Page 3 of Say You Won't Let Go
Cooper’s deep green eyes meet mine and they burn. Intensely. I see the heat pooling as his jaw tics just a little before he clears his throat. “The one that I’ve never quite been able to find.”
I’m not sure what that means, and I’m not about to make assumptions, but a bud of hope grows. I’ve always wondered if we could’ve been. He has a big heart and a rocking body. I think Grace is freaking insane for not holding on to him. Cooper Townsend is grade A prime meat. One I’d like to sink my teeth into.
“Well.” I sigh. “I’m glad you found me tonight.”
Cooper looks at the floor and then meets my eyes. “What if I told you I knew you’d be here?”
My teeth grip my bottom lip, and I tilt my head. “Is that what you’re tellin’ me?”
Our lives aren’t the same. He runs a ranch, raising cattle and mending fences, while I’m on the road, singing and following my dream. I have no plans to settle down in Bell Buckle. I’m definitely not a rancher’s wife. I’m the girl who was making out with the football players while her best friends were in the 4H club. Hell no. Cooper has never been the guy to end up with a wild child like me.
But we aren’t kids anymore.
He leans in closer, and my heart starts to race. “Maybe.”
A shiver races from my neck to the base of my spine. No. We definitely are not kids, and there’s nothing saying we can’t see where this goes.
“Maybe you should make up your mind.” I move toward him. Our breaths mingle and heat courses through my veins.
“Maybe I have.” His deep voice smolders, causing butterflies to take flight.
“Yeah?” I taunt. “Are you gonna share what you decided?”
His hand lifts with hesitation, but then he cups my cheek. “I’m more of an ‘actions speak louder than words’ kind of man.”
And then, Cooper leans forward, driving me crazy with how slow he moves. Inch by inch, his lips close in.
My breathing grows rapid as the anticipation builds. Years I’ve wondered. Years I’ve thought about what kissing him could be like. Crushes are called that for a reason—they’ll either crush your heart or crush your self-control. I’m thinking it’s going to be the second one with my luck.
I lift my hand and touch his cheek, and then, as our lips are just about to touch, a loudbanghappens. I shift away as if I just got caught naked by my parents.
“Fuck! You’d think—” My drummer enters and sees the two of us. “Sorry, darlin’, didn’t know this space was occupied.” Vince starts to back out with his hands raised.
My chest rises and falls as I try to catch my breath. “It’s fine, Vince. We were just talking,” I say quickly even though it’s nowhere close to fine.
“Sure you were.” He sniggers.
I hate him.
I glare at him, and he laughs. “I’ll be back in twenty minutes. Luke is almost done, and you know he hates hanging around at the venue after the show.”
Vince exits, closing the door behind him, and I turn back to Cooper, who looks as if he’s trying to control his laughter. “What?”
“Just…” He chuckles.
“Just?”
“Same shit, different girl.”
At first, I’m offended. What the hell does that mean? And then it hits me, his kiss with Grace. Well, she and I may have grown up together, and she may be one of my best friends, but we are very different, and I intend to prove it.
I push forward, grip his face in my hands, and press my lips to his.
Within an instant, Cooper’s hands are around my waist. He tugs me against him and kisses me roughly. I meld my lips to his and kiss him back with so much passion that I could explode. Our tongues touch, sliding against each other’s as I find myself on my back, Cooper over me as my hands roam his taut body.
Jesus. I don’t think there’s ever been a first kiss that has felt like this.
He pulls back, his eyes searching mine as a smile forms on his delicious lips.
