My One and Only (Ardent Springs Book 3) (11 page)

How did anyone sleep with a baby in the house? No wonder new parents were freaking zombies. And this definitely explained Carrie’s recent mood swings. At least they’d been able to tag out and hand the pissed off little thing to the next person. Well, everyone but Haleigh, who never bothered to come back out of her room.

Cooper had been tempted more than once to carry Emma in there and leave her on the bed next to Haleigh’s ear. Would have served her right. And not just for waking up the baby.

Newborn or no, he likely wouldn’t have gotten much sleep anyway. Who knew what she might have done. If he’d played his cards right, she might have done
him
.

Being a good guy sucked.

When he and Haleigh finally did have sex—and they
would
be having sex—neither of them would be drunk. Or have recently hurled into a bed of pansies. Speaking of, he still needed to get the hose for that.

Last time he’d seen the clock, it had read three forty-five when Cooper had passed an exhausted Emma off to an even more exhausted Jessi, who carried with her a bottle and a dream. That her baby would pass out and stay out for at least five hours. Heck, four would have been an improvement.

At the same moment the scent of fresh coffee hit his nose, Cooper heard a door open down the hall. Jessi was in the kitchen, and Abby in the shower, so that left only one person. How nice of Haleigh to join them.

She breezed by the couch without so much as a glance in his direction. As she rounded the corner, he heard her say, “Coffee. Now.”

Cooper could have told her that one bottle of water was not going to be enough.

Several obvious sounds followed. A cupboard opened and closed. A mug hit the counter. Coffee filled the mug. All followed by a woman’s low moan.

And now all of Cooper was up and ready for the day. He made a quick trip to the facilities, brushed his teeth with his finger, and smoothed his hair as best he could. He’d been meaning to get a haircut for a couple weeks but hadn’t gotten around to it. That had to change today.

Ready as he’d ever be, Cooper strolled toward the kitchen, but stopped short when Jessi’s voice caught his ear.

“I don’t get it,” she said. “Why are you and Cooper not a thing?”

Something he’d like to know as well.

“Anyone ever tell you you’re a nosy kid?” Haleigh replied.

Just answer the kid’s question already.

“Just answer the question,” Jessi echoed. “He’s hot. He clearly has the hots for you.” Even the teenager figured that out? “I’ve seen you checking out his ass more than once.”

“I’m not going to argue that Cooper isn’t hot,” Haleigh said. “I’d have to be dead not to notice that. And he’s sweet and funny and probably the best guy I’ve ever met.”

Jessi’s tone turned sarcastic. “Right. Who would want a guy like that?”

“I didn’t say I don’t want him—”

“Good, you’re ready,” Abby said from behind him, startling Cooper.

“Were you a ninja in a former life?” he asked. “Warn a guy, would ya?”

Abby propped her hands on her hips. “Maybe if you weren’t eavesdropping, you’d have heard me.”

“I wasn’t eavesdropping,” he defended. “I was trying not to interrupt their conversation.”

“Then you should have tried not interrupting from the couch.” Stepping around him, she said, “All right, girls. We’re heading out.”

Haleigh lifted a mug that read
Death Before Decaf
in silent salute while Jessi said, “Take me with you. I can have Emma ready in five minutes.”

“We’ve been over this, Jessi. I can’t take you and the baby to work.”

“But I’m going crazy. I’ve forgotten what the sky looks like.”

Abby filled her travel mug with coffee as she said, “Step outside and look up. It’s in the same place it’s always been.”

Even Cooper thought that was a bit harsh. “See if our mom will sit with Emma this evening, and I’ll come take you for a ride.”

“Mama has a date,” Abby said, then stared at the silent faces gaping back at her. “What?”

“Since when does our mother date?” Cooper asked. “And why haven’t I heard about this before now? Who is he? Have you met him?”

Grabbing a breakfast bar from the pantry, Abby said, “Gee, I wonder why she hasn’t told you? Could it be that reaction right there?” She grabbed her keys off the hook by the light switch. “See you ladies tonight. Haleigh Rae, find me at work. I’d like to hear the story of why I’m taking my brother home at seven in the morning.”

When had his cheerful sister gotten so stern?

“Hey,” he said, tracking her into the foyer. “I want to know who Mama’s dating.”

“Just move it,” she tossed over her shoulder. “I’ll tell you on the way.”

Chapter 12

Jessi stared at Haleigh with wide eyes. “Do you think he heard us?”

“I don’t know,” she replied, distracted by Abby’s parting comment. Haleigh knew that tone. Abby wasn’t happy with her. But then Haleigh wasn’t all that happy with herself, either. Last night had been bad. Very bad. She’d be lucky if Raquel didn’t drive over from Memphis just to smack her upside the head. A beating she well deserved. “He’s too upstanding to eavesdrop, so I doubt it.”

“Things could get interesting if he heard you say you want him.”

Haleigh nearly spilled her coffee. “I never said I wanted Cooper.”

“Yes, you did,” Jessi corrected. “You said it’s not that you don’t want him, which means you want him.”

“That is not the same thing.” Her throbbing temples were hindering her ability to think. Had she said she wanted Cooper?

“It most definitely is, though your version was about to come with a
but
until Cooper screamed like a girl and you shut up.” Sliding off her stool, Jessi filled a mug with hot water and popped it into the microwave. “I was starting to think y’all were the most boring people ever. Now I see the drama is just in the early stages.”

Drama? Her life may have its moments, but she did not live in some cheesy soap opera.

“Sorry to disappoint you, but there is no drama. Just because I’m attracted to Cooper doesn’t mean anything is going to happen. For one, I’d drive him crazy. He’s like sunshine and rainbows, and I’m thunderclouds and mud puddles. He’s the boy next door, and I’m the emotional train wreck who should have a ring of those orange construction cones set up all around me.”

Jessi held silent for several seconds while staring at Haleigh as if she could see through her skull.

“Nope,” she said. “I’m not buying it.”

Haleigh struggled not to grind her teeth. “Not buying what?”

“You’re no train wreck, doc. I was raised by a train wreck, and you don’t even qualify as a mild fender bender.”

“You’ve known me for less than a week.”

“Did you miss the
raised by
part?” Jessi asked. The microwave dinged and the girl continued her diatribe as she made her tea. “Let’s start with the obvious—you’re a doctor. Employed, smart, and dedicated, because you have to have dedication to endure, like, eighteen years of college to be a doctor.”

“Eight,” Haleigh corrected.

“Same thing. Next, you don’t dress like a train wreck.”

“There’s a train wreck dress code?” Haleigh drawled. “Enlighten me.”

With a shake of her head, Jessi said, “Sarcasm doesn’t bother me. Now we move on to your lack of a social life. Train wrecks are notorious for their need for attention. After Calvin, Mama never went forty-eight hours without bringing a man home. Male attention is like oxygen in her world.” Jessi set the tea bag in the sink and proceeded to grab the milk from the fridge. “You, on the other hand, don’t seem interested in men at all.” With a pointed look, she added, “Except for Cooper.”

“I’ve known him my whole life.”

“Then you know his history. You know, that’s the trouble with dating a guy you just met. He’s cute, he says the right things, and the next thing you know you’re searching for your panties in the backseat of his Mustang.” More to herself than to Haleigh, Jessi mumbled, “Damn, that was a nice car. Anyway, that’s when you find some other girl’s panties under the passenger seat and realize that new guy is a two-timing jerk who didn’t deserve you, but by then the damage is done.”

Sidetracked from the subject, Haleigh said, “You got pregnant in the backseat of a Mustang?”

“Hey,” Jessi barked. “Don’t judge. Train wreck mother. Not a great role model, okay?”

“Right. Sorry. I just . . .” Haleigh tapped the side of her coffee cup. “Is the backseat of a Mustang really big enough for that?”

It was Jessi’s turn to look surprised. “Are you saying you’ve never done it in a car?”

Haleigh resisted the urge to defend herself by sharing a few of the less conventional places she’d had sex during college.

“As revelatory as this conversation has been, the point is that Cooper and I are a no-go. Period. Besides the fact that he deserves a woman the complete opposite of me, there’s also the issue of bringing him home to my mother. She’s still mourning my broken engagement to a plastic surgeon. I can only imagine her reaction upon hearing I’m going to spend my future with a mechanic.”

“Wow,” Jessi said. “I did not see that coming.”

“What?” Haleigh asked.

“I just didn’t figure you for one of those bitchy snobs.”

“What did you call me?”

“Don’t get snippy with me, doc. You just said a mechanic isn’t good enough for you. That’s seriously crappy. Cooper didn’t have to take me to the hospital that night he found me. But he did.
And
he stayed. Then he made sure I had someplace to go. If that isn’t good enough for you, then I’m sorry, but that makes you a bitch.” Tea in hand, Jessi headed out of the kitchen. “I need a shower.”

“Wait.” Haleigh chased her into the living room. “I never said he isn’t good enough for
me
. I said my mother wouldn’t approve.”

Jessi spun, her eyes flashing. “Who cares? Aren’t you like forty? I mean, you’re a freaking adult. You don’t need your mommy’s approval if he’s the right guy.” Painting Haleigh with a look of disgust, she said, “Grow up, for cripes’ sake. And if you don’t have the guts to go after Cooper, don’t use your mother as an excuse.”

“I—” Haleigh started, but Jessi stormed off.

The question echoed in Haleigh’s brain.
Who cares?
Haleigh cared. She wanted her mother’s approval. Jessi didn’t understand the dynamic Haleigh grew up with, or the guilt she carried for being the thorn in her mother’s side. The one that her father had twisted and buried deeper all those years.

“I don’t have to explain my life to anyone,” she said, charging down the hall to her own room. At least this time she remembered not to slam the door.

“I don’t understand why you kept me in the dark about this,” Cooper said.

“I didn’t keep you in the dark,” his mother hedged. “I just didn’t tell you yet.”

“That’s the same thing.” He cut into the chicken-fried steak she’d brought him for lunch. “How can I make sure you’re okay if I don’t know that you’re hopping all over town with some guy I don’t even know?”

Linda Ridgeway rolled her eyes. “Oh, please. Bruce is on the Ruby committee with you, and I know for a fact that he’s volunteered to help with your car show fundraiser thing, so it isn’t as if he’s a total stranger to you.”

Bruce Clemens owned the local bookstore, called Bound to Please, and was a nice enough guy. But that didn’t mean Cooper wanted his mother dating him. Or anyone else for that matter.

“So he’s been looking me in the eye and conveniently not saying a word about having the hots for my mother.”

“Cooper Daniel, I will not have you implying that Bruce has done anything wrong. We are single, consenting adults, and do not need your permission to spend a little time together.”

Properly chastised, Cooper tried to see the situation from his mother’s point of view. She
was
only fifty-three years old, and in great health, thank goodness. And he had to admit that there was no reason for her to spend her remaining years living like a nun.

“I’m not suggesting you need anyone’s permission, and I do want you to be happy,” he conceded. “I guess I just need to get used to the idea of you, you know, dating.”

His mother’s carefree laughter returned. “You make it sound like I’ve taken up pole dancing. Goodness, Cooper, I’m having a nice time with a man who thinks I’m pretty.”

“You’re beautiful,” Cooper declared. “You don’t need some bookstore owner to tell you that.”

“Actually, I do.” Laying her hand along his stubble-covered jaw, she said, “But it’s nice to hear it from you as well.” After a wistful sigh, she pulled her hand away to prop it beneath her chin. “Enough about me. Tell me what’s going on between you and Haleigh Rae.”

Cooper hadn’t seen that one coming. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said before shoving a forkful of food in his mouth.

“Oh no,” Mama said, wiggling a finger in front of his nose. “If we can talk about my love life, we can talk about yours. Abby said you spent the night at her house last night.”

“On the couch,” he clarified around the steak.

Throwing a folded paper towel his way, she said, “You know better than to talk with your mouth full.”

Chewing the rest of the meat, he swallowed and said, “Haleigh had too much to drink at Brubaker’s, so I left my truck at the bar and drove her home. Then I slept on the couch. End of story.”

If he did make a move in Haleigh’s direction, the odds were still in favor of her telling him to go to hell. For the sake of his pride, he’d prefer as few people as possible know of his potential humiliation. Add in his mother’s unwavering determination to see her son married, mostly for the sake of getting herself some grandkids to spoil, and the slightest whiff of him and Haleigh getting together would have her doing who-knew-what to see them tripping down the aisle as soon as possible.

“You don’t really expect me to believe that. You’ve been in love with the girl since you hit puberty. Maybe before.”

Sweet corn spewed across his desk. “How do you know that?”

She shook her head as she gathered the corn in another paper towel. “I’m your mother, Cooper. I know everything.”

He didn’t like the sound of that.

“Now, what are you going to do about Haleigh Rae?”

“I’m not going to do anything about Haleigh Rae. And you’re not going to do anything, either,” he ordered. “No meddling. Promise me.”

“You aren’t getting any younger, you know.”

They’d been over this more times than he could count. “For the last time, when I marry, I’m only doing it once. That’s it. And that means no wedding until I find a girl that I can’t live without. So far, that hasn’t happened, but you’ll be the first to know if it does.”

Leaning forward as if sharing a great secret, she said, “Cooper, you’ve loved that girl forever. You have to at least give it a try.”

He copied her movements. “Like I said, I’ll let you know if the right girl comes around.”

As the implication sank in, Linda Ridgeway sat back with a wide grin splitting her face. Nodding her approval, she said, “That’s my boy.”

Haleigh’s shift didn’t start until noon, which gave her plenty of time to shower and make a call before arriving at the hospital an hour early to track down Abby. As expected, Raquel had been disappointed but supportive, apologizing for being out of reach while dinging Haleigh for walking into the bar in the first place. An addict knew better than to tempt fate, especially when her defenses were down.

She took the scolding without argument or offense. Every word her sponsor said had been the truth. They’d agreed that avoiding future encounters with her mother would be the best way to go, but since Haleigh wasn’t prepared to cut her mother out of her life, she’d agreed to search for a local counselor to get herself back on track.

Feeling like a failure was nothing new, but stung nonetheless. What mattered now was getting back on the wagon and staying there.

As she made the drive to the hospital, Haleigh contemplated the impending conversation with Abby, which allowed her
not
to think about Jessi’s lecture. Though she had sunk to the childish level of leaving a sticky note on the fridge informing the little know-it-all that Haleigh was only thirty-one, thank you very much.

What did the girl know anyway? Clearly, her mother had set the bar pretty low when it came to standards for her daughter. With a parent like the one Jessi described, why would any child care about winning her approval? The careless woman didn’t even know where her daughter was right now. The daughter who was supposedly still pregnant.

“I have fifteen minutes,” Abby said, meeting Haleigh near the elevators outside neurology. “We can talk in the lounge up here.”

Her tone was all business. Not a good sign.

“Whatever you want,” Haleigh said, keeping up with her friend’s brisk pace.

Thankfully, the lounge was empty since Abby didn’t pull any punches. The moment they stepped through the door, she said, “I thought you gave up drinking.”