Page 16 of Once Upon a Winter
Cooper winced. “When you’ve got oil, which you haven’t.”
Her look of dismay made him want to give her a sympathetic hug, but he winced as he banished the thought. Turning to practical matters, he said, “You won’t be able to get an oil delivery in this storm, but let’s hope for tomorrow.”
Laura caught herself frowning, but she didn’t want Cooper to see how upset she was. Every day seemed to bring some new way for her to fail as a homeowner. She should’ve done some research and found a checklist of things to stay on top of, but she was so excited about the move and the upcoming holidays that the thought had never occurred to her.
Cooper said, “You can’t spend the night here.”
“But I’ve got blankets and the gas fireplace.”
“And I’ve got heat in the guest room.” Cooper leveled her with as patient a look as he could muster.
“I couldn’t. I’ve inconvenienced you too much already.”
Cooper shrugged. “Then what’s one more time?” He smiled.
Although she was still doubtful, she couldn’t disagree that it was the best idea. “I’m really sorry.”
“I know. So you don’t have to say it again.” He caught himself gazing into her wide- open eyes and glanced away. “We’ve got a few things to do before we can leave. Go upstairs and open your cabinet doors under the sink, then pack what you’ll need overnight. While you do that, I’ll open your kitchen sink cabinet doors. It’s cold in here, but if we’re lucky, it might be enough to keep your pipes from freezing. While you’re at it, open the tap just enough to allow a steady drip of water.”
“Okay.”
“While you’re packing, I’ll make a couple of calls to see if we can get you an oil delivery tomorrow.”
They lockedup Laura’s house and arrived at Cooper’s minutes later. The lively patter of paws echoed from the kitchen as a German shepherd bounded and skidded around the corner, exuding infectious energy. With a playful exuberance, the dog propelled himself toward Cooper, his joyful leap culminating in an affectionate body slam. As he stood there, ears perked up and tail wagging, Laura couldn’t help but notice the unmistakable twinkle of delight in Cooper’s eyes.
He crouched, his hand reaching out to rub the German shepherd’s neck. “Hey, Duke! How’s my buddy doing?” He greeted his furry companion with genuine warmth.
Laura said hello to Duke and waited until he approached her. “He’s beautiful. Is it okay to pet him?”
Cooper nodded. “Oh yeah. He likes you.”
She petted Duke gently. “I like you too.”
When Laura and Duke had gotten acquainted, Cooper picked up her bag. “Come on up. I’ll show you your room.” Once she got over how lovable Duke was, she took in the house, which was nothing like she’d expected. The whole place, or as much as she could see of it, was beautifully updated. But of course, she reminded herself that renovating homes was what he did. “Did you do all this yourself?”
With a satisfied smile, he said, “I did.” Laura followed him into a room at the top of the stairs. “This is yours. Your bathroom is across the hall. You’ll have it all to yourself. I’ve got an en suite down the hall.”
“Cooper, it’s gorgeous.”
“And warm—its best feature this evening! I’ll leave you to get settled. When you’re ready, I’ll have some stormy-weather provisions waiting downstairs.”
“Oh, please don’t go to any trouble.”
He laughed. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to raise your expectations. I’m talking a beer or some wine and a frozen pizza.” He hastened to add, “Baked. We don’t cut any corners.”
Her room was a soothing combination of neutral grays and navy blue, all solid, with a nautical lamp and painting hanging over the bed. She stood for a moment, marveling at Cooper’s home. Not that she’d formed a specific impression, but she’d expected something a little more haphazard in style and, well, cleanliness. But his home could have been a vacation rental. Everything appeared tastefully chosen and placed. She began to doubt her own decorating choices.
Downstairs, the inviting glow of the fireplace cast a soft light across the room. She found Cooper in the kitchen, which was once again impeccably designed with a white quartz counter and backsplash, navy-painted cabinets, and a patterned tile floor. Overall, an inviting and cozy ambiance enveloped her, offering respite from the storm raging outside, not to mention an escape from her cold home.
Cooper asked Laura what she would like to drink then poured a glass of wine and motioned for her to make herself comfortable on the couch. “I’ll be there in a minute.”
A half hour later, Laura rolled her eyes in feigned annoyance as Cooper beat her yet again at Scrabble. “All right, hotshot. Best two out of three?”
Cooper’s eyes glinted with amusement. “Oh, it’s on now. Brace yourself for a crushing defeat.”
Laura laughed as Cooper reshuffled the tiles. She loved the playful side of him that emerged when they were alone. The laughter and teasing banter came easily, as did her growing feelings for him.
Later, snuggled together watching a movie, Laura stole a glance at Cooper’s profile. Lit by the glow of the fireplace, he looked peaceful and content. With that bone structure, strong jaw, high cheekbones, and patrician nose, the guy didn’t have a bad angle. On impulse, Laura reached out and took his hand, interlacing their fingers. Cooper turned to her, his eyes bright with affection. He lifted her hand and softly brushed his lips against her knuckles. Her heart swelled.
