"What condition?" Angela's brow rose.
"I've got to have full control, of the farm at least." He winked. "If I'm going to run this place, then I want no countermands. If I need your help, I'll ask, otherwise, you will be a lady of leisure when you are at home. Deal?"
"Well…" She faltered for a second, and then looked him straight in the eyes. A dangerous thing to do because those eyes were gorgeous. But he was taking over. "I don't know. I mean I'm used to getting up and caring for the stock, and helping with the harvest."
"I'm sure you are, and when your help is needed I'll be the first to let you know. But you already have a job in town. The running of this place would be mine. Besides, Josh is old enough to help with most things, wouldn't you say?"
"I suppose so," she drawled, realizing the decision had been made and she was no longer in control. "And Josh?"
"No problem there. I'll teach him the things he needs to know, if you want me to. And, I'll keep my eye on him. A boy that age doesn't need much baby sitting. And if he knew we called it that he'd probably have a fit, don't you think?"
"You're right about that. But you wouldn't mind? I mean do you even like kids?"
He gave her a strange twisted sort of glance, as though the question was ridiculous. "Actually, I get along well with kids. And mind?" Cooper's expression seemed incredulous. "This is his home, Angel. As far as I see it, he belongs here. And he needs to know how to take it over when the time comes, if it comes. He's growing up. He needs to know about the farm in every detail, if this is where he is going to live. And if it isn't, he'll until learn something. Either way he doesn't lose. He probably already knows the stock and lay of the land. He'll be a big help to me. He might even teach me a few things."
Angela poured him a second cup of coffee. For a man who didn't have children, Cooper seemed to have a strong understanding of them. But time would only tell if Josh and Cooper could get along. Josh certainly hadn't taken to Greg.
"So, where do I bunk down?" he asked out of the blue.
She put the pot back on the stove, and then joined him at the table. "Ordinarily down at the bungalow by the creek, but I haven't had much time to clean or fix the place up. We've a spare bedroom until I can get it ready."
Cooper's expression changed to puzzlement, he folded his hands over his chest and gave her a rather sardonic glance.
"You know there is one thing I'm a little curious about."
"Oh, what?"
"This boyfriend, this secret arrangement you have. What kind of guy is he?"
Angela got up and put his empty plate in the sink. She expected him to ask, but she wasn't sure how to answer. She felt uneasy talking about Greg. "What do you mean?"
"I mean," he said standing up once more, and moving closer, "why isn't he out here helping you run this place if he really cares about you? He's bound to know how much you need him. Doesn't he care?"
Angela pinked. "Well, of course he cares, but he knows absolutely nothing about farming. He'd be a hindrance. I don't want him out here."
"I knew it," Cooper said and chuckled aloud.
"Knew what?" She whirled about to look at him.
"He's a nerd!"
"He is not!"
"Oh, yes, he is." He moved in on her, his eyes catching and holding hers momentarily. "He's a pencil pusher!"
"A what?"
"A pencil pusher. You know the kind who works behind a desk all day, and knows nothing about getting his hands dirty. Probably gets them manicured, and has his hair styled, too."
He hit the nail on the head. That was Greg. It was the way his eyes sharpened on her that had her groping for the counter.
"I'll have you know he's running for Congress."
Cooper's laughter died a short life. The sparkle went out of his eyes. "A Congressman? Wow, you really have stepped up. And that would account for this secret relationship you have with him. Gossips in a small town could be murder to a Congressman."
"Exactly."
"Must be rough on the love life." Cooper whistled through his teeth.
What love life? Angela wanted to scream but held her tongue. If he were laughing now, he'd really get a blast if he knew she had no love life, except for a few amorous kisses, and a lot of promises. "Yes, it is. But we have our moments."
"Are a few moments enough?"
"If they're full of quality, yes."
"And are they?" His voice softened, his eyes sparkled with mischief again.
"Now, listen," she began, trying to keep her temper at bay long enough to make a few things clear. She didn't want to make him mad, she needed him, but he had no right asking such things. "I'm offering you a job here. A business proposition. My private life is none of your business."
He nodded his smile until sardonic. "That can go both ways, you know."
"Naturally. I don't have a problem with that unless you are married, and in that case, she is very welcome here, of course."
"Married?" His head quirked in an odd fashion. "Not hardly. And I don't have a harem of women either."
"Well, or course you don't but—"
"For the record, there are no women. There haven't been for a long time. That flew out the window with my so-called career and ambition. And as for sex, I'm very particular these days about my partners. So, there won't be any women around your son, unless you bring them."
"Oh, well, I didn't mean you had to lead the life of a monk," she said knowing she had turned pinker. "But at least we understand each other?"
"Angel," he said as he came even closer. Close enough to feel the warmth of his breath. Close enough he could have touched her, but he didn't. "Relax; I'm not the devil in disguise. Even though I have a feeling you think I am. I've never forced myself on a woman, and I'm not about to start now."
Then he touched her, just a finger, which slightly caressed her burning cheek. A touch so slight, yet so terribly unnerving her body quivered, but she held herself until. Her stomach churned like a silly schoolgirl, and her breath held in her lungs so long it became painful to hold. In a tiny voice she expelled her breath only slightly and said "Then we do understand one another?"
His eyes crinkled and his mouth widened with a boyish grin. "Understanding takes time. We haven't had enough of that yet, Angel. But it's a start in the right direction."
He paused, as if waiting for his words to sink in, then moved to the doorway as though nothing had transpired between them, his voice all business. "I'll put my bike in the barn, and then we can get started with the lay of the land."
As he walked out of the kitchen Angela slowly let out her breath. She stood staring after him. Why was everything about Cooper Johnson so panoramic? His walk, which was slow and lazy, yet confident, his voice, which was soft and hard at the same time and those all seeing eyes.
She had to stop this. She knew Cooper exuded a certain amount of charm, but she had never been on the receiving end of it. He was only a man, after all, and she was a mature woman, capable of dealing with him on any terms, she hoped.
CHAPTER FOUR
That night as she lay listening to the storm raging against her window, her mind wandered to the past, the first time she'd let that happen in a long time. She didn't like looking back. But Cooper Johnson being here forced her to.
She remembered the first summer she met Raif Sullivan. She had seen him in school but he was several years older and they never really encountered each other until she got her first car. It was an older car badly in need of repairs. Raif had gone to work part-time at a parts house. They talked, and eventually he asked her out.
It didn't take long to realize Raif was a little different than anyone she knew. He was a carpenter and very good with his hands, despite his father's attitude that he could do better elsewhere. His father had suffered a financial setback and lost the mill. Times were bad.
When Angela's father found out they were dating, he forbid the romance to go any further. He was until bitter over Old Man Sullivan firing him two years pre
viously, and his wife having to take in borders to help feed them through the winter.
"But, Dad," she had argued, "it isn't Raif's fault. He's a nice boy. He goes to school, and works afternoons. He's ambitious. Why take it out on him?" She had stretched the truth some, but what girl wouldn't?
"Angie," her father said, hammering his finger in front of her nose, "you will not date this boy."
"Oh, yes, I will."
"Then I'll tell you like my father told me. If you make your bed hard, you'll have to lie in it!"
Angela sighed heavily now, feeling the hurt that the conversation had evoked. Nevertheless, she had dated Raif. She fell hopelessly in love with him and they got married, against even his parents' wishes.
They were only married three months before his death occurred. Just long enough; she was pregnant. Sadly there was nothing left to do but move back in with her parents.
Angela covered her eyes; she didn't want to think about Raif, or the hard bed she had lived in. It was over. She had survived. And she was a better person for doing so.
Her eyes finally closed and, while the storm continued to rage, she slept.
But it wasn't a peaceful sleep. For months now she had been encountering a strange dream. Not unpleasant, but disturbing all the same. It was always the same hauntingly beautiful dream.
Having no real lover in her life, Angela had conveniently invented one in her sleep. No matter how much she scolded herself in the morning, the dream would return a few nights later.
It was a man, lying with her, warming her, filling her, yet not touching her. Angela had only been dreaming a few minutes when the phone rang by her bed. Shrugging away the dream, she grabbed the phone quickly so it wouldn't wake Cooper on the other side of the house.
"Mom?" Josh's voice came through the receiver, soothing her raw nerves.
"Hi, darling. Is everything all right?"
"Sure. But this is a pretty bad storm. I thought I'd check on you."
"Thanks, honey, but I'm fine," she said with a smile. She grabbed a robe with one hand and held the cordless phone with the other. "Did you and Tim watch a movie?"
"Yeah, we saw 'My Girl' again. Tim's mom loves that movie. She cried most of the way through it. I'd have rather watched Iron Man or The Hulk, but she didn't rent them."
"I've seen that movie. It's sad, don't you think?" She slipped on her slippers and headed for the kitchen.
"I guess."
"What time are you coming home tomorrow?"
"In the morning, unless you need me tonight."
"No, I'm fine. I'll see you in the morning." Angela said, as she was about to hang up.
"Mom, I—is everything okay?"
"Of course, why?"
"You just sound kinda funny."
"Of course I do, honey. I've been asleep. I guess the storm woke me. I thought I'd have a cup of hot chocolate and go back to bed."
"Mom, I'll come home if you want me to. I know how worried you are about things. If I were old enough to work you wouldn't have to be worried. I mean you are going to quit your job in town, aren't you?"
"I was thinking about it, I'll admit. But things are going to work out. And stop worrying so much about me."
"But you're alone."
"Uh, no, Josh, not exactly. You see I bumped into an old friend the other day and we've been talking. And, well, it seems he's going to be working for us."
"An old friend? Who?"
"His name is Cooper Johnson, and you'll meet him tomorrow."
"I will? Is he there now?"
Angela paused wondering what Josh might be thinking. "Yes, he's here. He's staying in the guest room until we can get the bungalow fixed up."
"Maybe I better come home."
"Don't be silly."
"Why don't you put him in the barn?"
"Josh! It's a little cold to be sleeping in a barn. Besides, Elmerine is in the barn, and you know how she smells. He's really an old friend. Why, he even knew your father." She knew that would stop him for a minute.
"Elmerine's a pig, Mom, pigs are supposed to smell. Wait a minute, you said he knew Dad?"
"Yes."
"Really, Mom? Did you hire him? Will he be there in the morning?"
Angela glanced at the phone. Since when did her son sound so grown up? Or hadn't she been paying attention? But in reality he had grown up much faster than most boys. Without a father he had to.
"Yes, I did. And he will."
"Great. I bet this will make Greg mad. I'll be home early. And Mom, I…I love you."
Once again Angela looked at the phone in amazement. Josh wasn't often mushy, even though he kissed her goodbye in the mornings before she drove him to school. Naturally, he wouldn't kiss her in the truck; what would his friends think?
"I love you too, dear. Now, get some sleep." Had she made a big deal of his slight confession he would never say another word to her about it. It was a treasured moment for a mother.
She scuffled back to the kitchen, her mind wandering to the reprimand Greg would no doubt have for her actions. She was startled when she walked straight into Cooper. More startling was the fact that he was naked from the waist up, and her hand landed right in the middle of a rock-hard chest. Her fingers recoiled as if she had touched a hot stove. A lazy smile stole across his face as she looked up at him.
"I'm sorry. I didn't know you were awake." She pulled herself away from him.
As though he had read her mind, or perhaps heard her phone conversation, he filled a mug with hot chocolate and handed it to her. It was warm and delicious, and she took a sip before saying anything to him.
"Thanks. I was about to make some myself, when..."
"I know. I heard you talking on the phone. When you mentioned hot chocolate, I thought it a great idea, and helped myself. This kind of storm usually wakes me, too. Sometimes the stock gets nervous. I like to be prepared. Old habit, I guess."
"It was Josh on the phone. He was worried about me."
"Sounds like a pretty nice kid. You've obviously done a good job with him. It's until hard to believe you had to raise him alone. What's wrong with your folks? What's wrong with the Sullivan's?"
Angela moved backwards just a hair. The man was just too virile for words. Her hand was until warm. Why he was affecting her so, she wasn't sure. She wasn't a starry eyed teen ager anymore. But it had been a while since she had a man around the house. Or a man anywhere for that matter. Especially a half clad man, with such soul-searching eyes. "I can't answer for the Sullivan's, but as for my folks, it's called stubborn pride. I'm afraid we both have too much of it."
He shook his head slowly, and turned toward the table. "Pride is good in its place, but don't let it stand too long. I did, and I'm paying for it now. I let my father die, thinking I hated him. Now, he's gone and it's too late. Josh needs family, Angel. It's none of my business, and I probably shouldn't say anything, but we've known each other long enough to speak our minds. He needs someone other than you. What if something happened to you? Where would Josh go? He's not old enough to try it alone."
What was Cooper Johnson doing standing here in her kitchen, naked from chest to waist, giving her advice, driving her wild with wants and needs that she had squashed for years? He had no right telling her what she should or shouldn't do with her own child! And he had no right looking so sexy, and appealing, especially in her kitchen, in the middle of the night.
Problem was, he was right.
"I'm perfectly capable…" she began only to be halted by his words.
"You certainly are. You've proven that. You're about the strongest woman I've ever known, and the most selfish."
"I beg your pardon!"
"Okay, you lost Raif too soon. Having to move back to your disproving parents had to be hard. Then obviously through your own choice you lost contact with your folks, but is that any reason to deprive Josh of his heritage? Doesn't he deserve a family? Shouldn't you be worrying about his feelings rather than your own?"
An
ger swamped all logic as she stepped back and glared at him. Tears swelled, but she held them at the back of her throat; they nearly choked her. "I've paid the price for all my wrong doings. I know Josh needs a family. And I'm doing my damnedest to see he has a proper father and good beginning in life."
"By marrying the congressman?"
"That's my affair," she protested.
"It sure is!" And with that he was gone, leaving Angela stunned and silent.
CHAPTER FIVE
Several days later, while Cooper and Josh were working on repairing a fence, Cooper suddenly dropped the wire and ran. Josh followed. It didn't take long to realize what had happened by the commotion going on in the hen house. Partner limped out, barking, and falling at the same time. Cooper picked Partner up in his arms and ran toward the house, Josh following.
"Is he okay, Coop? He isn't dead, is he?" Josh shouted breathlessly as he ran to the back porch where Cooper was busy inspecting Partner's wound.
Cooper turned around to see Josh's pale face. "He'll be okay. But we've got to sew him up. Does your mom until keep your uncle's sewing kit above the bathroom mirror?"
"I don't know," Josh answered helplessly.
"Go check and stop worrying? We'll fix him." Cooper nudged him, noting the concern written all over Josh's expressive face. A carbon copy of Raif Sullivan, Cooper chuckled to himself; same deep-set eyes, and same worried expression. Raif was such a worrywart. He had even worried about Cooper working too hard as a kid. For that Cooper remembered Raif with fondness and admiration. Not that he wanted anyone's pity, but the fact that Raif took the time to notice what was going on in Cooper's life, made an impression. Raif would have been proud of his kid, though, yes sir, real proud.
"Well," he drawled in a steady voice, when Josh returned. "Partner got himself into a peck of trouble chasing that varmint out of the hen house. Would have had him too, but he got tangled in that barbed wire laying out back."
Josh's brown eyes widened with guilt. "Oh, no, the one you told me to put up the other day. You mean that's what hurt him? Man, then it's all my fault! I thought it could wait until later, but then I forgot all about it. I'm sorry."
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