by Susanna Carr
“I want to.”
She dropped her hand. “Why? Aren’t you worried that I might use the information for my own gain?”
Cooper watched her carefully. He saw the concern glimmering in her golden eyes. Serena was uncomfortable with the level of trust he displayed. Was she worried for him? Or was she worried that the information he gave was too good to keep a secret?
“I want you to understand,” Cooper explained. He needed to tell someone and the only person he wanted to confide in was Serena. He wanted to trust her and yet he had no proof that he could. “I wasn’t always honest in my deals. John Harrington, Jr., had given me insider information about a business and I used that to my own advantage.”
She lifted her head, her hair tumbling around her bare shoulders. “Insider... No, I don’t believe that. You wouldn’t.”
“It wasn’t illegal,” he was quick to point out. But it had been very close to breaking the law. As if that technicality was going to make a huge difference in the way Serena saw him. “But it also wasn’t honest. It wasn’t right.”
Serena pressed her lips together as she studied him. “It still weighs on you.”
Of course it did. He was ashamed at how he’d handled the deal. He had sworn he was going to be better than his father. Instead, he had proven he was his father’s son. That realization was enough to keep him on the straight and narrow.
“What are you going to do to fix it?” Serena asked as she bent down and pressed her lips against the corner of his mouth.
He jerked his head back. “Fix it? I wish I could but the deal was done years ago.”
“Cooper, you are one of the smartest men I know. You could figure it out if you wanted to,” she declared before she claimed his mouth with a kiss.
How much did he want to repair his mistake? Cooper hadn’t considered the question before and he found that he didn’t have an answer. Hiding it was the easiest strategy but that was becoming impossible. How determined was he to right a wrong?
* * *
Cooper took a sip of his icy cold beer and looked around the hole-in-the-wall petisco bar that was off in a back alley far from The Harrington. The place was dark and smelled of garlic, olive oil and spices. The mournful sound of fado music mingled with the loud conversations. He noticed a few adventurous tourists sitting next to a group of locals.
“How did you find this place?” Cooper asked.
“I’m very good at hunting down information,” Serena said as she smeared tuna paste on a chunk of bread. “And I was in desperate need of petisco.”
He thought petisco looked a lot like tapas. The main difference was that the dishes were predominantly fish and seafood. But unlike the trendy tapas bars he had visited, this bar was old and worn. It looked as if it had been a tavern for centuries.
As he watched Serena gradually relax while she drank red wine, he realized she was in her element. She shouldn’t be with her strapless white dress and stunning emerald necklace. He was surprised that she liked being part of the busy, social atmosphere. He had always gotten the sense that she preferred to be alone.
“This is your favorite food?” he asked as he stared at the octopus and snail dishes. They were good but he wouldn’t long for it like a Texas barbecue. “This is what you want your last meal to be?”
“Mmm.” She popped the morsel in her mouth and closed her eyes as her face softened. Serena’s moan of pleasure went straight to his groin.
Cooper inhaled sharply. This woman was incredibly sensual without even trying. He wanted to feed her from the small plates and rub his fingers against her wide, lush mouth. It was a tempting thought but he couldn’t risk it. He knew from experience that once he touched her he wouldn’t stop.
“What is it that you like about it?” he asked gruffly.
She slowly opened her eyes and gave it some thought. “I like the ritual,” she finally said. “You go to a petisco bar with a group of friends or someone special and stay for hours.” Serena gave a shrug. “It’s a social food.”
Who did she go with late at night to enjoy their company? He wanted to know her friends and the people important in her life. Or did she have someone special? Was there a man in her life? The painful flash of jealousy dissolved as soon as it appeared. No, that wasn’t like Serena. She was an intensely loyal woman and would not have a vacation fling if she were in a committed relationship.
But his instincts also told him Serena didn’t want a lover or a committed relationship. She didn’t let anyone get this close. She had only allowed him this far because she thought she had all the power. And she’d slept with him before they signed the paperwork. Cooper’s mouth twisted. Did she think he wouldn’t notice?
“Now it’s your turn,” Serena encouraged as she leaned back in her chair and spread her arms out wide. “Ask me anything.”
He smiled at her grand statement. He knew that wasn’t true. She was still guarded and she would respond carefully. But she had started this game earlier in the day, once he had revealed why he needed the Harrington shares. He had felt exposed and yet Serena didn’t judge him or walk away. She didn’t hate him or accuse him of being as weak as her father. Her level of acceptance was a gift he quietly cherished.
Perhaps she felt something else but didn’t feel the need to talk about it. It was unlike her but he could sense she was going to end it all once she left Portugal. She would walk away once she didn’t have anything hanging over his head. Cooper wasn’t going to let that happened. Somehow he was going to show her that he was worth the risk.
“What’s your favorite way of spending a lazy Sunday morning?” he asked as he took another sip of beer.
“Lazy?” She frowned as if she wasn’t familiar with the word. “Why would I be lazy on a Sunday? It’s just like any other day.”
He gave a deep sigh. “You really needed these days off.”
A smile flickered across her mouth. “Maybe I did. I am enjoying spending a day with the phone off and the computer tucked away,” she said. “It felt odd at first but I think a lot of it is just habit.”
Cooper was glad he had announced that there would be no phone calls or checking messages. It was a sacrifice on his part since he often needed to be updated but he wanted Serena’s full attention on him. To his surprise, the restlessness that dogged him every moment had disappeared. He was able to sit still and welcome the connection that shimmered between him and Serena. He didn’t have to constantly move in order to avoid the sense of loneliness.
He wanted to explore this kind of life. What he had with Serena was more than a vacation fling. It was more important than his family business. But sharing all of himself with one woman was a risk he shouldn’t take. People admired his business acumen and his link to the Brock empire. If he didn’t have that, what else could he offer to Serena?
“What about you?” Serena asked as she licked salt off her finger. He could tell that it wasn’t an innocent gesture from the naughty glow in her eyes. “What is your favorite way of spending a lazy Sunday morning?”
“Riding my horse on my ranch and watching the sun rise.” It was a rare but perfect morning for him. He didn’t know if it would be considered slow and lazy. He had bought the place a year ago because he was determined to find a spot that would cure his restlessness. He felt a powerful link with the land and yet he still felt unsettled when he was at his ranch. The only time he was at peace was when he was with Serena.
She sighed and tilted her head back, her dark wavy hair tumbling past her shoulders. “I remember having a horse. I was obsessed with riding. It used to drive my mother crazy because I would be all sweaty and dusty and dark from the sun.”
“Come to my ranch and I’ll take you horseback riding.” He was surprised he made the offer. He had never allowed anyone there before. The words were impulsive but he meant them.
She gave him a quick glance as if she didn’t know whether to take his invitation seriously or not. Serena reached out and placed her hand on the top of his thigh. “Thank you, but taking more time off isn’t a good idea.”
“Why?” Cooper easily caught her hand and held her palm flat on his leg. “What’s so pressing? You decided you didn’t want to pursue your revenge anymore, right?”
Serena went still and slowly nodded. “Right.”
Cooper didn’t like the hesitancy in her nod. A sense of foreboding shrouded him and he tried to shake it off. Serena had been sincere about giving up the revenge because he didn’t deserve to inherit the debt from his father. He believed her and she had given him no other reason to think she was lying. “What other projects do you have?” he asked.
“Nothing at the moment,” she revealed, “but despite what you think, my revenge on the Brock family wasn’t my full-time job. I still have to be vigilant about my financial portfolio.”
“And you can do that anywhere,” he insisted as he stroked her hand. “You can spend your Sunday mornings doing something you want. How would you spend a lazy Sunday morning?”
Her fingers flexed against his leg. “I would spend it in bed with you.”
Pleasure burst through him. Was she trying to distract him from his invitation? He didn’t care. He would bring it up again tonight and he’d get her to accept. “Doing what?” His breath froze in his lungs as her hand moved up his leg.
Serena leaned forward. “Do you want me to tell you in detail, or would you rather I take you back to the hotel and show you?”
“Show me.” Cooper launched out of his chair before he gave his answer. “Definitely show me.”
* * *
Serena frowned as she was caught between the state of sleep and wakefulness. She didn’t want to get up. It wasn’t like her. She was used to dragging herself out of bed at dawn and working continuously until she collapsed into her bed late at night. It wasn’t the way she wanted to live her life but the hard work had paid off. At what price? she wondered. At times she felt older than her age.
She squeezed her eyes shut when she thought she heard the telephone ring. Only it didn’t sound like the chime to her cell phone. She stirred and reached out. Her hand hit the warm but empty bedsheets.
She blinked her eyes open as she splayed her hands on the sheets. Where was Cooper? Serena went still as the thought flitted through her mind. She didn’t like that he was her first thought. That she knew before she was awake that he wasn’t next to her.
She slowly sat up. A light next to the double doors was on and casting shadows. She glanced out of the window to see that it was still nighttime. Now would be a good time to sneak back into her room. She glanced at the thick white carpeting and remembered Cooper had torn off her clothes the moment they stepped into his suite.
She blushed as she recalled the feral gleam in Cooper’s eyes as he had taken her on the floor by the hotel door. She knew the primal need had mirrored her own. At times she felt that her intensity, her hunger, was going to consume them both.
Serena brushed back her tangled hair. What was happening to her? Why did she want to spend every moment with this man? She needed to create some distance from Cooper. It was bad enough that she couldn’t hide her desire for him. It was worse that she clung to him while they slept.
“What is so important that you had to call me in the middle of the night?”
Serena flinched when she realized Cooper’s voice was right next to the closed bedroom door. He sounded annoyed instead of angry.
“Don’t act like you don’t understand the time difference, Dad.”
Her contentment evaporated at the thought of Aaron Brock. Her skin went hot and then cold as bile roiled in her stomach. She clutched the sheets against her naked body and curled her knees to her chest.
She took in a ragged breath as she tried to calm down her racing pulse. She was no longer a scared young woman who had no power or influence over her life. Serena slowly stretched out her legs. Aaron Brock couldn’t hurt her anymore.
But she didn’t like the idea of this man anywhere near her vacation. From the sounds of it, neither did Cooper. It felt like an intrusion. As if dark clouds were rolling in.
“I had my phone off...” Cooper paused. “It’s been known to happen...I don’t know when. Is that why you called my hotel room?”
Was this why Cooper had recommended that they turn off their phones? Was he expecting his father to call? After all, Cooper had asked Aaron Brock about her and her father. Serena stayed very still, knowing that if she made a move, made a sound, Cooper would end the phone call.
“No.” His tone was harsh and cold. She hadn’t heard him speak in such a ruthless tone, not even when they were arguing over his family’s fortune. “Forget about Serena.”
Serena’s muscles locked hard. Her eyes burned as she stared at the closed door. She wanted to gulp for air as her lungs shriveled.
“I’ve taken care of the situation,” he continued. “She’s not going to be a problem.”
She glanced at the wrinkled sheets as the confusion and pain ricocheted inside her. Was that what this fling was really all about? Did Cooper think of this as taking care of a problem?
“That is none of your concern,” he said in a warning growl.
No, she refused to believe that. She knew Cooper’s flaws but he would not seduce a woman to get a deal. He would not act affectionate and loving when he was planning on stabbing her in the back. If he wanted to destroy her, he would be as straightforward as a gunslinger at high noon.
She was hearing what she was used to hearing. She had spent years looking for dirt on Aaron Brock and his family. She could always put a negative spin on their successes or charitable contributions. She didn’t want to see what impact Cooper made on the financial world because it meant seeing him as anything more than a worthy opponent.
But she had seen a different side of Cooper during her stay in Portugal. He was not plotting her downfall. He was encouraging her to live more fully. He genuinely wanted her to find happiness. Find pleasure at every turn. And she wanted him to share the pleasure.
“I’m done talking,” Cooper said. “You don’t have to worry about her.”
Worry? Serena smiled as she lay down. It may be a petty response, but she didn’t care. She may have put her revenge to a stop, but she still liked knowing that she was giving the great Aaron Brock some sleepless nights. It was only fair.
She heard Cooper hang up the phone and open the bedroom door. Serena immediately closed her eyes and acted as if she was in a deep sleep. As curious as she was about the conversation, she wasn’t going to ask. She trusted Cooper. Serena felt her world spin as the truth hit her. She trusted Cooper Brock. It was unfamiliar and frightening, and she was not sure if she should, but yet she didn’t want it to stop.
She felt the mattress dip before Cooper gathered her into his arms and held her spine flush against his naked chest. Serena enjoyed this sense of closeness and she wanted more. She wanted to be so close to him that not only would she know what was going through his head, but he would know what was going on in hers. And that scared her. That barrier was, at times, the only thing that kept her safe.
But she was safe with Cooper. He wouldn’t hurt her. He was a man who protected what was his. He already made that claim on her. She had denied it but she knew it was true. She was his and she didn’t want to fight off that claim anymore.
Cooper bent his head and brushed a kiss against her cheek. She stirred as if his caress had woken her up. “Cooper?” she asked sleepily.
“I’m right here,” he murmured as he kissed along her jaw.
Cooper’s large hand glided along her bare breasts. Serena rocked gently against him as his calloused palm rubbed her tight nipples. She stifled a moan and melted against him as she
thrust her breasts into his hand.
Serena felt protected in his arms. Cared for. She didn’t know if it was her imagination. She just wanted this moment to last.
She felt the strength in his touch but there was something else. It felt like adoration as he stroked her skin. As if he couldn’t help himself. He had to touch her. He had to show how he felt.
Cooper whispered something in her ear as he slid his hand against her abdomen. She didn’t catch the words, his voice slurred with lust. He gently explored her body, his erection pressing against her. His fingertips brushed her navel before resting against the top of her thigh.
She shifted and parted her legs for him, yielding to his touch. She wasn’t going to wrestle for control this time. She didn’t have to fight for what she wanted. She knew Cooper would give her anything she wanted. All she had to do was ask.
Cooper cupped her sex and the carnal need pulsed under her skin. She arched her spine, rolling her hips as the bite of hunger rippled through her. She moaned in the back of her throat as her skin tingled.
Serena felt Cooper’s muscles bunch. Anxiety darted in her ribs when she sensed the alertness invading him. He knew something was different between them. Did he know that she was giving him a gift?
Cooper rolled over, his belly resting against hers. Serena’s muscles locked for a brief moment. He settled between her legs and looked down at her with an intensity that made her heart stop.
He knew she was giving him her trust. Serena pressed her hands against the sides of his jaw, the stubble rough against her hands. Cooper understood that tonight she was surrendering to him.
She stared into his silver eyes and wondered if he would gloat or say something arrogant. She didn’t see his triumph. Excitement glowed in his eyes.
Serena felt as if she should explain but no words came out. Did he know that there was no guarantee that she would do this again? That she would continue to challenge him outside this bed? Did he understand that this level of trust was rare for her and even now she was considering snatching it away?
