Cooper Bad Boys of Dry River, Wyoming Book 3 Page 2

  A few minutes later, Cooper walked out of his office and stopped by Mitch’s office. “It’s taken care of. I sent him the copy of the design he sent us and it’s a match.”

  “He’s a real prick,” Mitch muttered.

  “We’ve had more than a few of those but most are great customers. I’m going to take Wallace’s bike for a short ride. I won’t be long.”

  Mitch didn’t even glance up from the design table, just nodded his head. Cooper grinned and strode toward the cherry apple red Harley Sportster sitting in the garage bay. Wallace King was picking her up in three days and Cooper always took the bikes out for a test drive. The candy apple red tank gleamed. He straddled the bike, thankful his balls had finally calmed down, and fired her up. He grinned when he felt her purring between his legs. He twisted the throttle to open her up more. Smiling, he pulled the helmet on and pulled out of the garage. He loved riding bikes almost as much as he loved riding horses, and he loved riding horses almost as much as he loved riding women.

  The smile left his face when he thought of Kendra again. Damn her. She seriously needed to get past hating him for something that happened fourteen years ago. She hadn’t even been around much for those fourteen years. After graduating from high school, she moved away to go to college but then returned to Dry River for a while. Then she moved to Seattle and he’d heard she’d gotten married a year ago. Apparently, it hadn’t lasted long since she moved back to Dry River recently, without her husband. Cooper wasn’t sure what had happened. No one seemed to know, other than she was divorced.

  As he drove to town, the bike rumbled beneath him. He took the turns safely, but fast. The bike handled like a dream. He was riding past Mackie’s when he spotted Kendra’s car sitting in the parking lot and as he was about to pass by, he saw her standing inside the office staring out the window. Her eyes followed him, but he knew she couldn’t recognize him behind the smoked visor. He grinned as he turned the bike around and headed back to the lot.

  ****

  Kendra watched the motorcycle make a circle and pull into the lot. Probably a customer of Mackie’s. She watched as the rider stopped the bike and lifted his helmet off. She gasped when she saw it was Cooper. He swung his leg over the bike and strode into the garage. What was he doing here? The door to the office opened and he stepped in.

  “Is he going to get to your car today?” Cooper asked her.

  “Not until later. I’m going to wait.”

  Cooper grinned at her. “No way home, huh?”

  Kendra huffed and sat down in one of the black plastic chairs and folded her arms. She refused to look at him. “Go away, Cooper.”

  “I can give you a ride home. I have an extra helmet.”

  “You want to give me a ride home on that motorcycle?”

  “Seeing as it was how I arrived then yes, it’s how I’d take you home.”

  “Don’t be a smart ass,” Kendra said.

  “Come on, Kendra. Do you really want to spend the day here? Unless, you’re afraid of the bike.”

  She was terrified of the bike, but sitting on that bike was nothing in comparison of sitting behind Cooper on it. She lifted her chin. “I’m not afraid of the bike.”

  “Must be me then.” He leaned back against the door and folded his arms across his chest as he stared at her.

  Kendra stood. “I’m not afraid of you either.” She smiled. “I can handle myself.”

  Cooper grunted. “Damn right you can. Come on. What do you say?”

  Kendra nibbled on her bottom lip. She really didn’t want to sit in this office and waste the day. What could it hurt to have Cooper give her a ride home? “All right.”

  Cooper grinned at her. “Great. Let’s go.” He stepped out the door, holding it open for her. After telling Mackie she’d be back later, Kendra followed Cooper to the bike. He swung his leg over it and handed her a helmet.

  She piled her long hair on top of her head then put the helmet on and tried to hook the strap, but couldn’t get it cinched. Cooper moved her hands out of the way and hooked the strap for her, and then he patted the seat behind him.

  “Hop on.” Kendra took a deep breath, swung her leg over the bike, and put her hands on her knees. She heard Cooper chuckle. “As much as you’re going to hate this, you’re going to have to wrap your arms around me to hang on.” When she placed her hands on his hips, he leaned back. “Lean into the turns with me. It will be scary at first but you have to do it. Just relax and enjoy the ride.” He started the bike and moved it slowly out of the parking lot. Once he pulled onto the road, he opened the bike up a little more. Kendra wrapped her arms around his waist and held on.

  Chapter Two

  Cooper grinned when he felt her arms wrap tightly around him. He gave the bike more throttle as he headed out of town. He chuckled when he heard Kendra laugh. He turned his head slightly so she could hear him. “You all right?”

  “Yes! I love it,” she yelled.

  “Okay, we have a turn coming up, lean with me, darlin’.” When she did, he patted her knee. He felt her looking over his shoulder. “What?”

  “Can’t this thing go any faster?” she yelled.

  Cooper laughed and opened it up. Her laughter washed over him. She had a fantastic laugh—not some giggling little laugh but a full-bodied, sexy laugh. Damn, she was making his dick twitch. What the fuck was that all about. A woman’s laugh never turned him on before, but her deep-throated laugh was making him hard. He was shifting on the seat to get more comfortable when her hand slipped off his waist and landed on his crotch, and his hand slipped off the throttle. He noticed she jerked it back up quickly and he opened the bike back up. Mentally shaking his head, he concentrated on the ride and laughed when he heard her squeal as he took a turn fast.

  He leaned his head back. “You said faster.”

  “I can’t believe I love this. I never dreamed it would be so much fun.”

  Cooper chuckled. This is the most she’d ever spoken to him. He pushed the bike faster and grinned when her arms wrapped tighter around him. All too soon, the ride ended and he pulled the bike up to her parents’ home and shut it off. Kendra hopped off and tried to unbuckle the strap.

  “Why do I have so much trouble with this?” she muttered.

  Cooper reached a hand out, wrapping his fingers around her wrist, and pulled her closer toward him. “It’s not that difficult. You’re just not used to doing it. You’ll need to go on more rides to get the hang of it,” he said while unhooking the strap. He jerked back when she slapped his hands away. “What was that for?”

  “I won’t be going on more rides.”

  “Why not? You said you liked it.”

  “I did but I have no desire to go with you again.”

  Cooper stared into her eyes, and then shrugged. “Suit yourself. But denying yourself of something you enjoy is crazy.”

  “Oh, so now I’m crazy?” she said between clenched teeth.

  He stared at her. “I did not call you crazy. I said not doing what you enjoy is. Give me the damn helmet.”

  She shoved it at him, marched up the stairs, and then spun around. “Thank you for the ride.” She entered the house and slammed the door behind her.

  “Yeah, you’re welcome. Son of a bitch,” Cooper muttered. “Damn hard-headed woman.” He started the bike and tore off down the driveway. As he was heading out, a car was coming in but he didn’t even slow down as he left a trail of dust behind him.

  ****

  Kendra marched to her bedroom and entered the room, slamming the door. She was so angry but she had no idea why. She opened the door and slammed it again. Sitting on her bed, she grumbled about Cooper Lang. How dare he call her crazy? She wasn’t and if she were going to be honest, he hadn’t really called her that. It brought back too many bad memories of being called something she wasn’t. Jasper Nelson had called her a cheater the last few months of their marriage. The only crazy thing she did was marry him, and put up with his obsessiveness with her for as lon
g as she did. She rapidly blinked the tears from her eyes. A tear rolled down her face. Damn him! She quickly wiped her cheek when she heard her mother calling for her. The bedroom opened and her mother stood in the doorway.

  “Who was that on the motorcycle?” she asked her daughter.

  “Cooper Lang. He gave me a ride home.”

  “On that thing?” her mother asked in shocked voice.

  Kendra stood. “I had no other way home, Mom. Emily’s in Casper, Isabella’s in Cheyenne, Chloe’s out of town, and you...you were busy.”

  “I could have picked you up afterwards, Kennie. I just got home, not too long after you. So, if you had just waited...”

  “I didn’t know that and you didn’t either, Mom. I could still be sitting there, waiting on you.”

  Her mother sighed. “I suppose, but to get on a motorcycle and with Cooper Lang of all people.”

  “There is nothing wrong with Cooper. He owns a cattle ranch and a motorcycle shop. I don’t think he’s doing too badly.”

  “He’s been nothing but trouble since he was a young boy.”

  Kendra sighed. “Just because he was bad when he was younger doesn’t mean he is now. He’s thirty-four years old, Mom, and a businessman. Don’t judge him on his past.”

  Angela Mattingly strolled into the room, took a seat on the bed beside her, and stared at her. “You seem to be taking up for him quite a bit. Is there something going on you want to tell me about?”

  Kendra huffed. “I’m twenty-nine years old. I don’t have to tell you anything.” At her mother’s gasp, she sighed. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that the way it sounded. I’m just saying I’m a grown woman. I can take care of myself.”

  “Can you?” her mother asked softly.

  “Do not bring Jasper into this conversation. He was a mistake. A mistake, I got over and moved on from.”

  “Kennie, just moving on isn’t enough to get past how Jasper treated you.”

  “Please. I don’t want to talk about it. Cooper is nothing like Jasper. I’ve known him practically my entire life and I’ve never heard anyone say anything bad about him since he’s grown up. Look at Emily. She married Lucas Taggart and everyone thought he would always be a bad boy.”

  “All right. I just don’t want to see you hurt again. It about killed me when you told us how Jasper treated you. Your father wanted to kill him, and I would have helped.”

  Kendra widened her eyes at her mother. “Seriously?”

  “Of course. You’re my daughter, Kennie. I know you’ve always been closer to your father, but that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t do anything to protect you.”

  Kendra blinked tears back and hugged her mother. “I love you, Mom.”

  Her mother hugged her back. “I love you too. How about some lunch?” She smiled at her.

  “I am hungry.”

  They walked to the kitchen and prepared a salad. As they sat at the table, Kendra stared at her mother. She really was a beautiful woman with her short brown hair and hazel eyes. Kendra knew she resembled her and she was proud of it. Angela poured them each a glass of lemonade.

  “How did you and Daddy meet?”

  Her mother looked startled. “You don’t know?”

  “Nope. I never asked Daddy. I’m sure it was something he wouldn’t really talk about with his daughter.” Kendra grinned.

  Angela laughed. “Probably not. We met at a rodeo in Casper.”

  “What were you doing at a rodeo?” She just couldn’t see her mother, in her designer suits and her nose in the air, cruising a rodeo.

  “I’ll have you know, I was there competing in barrel racing.”

  Kendra almost spit her lemonade out. “What?”

  “Yes. I was competing, and a friend and I were walking through the arena when these two gorgeous cowboys came toward us. My girlfriend elbowed me and said she wanted the one on the right, which was your dad. I was disappointed because I wanted him, but she’d called dibs first.” Angela laughed. “Thing is, your dad stopped in front of me, and asked me to marry him.”

  Kendra laughed. “Just like that?”

  “Oh, I knew he was kidding but I said I would, and he took me home later. I fell in love with him that night.” Angela sighed. “And married him a year later. Hard to believe it’s been thirty-one years we’ve been together.”

  “I knew you were married when you were eighteen and Daddy was twenty-two. That’s a lot of years together.”

  “I love him just as much now as I did when I first saw him,” her mother whispered.

  “Why didn’t you tell me you competed?”

  “If you remember, I asked you when you were a little girl if you would be interested in learning. When you said no, I figured you didn’t want to know about me competing in it.”

  “Oh, Mom, I wish you would’ve told me.” Kendra blinked tears away.

  “It’s all right, honey.”

  “Why don’t you ride anymore?”

  “Barrel race? At my age?”

  “I meant horseback.” Kendra smiled.

  “I do. I ride the fence with your dad every morning. Even though we have the wire hooked to the transmitter in the barn to let us know if it’s down, we enjoy our morning rides together.”

  Kendra was shocked. She never knew her parents still rode together and for sure, not her mother. “Would...would you ride with me sometime?”

  She watched her mother blink back tears. “I’d love to. I don’t have any showings Sunday. How about then?”

  Kendra jumped up and hugged her mother. “It’s a date. Now, I need to work on the books for the ranch, and then hopefully my car will be ready.” She nibbled on her bottom lip. “Can you take me back to Mackie’s later?”

  “Yes, of course I can.”

  Kendra beamed a smile at her mother. “Thank you. I’ll be back in a while,” she said as she put her dishes in the sink and walked down the hallway toward the office.

  She loved the sprawling ranch house with its five bedrooms, living room with large fireplace, dining room, eat-in kitchen, and the large den, her father had made into an office. She sometimes wondered why her parents hadn’t had more children with three other bedrooms to fill. Maybe she’d ask her mother one day.

  Scattered rugs covered the dark cherry hardwood floors. Only the bedrooms had carpeting. As she entered the office, she moved behind the large cherry desk and booted up the computer. Her father gave her the task of doing the books when she first returned to Dry River, three months ago. She shivered as she remembered why she came back. Jasper Nelson was the biggest mistake she’d ever made and she hoped he never came back for her. He had to know where she was, but he also knew he could never step onto this ranch without meeting her father’s shotgun. Hudson Mattingly had made it abundantly clear what he would do to Jasper the next time he set foot on his ranch or came near his daughter again. As much as she loved being on the ranch, she would love to have her own place again. She’d rented out the little house she owned to an elderly couple and didn’t have the heart to make them move out. Her father paid her to work on the books, but she also wanted to get a job on her own.

  Later in the afternoon, Mackie called her to let her know her car was ready and her mother drove her into town. Angela smiled over at her. “I’m glad we’re going riding. It’ll be fun.”

  “I can’t wait either, Mom. Just you and me. Dad can’t come along.”

  “Girls day out, huh?” Angela laughed as she pulled her car into Mackie’s lot.

  Kendra smiled as she looked at her mother. “Thank you, Mom. I’ll be home in a little while. I want to stop by Clarice’s for some new jeans.”

  Her mother smiled and waved as she backed out of the parking lot. Kendra paid for a new tire, pulled out of the lot, and drove to the little store that sold just about everything under one roof. Dry River was a small town and didn’t have any big shopping malls. The closest big mall or retail store was over an hour away, not that she hadn’t gone there occasionally, but Clarice�
�s had all the amenities she needed. She parked her car, walked into the store, and immediately other patrons and cashiers greeted her.

  A row of five cash registers greeted customers as they entered the store. To the left was home items and appliances, to the right was a pharmacy and over the counter medications. Straight back was the clothing and toys. Kendra smiled as she made her way to the clothing section. As she looked through the clothes, her mind wandered back to Cooper and she bit back a smile as she remembered the motorcycle ride. It had been a blast, and would be fun to do again. She frowned, since she knew it wouldn’t happen. At least, not with Cooper. The ride was fun, but sitting up against him had been pure torture.

  “A pretty face like yours shouldn’t be marred by a frown,” a deep voice said from beside her.

  Kendra jerked and turned toward it. The man standing there was a stranger. He may be new to the area but somehow she doubted that. She slowly moved away from him.

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you,” he said, smiling at her.

  “It’s all right. Have a nice day.” She moved quickly through the clothing section and stopped by the shelves filled with jeans of every size and label.

  Dry River was a small town, almost everyone knew one another, and Kendra didn’t know the stranger. She had an uneasy feeling as she looked for her size in the jeans. The shelves resembled opened boxes and each box had a different size, except when people stuffed any size into any box. Kendra sighed as she pulled jeans off the shelves to find her size. Being only five foot three, she had trouble with it. Finally finding a pair, she entered the dressing room to try them on. Just because they were her size didn’t mean they’d fit. As she tried them on, she thought about the man who’d talked to her. Who was he? Why had he talked with her? He was a nice looking man, but he gave her the creeps.

  As she stepped from the dressing room, she glanced around but didn’t see him anywhere, and so breathed a sigh of relief. It was short-lived however, when she spotted him close to the front registers. His gaze was roaming the store and when it landed on her, he smiled at her. She suppressed a shiver, walked to the register, and checked out. Kendra swiftly walked toward her car and when she got inside, she locked the doors. She took a deep breath and started the car. When she pulled out of the parking lot, she glanced in the rearview mirror and saw him standing outside, leaning against a column with his arms folded, staring after her.