Chasing Dreams
Page 28
“Watch your step. I think this’ll be my first project, trying to get this thing back to its original glory.”
Tessa wasn’t sure this old farmhouse was ever really glorious, but she certainly understood its appeal. She had always loved old country farmhouses and actually had hoped one day to own this particular one. In the meantime, she was renting her current house from her brother Jack. Considering Deluth’s land had been the prime location for what she’d spent her life dreaming about, she knew finding something else wasn’t going to happen anytime soon.
But tonight she didn’t want to think about that.
When they arrived at the back of the house, their apparent destination, Tessa noticed that there were two plastic chairs and a diminutive plastic table sitting in the middle of the porch.
“I have to admit, I’m jealous of this porch, Krenshaw,” Tessa said, going for casual.
At the moment, she was feeling anything but, and she wasn’t sure why that was. Just being with him, alone like this, was so incredibly intimate, she wasn’t sure she was going to be able to eat with all her nerves churning in her belly.
“Yeah? It’s a little on the neglected side, but the promise of what it could be was what appealed to me.”
“I know exactly what you mean,” she mumbled, hoping he didn’t hear her. For as long as she could remember, she’d loved this old house. Especially the solitude to be found on the property.
Taking the bag from her hand, Cooper set up the food on the table after signaling for her to take the opposite chair. She noticed the chair was new, even having the stickers attached to it, and she smiled.
“I tried to think of everything. I don’t have any furniture on the inside, so I figured this would do. Not that I need anything more than that porch swing over there. It seems more than adequate for a bed if you ask me.”
Tessa looked over her shoulder at the swing he was referring to and had she been drinking something, she would’ve choked. The dilapidated swing appeared to be hanging by a thread as opposed to the two rusty chains that actually secured it to the wood rafters. Jerry had never wanted to replace it for as long as she could remember.
“Don’t worry, I checked. It’s stable. It’ll do for a while.”
Tessa wasn’t sure she believed him, but she nodded her head anyway.
When the food was laid out between them, the plastic utensils and the paper plates within reach, Tessa looked up at Cooper. “This is great, by the way. I was worried you’d be the fancy type, and I won’t lie, I’m not big into that stuff.”
“I think I knew that,” he replied, grinning.
“What are you trying to say, Krenshaw?” Tessa tried to sound stern, but her smile probably gave her away.
“We’re a lot alike. I’d much prefer to sit out here all night as opposed to wine and dine in some fancy restaurant. I’m claustrophobic in social scenes like that. I like wide open spaces. I don’t think Marcus ever truly understood that.”
Tessa knew he was referring to his manager, and she noticed the frustration that lingered briefly in Cooper’s eyes. For the last couple of weeks, she’d overheard bits and pieces of several of his phone conversations, and although she only ever heard a few words, she sensed that he still wasn’t happy with Marcus or what he was telling him.
“Do you plan to just walk away from your career?” she blurted as she watched him scoop potato salad onto his plate.
Cooper’s eyes met hers, his lips a thin line as he seemed to be trying to read her intention. Smiling, she made an effort to lighten the mood. “Don’t worry, I’m not planning to go talk to the tabloids.”
He smiled back, but it didn’t reach his eyes. Feeling as though she overstepped and invaded his personal space, she followed up with, “Sorry. We can talk about whatever you want.”
“No, I’m good. Where you’re concerned, I’m an open book.”
Tessa wasn’t sure she wanted him to be an open book because that would mean he would expect the same from her and there were too many things that she shied away from talking about. Her history was one of them.
“I like this,” he said as he motioned with a tilt of his head toward the fields, “but I don’t want to give up my career altogether. Maybe slow down some. I want to do something more. There’s a part of me that is constantly looking for a challenge. I think I found that here.”
Tessa wondered whether he was referring to the potential of the farm or her.
“And you’re up for the challenge of a farm?”
Cooper tilted his head, as though studying her again and Tessa fought the urge to squirm.
“It’ll be the biggest challenge of my life no doubt. Not only will it take a tremendous amount of time, but the back breaking work will keep me occupied.” Cooper paused, his gaze still intently focused on her. “Financially, I can help in a lot of ways, such as getting the center off the ground, but I know it won’t be enough for me. Being able to work with children and horses and to see the benefit of them together, that’s where the true reward is.”
“What made you want to work with kids?” she asked.
There was a distant sadness in Cooper’s eyes that made Tessa’s heart ache in response, but for the first time, he didn’t answer her. Open book, huh? Well, it looked like he had some things he wanted to keep to himself, so Tessa didn’t feel so guilty about not sharing her life story with him just yet.
Changing the subject, she asked, “So, you don’t want to stop performing?”
Cooper forked potatoes in his mouth, his gaze intently focused on her to the point she was about to start fidgeting when he finally spoke. “No, I don’t want to stop altogether. The fans are the reason I keep doing what I do. But, honestly, I like The Rusty Nail,” he replied, sounding serious.
“So, what? You’re going to give up all the world traveling and just sing at a small town bar a couple of nights a month?”
“I’m thinking about it.” She had to break the eye contact, fearful that he would see the lust that was slowly building inside of her as she watched him eat. Luckily, the food looked wonderful, effectively redirecting her attention.
Cooper hadn’t skimped on dinner. According to the napkins, he ordered from Charlie’s Restaurant: roasted chicken, potato salad and corn on the cob. She remembered he was a man of routine and couldn’t help but think that this was definitely not his normal meal.
Tessa wasn’t sure this old farmhouse was ever really glorious, but she certainly understood its appeal. She had always loved old country farmhouses and actually had hoped one day to own this particular one. In the meantime, she was renting her current house from her brother Jack. Considering Deluth’s land had been the prime location for what she’d spent her life dreaming about, she knew finding something else wasn’t going to happen anytime soon.
But tonight she didn’t want to think about that.
When they arrived at the back of the house, their apparent destination, Tessa noticed that there were two plastic chairs and a diminutive plastic table sitting in the middle of the porch.
“I have to admit, I’m jealous of this porch, Krenshaw,” Tessa said, going for casual.
At the moment, she was feeling anything but, and she wasn’t sure why that was. Just being with him, alone like this, was so incredibly intimate, she wasn’t sure she was going to be able to eat with all her nerves churning in her belly.
“Yeah? It’s a little on the neglected side, but the promise of what it could be was what appealed to me.”
“I know exactly what you mean,” she mumbled, hoping he didn’t hear her. For as long as she could remember, she’d loved this old house. Especially the solitude to be found on the property.
Taking the bag from her hand, Cooper set up the food on the table after signaling for her to take the opposite chair. She noticed the chair was new, even having the stickers attached to it, and she smiled.
“I tried to think of everything. I don’t have any furniture on the inside, so I figured this would do. Not that I need anything more than that porch swing over there. It seems more than adequate for a bed if you ask me.”
Tessa looked over her shoulder at the swing he was referring to and had she been drinking something, she would’ve choked. The dilapidated swing appeared to be hanging by a thread as opposed to the two rusty chains that actually secured it to the wood rafters. Jerry had never wanted to replace it for as long as she could remember.
“Don’t worry, I checked. It’s stable. It’ll do for a while.”
Tessa wasn’t sure she believed him, but she nodded her head anyway.
When the food was laid out between them, the plastic utensils and the paper plates within reach, Tessa looked up at Cooper. “This is great, by the way. I was worried you’d be the fancy type, and I won’t lie, I’m not big into that stuff.”
“I think I knew that,” he replied, grinning.
“What are you trying to say, Krenshaw?” Tessa tried to sound stern, but her smile probably gave her away.
“We’re a lot alike. I’d much prefer to sit out here all night as opposed to wine and dine in some fancy restaurant. I’m claustrophobic in social scenes like that. I like wide open spaces. I don’t think Marcus ever truly understood that.”
Tessa knew he was referring to his manager, and she noticed the frustration that lingered briefly in Cooper’s eyes. For the last couple of weeks, she’d overheard bits and pieces of several of his phone conversations, and although she only ever heard a few words, she sensed that he still wasn’t happy with Marcus or what he was telling him.
“Do you plan to just walk away from your career?” she blurted as she watched him scoop potato salad onto his plate.
Cooper’s eyes met hers, his lips a thin line as he seemed to be trying to read her intention. Smiling, she made an effort to lighten the mood. “Don’t worry, I’m not planning to go talk to the tabloids.”
He smiled back, but it didn’t reach his eyes. Feeling as though she overstepped and invaded his personal space, she followed up with, “Sorry. We can talk about whatever you want.”
“No, I’m good. Where you’re concerned, I’m an open book.”
Tessa wasn’t sure she wanted him to be an open book because that would mean he would expect the same from her and there were too many things that she shied away from talking about. Her history was one of them.
“I like this,” he said as he motioned with a tilt of his head toward the fields, “but I don’t want to give up my career altogether. Maybe slow down some. I want to do something more. There’s a part of me that is constantly looking for a challenge. I think I found that here.”
Tessa wondered whether he was referring to the potential of the farm or her.
“And you’re up for the challenge of a farm?”
Cooper tilted his head, as though studying her again and Tessa fought the urge to squirm.
“It’ll be the biggest challenge of my life no doubt. Not only will it take a tremendous amount of time, but the back breaking work will keep me occupied.” Cooper paused, his gaze still intently focused on her. “Financially, I can help in a lot of ways, such as getting the center off the ground, but I know it won’t be enough for me. Being able to work with children and horses and to see the benefit of them together, that’s where the true reward is.”
“What made you want to work with kids?” she asked.
There was a distant sadness in Cooper’s eyes that made Tessa’s heart ache in response, but for the first time, he didn’t answer her. Open book, huh? Well, it looked like he had some things he wanted to keep to himself, so Tessa didn’t feel so guilty about not sharing her life story with him just yet.
Changing the subject, she asked, “So, you don’t want to stop performing?”
Cooper forked potatoes in his mouth, his gaze intently focused on her to the point she was about to start fidgeting when he finally spoke. “No, I don’t want to stop altogether. The fans are the reason I keep doing what I do. But, honestly, I like The Rusty Nail,” he replied, sounding serious.
“So, what? You’re going to give up all the world traveling and just sing at a small town bar a couple of nights a month?”
“I’m thinking about it.” She had to break the eye contact, fearful that he would see the lust that was slowly building inside of her as she watched him eat. Luckily, the food looked wonderful, effectively redirecting her attention.
Cooper hadn’t skimped on dinner. According to the napkins, he ordered from Charlie’s Restaurant: roasted chicken, potato salad and corn on the cob. She remembered he was a man of routine and couldn’t help but think that this was definitely not his normal meal.
