Page 2 of Rebels and Roses

“What do you think?”

“That you were a total shit to be married to. Did you cheat on her?”

Cooper had no illusions about his youth. He’d been a complete horndog, enjoying the chase as much as the eventual capitulation. Somewhere along the way, he’d slowed down a bit and only slept with one woman at a time. And just the ones that he truly liked as people. Even then, he wasn’t what he would call…boyfriend material. He never stuck around long enough.

“I didn’t cheat on her,” he finally replied. “Believe it or not, I do have a sense of right and wrong. I just wasn’t the type of guy that made a good husband. I was always wanting to travel. I didn’t want to settle down.”

“She wanted to?”

Fiona had wanted the entire package, which had come as news to him after they’d been married a few years. A huge, fancy house, a car, two kids, a dog, and a white picket fence. Except that she came from a wealthy family, so the house - rather, mansion - had a big wrought iron gate. The car was a Bentley, and the two kids came with a live-in nanny. The dog was the type that she could put in her purse and use it as a fashion accessory. Cooper had put his foot firmly down about that. Dogs were sentient beings, not a necklace or a scarf that a person could place on a shelf when they didn’t match the day’s outfit.

“I assume I was just a moment of insanity for her. After a couple of years, she realized that what I’d told her was true. I wasn’t going to change.”

“Men never change for the better in marriage. Only for the worst.”

Jane had been married to a real loser of a guy. Cooper had a feeling that she didn’t trust her own instincts about men, and it was easier to simply make a sweeping statement about the entire male population. He didn’t mind what she’d said. She had her reasons to be bitter as hell. At some point, she’d fall in love with a guy and live happily ever after, forgetting the stuff she’d said in the past.

“Are you going then?” she asked, propping herself up on one elbow.

“As much as I’d like to laze around in bed with you and eat pizza, I think this is something that I have to do. Something must be wrong for Fiona to reach out to me.”

Cooper was already pulling on his pants from the heap of clothes that had been earlier tossed carelessly on the floor. He didn’t need to be dressed up to meet his ex, but he at least needed pants and a shirt on. Tate, his brother who owned the tavern, wanted him to wear shoes as well.

Jane also rose from the bed, retrieving her own clothes.

“What’s she like?”

Cooper should have expected this question. He didn’t talk about Fiona often - if ever - and pretty much everyone in his life asked this or something near it. They were curious as to the woman who had somehow dragged him into holy matrimony. To be fair, it had been her idea. He’d been on board, though, thinking they were going to be off on some grand adventure.

“Fiona?”

Rolling her eyes, Jane sighed loudly.

“Of course, Fiona. Who else would I be talking about? If you don’t want to talk about her, it’s fine. Don’t pretend and then play word games with me.”

Jane didn’t take any of his shit. Another thing he liked about her.

“I don’t mind talking about her. I just don’t know what to say. I haven’t seen her in a very long time.”

“If she’s your type, then she’s blonde and blue-eyed. Big boobs. Great body.”

“I’d like to think I’m more open-minded than that.”

Jane was the opposite, and he liked the way she looked just fine. Long dark hair, vivid green eyes, and a body that wouldturn most men’s heads. The sexy-as-hell body that she was currently covering with her discarded clothing.

Too bad he had to leave.

“I hit the nail on the head, right?”

“Okay, that’s how she looks. Or she did look. Like I said, I haven’t seen her in a long time. She might be completely different now. She might be married with a bunch of kids.”

“With a minivan and wearing yoga pants?” Jane taunted, sliding her feet into her sandals. “Maybe she makes her own artisan bread, too?”

“I seriously doubt that.”

When they were together, Cooper had done all the cooking. Fiona wouldn’t have been caught dead in a minivan, either.

“Are you mad?”

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