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“This is cowboy coffee. Filters are for sissies.” He settled himself next to her on the sofa—close enough to talk but not close enough to invade her private space.
“I’m sorry about your house,” he said. “That old tree should have been taken out a long time ago. How bad is the damage?”
“If it was a car, it would be totaled. I’ll have to see it in the daylight to be sure, but it looks like the roof will have to be rebuilt, and at least the ceiling in my room. If we get rain or snow in the night, there could be water damage, too. Thank heaven I’ve got insurance. But all that’s going to take time, especially if we have a bad winter. Meanwhile, the place won’t be fit to live in.”
“I suppose Wynette can just move into the new house early. But what about you?”
Jess sighed, overwhelmed by the way her life had turned upside-down. “I’ll look for a rental. That’ll be my next priority after I call the insurance company.”
The pot on the stove was boiling fiercely. Cooper rose, set out two thick stoneware cups, and filled each one using a wire strainer to keep out the grounds. “Out on the range they didn’t bother to strain the coffee—or if they did, they poured it through a bandana. Do you like it with cream and sugar? I forgot to ask. And I think we’ve got some Oreos in the cupboard if you’re hungry.”
“Just a dab of milk, thanks. And I’ll pass on the Oreos.”
He handed her the cup. The coffee was bracingly strong, with an earthy taste that she hadn’t expected. But it wasn’t bad, and it did bring her back to life.
He stood at the end of the sofa, sipping from his cup. “Why not stay here with us? We’ve got a spare bedroom.”
Jess would have choked on her coffee if she hadn’t stopped herself. “You’re joking.”
“Think about it. Finding a new place might take time—along with the hassle of filling out an application and paying a deposit—and more hassle when your house is ready and you move out. I know Grace and Sam would take you, but they only have three bedrooms, and one of those is Sam’s office. Wynette would probably take you, too. But do you really want to put a wet blanket on her and Buck’s privacy? We’ve got four bedrooms. I wouldn’t charge you, but if you wanted to bring home a few groceries and help out around the place, that would be fine.”
Jess’s head was swimming. So many decisions to make. “But what would people say? The gossips could claim that we were shacking up.”
“Not with Trevor here. He’ll make a fine chaperone.”
“I don’t think your son even likes me, Cooper.” She set her cup on the coffee table, her hand unsteady.
“He’ll learn. I, for one, happen to like you a lot. But I would promise to be a perfect gentleman. Think about it. You can let me know in the morning.”
Jess scrambled for a reply. She couldn’t just move in with Cooper and put down roots. But she did need shelter until she could find something suitable. “That won’t be necessary,” she said. “I’ll start looking for a rental tomorrow. Until I find one, I hope you won’t mind my camping here—on a temporary basis.”
“Whatever works for you. The invitation stands. Now, what do you say we get some rest before the sun comes up.”
“Good idea,” she said. “I’ll take this comfy sofa.”
“I was thinking of taking that spot myself and offering you my bed. If Trevor wakes up early and sees you, that might give you both a start. But if he sees me first, I’ll have a chance to explain. Either way, with the storm outside, I don’t plan on sleeping much.”
He was making sense. And even with the coffee in her system, Jess could feel the weight of exhaustion. “Take the blanket,” he said. “First door on your left. Bathroom’s across the hall. Take the flashlight. I’ll be fine.”
Cooper’s room was plain and neat, the bed made up and unslept in. Cooper must have planned to be up all night, keeping an eye on his property during the storm. That would explain his being dressed when she’d arrived.
Leaving her shoes next to the bed, Jess wrapped herself in the blanket and lay down on the coverlet. She hadn’t expected to sleep, but as the night’s fear and tension fell away, she began to relax. She was safe and warm, with a roof over her head and a man nearby who would protect her. Little by little, she eased into sleep.
* * *
By the time the darkness began to fade, the storm had passed. Not long after first light, the power came back on. Cooper, who had fallen asleep on the sofa, was awakened by the blare of the radio from Trevor’s room. The sound stopped as abruptly as it had begun, probably because Trevor had punched the power button and gone back to sleep. Since it was Saturday, he no doubt figured he was entitled.
As Cooper rubbed the sleep from his eyes, Glory came down the hall and walked to the front door.
Cooper pushed to his feet and crossed the room to let her out. Only then did he remember Jess. Had the radio awakened her? Was she even here, or had he dreamed the whole crazy episode of her showing up?
A glance out of the front window confirmed that Jess’s Taurus was parked in the yard.
At least, now that the power was on, he could use the coffeemaker. He brewed two cups and carried one down the hall on the chance that Jess was awake and unsure whether to show herself.
The bedroom door was closed. He rapped lightly and heard her muffled response. “Was that a ‘come in’?” he asked.
She opened the door, dressed in her rumpled slacks and green sweater, her tousled hair framing her face. Her sleepy eyes and damp, swollen lips gave her a meltingly sexy look. But there wasn’t much he could do about that.
