Damn. Damn. Damn.

Tessa managed to lean back slightly while trying to hide her reaction to him.

“One dinner. That’s all I ask.”

“You’re telling me that if I go to dinner with you one time, you’ll leave me alone indefinitely?”

“If that’s what you want, then yes. One date.”

“You just said dinner, now date. Which is it, cowboy?”

“Date. After Tuesday night, when I return you to your front porch, if you decide that you don’t want to go out with me again, I’ll leave it at that.”

Tessa had to think about it for a minute. Oh, who was she kidding? There wasn’t any thinking involved. She was merely fantasizing about what it would feel like to taste his lips again.

Rather than speaking, she nodded her head. She didn’t trust her voice. Based on the look on Cooper’s face, he didn’t need the words.

“Perfect. I’ll pick you up at five on Tuesday. Be ready because I’ve got plans for us,” he told her and then grabbed his beer and sauntered off across the bar, leaving her to stare after him.

Tessa wanted to be angry with herself for giving in to him. There was just something about him. He was enigmatic. Charming. And, of course, he smelled so damned good. One night, Tessa had even searched on the internet and come up with the answer that it was pheromones that caused her to be so drawn to his scent. She knew it had to be something because no one should be able to smell that delicious.

She allowed herself a few more seconds of admiring his ass before she turned back to what she had been doing before he walked up. And she would get right back to doing it… if she remembered what it was.

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

Score a point for the cowboy, Cooper thought as he forced himself to walk away from Tessa.

Not only had he finally signed a firm contract on the house, he scored a date with the woman who managed to insert herself right smack in the middle of his mind and taunt him when he least expected it.

And if dreaming about her wasn’t enough, he was also waking up with his dick hard enough to hammer nails into concrete. Of course, he’d been playing it cool when he was around her. Or he would like to think he was anyway. Tessa was skittish, and he knew he had to take his time with her. He wasn’t looking to rush anything, so he had all the time in the world. If only his dick would feel the same way. Before it was over, his balls might be cobalt blue, but Cooper was pretty sure it would be worth it.

Making his way up onto the stage, Cooper set his beer on top of the stool and grabbed his guitar. The Rusty Nail might not boast live music every night, but this was what he’d been missing these last few years. He wanted to sing, and this place gave him that opportunity. On his nights off, or during some of his spare time, he would write the songs, practicing in his motel room. So far, no one had complained, but he was thrilled to be able to move into his house to get more privacy.

According to the Realtor, he wouldn’t have to wait long. Everything was going to move fast because he was paying cash. In fact, she’d told him that all of the paperwork would be ready and waiting for him first thing Monday morning. He was counting down. As soon as he signed the papers, and the electricity and water were turned on, he’d be moving in.

Not a minute too soon.

Obviously it helped that he had ignored Luanne’s first call a week ago. And then he’d had his Realtor call her back late last week to tell her he was concerned with her new price. Apparently the woman realized her luck had run out, and as of yesterday, the ball was back in his court. Now that it was Friday, everything seemed to be waiting for the beginning of the next work week.

“Bear with me folks,” he spoke into the microphone, glancing out at the few people scattered throughout the bar, his eyes landing on Tessa. “I’ve been working on this one recently. Not yet finished, but I’d be glad to hear what you think. It’s called Angel in Blue Jeans.”

A couple of people clapped, making Cooper smile. Closing his eyes, he got lost in the music for the next few minutes, trying to feel out every word. By the time he was finished, there was another round of applause, and to his delight, Tessa even joined in. He wasn’t sure what it was about her, but to know she liked what he did made it all worthwhile. Of course, the song was about her, but he didn’t think she would appreciate knowing that. Yet.

Over the course of the last few weeks, he’d learned that he much preferred the sincerity of the handful of people he had come to call friends in this small town over a stadium full of people in an unfamiliar city. Many of those who came out to see him night after night he was now on a first name basis with.

“Thank you, thank you,” he grinned at the crowd, keeping his eyes locked on Tessa’s. In her cowboy hat, her tiny tank top and those hip hugging jeans, she made his mouth water. Not that he was trying to think about what she would look like with all of those clothes removed, but he couldn’t help himself at times. Like now.

Realizing he was seconds away from embarrassing himself with a hard on that even his jeans wouldn’t be able to conceal, Cooper turned his attention back to the group. At least he could get distracted for a few minutes.

By the time three o’clock rolled around, the bar was empty. This had become his routine, working on his laptop after closing while Tessa, Eric and Katie shut everything down. Tonight he’d been engrossed in a project. A surprise for the bar he’d become so fond of.

One of the pluses of being in country music, the number of friends he had made were endless. And he wasn’t just talking about acquaintances. He’d built some relationships over the years, and he knew the people he kept close would support him through a time like this and at this moment, he needed all the help he could get.

Not only was he looking to get some solid entertainment onboard at the bar, but he was also looking for some volunteer work on his farm. That was still a couple of weeks away, but once he got the stables up, he fully intended to get the ball rolling with the equestrian center. That was his main goal and his friends would make the end result that much sweeter.

“I’m gonna call it a night,” Eric told Tessa who was standing behind the bar, wiping down the counter top.

“I don’t blame you,” she answered, sounding tired. “Katie’s already gone, so can you lock the door on your way out? We’ll go out the back door.”