Even Ainsley, who seemed to like Cooper, asked, “Is he just trying to make a point by insisting on doing it all himself?”
“Of course he is,” Bo had butt in.
Livie had stood up for Cooper, saying, “He wanted us to wait to get married until he had the house finished. I’m the one who doesn’t want to wait any longer. I will be fine in the cabin. This way, I can have more input on the house.”
Her sisters had exchanged a look. Cooper’s stubborn pride was legendary at the ranch and even her sisters thought he was wrong.
If only living in a tiny rustic cabin for a while was her biggest problem, she thought now as she looked out the pickup window. For weeks, she’d been playing the “if-only” game. If only she and Cooper hadn’t fought. If only she hadn’t taken off that night into the storm. If only...
Sometimes she couldn’t breathe she was so scared that she was going to lose him. Now, though, she was more afraid for him. Afraid not only what the man who rescued her would do—but say. What if he told them she had initiated the sex that night? What if Cooper believed it? Worse, what if it was true since she couldn’t remember what had happened?
“I don’t know what you have planned,” she said tentatively. “But I’m worried about you.”
He shot her a look. “Don’t worry about me. After everything you told me at our engagement party, how much worse could it get?”
“He could shoot you.” This was Montana. Homeowners owned guns and knew how to use them. “I just don’t want to see you get hurt.”
Cooper let out a bitter laugh. “Nothing could hurt me any worse than I’m hurting right now. Unless there’s something more you haven’t told me.”
She shook her head, her gaze going back to the blur of pine trees out her side window. They weren’t far from the spot where she’d gone off the road. Like that night, she hadn’t seen another vehicle in miles. No houses. Nothing but wild Montana country.
“Then let’s just see what this man has to say for himself,” Cooper said.
“The turn is up here just past that bridge.” Livie saw the area as it had been that January night—covered with snow—even though spring had come here. Only a few snow piles melted under the shade of the pines. It was a different kind of cold that settled inside her as Cooper slowed to turn.
* * *
AS HE DROVE, Cooper thought back to Livie’s return after that January fight. She’d been distant. He recalled that when they’d finally gotten together, she’d wanted the light out when they’d made love. His heart sank. What if she was telling the truth and this man had drugged and raped her?
It was what she wasn’t telling him that made him doubt her. He knew this woman too well. Whatever she was keeping from him weighed on him. He needed to know, and yet he feared it would be his undoing.
He also knew he should have gone to the sheriff and let him handle this. He’d considered doing that, but only for an instant. He had to handle this himself. He couldn’t face himself if he didn’t. He needed to look this bastard in the eyes before he beat the crap out of him. But, of course, he also had his reasons for not wanting to go to the law for help. Going to the sheriff would be a last resort and one that he knew he would regret.
Following Livie’s directions, he turned up a mountain road with a sign that read Private. He could see nothing ahead but trees with a towering peak as a backdrop. Private road?
Livie had said the man took her to his cabin in the middle of nowhere. It was definitely in the middle of nowhere, all right. He thought of his own cabin, the one he and Livie had planned to live in until the house he was building was finished. His cabin was small, neatly laid out, because he’d built it himself, but it was primitive compared to how Livie had always lived. And yet, he was proud of it. The cabin sat on the first land he’d ever owned.
So he was expecting a cabin much like his own as he came around a bend in the road. But what came into view through the pines wasn’t anyone’s idea of a cabin, except maybe a Hamilton. The rambling huge structure was log—that much was true. But other than that, the dwelling was as ostentatious as any he’d seen, except, of course, the main house on the Hamilton Ranch.
Cooper shot a look at Livie. She was staring at the house as if seeing it for the first time. Or seeing it through his eyes, a man who’d grown up dirt poor in the true sense of the words. He was half hoping she would say they’d made a wrong turn and that this wasn’t the “cabin.”
But he could tell by her anxious expression that there had been no wrong turn. This was the place the man had brought her to that night in January.
Livie had often accused him of having a chip on his shoulder when it came to anyone with a lot of money. He’d always denied it, even to himself, until now. Seeing this place, he hated this man even more than he thought possible.
Cooper parked next to the owner’s large black shiny new SUV. Cutting the engine, he sat looking at the massive front door of the “cabin” and realized he’d done something he’d always prided himself on never doing. He’d lied to Livie. He was scared as hell to meet this man, fearing that what waited beyond that door could kill him. Not the way Livie thought. Hell, at this point he’d almost welcome a bullet.
His greatest fear was that Livie had wanted the man behind this door. Wanted what even a stranger had to offer over what Cooper could give her.
“Let’s get this over with,” he said, and climbed out.
* * *
LIVIE TRIED TO still her trembling as she opened her pickup door and stepped out. Her legs felt like water under her. She wobbled, light-headed and nauseous, and prayed she could hold it together.
It was colder up here in the mountains, but her real cold was the ice that had compressed her heart at the thought of what could happen in the next few minutes. She shouldn’t have let Cooper come up here. Not that she had a choice. Had she refused, he would have thought she was protecting the man.
She crossed her arms over her chest. She could do this. She was Olivia Hamilton, a woman who prided herself on her strength and determination. She could face this man who was set on destroying her life.
And yet, she had lived in fear of what had really happened that night for the past three months. There was no doubt that the man had seduced her. He’d rescued her, brought her to his beautiful home, made her feel grateful and protected. The truth was, he’d lulled her into a feeling of security with his graciousness and his beautiful home. Not to mention his expensive wine.
She’d fallen into his trap because she was Olivia Hamilton, the pampered, protected daughter of Senator Buckmaster Hamilton. It never dawned on her that he might want something from her. In her relief at being rescued, she’d trusted a total stranger because he had looked the part and had said and done all the right things—at least until she’d passed out.
That’s why she blamed herself.
For months she’d regretted taking off her engagement ring and storming out that night. If only she could go back... If only... At the back of her mind—and she knew Cooper’s, as well—was the question. Had the wine been drugged or was that her way of deceiving herself?
Cooper, his back ramrod straight, mounted the steps to the huge wooden door. He grabbed the bear-shaped knocker and pounded hard on the door. No sound came from inside. He pounded again. Still it took a few minutes before the door opened.
LIVIE THOUGHT SHE was braced for when the man opened the door. But she was wrong.
The man who stood on the threshold was taller than the man who’d rescued her that night. He was also heavier and more full in the face, less athletic in