Page 84 of Rebels and Roses

“I figure you and I need a home base,” Cooper replied, returning to the living room, drying his hands on a kitchen towel. “A place to call home. We can maybe get a dog. I know you’ve been wanting one.”

A dog. And a house? He’d said “you and I” like they were going to live there together.

“We? Do you have a mouse in your pocket?”

It had been an old joke with her parents. The old “mouse in the pocket” whenever she’d used the royal “we”.

“I do not,” Cooper said, tossing the towel on an end table. “I’m talking about you and me. Me and you. Us. You said your lease was ending in a few months.”

“I’m not sure that’s a good reason to live together,” she said lightly, feeling giddy and overwhelmed at his suggestion.

Living together was…big. It was a further step in the commitment department. And a dog, too? That was almost like having a child together.

Perching on the edge of the sofa, he caged her in with his long arms on either side of her torso. Their lips were mere inches from one another, and he was grinning like he’d won the lottery.

It was beginning to feel like they both had.

Neither one of them had been looking for anything, but here they were.

“How about because I love you?” he asked, his breath warm on her cheek. “Is that a good enough reason?”

“I love you, too.”

A million fluttering butterflies had been let loose in her stomach, making her almost dizzy with pure happiness. This man was more than she’d ever hoped for and more.

“Good, because I don’t go around saying stuff like that to people. I mean it. You’re stuck with me, baby.”

“I don’t feel stuck. I feel lucky.”

“You may not be saying that in a few years when we’re married, have a baby, a dog, and a lawn to mow.”

Her throat was clogged with emotion, and she was sure there were tears in her eyes. But not sad ones. She lifted her hands so that she could cup his face, his stubble scratchy on her palms.

“Cooper Winslow, are you talking about settling down?”

“Only with you. And that doesn’t mean we still can’t have some adventure. There are some places on this planet that I’d love to show you.”

“Can we take the baby?”

The question came out choked, but he didn’t seem to notice or mind.

“Yes, but let’s leave the dog with Tate. He loves to spoil dogs.”

“I hate mowing lawns,” she teased. “You’re going to have to do it.”

“Then your job will be to walk the dog. See? We’re perfect for each other. We’re already making compromises. That’ssomething that I haven’t been good at in the past, but I want to. For you.”

“I’ll make compromises for you, too.”

It wouldn’t always be easy. They’d argue, and they’d be stubborn. Then they’d apologize and have awesome makeup sex. They’d always remember that they loved each other, though.

Cooper’s feet might take him all over the world, but his heart would always have a home with her. She’d make sure of it.

22

Fourteen years ago…

“It won’t bethat long. We’ll see each other at Thanksgiving and Christmas. Spring Break, too. And I’ll call you every day. Hell, twice a day - morning and night. We can do this,” Tate said, urgency in this tone.

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