8. Birdie
8
BIRDIE
I never expected it to feel strange driving along the Cooper Ranch driveway, even though Ridley's 'Trespassers Go Away' sign is still standing tall next to the front gate. I think it's because this is the first time I've been back up here since his passing.
Dad dealt with everything after Ridley died, following the strict instructions he'd been given by Ridley months earlier. One of those requests was that he be the only person allowed to go onto the land until his lawyer took care of things. Dad being Dad, followed the wishes to the letter out of respect for his long-time friend and confidant.
Speaking of the mayor, he brings the SUV to a stop between two trucks outside the seen-better-days triple garage that looks like it's one decent squall away from total destruction.
Even from here, I can see that the main house already looks different, and not just because of the ripped-out carpet, worn mattresses, and old furniture piled up by the garage in piles. The place just feels lighter , there's no other way to describe it. But it's that feeling that has me smiling before I've ever stepped out of the vehicle.
There are no obvious renovations or improvements that I can see yet. Then again, this house's heyday was a fair few decades ago at least, the worn porch railings and weathered cladding are a testament to that. But it's nothing new posts, rails, and a good few layers of paint can't fix though.
"Are we goin' to sit here and stare all day, or should we actually walk up to the house and say hello?" Dad says. "This is supposed to be my—what did you call it again?"
"Official mayoral welcome," I say, my pulse picking up as the front door slowly swings open. Maybe I should've thought this through.
"OK. Then you wanted this, and we've been spotted now. I say we should go do this 'welcome' you wanted, Baby Bird." Dad is halfway out of the car before I realize, leaving me to scramble and release my seatbelt before following his lead.
A tall figure steps into view as we approach the porch steps, my skipping a beat when I lay eyes on Will Cooper again. He's looking just as handsome as I remember, with his dark hair tousled and his soulful eyes and easy smile locking on me as I come to a stop next to my father.
"Birdie, what a nice surprise," he says, leaning against a wooden pillar. His voice is warm and I swear there's a hint of amusement in his gaze.
"Nice to see you again, Will" I manage to say despite my heart going rat-a-tat-tat against my ribs. Suddenly it feels like I've just run a marathon, not walked the short twenty feet from Dad's car to the house. Speaking of the mayor, a quick side glance his way shows his lips twitching and his shoulders bouncing with silent laughter, telling me he can see straight through my fake composure.
Will's eyes shift from me to my father, his smile changing to what I can only describe as polite.
Thankfully, Dad doesn't miss a beat and moves up the steps, extending his arm out in greeting when he's within reach. "I'm Mayor Walker—Pete. I hear you've already met my daughter, Birdie."
Will shakes Dad's hand, curiosity filling his gaze as he quickly looks my way. Dad keeps talking, stealing Will's attention again. "Thought we'd drop by to officially welcome you to the neighborhood–so to speak. I was a good friend of Ridley's. Not sure if she told you between your furniture shoppin' and bar hoppin', but Birdie and I would come up and visit him. At least for the past few years, anyway."
Will's shoulders relax. "I think I remember Gramps mentionin' you. Didn't realize you were the town's mayor though. It's nice to put a face to the name, Mayor Walker."
"Please, call me Pete."
"OK, Pete," Will replies.
I don't even know why I do it, but I can only explain it as a brain glitch, or awkwardness. Either way, seeing them be so polite and normal weirds me out. 'I'm Birdie. Not Bird. Not Baby Bird–that's only for Dad. I'm just Birdie," I blurt out like the biggest dork on the mountain.
Will snorts while Dad just looks at me like I've grown two heads.
"Ridley was quite a character. Despite his gruff exterior, he always welcomed us into his house and always had a story to tell Birdie here." I catch a flicker of surprise pass over Will's features.
"Well then, any friend of Gramps, is a friend of mine. I appreciate you stopping by, Mayor Walker.'
While they continue talking, I slowly make my way up the steps to take a closer look at the house, looking through the front window and smiling at the new furniture pieces we'd seen at the store. I don't know why but seeing them here in their home makes me feel all warm and gooey inside. They say there's no such thing as a selfless good deed, and I get why that is because even doing something with the best of intentions, still makes you feel good.
"Ain't that right, Birdie?" Dad says, grabbing my attention.
My body jerks. "Huh?" When I fix my eyes on Dad and then Will, I find the latter's head cocked as he studies me, his gaze discreetly roaming over me from head to toe.
"I was sayin' to Pete here that I've just worked out how to make a decent coffee with Case's fancy coffee machine. I can probably manage a basic cappuccino now…maybe," Will says, not sounding very sure about it at all.
Dad's eyes bore into mine as he even so slightly jerks his head toward the house. "Today's your lucky day, Will. Birdie just happens to be a woman of many talents and one of those is knowin' how to make a damn good cup of Joe So if you fail, she'll have all our caffeine needs covered."
"Is that so? There might be hope for us yet. Follow me," Will muses, nodding toward me, somehow making all the little hairs on my arms stand on end just from looking at me. No touching required.
I walk behind Dad as Will leads us inside and toward the kitchen. As we move through the entry, I can't help but notice changes made already, one of the biggest being the absence of the musty old scent that always hung in the air. Right now, it has been replaced by freshly brewed coffee beans, and a faint smell of something else. "Is that wood polish?" I ask without thinking.
Will's eyes warm. "Sure is. We started liftin' the carpets yesterday and discovered that the floors are still good. So we started sandin' it back to see what it would look like with a coat of polish. All that's needed now is to find somethin' to buff it up with and she'll be golden."
As I always do, I wrack my brain for a way to help. "I know! Cozy Corner has a few machines out the back that they hire out. I know there are carpet cleanin' ones but I wouldn't be surprised if they had a floor polisher too or at least know of where you could get one."
"That would be a huge help," he replies, coming to a stop in the kitchen. "I wasn't relishin' the thought of havin' to get down on my hands and knees to do it by hand. That's for sure."
Dad laughs. "Yeah, no son. You don't want to be doin' that. You're not nearly as old as me, but this house ain't small, and If you had to do that for every room you'd soon feel it."
Will's eyes crinkle and it might just be one of my new favorite looks on him. So far, anyway. "You're right about that."
"You goin' to wow Will here with your barista skills, Baby Bird? Don't make me out to be a liar now. I'm tryin' to make a good impression here," Dad jokes just as his phone chimes from his pocket. "Sorry, I need to take this. I'll be back."
Before I can protest, Dad is already halfway down the steps, moving toward our car.
"I'm sorry," Will says as soon as Dad is out of earshot.
I frown, utterly confused. "It's fine. I don't have to make the coffee. Dad's just bein' a proud father and boastin' about my skills. I can probably find my way around that machine but I'm no coffee aficionado."
He's already shaking his head before I can finish. "No, not for that. I have no doubt you'd kick my butt in the barista department. I'm self-taught and that's only out of pure desperation, nothin' else. I was apologizin' for bein' an idiot and losin' your number, then bein' too embarrassed to track you down to tell you that."
My gaping mouth slams shut, and I stand motionless as I stare at the rare find of a man who just freely admitted to screwing up. Is he a unicorn? Scratch my previous list of Will Cooper's most attractive attributes because there's a new one that's just jumped straight to the top—honesty and humility.
I know I should try and act cool, but I'm Birdie Walker and that means I'm unapologetically myself. No games, no platitudes. What you see is what you get. "See! I knew there'd be a reason you hadn't called. Dad was gettin' all grumbly and protective and sayin' things, but I didn't want to believe them."
Will's eyes jump wide. "Sayin' things? Like what? I've only just met the man."
I bite my lip, shooting him a guilty grin. "Somethin' to know about me—which you'd probably already know if we'd had our rain check date. Dammit, not a date," I rush out, quickly correcting my Freudian slip. "Unless you meant it to be a date. Then of course I kind of hope you'd ask rather than just let your brother force your hand. But?—"
Will appears in front of me. Lost in my rambling monologue, I don't realize he's moved until he puts his hands on my biceps and I stop thinking. Stop doing anything .
"Birdie?"
"Yeah?" And again, the effects of the man's closeness make themselves known. I suck in a deep breath and try to compose myself, but my heart is still galloping like a racehorse runnin' a derby. Unfortunately, it's all in vain when Will runs his palms up to my shoulders and rests them there.
He dips his head to look at me, but not before I catch his gaze jerk to his hands, a shocked expression passing through his eyes before he shifts his attention back to me.
"Breathe, honey." His voice is soft, his expression gentle. Not for the first time while in his presence, I have to lock to my knees to stop from swaying into him. "I'm gettin' a bit of mental whiplash here and I'm still tryin' to work out what your dad could've said about me."
That snaps me out of my daze. "Nothin' bad," I say, rushing to reassure him. I look to the ceiling, clicking my tongue as I try to remember what Dad said. "It wasn't even really about you . More guys like you." Will's brows furrow deeper now. "Damn, I'm messin' this up. Ain't I?"
"Keep goin'..." he urges.
"Dad and I are like an open book with each other. I know him and he knows me. When I can't work somethin' out on my own or need advice, it's Dad that I go to."
"OK…"
Something about his tone gets me. "Don't you have someone like that? Your brothers?"
"Cap, maybe–my Dad. But us brothers lived apart for a good long while, life got in the way for a long time until we moved here."
"Wait… so you're all relivin' your teenage years livin' together again?" I say, not hiding my surprise.
"Guess you could say that." Will's mouth twists up. "But we're not teenagers anymore, and we all have our way of doin' things. It's just that now we're learnin' to do them together again."
"So, it's an experience and a half then?" I joke.
"God yes," he breathes.
"We're gettin' off track."
"I'll hazard a guess that it happens often with you?" he teases, a slow-growing grin appearing.
"Yep," I sigh, knowing there's no point denying it. "The long and short of it is that Dad and I are close. We have no secrets, so I was thinkin' out loud about why you hadn't called and he told me he hoped you weren't yankin' my chain."
Will flexes his fingers on my shoulders and I swear it sends a shockwave throughout my whole body. "I promise you right now, Birdie. I'm not messin' you around. I was goin' to try and catch you at the bar and plead for your forgiveness. You and your dad have just saved me a trip."
"Thought you were too embarrassed to come find me?" I muse.
"I was, but I'm not about to that stop me from gettin' another chance. Although I was thinkin' we should skip the rain-checked coffee and pie meetin' and jump straight into a dinner date at that fancy restaurant I saw in town. What's it called again?" He catches my scrunched-up nose and shifts his head to the side. Unfortunately, he misreads my expression and drops his arms, taking a small step back out of my space. "Wait. Do you not want that?"
"No, not at all." I shake my head more than I probably should. "It's not that, I swear."
"I am truly sorry I lost your number. We think I left it in my shirt pocket and the washin' machine ate because Case's pants were covered in mushed-up paper particles."
It hits me right then that this man is the real deal. He wears his heart on his sleeve and his eyes are a truth meter. He deserves honesty in return—not that I can help myself. Have you met me?
"I work at the Falls Bar and Grill, so goin' there for a first date would be hella awkward and although I don't seem like the type, I wouldn't be able to relax because I'd be super self-conscious the whole time we were there because I know there'd be a lot of eyes on us."
He breathes out a sigh of relief that just endears me further. "And you don't want that. Of course, you don't. OK. I can work with that."
I don't even know this man very well, yet I already feel a connection between us. How crazy is that?
"How about this," he continues. "Since I'm new to town and you seem to know everywhere in town or work there, how 'bout you let me know where you'd feel most comfortable goin'? My only request is that it's somewhere memorable, quiet—so we can get to know each other better—and nowhere you've already been on a date with another man."
"Why's that?" I blurt out, filter be damned. He'll soon learn that what you see is what you get with me. I speak without thinking and I do it often. It's a talent and a curse.
He grins and it's devilish and breathtaking in equal measure. "Because, honey, I only get one first date with you, and I want it to be the best you've ever had." Little does he know, I think he'll achieve that just by turning up.
"You think there's a line of men waitin' to date the Mayor's daughter?" I scoff, shaking my head. "I don't think so."
"If there's not, then they're either spineless, dumb, blind, or all three." My heart doesn't just skip a beat this time, it does a plie, pirouettes, and a jump for joy. I think Will Cooper might like me…
"Flattery will get you everywhere."
"It ain't flattery if I'm just statin' facts, Birdie. How about I give you my number this time? Then, if you lose it, it'll be on me to hunt you down."
"Ah, so the embarrassment will be all mine then," I retort.
He laughs, his eyes sparkling before he winks. "You got me."
"Who's got who now?" Dad asks, making a grand and untimely return. "And where's the coffee? I thought Birdie was goin' to wrangle that machine for ya and show off her skills?" Trust my father to have the most impeccable timing ever.
"Just gettin' to it now, Dad," I say, grinning at Will as I make myself at home and walk into the kitchen.
"Don't forget to give me your number before we leave, City Boy" I murmur as I pass Will. "Because one lost number I can forgive. Two? " I click my tongue twice. "That would be a shame."
Will chuckles, his fond gaze meeting mine. "Message received. Loud and clear," he says for my ears only before squaring his shoulders and turning to Dad. "How 'bout we go on a tour of the house and outbuildings afterward if you have time? It'll give me a chance to check on my brothers and make sure they haven't gotten themselves into trouble or anythin'. You two probably know the place better than we do anyway."
Dad looks Will over before sharing a barely there look of approval with me. "I'd like that, son. Then I can tell you about the time Ridley and I found a musk ox messin' with the fence on the mountainside and how your grandfather nearly wound up with his butt in a sling and his body skewered like a shish kebab by the biggest set of antlers both of us had ever seen."
Will's smile widens. "Now that's somethin' I want to hear."