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Coop stuffed clean clothes in a duffle bag before running out the door. He’d spent every evening for the last two weeks with Nellie and didn’t see any reason to end the streak. Ever.
He called her when he arrived at the shop. “Good morning.”
“It is now. Hi.” Nellie closed a door. “I can only talk for a minute. You at work already?”
“Yep. I’m thinking tonight we’ll throw burgers on the grill and tomorrow, we should visit another place on my list. Maybe the barbecue joint in Llano. The one named after me.” He chuckled at his own joke.
“I like that plan. I need to go. Love you.”
The call ended before Coop could respond. He felt caught in a loop. As much as he loved what he did, the highlight of every day was seeing Nellie. He lived from evening to evening.
He shoved aside thoughts of Nellie and focused on work, which wasn’t easy. Every time he passed the front desk, he pictured her sitting there in her designer skirt, legs crossed, shoe dangling off her big toe, nails tapping on the keys.
When he took a break for lunch, he called her dad. “Sir, hi. This is Logan Cooper.”
“Hi, Coop. What can I do for you?”
“I was wondering if we could meet for coffee this weekend? Just the two of us.” Coop clenched his shaking hand into a fist and tried not to crush his phone with the other.
“I’m free Saturday or Sunday afternoon.”
“Sunday would be great.” Coop hung up without agreeing on a place to meet, so he sent a text suggesting a place in Leon Springs.
Mr. Davis answered right away: Sounds good. See you Sunday.
Feeling especially sappy, Coop shot off a quick text to Nellie: You take up a lot of space in my head.
You take up all the space in my heart. She followed the text with a kissing emoji.
***
COOP WATCHED THE COFFEE slosh around in his cup as he bounced his knee. Breathing took concentration. He had no reason to believe his request would be denied, but his nerves hadn’t gotten the memo.
When Mr. Davis stepped into the coffee house, Coop jumped up, knocking the table and sending his mug flying.
“Crap. I’m so sorry. Have a seat. Let me grab a towel.” He shook Mr. Davis’s hand before running to the front counter. “Could I—”
“I’ll take care of it. Be there in a sec.” The woman patted his hand. “Maybe coffee isn’t a great idea for you right now. Need something stronger?” She winked.
“I’ll let you know.” Coop walked back to the table. “You’re probably wondering why I asked to meet you for coffee.”
“Not really. And please, call me Jeff.”
“The reason is—you know?”
“I have a good guess.” Mr. Davis leaned back and crossed his arms. “But tell me.”
“I’m crazy in love with your daughter, and I want to marry her. But having your blessing is important to me.” Coop held his breath.
“You have it. Nellie loves you. That’s easy to see.” Jeff held up two fingers and nodded to the waitress. “Ruthie and I couldn’t be happier that the two of you found each other.”
“Thank you.” Coop took a breath, the hardest part over. “Okay, so, I’d love to propose in a way that means something to Nellie, and she really looks to you and Ruthie as a picture of true love—not that I disagree.”
Jeff chuckled. “Continue.”
“I could rig her car so that it wouldn’t start and tape the proposal under the hood, but that just doesn’t seem very romantic. Besides, she’d probably just have it towed to the shop and I’d be the only one to see it.”
Jeff laughed, which Coop took as a good sign.
“Anyway, I wondered how and where you proposed. I thought about proposing to Nellie in the same place.”
“You might make her cry.”
“She hates that, but I’m going to risk it.”
“Thanks.” Jeff accepted the coffee mugs from the waitress. “After we finish our coffee, let’s grab dinner if you’re free.”
“Okay?” Coop wanted to check with Nellie about her plans, but explaining might be a problem.
“Ruthie is taking Nellie out tonight, so she won’t be lonely.”
“Then I’m free.” Coop would just have to go see Nellie after dinner.
“Ruthie’s mom died not long after we started dating, but she knew. One day, when Ruthie, her mom, and I were sitting out by the pool, Ruthie ran inside for a minute.” He wiped his eyes and took a deep breath before continuing. “Her mom told me to take care of her girl. She knew.”
Coop waited as Jeffrey sipped his coffee.
“Anyway, I waited months before asking Ruthie to marry me and skipped asking her dad, altogether. After saving my pennies, I made reservations at a small, very nice restaurant in Grey Forest.”
“That little town near Helotes?”
“That’s where I’m taking you.”
“I thought you said it required a reservation.”
“I made one as soon as you asked me to coffee.”
“You did know.”
“I’ve been expecting this call since the day you came over for steaks.”
“I was thinking about it then.” Coop relaxed his shoulders. “So, did you just ask? Did you surprise her somehow? I’d love to be able to surprise her.”
“We ordered one piece of cheesecake for dessert to split. The waiter brought out two plates. He set the cheesecake in front of me and a plate with a ring box sitting in the center in front of Ruthie. While she was staring at the box, I dropped to one knee.”
“I really appreciate this.”
Jeff checked his phone, then tapped out a message. “Ruthie is a tad excited.” He pulled out his wallet.
“Let me get this.” Coop didn’t want any of Nellie’s family to ever think he was in it for the money or think of him as a mooch.
Jeff waved off the offer. “Today is my treat. You save your money and use it for the big surprise.”
Coop wasn’t sure how he’d keep the secret from Nellie. “Yes, sir.”
***
HIDING THINGS FROM Nellie wasn’t easy. But doing his sneaking during work hours was the only option for avoiding suspicion. Every evening, he spent time with Nellie. For three weeks, the streak had continued, and he was more than ready to pop the question.
But not tonight.
After checking the lasagna, Coop chopped veggies to sauté.
He threw a red checkered tablecloth over Nellie’s table and glanced at the clock. Usually, she was home by now.
He jumped when a knock sounded at the back door. Tanner peeked in the window.
“Come in.” Coop wondered if he should add a third plate to the table.
Tanner grinned at the flowers on the table and the tablecloth. “I’m not staying. Just wanted to tell you that Milo is busy tomorrow, so Art will be your chauffeur.
“Thanks, Tanner. I appreciate it.”
“Can I ask—how did you know?”
“That I wanted to marry Nellie?”
“Yeah, when did it change from it’s-kinda-nice-having-her-around to I-don’t-want-to-live-without-her?”
“I’ve known for a while. If you’re asking when I knew I loved her—a couple weeks into dating.” Coop wasn’t sure if he wanted to say more, to give advice that hadn’t been requested. “You’ve been seeing Angela longer than I’ve known Nellie.”
“I guess my question was pretty obvious.”
“A little.” Coop felt for Tanner. “My advice: Don’t marry someone you don’t love.”
A door closed outside, and Tanner waved as he slipped out the back door.
“I’m home!” Nellie dropped her purse on the counter and shrugged off her jacket. “Smells good in here. Giving you a key was the best idea I’ve ever had.”
“The best?”
She rolled her eyes. “One of the best.”
“Have a seat. Want some wine?”
“Please.” She kicked off her heels and sat down.
He set a glass of wine in front of her and massaged her shoulders. “How was work?”
“It’s great if I manage to stay away from Grandfather. He’s still miffed.”
“Because of me.”
She laid her hand on top of his. “I love you more than my job, Coop. You know that, right?”
He kissed her cheek and went to pull the food out of the oven. “Food’s ready.” He hoped she never had to choose between him and the job.