“Lexie, I almost didn’t recognize you!” Sara exclaimed, pulling her into a friendly hug.
“I definitely didn’t recognize you!” Lexie stepped back and admired yet another change in the multi-faceted cop.
Sara leaned closer. “Don’t tell anyone, but I’m working security.” She stepped back and subtly patted her thigh. “Gun beneath the dress,” she whispered.
Which explained the loose material, Lexie realized. And also clarified that she and Coop were not together on a date. Lexie’s rapidly beating heart finally began to slow to a more normal pace.
Sara glanced back and forth between the two. “I am going to make myself scarce and check in with my employer. See you later.” She waved and disappeared, leaving Lexie and Coop staring into each other’s eyes.
“Hi there,” she said, feeling ridiculously silly.
“Hi, yourself.”
She swallowed hard. “You’re a hard man to track down.”
“I didn’t know you were looking.” He never took his gaze from hers.
She shrugged. “I didn’t leave a message, but… I’m here now. Early. For you.”
He braced his arm against the pillar behind her. “Really.”
She nodded.
“Why?” he asked. “What do you need to talk to me about, gorgeous?”
Her throat grew parched. With him so close, his familiar scent surrounding her, sensual awareness enveloped her completely. “We left things unsettled.”
“And?”
He was putting this all on her, not that she blamed him. “I’ve done a lot of thinking since I saw you last. About things you’ve said and done. And about myself and what I’ve learned.” She licked her lips and tasted champagne. “I visited my father,” she blurted out.
His eyes opened wide. “Now that’s a surprise.”
She couldn’t agree more.
“What happened?”
“We made some headway, thanks to you.”
Silence descended between them. Lexie’s head was swimming with words she wanted to say, but her feelings overwhelmed her, and she couldn’t get her thoughts straight.
“What else?” he finally asked, his voice deep and compelling.
“I missed you,” she admitted, the words costing her pride everything but her heart nothing.
Progress, Coop thought.
“I missed you, too.”
“And—” she began. Then paused.
His heart stopped completely as he waited.
“And I more than like you, too, Coop,” she said, drawing a deep breath. “I love you.”
Finally.
He grinned. “I love you, too.”
He dipped his head and sealed his lips against hers. She separated from him only long enough to place her champagne glass on a nearby table before returning to wrap her arms around his neck and kiss him back.
And if he thought he’d imagined those three little words, she said them again, over and over with her mouth, her tongue, her lips until without warning, she eased back, resting her forehead against his.
“I’m not finished,” she said, her voice hoarse.
“Then don’t stop.”
She laughed. “I meant I’m not finished talking.”
He placed his hands on her hips and nodded in understanding. “We can talk later.” Right now he needed to be alone with her, not standing here in a public place.
“There’s a coat closet that’s not in use during the summer,” she said, reading his mind.
“How did you know what I was thinking?” he asked, amused but not surprised that she knew him that well.
“I already told you I came here early. I had time to scout around,” she said, eyes gleaming in anticipation.
“Show me.” He glanced at his watch. “Quickly. There are only twenty minutes before I have to check in.”
And he intended to make good use of each and every one.
Coop grabbed Lexie’s hand. She led him around the corner, through an empty hall to a two-part door that would open on top for a coat check. “This is it. I heard the staff say they’d leave it unlocked in case anyone needed to store things in here.” She turned the knob, and the door swung open wide. “Voilà,” she said, stepping inside.
He flipped on the light, kicked the door closed, locked it and reached for Lexie once more.
He couldn’t tear his gaze from her beautiful face as he pulled the hem of her dress high enough for him to cup her feminine heat in the palm of his hand.
Lexie leaned her head back and groaned. “God, I missed you.”
He pulled at her panties, helping them down her long, sexy legs and easing them over those fuck-me high heels before tucking her underwear into the pocket of his jacket.
“You take my breath away,” he said, kissing her cheek, her jaw, her neck.
“You’re pretty hot yourself. Especially this.” She rubbed his scruffy face with her palm.
Coop could look into her eyes forever, but he was aware of the minutes ticking by. He needed to finish this before they were missed. He slid his hand between their bodies and with his thumb, massaged her outer folds, finding her so good and wet. She arched into him, allowing him access and he eased one finger deep inside. Her body clenched around him, surrounding him in slick heat.
Lexie cried out, so he sealed his lips over hers, silencing her as he aroused her further, sliding his finger in and out of her slick passage. She panted in his ear, urging him harder, deeper, and he complied, while also drawing circles over her clit with his thumb. Her body shook, and he pressed harder against just the right spot until she was bucking against his hand.
Lexie impatiently reached for his trousers, her hands shaking as she attempted to open them.
“Easy,” he whispered. “Let me.” He released the button, yanked down the zipper and when the pants fell to the floor, he freed one foot, giving himself leverage.
He placed his hands on her hips, about to lift her onto him when reality set in and he muttered a raw curse.
“What’s wrong?” Lexie asked, surprised.
He met her gaze, and she saw regret and real pain in his eyes.
“No protection.”
At one time, Lexie would have called a halt. But this was Coop, the man she loved. Trusted.
She felt an unexpected smile curve her lips. “Well, you’re in luck because I’m on the pill.” Fully aware of how huge her words were, she cupped his erection, teasing him until he let out a groan.
“Lexie…” The words sounded like part warning, part plea.
“I’m safe, Coop. Tested yearly. The last time just happened to be when I was home in June. There’s been nobody else for a long time.”
“That’s not it. If you’re suggesting it, I trust you.”
“Same here, so what’s the problem?” she asked.
His curious eyes stared into hers. “I’m wondering why I’m just hearing about the pill now.”
Always the journalist, questions came out even at the most inopportune times, Lexie thought, loving him even more for it.
But she shook her head, drawing her hand up and down his hard shaft. “Do you really want me to answer now?” She spread his come over the head of his penis with the pad of her thumb.
He grasped her hips, lifting her into the air until she locked her legs around his waist. Once she anchored herself, Coop backed her against the wall and Lexie closed her eyes, guiding him with her hand, helping him lower her body onto his rigid shaft.
She was hot for him. Wet. So wet and so horny. She’d missed him, wanted him and she’d just admitted she loved him. Now she needed him, too.
He seemed to know it, staring at her as he filled her slowly, lovingly, completely. And she felt him, naked, bare inside her body.
Really felt him—unlike anyone who’d come before. And she couldn’t imagine anyone coming after. She grabbed his hair in her hands and pulled his face to her, kissing him hard. He kissed her back, but he was multitalented, and he tilted his hip
s and thrust harder. Deeper than he’d ever been before.
Lexie moaned, rocking her body against him, grinding together. He eased out and thrust back in deep, in and out, in and out, taking her higher with every slick stroke until her legs began to slip.
Before she could right herself, the change in position rubbed her body against his, bringing her suddenly closer to orgasm. She shuddered and let out a raw moan.
“Hang on,” Coop said, shifting so she could rewrap her legs around his waist.
But he also must have understood what the last position did to her because the next time he drove deep, he tilted his hips to match that last angle of penetration. His body connected with hers in that perfect way and the stars collided behind her eyes. He repeated the motion over and over as his body rocked hard against hers, taking her higher. And higher.
She cried out, and he covered her mouth with his and took her up and over the edge, his hips bucking harder and harder until he came on a low groan, pumping into her again and again, wringing every last drop of her orgasm before his movements finally stilled.
She wasn’t sure how long they stood like that, wrapped in each other’s arms, trying to catch their breath. Finally, awareness came back to her.
She breathed in deep and smiled. “Coop?”
“Hmm?”
Clearly, words were still beyond him.
“Come with me to Australia,” she said, the words shocking her the minute they’d escaped.
Chapter Seventeen
In silence, Coop pulled on his pants while Lexie adjusted her dress.
“You have something I need,” she said stiffly from behind him.
He pulled her underwear from his jacket pocket, fingering the soft material before handing the pair back to her.
Her words hung between them. “I don’t know what to say.”
She redressed, pulling her panties back on. “Then do what my parents taught me and don’t say anything.” Her voice was tight with hurt and disappointment.
Had she really expected him to drop his entire life and head off on one of her journeys?
Then again, she wasn’t asking about a single vacation, and they both knew it. There was too much between them to think she was referring to a one-shot deal. This was a serious commitment issue they were facing here.
He placed his hands on her shoulders, forcing her to face him. “Lex, I have a job, here. I can’t just pick up and take off whenever the whim strikes,” he tried to explain.
“Oh. So your I love you came with the expectation that I’d suddenly want to give up everything in my life and settle down?” she asked incredulously.
He set his jaw, seeing stalemate all over this argument.
“It sounds like yours came with the opposite expectation. That I’d pick up and run at a moment’s notice.”
Her eyes filled, causing his stomach to cramp.
She forced a cavalier shrug. “To quote you, ‘That’s what I do.’ And you knew that.”
Yeah, he had.
She wiped at her eyes. “Just like I knew you’d write my grandmother’s story, one way or another.”
“And you’re okay with that?”
She shook her head. “I still don’t know. But I’ve made my peace with it. Because it’s part of who you are. I could see that story lit a fire in you and it would be good for your writing. So, yes, I’m okay with that.”
He blew out a deep breath. “Lexie…”
She fluffed her hair with one hand, but she still looked as though she’d been thoroughly kissed, and more.
“I have to admit I didn’t think it through before I asked you to go with me, but now that I have, it’s a good idea. You could write. Free from the draining confines of the news, you could explore the world and see the colors!” Excitement tinged her voice, and that pink flush colored her cheeks as she shared her reasons with him. “Imagine what that would do for your creative process.”
Her words excited him. They also scared the crap out of him at the same time.
He raised an eyebrow. “Would the creative process pay the bills?” he asked more defensively than he’d meant to.
“Would it hurt to find out?” she shot back.
His head began to pound. A drink before this damn auction might also be a good idea.
Coop glanced at his watch. He was supposed to check in with the Lancaster Foundation people half an hour before the start of the auction. He was already late.
“Don’t let me keep you.” She jerked away. “I’ll leave first. I need to stop at the restroom anyway to freshen up.” She headed for the door, storming through it without looking back.
“Well, that went well,” he muttered, feeling like an uncaring ass.
But, really, had she expected him to uproot his entire life just for her?
Why not? He expected her to alter her entire being to stay home for him. He might not have said as much, but by refusing her outright, he’d implied it.
He didn’t have a solution, but he had an auction to emcee. He wondered if Lexie would stick around for the event or take off, leaving him to face this crowd alone. If their fundamental disagreement was anything to go by, it was something he ought to get used to.
Lexie headed directly to the ladies’ room. She found herself sitting in the powder room, head in her hands, trying to pull herself together before dealing with the outside world—her grandmother and Sylvia, the crowd in general and, yes, Coop.
For a few brief minutes she had everything she could ever want and then in typical Lexie style, her impulsiveness had destroyed any chances at a future. Of course, she wanted Coop to travel with her, but she could have approached him with the idea in a way he could have handled. Instead, she’d ended up alone.
Well, then. Her body still tingling from sex in a coat closet of all things, she stood and glanced in the mirror. “Just great. Look at me,” she muttered, staring at her bare lips and messed-up face.
“Can I offer you some makeup?” Sara strode over.
“I didn’t hear you come in.”
The other woman shrugged. “Here I am.”
“Ditto.”
“What happened?” she asked, opening her gold purse and pulling out an array of makeup products.
“Too bad I didn’t think to bring any with me. Thanks.” Lexie forced a smile and began repairing the damage both her own tears and Coop’s beard had done to her face.
“I’m a good listener,” Sara pushed.
Lexie sighed. “I didn’t run away if that’s what you think. In fact, it was just the opposite. I asked Coop to come with me to Australia.” She met the other woman’s gaze in the mirror.
Sara let out a slow whistle. “You’ve got guts.”
“But not many brains. I scared him to death.” She patted concealer beneath her eyes and applied some blush to her cheeks.
“I’ll just bet you did. Coop’s such a creature of habit it’s almost scary. He likes what’s comfortable.”
“Then how do you explain his attraction to me?” Lexie asked, choking back threatening tears.
She’d promised herself she’d never let a man hurt her the way Drew had. Well, she’d certainly kept that promise. Falling for Coop had caused her far worse pain than Drew ever could. Because she loved him so much more.
Sara shook her head. “There’s no explaining chemistry. I ought to know.”
Curious, Lexie glanced at her. “Sounds like you’re talking about one person in particular.”
She shrugged. “We’re not discussing me, remember? We’re talking about you. And Coop. When I warned you not to hurt him, I never considered the possibility that he might do a number on you. I’m sorry.”
Lexie raised one hand in the air, letting it helplessly drop to the ground. “The course of true love never runs smooth.”
“Is that what this is?” Sara asked.
“It is for me. And Coop said the same thing. Until I blew it.”
Sara’s eyes opened wide. “You don’t walk away f
rom love. Unless you’re in my family,” she said, laughing. “Lexie, what is it you want from life, if you don’t mind my asking? I mean where do you see yourself five or even ten years from now?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. I’ve never looked that far ahead.”
Sara glanced at her watch. “Auction starts soon. I have to go, but can I offer you a suggestion?”
Lexie nodded.
“Think about it. Before it’s too late.”
Coop waited a few extra minutes to get himself under control before walking out of the coatroom. He stopped in the men’s room before checking in with the foundation people, who briefed him on his role. They’d hired an auctioneer, so all Coop had to do was read descriptions from notecards and let the professional do his thing.
He caught sight of Amanda mingling with potential bidders, looking beautiful as always, and practically salivating at the prospect of being the only journalist in the room. He waved and continued scanning the crowd.
Sara walked into the room, her eyes alert as she strode around. To all the world she appeared to be looking for someone. To Coop, she was surveying the guests, making certain everyone belonged. Seemingly satisfied, she headed for the bar to order her standard club soda with a twist of lime.
Coop’s father stood off to one side along with his date, Felicia. Coop admired the woman with his dad, a brunette who appeared larger than Coop’s petite mother, but who wore the same expression his mother had around the old man. A look of adoration.
Jack Cooper had obviously met someone who cared for him. And if Jack had brought her here, he obviously felt the same way. Coop was happy for him and headed over to meet the woman who’d finally woken his father out of his long coma.
During the introductions and conversation, Coop looked around for Lexie, wanting nothing more than to share this momentous occasion with her.
But she was nowhere to be found.
“Where’s your lady?” Jack asked, reading his mind.
“Sara is by the bar,” Coop said, being deliberately obtuse.
Jack glanced at the ceiling. “Did I really raise him?”
Felicia laughed. “Maybe he wants to keep his private life private. I’ll go freshen up,” she said diplomatically.
Kiss Me if You Can (Most Eligible Bachelor Series Book 1) Page 23
