The Perfect Homecoming (Pine River #3)

“I have no idea if I like it or not. But I am very sure I don’t like hooks in my face.”


Cooper looked at Sam; Sam grinned fondly at Libby. “She’s heard one too many tales from Tag down at Tag’s Outfitters,” he said.

Luke returned with a clean T-shirt and showed him to a shower. When Cooper had cleaned up, and had combed his fingers through his hair to tame it as best he could, he made his way back to the front of the house. He stepped outside and jogged down the steps to Luke’s truck to toss his dirty shirt inside, and noticed that the temperature had taken quite a dip since they’d come up to the ranch.

Cooper returned to the house, pausing at the front door to clean the bottom of his boots again on the welcome mat. He heard someone on the stairs and looked up; a moment later, a pair of very shapely legs in skintight jeans came into view.

And then the rest of the body appeared, along with that cascade of blond hair and the sultry green eyes. The sight of him caused Emma to falter a bit; she paused on the bottom step, her gaze raking him up and down. “Well, well, look who’s back for more.”

He smiled. “You’re awfully sure of yourself.” She ought to be sure of herself, because she looked fantastic, her hair in one long tail, and her sweater hugging her almost as tight as her jeans. The memory of that completely calculated, but thoroughly pleasurable, kiss skated across Cooper’s mind for what could possibly be the thousandth time. “You shouldn’t be surprised to see me—I told you I’d see you around, remember?”

“Oh, I remember,” she said, and leaned up against the banister, folding her arms across herself. “But most people call before they show up at someone’s house. I’d love to humor your little detective work today, but unfortunately, I can’t talk to you now because we’re having dinner. It’s family night. It’s Libby’s thing, and she gets very cranky when we don’t all show up.”

“Sounds like a great idea,” Cooper said. He shifted his weight to one hip.

Emma frowned. “Sooo . . .” she said, drawing out the word, “you should make it quick. Go ahead, ask me if I have the thing Carl lost so I can say no, and then you can run back to town, and I will obey my summons to family night.”

“I won’t keep you,” Cooper said, moving deeper into the hall. “In fact, we can discuss the medal you won’t admit you have after dinner so you won’t be late to family night.”

She laughed. “And what, you’ll just wait on the stoop? It’s freezing outside, in case you haven’t noticed.”

His smile deepened. “I guess Luke didn’t get the family-night memo. He invited me to have dinner.”

Emma’s brows sank into a frown. “Luke invited you to family night?” she repeated. “Did he clear it with Libby? Because she has some very specific rules about what is and is not allowed on family night.”

“I guess,” Cooper said with a shrug. “He didn’t mention it when he invited me.”

Emma’s brows dipped. “That is so . . . unfair. I didn’t know we could invite other people! Libby was very specific—don’t make any plans tonight, Emma, it’s family night, Emma, don’t let me down, Emma,” she said, mimicking her sister. “Whatever.” She sighed, glanced at what looked like the entrance to the family room and pursed her lips.

That kiss slipped into Cooper’s thoughts again and wended around, taking root. He didn’t want to think about it. He damn sure didn’t want to be another notch in her belt—which was exactly the way he’d felt when she’d kissed him under the stars. He liked to think he had some standards.

“Well,” Emma said, and cast a look over him as she stepped off the stairs. Now she was standing in front of him, close enough that he could touch her. Cooper shoved his hands in his pockets to keep himself from it.

She looked up at him with a wry smile. “Don’t think because you kissed me once that you can just waltz in here and make yourself at home.”

He laughed, fighting the urge to touch her. “I think you really are delusional. Once again, I must point out that you have the facts wrong. You kissed me, Emma.”

“Keep telling yourself that, big guy,” she said, and walked to the door of the family room. She paused at the threshold and glanced over her shoulder at him. “Well? Come on, if you’re coming. Trust me, you do not want to be late to family night.” With that, she disappeared into the room.