Page 51 of What the Cowboy Wants
Rose chose to ignore the last remark.“So do you!”Rose exclaimed.“How’s your mom?I saw her this morning, she seemed fine, just irritated.”
Willow rolled her eyes.“She’s at home and she’s okay.At the moment safely tucked into bed, I’ve just been to see her.We had a hard time convincing her to stay at home tonight, and the only way to not have her cook for everyone tomorrow was to tell her we’ll have lunch at my place.If you join us tomorrow, you can bring my mother,” she winked.
Rose laughed.“I don’t know, Willow, I’ll tell you later.I love the bright pink on you,” she quickly added, not wanting to explain anything more.“Not a color I could ever wear with my carrot hair.
“Thank you.So let’s go to this dance,” Willow said as she reversed into the street.“I’m very glad you’re my date tonight.I’m so fed with alpha men trying to mansplain things to me, seriously.”
“Who was it this time?”Rose chuckled.Willow didn’t hide her irritation with Hunter Grant, the new cowboy working with her brothers and was now also living on their ranch.Whenever she was worked up, chances were Hunter was the culprit.
“That damn man,” Willow muttered.“I have brothers, thank you very much, I don’t need another guy telling me what to do.I can’t drive alone at night—his words.I’ve been driving alone at night since I got my license, damn it.”
Rose couldn’t help it, she burst out laughing.
“It’s not funny!”Willow grumbled.
“I know, sorry.But you’re usually so calm and collected except when you talk about Hunter Grant.I take it, heisthe source of your frustration?”
“Don’t even get me started,” Willow grumbled.
“I’m looking forward to seeing the Graff Hotel.”Rose hoped a new topic could change Willow’s mood.“I’ve never been there before.I’ve seen the gorgeous building, of course, but I’ve been too busy wallowing in self-pity for months to go anywhere.”
Smiling, Willow touched her hand.“I’m so glad you’ve decided to join the human race again.I do understand why you’ve shut yourself away, though.It’s difficult to be completely alone on our ranch, but I have a special place I escape to when things get a bit much.”
“In another town?”
“Nope.A hot spring on the ranch.I discovered it while I was still at school.I don’t think anyone else knows about it, although I’ve never dared ask my brothers, I’m too worried they’ll spoil it for me.It’s way too hot in summer, but in winter, especially when it’s snowing, I love going there.Well, here we are.”She parked the car next to hotel.
On their way to the entrance, they met several of the locals who were also on their way to the dance.Rose recognized a few of the women she’d met while working in the yarn shop, some even stopped to talk to her.Smiling she followed Willow into the hotel.
It was a special feeling knowing you were liked for who you were and not because you have followers or because someone wanted something from you.
As they entered the hotel, Rose looked around the lobby.“Wow, look at those beautiful, paneled walls,” she gasped.
“We’re very proud of our Graff,” Willow said.“The restoration took about two and half years, but since it reopened, many functions are held here.You should try their restaurant sometime.Maybe Cooper can bring you?Something has happened, hasn’t it?You can’t hide the glow around you.”She stopped and looked at Rose.“You’ve fallen in love with him, haven’t you?”
Rose quickly covered her pink cheeks.“Oh, my goodness, I’ve forgotten you know things.I… I…”
Laughing, Willow, took her arm.“You don’t have to say anything.I’m happy for you.You should tell him how you feel.”
“I don’t know…”
Willow smiled.“Even though he may know, he’ll like to hear the words.”
As Willow steered her into a big ballroom with glittering chandeliers, Rose quickly scanned the people in the room.There wasn’t any sign of Cooper.
“Come on,” Willow said.“The O’Sullivans have a table.”
As they walked toward the table, the band began to play and people moved to the dance floor.
Janice welcomed them and as they sat down, Rose noticed the small mattresses underneath the table.
Annie laughed when she saw Rose’s face.“The children are welcome everywhere.At some point they just keel over and sleep.Vivian has just taken Jane to the bathroom.Where’s Dylan?”she asked Riley.
“He saw his friend from school as we entered,” Riley smiled.“I must say, I’m so glad I don’t have to worry about getting a babysitter on nights like this.”
A hand touched Rose’s shoulder.Nash was standing behind her looking quite handsome in a crisp white shirt and jeans.Her heart sighed though.She liked Nash, but he wasn’t the one she wanted to dance with.
“May I claim my dance now?”he asked with a smile.
