss her. She didn’t need to beg for his attention anymore. She had the attention of someone much more worthy.

“C
AREFUL,
City Boy,” Ella Jane teased as Hayden shoulder-bumped her on his way by. The little touches they’d shared since Sunday night were getting more and more deliberate.

She smiled at his back as he went inside the house to clock out. Only a few more hours until dark. Then they’d meet at The Ridge. Her stomach tensed in anticipation. There was still one factor she hadn’t taken into consideration.

Coop.

She contemplated whether or not she should just call and ask him if he was coming tonight or not. She’d seen the stare downs. She knew he and Hayden weren’t exactly fond of each other. But the word
incest
burned in the back of her brain, and she told herself that if Kyle wasn’t coming, then surely Coop wasn’t either. Relief tinged with sadness confused her.

Yes, Coop seemed jealous of Hayden. But she was starting to wonder if it was more about money than her. Coop’s family worked hard to make ends meet and Hayden’s was loaded. So maybe the glaring matches had nothing to do with her. Maybe it was time to take her attraction to Hayden seriously and finally let go of her fantasy relationship with Coop. Who was she kidding, anyways? Even if he didn’t like Hayden flirting with her, it was only for the same reasons Kyle wouldn’t like it. Brotherly reasons.

Finishing up with the Epson salt on the rosebushes, she pulled off her gloves and stood. The crunch of gravel alerted her to a truck pulling into the drive. She expected it to be Kyle, but a quick look told it was her wannabe brother instead.

She sighed as he got out of the truck. But for the first time in as long as she could remember, the butterflies didn’t slam around like boulders in her stomach. Her heart only sped a tiny bit and her breathing remained even. Maybe his declaration in the barn had finally gotten through to her.

“Hey, Coop. What brings you out here?”

“Hey, Ellie May. Just passing through. Mama wanted me to bring these tomatoes and peppers by. Said your mom might want to use them for the salsa for the farmers market at the festival.”

He handed her a plastic shopping bag heavy with vegetables and she took it. “Tell your mama thanks.”

He nodded and shoved his hands in his pockets.

“So—” they both began, almost in unison.

“Go ahead,” Coop said, grinning at her. Okay, her heart was beginning to flutter slightly at his grin. EJ could admit that to herself at least.

“Um, I was just going to ask what your plans were tonight.” Ella Jane shrugged as if she didn’t care. “I know Kyle has plans with…” She waited for Coop to insert the mystery girl’s name.

“Don’t ask me.” Coop raised his brow and then shook his head. “He hasn’t told me much about her.” His low laugh twisted EJ’s stomach into a knot. And woke up the butterflies.

She swallowed hard and forced herself to breathe normally. “Well, whatever her name is, I’m just glad he found someone. Maybe now he’ll have someone else to drive crazy instead of me.”

“He just acts like that because he loves you, Ellie May.” Coop cleared his throat and looked into her eyes. She felt her grip on her composure slipping. He’d always be the same guy she’d imagined marrying all those years. She searched his face for any inclination that maybe, just maybe, there was more than brotherly feelings under the surface.

“So what about you, Coop? You got a secret girl stashed somewhere too?” The words had escaped her mouth without her permission. She looked up at him from under her eyelashes, hoping it came out playful and not desperate.

The answering grin he gave caused the bottom of her stomach to drop out.
Oh God.
He does.

EJ scanned her memory for which of his racing groupies had seemed to be around the most lately. But she couldn’t discern any one of them from another.

Coop maintained her gaze, tilting his head as he answered. “Actually, there is this one girl. She’s kind of my favorite one.” He winked, and she bit her lip so her mouth wouldn’t turn down.

“Really? Anyone I know?”

Coop glanced to the side and shrugged. “You’re probably somewhat familiar with her.” She wanted to slap him. To throw herself at him. To crumple to the ground and cry. The only thing she didn’t want to do was hear anymore about this stupid faceless girl.

She forced a smile anyways. “Well I can’t wait to meet her. I need to get these inside to Mama,” she said, lifting the bag he’d brought as a reminder. Grateful for her own ability to think so fast on her feet, she took a step back. “I’m guessing I won’t see you tonight since you’ll probably be with your favorite girl and all.”

“Yep. Big plans tonight.” He grinned wider and she died a little inside. Or it felt like it anyways. “I know it was always the three of us on the Fourth. But remember what I said. Sometimes different is good, Ellie May. Not all changes are bad.”

He reached out to touch her underneath the chin but she backed up. She couldn’t handle any of his brotherly affection right that minute. Not now that she knew that was all it would ever be.

She swallowed hard and gave him the best nod she could manage. “Right. Well, you have fun. Later, Coop.” And with that, she turned and bolted up the porch and into the safety of her house. She didn’t even acknowledge Hayden as she shoved past him in the doorway.