Page 22 of Rebels and Roses

“Wow, was it that bad? Do you think that’s what you need to do? Are you ready to toss about two or three months of work?”

“If I have to, I will. I just hope there might be something in there worth saving. I know you won’t spare my delicate feelings. You’ll be honest.”

“I’m not sure I like how you’re characterizing me,” Jane laughed. “I’m not one of those brutally honest people, Cooper. I do try to be tactful and nice.”

“You are nice, but I know that you’ll be honest with me. In a tactful way. But you won’t lie to make me feel better about myself.”

No, she wouldn’t do that. He was putting her in a difficult position, however, of possibly hurting his feelings if this was bad. This was his creative “baby” so to speak. She would be telling him that his child was ugly.

If the book wasn’t any good. She had a feeling it was better than he thought. He was a damn good writer, and there had to be something in here worth saving. Maybe a lot of “something” that needed to be kept.

“I won’t get mad or pissy,” he promised. “I need someone to tell me the truth. I’m too close to it. One day, I love it, and the next I think it stinks and I should join the French Foreign Legion and leave writing behind.”

“Is the French Foreign Legion a real thing?”

“It is, although to be fair, I’m not sure it’s a truly valid option for me. I don’t speak French, and I have issues with authority figures.”

“Then let’s hope this book is better than you think.”

“I do appreciate you looking at it.”

“Not a problem. I’m looking forward to it.”

With that settled, they sat on the floor around her coffee table with the pizza between them. Cooper had poured two glasses of wine. After eating her fill of pizza and a second glass of vino, Jane was blissful and content. This was exactly what she’d needed tonight to relax.

“Did you take Tom to the airport this afternoon?”

The pizza box was empty, and Cooper folded it up and stood to take it to her trashcan.

“No, he’s still here. He says he feels safe here and wants to stay a few days.”

“Are you okay with that?”

“He didn’t ask so much as tell me he wasn’t leaving. I don’t have the heart to toss him out, although I was tempted. If he goes in a few days, it will all be fine.”

“You don’t sound so sure about that,” Jane said. “No one would blame you if you’d tossed him out. He’s not your family, and from what you said, he’s not a friend.”

“Honestly? I barely know him,” Cooper replied. “Fiona and I didn’t spend all that much time around him. I feel badly for him. I can see he’s scared of something, but it’s not anything that I can help him with.”

“So, you’re letting him stay?”

Cooper held up two fingers.

“He gets two days. Two. Then I’m driving him to the airport whether he likes it or not. He’s got to go home and deal with his life. He can’t hide out here forever. I think I made that clear to him today. This is a temporary reprieve from reality. But it will always come bite your ass in the end. You can’t outrun it.”

“You’re being very nice about this.”

“Are you saying that I’m not a patient man?”

“You have lots of patience, but not so much with pushy people.”

“I’ve had a lot of experience with my dad,” Cooper laughed. “He’s the pushiest.”

Joel Winslow was, indeed, a pushy man. He was a veritable steamroller when there was something he wanted. He didn’t care if someone was telling him no. He simply didn’t hear anything but what he wanted to hear. Jane hadn’t had any personal experiences with him, but she’d heard enough wild stories to know that Papa Winslow wasn’t a man to be trifled with.

“What are you thinking?” Cooper asked. “You have a strange look on your face. Is it because I didn’t throw Tom out on the street today?”

“Well…yes,” she admitted. “I guess I’m just surprised, that’s all. You don’t seem to particularly like him so…”

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