His presence here had nothing to do with her but everything to do with their son. No matter how many good memories he had of them together, no matter how hard he’d tried to find her in Paris, and no matter how attracted he was to her now, the bottom line was that Laramie was his focus.
A relationship with his son was the only thing that mattered. That meant he and Bristol needed to talk about a few subjects they’d skirted around.
Deciding not to beat around the bush, he said, “So let’s talk, Bristol.”
He could tell she was nervous. But whatever they discussed would be with the intent of putting their son’s needs before their own. Unfortunately, Coop had plenty of needs.
He hadn’t bedded a woman since his last assignment nearly eight months ago. No particular reason he hadn’t done so other than the fact he’d been too busy trying to hire more men to help run the ranch in Laredo that he’d inherited from his grandparents.
Cooper’s Bend was his favorite place in all the world and when he retired from being a SEAL, he planned to move there and make it his permanent home. He could retire after his twenty years with the military, which was what he planned to do. He had less than ten years left. Six more to be exact, since he’d entered the military at eighteen and could officially retire at thirty-eight. Then he would become the full-time rancher his grandfather had been. In the meantime, he had a good group of people running the place and went there from time to time to check on things.
It might be a good idea for him to consider moving there now. That would eliminate his need to find housing in San Diego to accommodate him and Laramie. The ranch, which sat on over six-hundred acres, was plenty big. He would love for Laramie to visit him at the ranch that held so many wonderful childhood memories for him. Hell, when his son got older, he could have his own horse.
“Yes, I think we need to cover a few things and come to an agreement,” Bristol said, interrupting his thoughts.
“Okay. What do you want to cover?” he asked her.
She paused and then said, “I meant what I said about not needing anything from you where Laramie is concerned.”
Already Coop knew that wouldn’t fly. “I can’t agree to that because Laramie is my responsibility, too. A responsibility I take seriously.”
She opened her mouth to argue the point and he held up his hand to stop her. “Not negotiable, Bristol. It doesn’t matter if you’re able to take care of him yourself. What sort of man would I be if I didn’t contribute to the welfare of my child?”
She didn’t say anything and broke eye contact with him to gaze down at the floor. He knew she was thinking, probably of a way to counter what he’d said. As far as he was concerned she could think all she wanted, he wouldn’t change his mind. As the only grandchild, he had inherited trust funds from both sets of grandparents. Also, his parents had established an endowment for him that he’d been eligible for when he’d turned thirty. He was yet to touch any one of them. In addition to all that money and the ranch, he was heir to RCC Manufacturing, Inc., a corporation founded by his parents over thirty-five years ago upon their graduation from Harvard. Considering all of that, there was no way in hell he would not contribute to his son’s upbringing. In fact, he’d already left a message with his attorney to contact him. He intended to list Laramie’s name on all his legal documents as his heir.
“I think we should compromise,” she finally said.
He lifted a brow. “Compromise how?”
“You can provide for his future, such as setting up a college fund. I’ll take care of any expenses for his well-being now.”
Coop shook his head. “No. I still won’t agree to that. I want to provide for my child’s present and his future.”
A frown marred her features. “Why are you being difficult?”
He returned her frown. “Why are you? Most men who father a child and are separated from them are required to pay child support.”
“But usually only until they are eighteen. All I’m doing is asking you to start the support at eighteen.”
He had news for her. He intended to take care of his child for the rest of his life. The trust funds he planned to establish for Laramie would assure that. The age of eighteen had nothing to do with it. He couldn’t believe he was even having this conversation with her. Most women would want his monetary offering. Was he missing something here? “Can I ask you something?”
She nodded slowly, almost reluctantly, before saying, “Yes.”
“You said you only met your father at sixteen. I don’t know anything about him, but did he wait until you were eighteen to begin providing for you?”
She stiffened. “He paid my entire tuition at the art school in Paris.”
Cooper figured tuition at that school hadn’t been cheap. “That’s all he did? He actually waited until you were eighteen before doing anything?”
“Of course not.”
“Then why would you expect me to? Evidently being an artist has you rolling in dough since you feel you don’t need my help. That might be all well and good for you, but not for me. For me it’s the principle of the thing. It’s about doing my share in providing for a child I helped to create. So please don’t ask me to consider doing otherwise.”
* * *
Bristol’s gaze held Coop’s and she could tell from the determined look in his eyes that he would not back down on this. She wasn’t privy to his income as a SEAL but she was certain he could use his money for better things...
Like what?
She drew in a deep breath when she suddenly accepted something. It was apparent that as far as Coop was concerned, nothing was better than taking care of his son. For Coop, it wasn’t about the money. It was about taking care of his own. She’d gotten the impression three years ago that he wasn’t extremely close to his family. But what she’d failed to realize was that her son was now his family and he wanted to not only be there for him but also contribute toward his well-being. For Coop, the contribution was essential. She got that now.
He’d been saying it all along, so why hadn’t she been listening? Probably because, like her mother, she was determined to be independent and not depend on anyone for anything. She didn’t have a problem with Coop being a part of his son’s life physically, but she was trying to stop him from being a part of Laramie’s life financially. Most men would have jumped at the chance to get out of paying some form of child support. But Coop wasn’t one of those men.
Neither was her father.
And Coop was right. Randall Lockett hadn’t waited until her eighteenth birthday to be a father to her. He’d immediately stepped in and, like a whirlwind, he’d changed her last name to his, bestowing upon her all the rights of being his offspring. He had taken her under his roof, adding her to his household.
She had enjoyed living with him in Los Angeles, even if it had meant moving out west, attending another school and making new friends. To her it had been worth it just to spend time with her father. He’d made sure she hadn’t gone without anything. But the most important thing was the time they’d spent together. Nothing else mattered. Not the closet filled with new clothes, the private school or the international vacations. Not even the new sports car he’d given her.
“Okay, Coop,” she finally said.
“Okay, what?”
She released a deep sigh. “Okay, we will share in the cost of raising Laramie.”
“You don’t have to sound so overjoyed about it.”
She narrowed her gaze at him before she saw his lips tilt into a smile. He’d been teasing. Releasing another sigh, she said, “I’m not trying to be difficult, Coop. But when I had Laramie I knew he would be my entire world and that I would be the one he would depend on for everything.