by Jody Holford
He set it on her desk, rounded it and leaned down, kissing her softly, like there was no one in the room but the two of them.
“Excuse me, we were in the middle of a conversation,” her ex said. Even when he stood straight, making a show of pushing his shoulders back, Cooper had several inches on the guy.
“Your conversation is over,” Cooper said.
He caught Ellie’s smirk and tugged a lock of her hair. She had great hair. She had great everything.
“That isn’t for you to decide,” Byron insisted. He wore a white coat, his stethoscope around his neck, but the way he looked down his nose at Cooper, someone would have thought he owned the entire place and everyone in it was expected to bend to his will.
Like that’ll happen, bud. Cooper moved back around the desk. To his credit, Byron didn’t step back, though he did flinch.
“You’re right. It’s for Ellie to decide. But correct me if I’m wrong, she already shared her decision with you, didn’t she?”
“Coop,” Ellie said softly behind him.
“What are you talking about?” Byron asked.
“Did Ellie tell you she’s with me?”
Byron rolled his eyes. “Yes, but—”
Cooper cut him off. “No, buts. She told you she’s with someone else. She’s asked you to stop pestering her. You haven’t respected those wishes and I’m telling you now, you need to. You should have when she asked, but since you didn’t, I’m reiterating. She isn’t interested in you.”
Now the guy had the gall to scoff. “Oh, you think you’ll be the one to keep her? I’m a doctor for God’s sake.”
Cooper leaned back on Ellie’s desk and crossed his arms over his chest. “It’s too bad you aren’t a shrink because then you could examine your own head.”
Ellie snickered. Byron looked around Cooper to glare at her. “This? This is what you’ve decided is worth walking away from what we had for?”
“We were over before Cooper and I started, Byron. At your request. Remember? My intimacy issues were a little too much for you? And even if they weren’t, yes, I’d choose Cooper over you. All the time, every time.”
Cooper looked over his shoulder at Ellie and his heart pumped out of control. This was what it felt like to be absolutely crazy about someone.
“It’ll never last,” Byron said.
Cooper stood up, tired of the guy and ready for some alone time with his girl before he went home to sleep. “Since you think that, we won’t invite you to the wedding. Consider this your final notice: she’s not into you. She’s with me and that isn’t changing.”
He moved forward into Byron’s space, causing the guy to back up toward the door. When he was almost through it, Cooper leaned in. “Bug her again and I’ll make sure she files a harassment complaint. Tough luck, bud, but you let her go. Not her fault—or mine—that you’re an idiot.”
With that, he shut the door, Byron on the other side.
He turned and saw Ellie was staring at him, her gorgeous unpainted lips parted. Walking back to her desk, he tried to read her mood.
“Sweetheart? You okay?”
She rubbed her temple again.
“Ellie? Your head bugging you, baby?”
She continued to stare at him, but said absently, “Uh, yeah. Just a bit of a headache, but I think you just slammed the door on the worst of it.”
Cooper chuckled and pulled her up to stand. “Hope that didn’t cross any lines.”
Ellie rested her palms on his chest. He liked the feeling of her touching him, but he also loved the look on her face when she did, the one that told him how much she enjoyed having her hands on him. Speaking of which. He leaned in, nuzzled the spot below her ear that made her sigh.
Her fingers gripped his shirt. Lifting his head, moving to kiss her, he saw her eyes were still a little dazed.
“Seriously, are you okay?”
She nodded, her gaze intense. “You said he wasn’t invited to the wedding,” she whispered.
Frowning, he gave one hard nod. “Damn right he’s not invited.”
Her mouth parted again and she just stared at him. Her brows arched as she waited for him to clue into what was bugging her.
“Our wedding, Coop?”
Heat spread from his neck, over his face. Huh. Maybe he should have gone about that differently. Seeing as he hadn’t even told her how he really felt about her.
And he didn’t particularly want to do it when he felt like he needed another shower and she was frazzled from her ex. No, he wanted to set the mood. He wanted to give her what she deserved. All of it at once. Tonight. He kissed her, lingering against her lips, loving the feel of her mouth under his.
“I want everything with you, Ellie.”
Her sharp little gasp tightened his gut. “I want that, too,” she whispered.
“Give me the key to your apartment. I’ll have dinner ready when you get home,” he said. The heat of her skin against his palm had him letting go. If he wanted to do things right, he needed to stop now and let her get back to work.
Ellie smiled as she grabbed her purse out of one of the drawers of her desk, dug through it and got her key. She passed it over.
“See you tonight.”
“Tonight,” she agreed.
Cooper left before he changed his mind about the perfect timing and the perfect experience. He was too tempted to lock her office door and show her exactly how much he wanted her.
Tonight, he told himself.
Chapter Five
Ellie tried to remember what she’d had for lunch and couldn’t. As she drove the same route home that she’d taken every day since she’d moved to this city, her head felt fuzzy.
Probably residual heat from the feel of Cooper’s hands. Maybe it’s anticipation overload. I hope whatever he made for dinner reheats well.
She pulled into her driveway, her heart flipping when she saw Cooper’s truck. It was too soon to ask him to live together, but today he’d told her he wanted everything. Maybe you ought to get up the nerve to sleep with your boyfriend before you ask him to move in together. Right. One thing at a time, she thought as she locked her car and headed for her small basement suite.
She stumbled once, but when she looked down at the ground, she wasn’t sure what she’d tripped over. The door was unlocked and her home smelled delicious. Cooper came out of the kitchen just as she was about to set her purse down on the small table she kept beside the door. Looking at him, she missed the table and her purse clattered to the floor.
Confused, she looked down at it and then Cooper was right there beside her.
“Ellie, you’re really pale. Jesus, babe, you’re burning up,” he said, his hand on her forehead.
Wow. He could tell? He has a lot more experience than you. Which she hoped wouldn’t work against her. She put her arms around his neck and fell into him.
“For you,” she said. Her voice came out strangely. She’d been aiming for husky, but to her own ears, it sounded a little more Kermit the Frog than seductress.
Cooper scooped her up in his arms and she lay her head on his shoulder, literally dizzy with love for him.
“Baby, you’re sick.”
What? It wasn’t sick to want him. The man owned a mirror, didn’t he? Maybe he ought to look in it.
“I want you, Cooper,” she said. Ha! Her bravery had made a comeback.
Laying her on the bed, which felt chilly, he leaned over her. “Sweetheart, I’m going to get you some medicine and if it doesn’t help with the fever, you might have to take a cool shower.”
Her skin was uncomfortable—almost too tight, but the thought of showering with Cooper caught her attention.
“Will you be in there with me?” Feeling shy, she pulled him down so she could speak into his ear instead of having to look straight at him. “I’m not sure I want the first time to be in the shower.”
Cooper’s chuckle confused her. He swept his hand across her forehead tenderly. “It won’t be, baby. And our
first time won’t be tonight.”
She started to argue, but a chill wracked her body at the same time fatigue crawled over her like a heavy blanket.
In just a few minutes, after she closed her eyes for a bit of rest, Ellie planned to tell Cooper Walsh he was not in charge anymore. As soon as she had the energy, she was taking over and he’d be just as hot as she felt.
Chapter Six
Cooper called in sick for his next two shifts. Ellie not only had a fever, she was nearly delusional. Though he knew he shouldn’t worry—people got sick—he couldn’t help it and ended up calling a buddy of his who was a resident at the hospital.
Tyler knocked on Ellie’s basement apartment door and Cooper opened it, glancing back to see if the sound had woken her. It hadn’t. She was out. She’d been out for most of two days. When she was up, she talked a lot of nonsense, tried to kiss him, and got mad at him when he wouldn’t kiss her back. She wouldn’t eat and he wasn’t sure what else to do. He was making sure she drank liquid when she was awake and a couple of times even woke her to give her some water and medicine.
“Hey, man,” Cooper said, stepping back so his friend could come in.
“Hey,” Tyler said, glancing at Ellie.
“Oh yeah. I know Ellie. She works in accounting, right?”
Cooper shut the door and followed his friend to the couch. “Yeah. She came down with a fever about two days ago. I didn’t know if I should take her to the hospital or what, but she’s pretty out of it.”
Tyler sat on the coffee table across from where Ellie slept on the couch. Cooper sat on the couch and put his hand on Ellie’s arm.
“She eating anything? Drinking?”
Cooper shook his head. “I’m getting water into her. She’s not throwing up or anything, but she won’t eat.”
Tyler gestured to her with his hand and Cooper rubbed her arm. “Ellie. Ellie. Wake up, baby.”
“You want me,” she muttered, a little moan escaping her throat.
Jesus. He was nearly thirty. He did not blush. But Tyler’s grin made it impossible not to.
“Baby, wake up.”
She opened her eyes and glared at him, then startled when she saw Tyler.
“This is Tyler, my friend.”
Ellie groaned and pushed a hand up through her hair. “Dr. Montgomery. What are you doing here?”
Cooper should have known she’d recognize him. “He’s here to check on you.”
She tried to sit up awkwardly, pushing away Cooper’s attempts to help. “Other than feeling like a train hit me and having a boyfriend who absolutely will not stay beside me on the couch or in my bed, I’m fine.”
Great. Now she was coherent and putting together full sentences?
Tyler laughed. “Since I’m here, why don’t I check you out. Cooper’s been texting me for two days so I think he’s just a bit worried about you, Ellie.”
Her eyes cut to his and softened. “Why are you worried?”
“Because you’re sick.” It was stupid, he knew it. But not being able to help her or make her better made him feel inept.
“Everyone gets sick, Coop,” Tyler said. He winked at Ellie. “Even big, strong firemen. Especially if they don’t leave their sick girlfriend’s side.”
Ellie stayed quiet while Tyler checked her lungs, her temperature, her ears and her throat.
“Whatever you had seems to be running its course. There’s a nasty virus going around, but I really think you’re at the tail end of it.”
“So, nothing serious?” Cooper asked, not used to worrying so much about someone.
“No. I don’t believe so. But if her fever spikes again or there are any other symptoms, I’m on call tonight, so bring her in.”
“I’ll be fine,” Ellie said, her voice hoarse.
“I’d say get some rest, but I don’t think you have much of a choice,” Tyler said to her.
The smile she gave was no where near her usual one. Cooper walked his friend to the door and came back to sit with Ellie on the couch.
“Sorry, Coop.”
He put his arm around her and looked down at her. “For what?”
“For worrying you. For being grumpy with you. For not being able to do anything fun for the last two days. For being the worst seductress on the planet.”
Cooper swiped his thumb under her eye, catching the tear trying to escape. “Ellie, if you’re not feeling well, there’s absolutely no where I’d rather be. Hell, whether you feel great or lousy, all I want is to be with you. I’ll always worry about you. That’s what you do when you fall in love with someone, right? You worry about them? Want to be with them all the time?”
Her eyes widened. “You love me?”
His heart muscles tightened. Cupping her cheek, holding her gaze, he nodded. “I do.”
She stared at him and nerves pummeled the base of his spine, around to his stomach. He’d never told a woman he loved her before.
“I’m not dreaming? Or hallucinating?”
Cooper laughed and pressed his forehead to hers, the tip of his nose grazing Ellie’s. “No. You’re awake. I’m real. So are you. And I’m in love with you. And while it’s not mandatory you say it back, I’d really like—”
“I love you. I’ve loved you since I was like thirteen years old. I mean, I love you like an adult now, not like a kid, like you’re not some teenage crush. Well, you are, but—”
He cut her off this time, pressing his mouth to hers, softly. “Ellie. Shh.”
She nodded against his lips. “Okay. Right. Shh.” She tucked her head under his chin, her hand and her cheek on his chest. “But can we say it again before we shush?”
Rubbing his hand up and down her back, he smiled into her hair. “We can say it as many times as you want, baby. I love you.”
“I love you, Cooper.”
Chapter Seven
Ellie’s mouth felt like starched socks. She rolled over in her bed and took a moment to appreciate the view of Cooper’s bare back. He hadn’t slept much in the last few days. Because he was taking care of you. Because he loves you. Happy butterflies soared in her chest. Cooper Walsh loved her. She giggled quietly, thinking of all the times she’d written Cooper loves Ellie in a secret notebook.
Careful not to wake him, she crawled out of the bed, her brain still a bit fuzzy. Fortunately, with it being the weekend, she didn’t have to worry about calling in sick. She could probably work, but was grateful she didn’t have to on the first day she felt moderately human again.
She jumped in the shower and thought of all the things she could do for Cooper to show him how much she appreciated the way he took care of her. She couldn’t stop her brain from replaying his words and as she washed and rinsed herself back to life, she decided to start with breakfast.
Because he was neater than her, he’d kept her kitchen and living room tidy. She wasn’t great in the kitchen, but she could handle eggs and toast. That would be a good start to thanking him. She grabbed a bowl and a frying pan, started getting things ready.
Maybe tonight, you can throw on your Victoria’s Secret again. She smiled at the thought. She should probably grab some groceries. Maybe some wine. They could go out for dinner, come back to her place. The shower started and she knew he was up and moving around.
Buttering the toast, she turned down the eggs and got his plate ready. What else would she need for tonight. Maybe you should see if he can even be here tonight. It’d be really nice, if for once, the whole seduction thing could go her way. He was off for a few days yet, she was almost sure, but would ask him before she got too carried away.
You just need a plan. One that doesn’t include family members or getting super sick.
She thought of texting Becky and asking for some advice or pointers, but worried whatever her friend said would be based on her own relationship and… “Ew.”
“Aw, come on, babe. Your cooking isn’t that bad,” Cooper said, coming into the kitchen.
She turned, half embarrassed and
half amused. He was drying his hair with a towel and though he’d thrown on a pair of lounge pants, his chest was bare. It was like a roadmap of abs, lines and indents curving and leading to all the best places. She put his plate on the tiny kitchen table.
“Mmm, that smells good,” he said, coming over to kiss her good morning.
“So do you,” she said. He smelled like aftershave and Cooper and anticipation pirouetted along her skin.
“You didn’t have to make me breakfast,” he said, not realizing that she was still staring at him.
He sat down, but when she didn’t sit, he looked up at her. “You joining me?”
“I keep waiting for everything to be perfect,” she said.
“Like what? It’s just eggs, babe. I’m sure they’ll be great.”
He knew she was no culinary genius. He knew a lot about her. They had a history and since they loved each other, a future. He’d taken care of her when she was sick. He’d been the first boy to kiss her and the only one she wanted to for the rest of her life.
“Not the eggs. Us. I didn’t tell you I loved you because I was waiting for the right moment or for you to say it first.”
Cooper put down his fork. “But you did say it and so did I. Because we do. What’s going on, Ellie?”
He scraped the chair along the floor so his legs weren’t under the table and pulled her to sit on his lap.
Ellie put her hands on his shoulders and ran her fingers over the tight, smooth skin. She wanted every morning, every night and all of the moments they could manage in between.
“I want to live together,” she said.
Cooper smiled, his large hand squeezing her thigh. “Okay. I own my place, so you okay if we live there?”
Laughter escaped her throat. “Just like that?”
“I love you. You love me. I’ve already vetoed guests for our wedding, so yeah. Do I want to come home to you every night and wake up to you every morning? Hell, yeah.”
She hugged him tight. “No more waiting for the perfect moment,” she whispered into his ear. She felt his shiver, felt his fingers flex against her leg.
“No more waiting.” He agreed.
