Guilty Pleasures (The Ladies of The Burling School Book 3) Read online

  Exactly where he wanted her, he thought as his eyes closed for another hour of sleep.

  Chapter 16

  “Hello?”

  Willow turned around with the casserole in her hands, startled by the familiar, feminine voices when she was expecting a deeper, more masculine voice.

  She barely managed to dump the casserole on the counter before rushing to embrace Tamara and Lana. “You’re here?!” she gushed, wrapping her arms around them. “What are you doing here?” she pulled back and glared at Tamara. “I told you to hold off.”

  Tamara laughed and shrugged. “Yeah, but right after I got off the phone with you, Lana called. She’d sensed a disturbance in the force and thought it was me. Since I am doing great, I had to explain that it was actually you that was in disconnect.”

  Lana stepped forward, linking arms with Tamara. “And I suggested that we get over here right away. Exactly as you and Tam did when I was struggling with Christoph and my wedding.”

  Willow brushed away a tear, feeling overly emotional now that her friends were here. “You didn’t have to come, but I’m thrilled to see you.”

  Tamara leaned around Willow, glancing at the countertop. “Were you cooking?” she asked, sniffing the air hopefully.

  Willow laughed. “Of course I was cooking!”

  Lana sighed. “It’s worse than we thought.”

  Tamara grabbed a spoon and dipped it into the cheesy casserole. “Personally, I love it when she cooks! This is amazing!”

  “Am I intruding?” a masculine voice asked from the doorway.

  Willow swung around, as did both Lana and Willow. Willow was the first to react and she smiled brightly up at the tall man staring at her friends. “You’re here!” she gasped and moved over to him. “I thought you wouldn’t arrive for another fifteen minutes.” Willow kissed him briefly.

  “I finished my meeting early,” he said, pulling her into his arms for a longer kiss. “Are you okay?” he asked softly, creating a sense of intimacy even as both Lana and Tamara looked on.

  “Yeah, I’m great,” she replied and smiled up at him. “These are my high school friends I told you about.” She turned and made the introductions, explaining what Lana and Tamara are doing these days.

  “I know both of your husbands,” Cooper said. “Good men.”

  Tamara beamed. “We certainly think so.”

  There was a long pause, then Willow’s smile brightened. “Well, let’s go sit down at the table. Tam, you grab two more plates. Lana, you grab glasses and utensils.” A few minutes later, the four of them sat down to a chicken casserole dinner complete with arugula salad and strawberries with a tangy dressing, broiled asparagus, and bread.

  “This is amazing, Willow,” Lana sighed as she draped the linen napkin over her lap. “I wish I could set a table the way you do. The flowers are a lovely touch.”

  Willow watched nervously, wondering what her friends were going to do. Plus, she knew that her time here in London was coming to an end and, she didn’t want to be selfish, but Willow wanted to spend as much time as possible alone with Cooper.

  Why were they here? Willow pushed her food around on her plate as she wondered what embarrassing things her friends might say to Cooper.

  Unfortunately, Willow didn’t have to wait long.

  “So, Cooper,” Tamara started as soon as Willow walked into the kitchen to get dessert. It was just a small, chocolate torte, but there was always plenty because…well, because Willow struggled to make only half portions of anything. “You’re the first man that Willow has ever felt anything more than affection for.”

  Willow had just stepped through the doorway between the kitchen and dining room but, at Tamara’s words, she froze, her eyes flying to Cooper’s. He glanced at her and Willow wished that she’d stayed in the kitchen for just a few more moments. Seconds! If she’d delayed a mere three seconds, she could have avoided this uncomfortable silence.

  “Tamara, I care for Cooper,” she began, moving back to her chair and setting the pretty chocolate torte down in the center of the table. “And I know that he cares for me as well,” she continued lamely. With that, she paused and looked at Cooper, willing him to say something, anything. Something like, oh, maybe that his feelings were much deeper than that he just ‘cared’ for her. That maybe there was something more! Maybe that he loved her and wanted to be with her for the rest of his life and life without her wasn’t worth living.

  Right, she sighed and focused on slicing the chocolate torte into precise triangles.

  At that same moment, Buddy bounced into the room, breaking the awkward silence as he sat down and stared up at the people, barking when he didn’t receive the amount of attention that he considered his due.

  Of course, Lana and Tamara both oohed and ahhed about the adorable puppy. They had to get down on the floor to pet him, leaving Cooper staring across the table at Willow with an indecipherable look in his eyes.

  “Do you want some torte?” she asked, her voice cracking under the stress of his gaze and silence. “It’s your favorite. With the orange zest,” she finished lamely.

  Cooper stared at Willow, wanting to hit something. She ‘cared’ for him? What the hell was that about? She ‘cared’?

  Willow cared for him. Meanwhile he sat there, sitting across the table from her with a diamond ring burning a hole in his pocket, feeling like an idiot. She cared for him while he was about to propose to her!

  What the hell!

  How had he completely missed all of the signs? Damn it, she’d warned him that she wouldn’t ever marry, but…he’d thought that there was something special between them. The way she touched him, the way she reacted to his touch, and his kisses, and…hell, the way they were practically living together here in this damn house that she’d made into a beautiful home! And if he wasn’t here, then she was over at his place. She knew the entry code to his house, which was the equivalent of him giving her a key! What the hell did she think was going on between them?!

  “No, I don’t need dessert. I’ll…” he stood up and looked at Lana and Tamara, who were staring up at him from the floor. Buddy barked, but no one looked at the dog. Everyone was still, waiting for whatever he was going to do next. “I’ll let you spend time with your friends,” he finally said and turned, leaving the house.

  He didn’t look back, too furious after that one word. She ‘cared’ for him. What exactly did that mean? She cared? He cared for objects. He cared for Buddy. He was in love with Willow. He wanted to spend the rest of his life with Willow! He wanted to marry her and mesh his life with hers! Caring for her was so mild compared to what he felt for her and it pissed him off like nothing he’d felt in a long time.

  Willow stared out the window of her bedroom, looking at the darkness, not sure what to do. She loved him, but…at the first mention of feelings or relationships, Cooper had tensed up and left. Walked out. Sighing, she wiped the tear from her eye and smiled down at Buddy. The little guy seemed to understand she was sad and snuggled up to her.

  “Hey,” Tamara said from the doorway.

  Willow turned and saw that both of her friends were there, watching her with pity in their eyes.

  At this particular moment, Willow couldn’t deal with their sympathy. Silently, she turned away, staring blankly through the darkened window. “If you both don’t mind, I’d like to be alone right now,” she told them.

  Did they listen? Not a chance!

  Lana stepped in first and moved over to the window seat, folding her legs underneath her. “I made a painting for you. But I think I’ll send it to Cooper instead. It might give him a clue about what just happened.”

  Willow tried to smile, but her facial muscles couldn’t move. Instead, she stared out at the darkness.

  “Did we mess this up for you?” Tamara asked, settling on the floor.

  “No,” Willow replied. “It wasn’t your fault.” She felt the stab of pain hit her chest and tried to ignore it. “It’s my fault.”

&
nbsp; Lana reached out, stroking Buddy’s ears affectionately. “How is this your fault? He’s the one that walked out on you.”

  Willow hoped that her friends didn’t notice the jerk as more pain shot through her. She breathed in and slowly let the air seep out of her lungs. “He told me weeks ago that he didn’t believe in love or forever after. He told me that he never wanted to get married.”

  Willow felt Lana look over at Tamara. Their next words were true, but she didn’t want them brought up now.

  “Honey, I thought that you didn’t believe in marriage either. With your father’s marriages and divorces, you’ve always said that…”

  “I know what I said,” she interrupted sharply. “That was before I met Cooper.” She paused, still staring out at the darkness. “That was before I fell in love with him.”

  Neither of her friends knew what to say, so instead, they did what both of them did best. They hugged her. Willow hugged them back, but she couldn’t put much feeling into it. Her heart ached and she just…she wanted to be alone.

  She wanted to go home, Willow thought. Home to Wyoming. Home to her small house and her studio where things were normal. Willow just wanted to go back home and forget all about her grandmother and Bonnie and…her hand stroked Buddy’s soft fur. No, she couldn’t forget Bonnie. Never! Nor would she ever forget Cooper, even though Willow knew that she’d have to get the man out of her heart.

  Chapter 17

  Cooper poured himself a glass of scotch and walked over to the window. At this time of the night, he couldn’t see the yard, but he wasn’t really looking anyway. Cooper was picturing Willow and her fiery hair, her soft skin, and those beautiful eyes that sparkled up at him whenever he walked into her house, or when he opened the door here to watch her walk into his house. He thought about her body and the way she shivered whenever he touched her. That scream the first time she’d come running out of her grandmother’s house. The insane trip to find the perfect baby carriage, just so she didn’t disturb the ‘evil spirits’ living in those dolls.

  And her dog. Yeah, he’d come to really care for that damn mutt. He was adorable. A pain in the ass though. Buddy had woken Cooper up in the middle of the night so many times since Willow saved him.

  He wondered if Willow would wake up when Buddy whined in the middle of the night. Or would Buddy lose control and piddle on the floor somewhere?

  He shouldn’t care. Cooper told himself that he didn’t care. He ‘cared’ for Buddy. But love? No, he didn’t love. His thoughts about his relationship with Willow were ridiculous. He toyed with the diamond ring that he’d bought earlier today. He’d walked out of a meeting in order to get this ring. Now he’d have to contact the participants of that meeting and apologize.

  Hell, he’d have to re-do the whole meeting because he’d been so obsessed over just how he’d propose to her tonight that he hadn’t listened to the discussion.

  No more, he told himself firmly. Turning away from the window, he marched into his bedroom, stripping off his clothes as he went. Standing under the hot water, he forced himself to sift through work details. He needed to check in with his grandmother, so he’d send a car tomorrow to bring her to his office. She deserved a special meal since he’d been ignoring her over the past few weeks. Spending so much time with Willow, he’d neglected his grandmother and that wasn’t good. She deserved better from him and she’d get that going forward.

  Willow ‘cared’ for him. What a disgusting word, he thought as he shut off the water and grabbed a towel. What the hell did that mean? “Cared!” he snapped out loud. He hated that word. It was such a ridiculous word and he wanted…hell, he never wanted to hear it again.

  Chapter 18

  “Mr. Adams?” his assistant interrupted his thoughts.

  Cooper glared at the man. “What?” he snapped. It was Monday morning and he was still furious. He’d actually been about to propose to Willow. A woman who had already vowed to him that she’d never marry.

  He’d done some soul searching over the weekend after he’d left her house. He did want to marry. But he’d go about his search for a wife more logically this time. Willow was a beautiful woman, no doubt about it. But she wasn’t the right person for him. She ‘cared’ for him, but he needed a wife who loved him and would give him children. Yep, that’s what he’d decided over the weekend. He wanted a family. Children and a dog. The whole thing. He wanted what she was incapable of providing. So it was a good thing that he’d caught that ‘care’ word before he’d proposed.

  He’d already focused back on his work when he glanced up, distracted by the profit margins of a company he was evaluating when…Willow stepped through his office doorway.

  “Willow? What’s wrong?” he demanded, leaping to his feet and hurrying around his desk. She had never come to his office before.

  “Nothing’s wrong,” she assured him, clasping her hands in front of her nervously. “I was just…I wanted…” she stopped, and took a deep breath before looking up at him. “About Friday night,” she began.

  He lifted his hand, waving her comment away as he moved back to the other side of his desk. “No need to discuss it. Your friends are nice.”

  “Well, what they said–”

  “It’s not a problem, Willow. I know that you don’t want marriage and kids,” he interrupted. He shoved his hands into his pockets. “I wanted to thank you though.”

  Willow’s face went pale, which he didn’t understand. “Oh?”

  “Yes,” he replied, crossing his arms over his chest. “Without you, I never would have realized how much I wanted to find a wife and have a family.” He tilted his head slightly. “I have you to thank for that. It’s been fun though. And I have to tell you how impressed I am with the way you transformed that house. It was awful, but your talent and perseverance saved it. I like the colors you chose. The violet house with lime green trim,” he shook his head slightly, “Those are two colors I never would have thought would work, but they do.” He winked at her. “They suit you.”

  Willow ducked her head and Cooper had to restrain himself from pulling her into his arms. She looked…defeated. “Yes. Well, I’m…glad that you have plans for the future.”

  He nodded, watching her closely. “What are your plans for the house?” he asked, willing her to tell him that she had decided to stay there, to live there. He must be a masochist, but the idea of her living in that house, where he might be able to see her every so often when he came to visit his grandmother, made him feel as if there was still a connection. Even if it was just a little one.

  Willow felt the whole conversation was a bit surreal. Here he was, asking her what her plans were, telling her that she’d convinced him to try for marriage and kids when all she wanted to do was beg him to marry her! To love her! To have kids and a family and a future with her!

  She wrapped her arms around herself, covering her stomach as more pain hit her, seeming to come at her from all sides. “Yes, um…well, I will…” she stopped, not sure what her plans were. Home, she thought. Go home. Get back to her routine and…. That’s as far as she got.

  “I’ll put my grandmother’s house on the market and…head home.”

  “Where is home?’ he asked. “You’ve only talked about your time here in London and at boarding school or Texas.”

  She tried to smile, a painful twist her lips. “I live in Cheyenne, Wyoming. It’s a beautiful place with gorgeous mountains and dry, wonderful air. Everything is so crisp and clean and open there.”

  “That sounds nice,” he replied.

  Willow nodded, not sure what to say. “Yes. It is.” She perked up. “I asked your mother for some help.”

  He stiffened and she shrank back slightly. “It wasn’t anything huge. I just…I found out that Buddy can’t come with me immediately. He needs a few more shots in order to travel internationally and the vet says that he still hasn’t reached a good weight to endure those shots. But…your grandmother said she’d take care of him for me. I have al
ready submitted the forms that will allow him to come to the United States. There are rules and…procedures. I just…I don’t want to leave him here, but I have to get back to work.”

  Willow’s voice trailed off as she watched his eyes harden. Feeling awkward again, and fighting the horrible, humiliating need to throw herself into his arms, to feel his warmth around her just one more time, she stepped backwards, heading towards the door. “I just…wanted to say goodbye.”

  He glared at her and Willow felt sort of like criminal. “Goodbye,” he snapped. “Have a good flight.”

  “Thank you,” she replied with forced politeness. A moment later, she turned and fled, needing to get away before she broke down and sobbed. But no, she wouldn’t do that to him. Willow had no idea what kind of a woman he might consider to spend the rest of his life with, but obviously, it wasn’t her.

  Willow walked out of his office, ducking her head down so that she could make it to the elevators without embarrassing herself. She didn’t want to cry in front of Cooper. A clean break, she thought. She could do this. Just one step at a time.

  Four hours later, she stepped onto the plane that would take her home. Tamara had agreed to pack up her clothes and, because of her real estate connections within the city, she would also put her house on the market. Bonnie would take care of Buddy and promised to send Willow pictures of her grandmother.

  There wasn’t anything else she needed to do, Willow thought as she walked slowly down the narrow aisle of the plane towards her assigned seat. It was done. She was finished with London. If she never stepped foot in that city again, it would be fine with her. She was going back to Wyoming where the air was clean and clear and there weren’t fifty thousand people stuffed onto one subway car. There weren’t any subways in Cheyenne. Just clean air and mountains and…horses and…no Buddy or Cooper or….