The Trouble With Tomboys(55)

took away from her and did to her family—no way on earth could she give up her baby. She wanted a child, her own child, to look up at her with big, curious eyes just like Tanner Gerhardt was.

Sensing someone in the doorway, B.J. lifted her head. “I think he’s asleep,” she said. But it wasn’t Jo Ellen returning. Instead, it was Cooper, Jo Ellen’s husband. He leaned in the doorway, munching on a cinnamon roll, watching her coo at his son with a raised eyebrow.

“Hey, Coop,” she whispered as she sent him a smile in greeting. “I hope you don’t mind. I’m going to practice on your kid until mine comes along.”

Cooper slipped into the room and neared the

rocking chair to look down at his sleeping son. “Just don’t break him,” he said quietly, obviously having already talked to Jo Ellen.

B.J. flipped him off but quickly lowered her hand and glanced down to make sure the baby was still sleeping and hadn’t seen the gesture. Cooper chuckled softly and crouched to his haunches so he could lay a soft kiss on his son’s hair. B.J. watched 153







Cooper lovingly nuzzle his nose against the infant’s cheek.

“Remember when we fooled around once?” she

said, suddenly recalling a long-ago event she hadn’t even thought of in years.

Cooper choked on the cinnamon roll in his

mouth and tripped in his haste to stand upright.

“Jesus, B.J.!” he yelped, jerking a few steps away. “What the hell?”

“Shh,” she hissed. “Don’t wake the baby.”

“Well, what in God’s name are you doing

mentioning that?” he hissed back. “It happened a

long time ago. And my wife is in the other room, for God’s sake.”

She nodded. “I know. I just wanted to say I’m glad we didn’t do anything more…you know. That’s all.” Coop nodded as well and stared at her like she’d lost her mind. “Okay,” he answered. “I’m glad too.”

B.J. smiled. “I really like Jo Ellen. And I’d hate to feel awkward around her for some mistake we’d made twenty centuries ago.”

Coop couldn’t respond this time. He just nodded, unable to make eye contact.

“She’s the one, isn’t she?” she pressed.

“What?” he asked, looking confused and then

glancing anxiously toward the door.

“The woman you were all depressed about that night. It was Jo Ellen, wasn’t it?”

“Oh. Ah...yeah. It was her.”

“Well, I’m glad everything worked out for you two,” B.J. said. “You got a sweet wife and a really good kid here.”

“Thanks,” Coop replied, “…I think. Just don’t go mentioning that night again, okay?”

B.J. winked, and Coop suddenly seemed like he was in a hurry to leave.

But when he reached the doorway, he stopped

154



The Trouble with Tomboys



and glanced back. Cocking his head to the side, he studied her thoughtfully.

“What?” she demanded. “Am I doing something

wrong?” She looked down at the baby in worry.

Cooper smiled as he shook his head. “No.

Tanner’s fine. I just realized... You’re actually a soft touch, aren’t you?”

She frowned. “Excuse me?”

“That night,” Cooper said. “You were only trying to cheer me up. You came over to me in the bar because you said I looked sad.”

“So?” B.J. answered.

“Well...that makes me think the same thing

happened with Ralphie Smardo. I can see you saying yes to him just to boost his ego.”

“Oh, God,” she moaned, closing her eyes. “Does everybody know about that?”

He nodded solemnly. “About the skinny dipping?

I’m afraid so. Your little diner scene is quickly becoming legendary.”

B.J. rolled her eyes. “I never should’ve let that little slime ball touch me.”

Cooper shrugged. “But you did,” he murmured,

“because you felt bad for him.”

She scowled. “He kept whining about never

getting a woman. I just wanted to shut him up.”

“Uh huh,” Cooper said, knowingly. “So you gave him some sympathy sex. Just like you did Grady.”

B.J. stopped and opened her mouth as she

frowned at Cooper. But no words came out.

Cooper chuckled. “Don’t you dare tell me you don’t feel bad for him. Hell, everyone in the county feels sorry for Jo Ellen’s brother. He’s been through hell; you only have to look at his face to see that.”

“You are so wrong, Gerhardt,” she insisted. “I don’t do sympathy sex.”

Cooper’s return look said otherwise, but he