by Lilly LaRue
No wonder Freddie hadn’t taken her comment seriously, she thought to herself. In the time she’d been in this town and the company, no one had mentioned Cooper’s disability. That probably explained why he was so sensitive to gossip, and why no one had talked about it.
Feeling steady again, Bari left the restroom and returned to her office. She was bothered by Cooper’s confinement to a wheelchair because he was so young. If she were honest with herself, she was also disappointed. Bari had been attracted to him from the moment she met him, and had indulged in a couple of steamy fantasies involving Cooper and his massive desk. She still found him attractive, even though he was married. Perhaps it was for the best that he couldn’t make love, because she might be tempted to break her own rules.
♥♥♥
During the next month, Bari worked long hours to get caught up. She also enrolled in a night class at the university so she could strengthen her knowledge of genetics. In college she’d carried a double major, pre-med and computer technology, graduating at the age of nineteen in the top third of her class. She’d been called a wunderkind by the local paper when she graduated from high school at the age of fifteen. They’d praised her ability to continue her studies despite her father’s long bout with pancreatic cancer, which had claimed him three months before her graduation.
They’d started a new project and Bari continued to put in long hours. Her job was complicated by Freddie’s hostility and her close working relationship with Cooper. It wasn’t an uncommon sight to see Cooper wheeling into the offices, or into the lab, dressed in the protective clothing required for the clean room. He seemed oblivious to the attraction Bari had to him, and he worked around her without awkwardness.
She did not enjoy the same ease with him, unfortunately. Bari would often be distracted from her work by a movement of his hands, or the tilt of his head. She’d watch him laugh or frown, or talk with animation, and a lump would form in her throat. Bari feared she was falling in love with her married boss and tried to restrain herself. Her internal counseling did no good, and her attraction to Cooper continued to grow.
It was already eight-thirty and everyone had left for the day. Even the most diehard workaholics had been gone at least an hour, but Bari was still stuck at her desk. She’d spent most of the day in the lab and was trying to get caught up with her daily paperwork and weekly reports. She heard the quiet hum of Cooper’s electric wheelchair and looked up, trying to pretend that her face didn’t redden slightly and her stomach didn’t lurch. “Hello,” she said huskily, subconsciously straightening her shoulder-length hair with a shaking hand. “Working late too, Cooper?”
He stopped beside her, still leaving a few feet between them. “I was getting ready to leave when I checked in with security. They said you were still here, so I thought I’d come shoo you out for the night.”
“Good luck. I have too much to do to leave yet.”
Cooper shook his head, crossing his arms across his chest. “Wrong answer, Bari. It’s time to go home.”
“I’m on salary,” Bari teased, “So you won’t have to pay me overtime.”
“I’m not leaving until you do,” Cooper threatened with a gleam in his eye.
Bari grinned crookedly. “I appreciate your mothering, Cooper, but I can’t leave this stuff yet. I’m sure your wife will be upset if you wait for me to finish,” she added without thinking, coloring as soon as the words left her mouth.
Cooper tilted his head curiously. “I’m divorced.” He busied himself with a file lying on her desk. “I didn’t think anyone ever talked about Lilith anymore.”
“Um, Myra was telling me that you frowned on gossip and sited your ex-PA as an example. She said your PA was sharing the details of private calls between you and your wife.”
Nodding with comprehension, Cooper said, “She was in the process of becoming my ex-wife at that moment. She called every day with a new list of demands, and Susan took great delight in keeping everyone abreast of all the gory details.”
“I see.” Bari tried to ignore the wild leaping in the region of her heart. Her stomach was also cartwheeling, and she felt giddy. She struggled to focus on a column of numbers, but they blurred together. He’s not married, kept running through her head in a joyful refrain.
“Have dinner with me.” Cooper looked surprised with himself, as if he’d given into impulse. “It’s really late, Bari, and I’d prefer you don’t leave the building alone. I’ll buy you a nice dinner, and then you can go home to bed. Face all this,” he lifted a stack of papers, “Tomorrow morning with a fresh start, and a clear head.”
Would she turn down dinner with Cooper? Of course not, now that she knew he wasn’t married. “Okay.” She closed the file. Bari followed Cooper out of the offices, after grabbing her briefcase. They went through the security check points, emerging into the lobby, where the guards called a good night.
In the parking lot, Cooper said, “There’s nothing open unless we drive into Reno. If you don’t mind my place, I’m sure my housekeeper has left something scrumptious for me.”
“Uh…sure.”
“Just follow me then. You’ll want your car so you can go home after dinner.”
Bari watched him roll across the smooth lot to a Cadillac. Cooper levered himself into the driver’s seat, folded up the wheelchair and set it on the passenger seat. When he closed his door with a wave, she hurried to the Honda, unlocking the door and sliding inside. She followed behind Cooper’s specially modified black Cadillac as he drove through the small town, taking a turn-off that Bari hadn’t yet been on.
They climbed up a steep hill, turning twice more onto side roads, before a large house came into view. Considering the amount of Cooper’s rumored personal wealth, she’d expected something very grand. The house was beautiful, but compact, sitting atop the hill, resting against the edge of a drop that plummeted several hundred feet.
Bari got out of the car and approached the Cadillac. Cooper was efficient with the transfer process, and she didn’t have to wait long for him to join her. They went up a wheelchair ramp running beside the stairs, and Cooper unlocked the door. There was no riser between the floor of the hallway and the porch, and his wheelchair glided in easily. He led Bari down the hall, bypassing the living room and family room, going straight into the kitchen. “Let’s see what Martha left.” Cooper opened the fridge and peered inside.
While he inspected the food, Bari looked around the kitchen. Everything was neat and gleaming, furnished with the latest appliances in sparkling white. A rack above their heads held copper cookware, and there was an oak table in the corner of the room. All the counters and cupboards were set lower than the standard, and the table had five chairs instead of six. They were the only concessions to Cooper’s disability that Bari could see.
“Spinach quiche, arugula and eggplant salad, and lemon torte for dessert.” Cooper started pulling dishes off the shelves.
Bari’s stomach growled and she blushed fiercely. “It’s been awhile since lunch. Can I help with anything?”
“Sure.” Cooper directed her to the location of the utensils and plates. Bari set the table while Cooper reheated the food. She watched him balance the dishes on his lap and bit back her instinctive offer of help. She stood by the table as he approached, unloading everything with an economy of movement. “Would you grab the salad dressing and the bottle of wine on the bottom rack in the fridge?” Cooper rolled over to the drawer where he pulled out a corkscrew.
Bari retrieved the white wine and Ranch dressing as Cooper bent into one of the lower cabinets, emerging with two wineglasses. After opening the wine, they sat at the table, Cooper taking the empty spot at the head, and Bari sitting across from him. The food was delicious, and the conversation was brisk.
“Tell me about yourself.”
Bari bit her lip. “What would you like to know?”
“Something besides the basics. I know you graduated very early, with a double major. What I don’t know is why
you’re here in Nevada. Tell me about your life, parents—” He broke off. “Boyfriends?”
Bari blotted her mouth with the linen napkin. “Do you want the sordid tale, or the polite version?”
His eyes studied her intently as he sipped from his glass. “Tell me everything.”
“Just remember you asked for it.” Bari pursed her lips, “My father died when I was fifteen, just before I graduated, after battling pancreatic cancer for a year. Mother married Efrem, my stepfather, nine months later and moved us to Houston. Mother never showed much interest in me. As I’ve gotten older, I realized it was because she was jealous.”
“Jealous?”
“She was worried I would be prettier than her. She also didn’t like the way Efrem watched me. She acted like she thought I was trying to seduce her husband when it was really the other way around.”
Cooper blanched. “Did he—?”
She shook her head. “He tried one weekend when Ada went to the spa, but my stepbrother arrived and made him leave me alone. I don’t know what he said, but from that point, Efrem contented himself with watching.”
“Thank goodness for your stepbrother.”
Bari couldn’t hold back a snort. “That turned out to be another set of problems. He waited a few years before asking me out. After a few dates, I knew it wouldn’t go anywhere. He protested, but eventually gave in. Greg married someone else a few months later.”
“Something tells me that’s not the end of the story.”
“No, of course not.” Bari’s expression clouded over as she remembered the night Greg came to her apartment, very drunk and more than a little aggressive. He’d accused her of breaking up his marriage because Lucy had known he loved her still. “He wanted another go, but I eventually persuaded him to leave.” He’d jerked her into his arms and tried kissing her, but Bari’s lack of response sent Greg stomping away.
“Is that why you’re in Nevada?” Cooper asked astutely.
“It seemed easier to start over—” Bari broke off suddenly. “I can’t believe I just told you all this. I apologize for delving too deeply into my past.”
“I asked for the truth,” Cooper reminded her. “Now, how was your dinner?”
“Everything was wonderful.” Bari sighed contentedly as she pushed her plate away. The last bite of lemon torte was still on her tongue and it was heavenly. “I’ll clean up.”
“There’s no need.” Cooper reached for the torte. “Martha will see to it all tomorrow. You can stack the dishes in the sink, if you’d like.” Bari nodded and handled their plates while Cooper rewrapped the torte and placed it in the fridge. “Would you like coffee?”
“Yes please.” Bari knew she should be going, but decided to ignore the voice of reason. It was already ten and she had to get up early. So what? Somehow she couldn’t make herself leave yet. It was a golden opportunity to spend some time with Cooper, and she wasn’t going to pass on it. It was pathetic, this adolescent mode of behavior she developed around Cooper. Unfortunately, she was powerless in the wake of the attraction she felt for him, and seized on any excuse to be with him.
After brewing coffee, Cooper poured it into two mugs, not bothering with fine cups and a silver tray. “If you want cream and sugar, it’s over here.” He added a liberal amount of cream to his coffee. Bari joined him at the counter, adding sugar and a small amount of cream to the Hazelnut Pecan coffee. “Let’s go in the sitting room.” Cooper led the way, with Bari following him.
The room was attractively decorated in brown paneling and brown carpet with peach and white for accent. “It’s lovely.” Bari took a seat on the beige and brown sofa, sinking against a peach throw pillow. “Did you decorate?”
“God, no.” Cooper laughed, a hard, sharp sound that held little amusement. “After I decided to divorce Lilith, I wanted to move out quickly. I bought this place and hired a crack team of decorators to have it finished as soon as possible.”
“Oh, so she never lived here.” Bari winced at the thoughtless comment. “That must be easier, um, to deal with the memories,” she offered lamely, trying to extract her foot from her mouth.
“There aren’t many memories, either good or bad,” Cooper told her candidly. “During the last four years, she wasn’t home very much. I’m sure her infidelity started much sooner than that. Probably before we ever said I do.”
Bari choked on her coffee, wondering at his personal revelations. “Uh…” She floundered for something to say, but nothing appropriate presented itself.
“Have I shocked you?” Cooper set his coffee on a coaster placed atop the glass coffee table. Bari shrugged and he smiled. “It’s not a big deal to me anymore. I sometimes forget that not everyone is so blasé about it.”
“I see. I’m sure not everyone is so understanding about their spouse, um…seeing other people.”
Cooper laughed again. “Nice euphemism. Actually, I did mind very much for the first year or two, but it ceased to be an issue. Our marriage was over before it began, and if I’d been stronger at the time, I wouldn’t have allowed it to proceed.”
“Oh?” Bari blinked, not quite sure what she was asking. He seemed to expect some comment.
“She felt guilty.” He grimaced as the words left his mouth. “Lilith and I had been dating for four months when we were hit by a truck. She was driving and walked away without a scratch. I get to spend the rest of my life in this chair. When she heard that, she was glued to my side. She didn’t used to be a bad person, but disappointment and guilt ate away the personality of the girl I loved at the beginning.”
Bari cleared her throat. “That must have been tough.” She hadn’t known the circumstances of Cooper’s confinement to the chair until now. At least he’d been able to walk at one point in his life. That was something to be thankful for.
“After learning I was going to be in the wheelchair, I was shattered. I clung to Lilith, slowly draining the life from her. I could see she was getting ready to leave, so I proposed. She accepted, and I guess I’ll never know if it was guilt, love, or avarice that motivated her. Either way, she’s in the past.”
“How did you regain your confidence?”
He smiled a sensual smile. “About a year after the accident, I regained my sexual function. It made me realize that I was still a person, with or without the chair, and that I shouldn’t keep Lilith tied to me, thinking she’d be the only one to have me. After the withdrawal of my dependence, Lilith lived mostly a separate life from me.”
“Why are you telling me all this?”
“Because I want to have an affair with you. I just want you to know I’m not still hung up on my wife, I’m not seeking a nursemaid, and I’m still a whole man when it comes to sex.”
Eyes wide, Bari placed her cup on the table with shaking hands. She’d fantasized about Cooper quite often this past month, but she hadn’t expected anything to come to fruition. She’d consigned her fantasies to a dark part of her mind, labeling them as remnants of being a teenager. “That’s very blunt.” She tried to say steadily, but her voice squeaked.
“I’m an upfront guy. If you aren’t interested, that’s fine, Bari. Your job isn’t an issue, or anything. I’m only interested in consensual sex.” His hand settled on her thigh. “But unless I’ve missed the mark, you aren’t uninterested, are you?”
“No.” Bari’s voice emerged as a dry croak as his hand explored her thigh. “I’m interested.”
Cooper leaned forward, placing his lips on hers. The kiss was hot and primitive, and Bari felt branded by Cooper. It was the most sexual kiss she’d ever shared with a man, and she was breathless when he withdrew.
“You taste wonderful,” he caressed her hip with one hand. The other hand was still tangled in her hair. “Am I going too fast?”
Bari shook her head. “No. I want to be with you.” She followed Cooper out of the room to an elevator tucked discreetly in the hallway. They got inside and he tugged her down on his lap, ravishing her mouth more thoroughly than
before. When the doors opened with a whooshing sound, he maintained his hold on her, using one hand to steer them down the hallway. It was a bit strange, riding on his lap, but Bari didn’t have time to dwell on the experience.
His bedroom was very masculine, with dark oak furnishings, a thick sable carpet, and silk wall hangings the shade of copper. Two pictures adorned the walls, both modern impressionistic, and the colors used by the artist blended with the decor. The bed was covered by a fluffy copper and white comforter that Bari noticed as Cooper gently eased her off his lap, maneuvering the chair by the bed. With a deft move, he moved himself onto the bed. Bari pulled at her clothes as Cooper struggled with his. She bit back the instinctive offer to help him, knowing she wouldn’t normally be so forward her first time with a new lover and knowing Cooper liked to be independent.
When they were both naked, he took her into his arms, kissing her again and again until she could not take a deep breath. “You feel so good in my arms.” Cooper brushed a kiss across her temple before gently biting her neck.
Bari straddled Cooper as he played with her breasts, bracing himself on his elbows so he could suck her nipples. After several kisses and passionate caresses, Bari was moaning impatiently. “Now,” she urged.
“Guide me in.” Cooper groaned as she touched his shaft. “I can feel everything, but I can’t move my legs.”
“Where does the feeling end?” Bari asked, sliding down his shaft. He filled her completely and she groaned.
“Mid-thigh.” Cooper groaned again as sensations assaulted him. Soon neither had the concentration or ability to speak as they sought fulfillment. When it was over, Bari curled against his side. “You were everything I thought you’d be, and more,” Cooper praised breathlessly. “I’ve wanted you since the moment I met you.”
“That’s not why you hired me, is it?” Bari frowned, her worry evident.
Clearly irritated, Cooper answered firmly, “Of course not. I was attracted to you, but it took me awhile to realize you felt the same way. I haven’t had many relationships with women. Most are frightened of the wheelchair.”
