Page 67 of Forbidden Dreams
When my brothers arrived, there was the usual joking and teasing. The entire atmosphere was lighter this year, probably because there were more women. Mom was looking forward to having another grandchild, and there were more weddings on the horizon.
"One of the women in my yoga class has a son your age. Thad just moved here to be closer to her and doesn't know many people. He didn't grow up here," Mom said.
"And you told her I'd show him around?" I hated the sound of this.
"He's eager to get to know people."
"Good for Thad," I said dryly, and Ford chuckled. I glared at him because he didn't have to put up with this.
Cooper wandered into the kitchen. "What are we talking about?"
"Mom setting Aspen up on a blind date," Ford said from his perch on the stool, amusement tinging his voice.
"It's not a blind date," Mom insisted.
I leaned a hip against the counter. "What do you call it then?"
She waved her hand. "You're showing him around town."
Ford chuckled, but Cooper's eyes narrowed. Was it awful that I liked him to feel a little jealous? It might be worth enduring this conversation.
"I'm pretty busy with work right now. Maybe after the holidays." Or maybe never. Hopefully, she'd forget all about her promise by then.
"Surely, you have time to help out a friend." Mom pushed the bowl of potatoes toward me, and I dutifully started peeling them.
At least I had something to do with my hands. "You know how busy I am with the town's event planning." And I spend all my spare time with Cooper.
Mom gave me a disapproving look.
I sighed, looking away.
"We're trying to get the bathrooms renovated in time for the winter ball. Aspen's been working hard getting everything ready," Cooper said.
My eyes widened at his support. He'd never stood up for me in front of my family before, and it wasn't a good idea.
Ford looked between us. "You two call a truce?"
I forced a smile while giving Cooper a warning look. "We have to work together now. Be professional and all of that."
"You shouldn't be working so hard," Mom continued.
"I thought you wanted me to have a full-time job?" I asked, genuinely curious.
"This job has you working nights and weekends. You barely had time to go to the tree cutting yesterday."
"I like this job, and I want to keep it." I wondered when I was going to stop caring whether my mom supported my decisions.
Mom fell silent, and I knew she wasn't done pushing me toward this guy. Whether it was to help this man or more of an attempt to set me up with an eligible single guy, I wasn't sure. Either way, I didn't want to do it. I was too busy to add anything else to my schedule.
"How's the renovation going?" Ford asked Cooper.
It was the perfect diversion, because Cooper launched into the current outline of the progress.
I listened with half an ear, noting that Cooper sounded competent and passionate when he talked about work. His job was important to him. He was a good man. It was too bad he didn't think he deserved more in his personal life.
It was like our family was the best he could hope for. My brothers would get married and have kids, and he'd be perpetually single.
My heart clenched at the idea of us not seeing each other anymore. I knew we had to break up or at least put a stop to whatever we were doing. How could I be expected to see him all the time at family dinners and holidays and not feel anything?
