“Not really, but it doesn’t matter. You know what I mean.”
He considered, his finger absently brushing against his upper lip, making me want to run my tongue over it. “But if it’s your ass you’re worrying about me seeing, I won’t. Just your front. So see, it’s a win-win. You get something you want, I get something I want.” He rolled a little toward me, just enough to cup my breast. “And I really, really want, Emmy.”
So did I. I kept still for a minute. “Didn’t you get enough last night?” It wasn’t meant to sound like a complaint, and luckily Cooper didn’t take it that way. He laughed a little as his thumb circled my already-stiff nipple.
“Did you?”
I knew I should answer yes. Being breezy definitely didn’t include a morning quickie. But his lips parted that moment, and his fingers rolled my nipple, making me catch my breath.
“No.”
Before the syllable had even left my lips, Cooper lifted me up and over, onto his body. I struggled to untangle my leg from the blanket and settle on him, all the while working to hold the sheet up to my chest.
“Drop the sheet, Emmy. Come on, a deal’s a deal. I get the front, you hide the back.”
I shook my head, but at the same time, I couldn’t help smiling. He was just crazy. But he was right; I’d promised. I let the white cotton sheet flutter from my fingers, exposing my boobs and stomach to his gaze.
If I’d expected to see him try to hide his disgust, I’d have been disappointed. There was nothing in Cooper’s eyes as he looked at my body except want and admiration. He raised his hands to lift both of my breasts, squeezing as he raised his head to capture one pink tip.
“Gorgeous, Em. Perfect.”
His words, his voice and his eyes, all working in concert, created a swell of intense desire inside me. I couldn’t wait another minute, and I leaned forward to find the last condom on the nightstand. Cooper had made a quick and desperate run to his Jeep about three this morning to get the rubbers from his glove box. I didn’t want to know why he had condoms there, and I wasn’t going to ask. I decided to just be glad he did.
Ripping open the packet, I rolled it down his length, one hand fisted at the base. Cooper groaned, and before he could recover, I lifted myself up and sank down onto his cock.
This morning, there was no lazy, growing need in me. There was only him, his swelling cock inside me, and the impetus to find the exact right way to move that made him hit the spot that drove me mad. I found it and cried out, leaning forward a little to make sure I was in the best position.
“You’re so tight. And so wet for me.” Cooper spoke through gritted teeth, and I smiled a little, enjoying the power. I was bringing him pleasure, making him feel good. I began to move faster, and Cooper gripped my thighs. Whether he was trying to slow me down or speed me up, I didn’t know, but I was close to my own release and kept moving.
Just as everything within me exploded into a million bits of satisfaction, Coop froze, his body tightening in one long muscle. He jerked upwards a few times, rubbing my sensitive flesh and making me cry out again.
I collapsed onto his chest, breathing so hard I wasn’t sure I’d ever catch up again. Cooper drew small circles on my back, lulling me nearly back to sleep, before a sharp sting on my ass startled me.
“Okay, woman, I got my reward. Time for me to keep my part of the bargain. Go get your robe, and I’ll roll this way and keep my eyes closed. Okay?”
I moaned. “I don’t want the robe anymore. Just want to stay here.” My lips moved against the skin of his chest, and I felt his goose bumps.
“Let’s think this through, logically. If you stay in bed, so will I, because no way in hell am I getting up if there’s even the slightest chance that might happened again.” He skimmed one palm over the globe of my backside. “And if you stay in bed and so do I, pretty soon it’ll be time for you to open the Tide. And then Jude will wonder where you are, and she’ll panic and call your mom. And your mom will come rushing over here, maybe with your kids, and they’ll burst in here, just to find you fucking the very life out of me. And that just sounds like years of therapy bills for your kids.”
I was giggling by the time he finished. Pushing on his chest, I sat up a little. “Fine. Since you just carried an idea to its highly unlikely and alarming conclusion, I guess I’ll get out of bed and put on my robe.” I swung my leg off his body and shoved at his shoulder. “Go ahead now. Turn over and don’t open your eyes until I say. Promise?”
“I already did promise.” But he slapped one hand over his heart anyway and spoke low. “I promise not to look at your ass while you’re getting your robe. Satisfied?”
Grinning more than a little smugly, I paused on the edge of the bed, looking back over Cooper’s drool-worthy body. “Oh, yeah. Satisfaction is a given.” I jumped up from the bed and dashed into the bathroom.
“There better not be any prancing going on in there!” Cooper yelled to me as I struggled to get my arms in the sleeves. “Not where I can’t see!”
I tied the belt securely and went back into the bedroom. “It’s safe to open your eyes now. Thanks for being a gentleman.”
Cooper turned his head in the pillow so that I could see just one eye. “Thanks for the reward.”
“Is it still a reward if I get as much out of it as you do?” I leaned against the door jam, appreciating the view as Cooper rolled again and the sheet slid down his hips.
“Oh, baby, that’s even more of a reward.” His eyebrows waggled. “Now go away. I need to get up, and I know you want to ogle my ass. I have to hold onto my dignity, you know.”
I couldn’t hold back my laughter as I headed for the kitchen, leaving Cooper and his dignity alone in my bedroom.
Since I’d never had a hookup, I wasn’t sure of the breakfast protocol. But having an overnight guest usually meant providing at least the basics, so I took the plunge and made coffee. As it began to drip, Cooper called from the back of the house.
“Hey, Em, is it okay if I take a shower?”
I rested my hip against the edge of the counter, suddenly fighting off an odd sense of déjà vu. It’d been long years since I’d heard a man’s voice coming from my room while I cooked. I’d forgotten how much I liked it, the presence of another adult in the house. Particularly a male one. Particularly this male one.
Before I could go too far down that dangerous road, I called back to him. “Sure. Clean towels are in the linen closet just outside the bathroom door. Help yourself to anything else you need.”
“Thanks, Emmy.” The bathroom door closed—I could always tell which door it was, because it tended to stick a little—and a few minutes later, I heard the shower turn on.
Without really thinking about it, I took the carton of eggs out of the fridge and cracked some into a bowl, whipping them into a froth. My favorite cast iron pan was on the burner where it always sat—I used it too often to bother putting it away—and I dropped a dollop of butter in the middle as it heated. When the pan began to sizzle, I added the egg mix and tilted the pan to distribute it evenly.
My movements were automatic, which was a good thing since my brain was buzzing in too many directions to pay attention. Last night had been . . . I didn’t have the right words for what being with Cooper had meant to me. I’d been ignoring crucial parts of myself for too long, and last night, they’d roared to life. It was more than just the sex, although . . . damn. That had been enough by itself. But Cooper had talked to me. Listened to me. He’d complimented me, and I knew his words were sincere, because I’d never known this man to tell a lie, even in the interest of sparing feelings. This morning, I felt like an entirely new person. Instead of dreading the new week, I was invigorated.
Digging a spatula out of the drawer, I flipped the eggs over and added salt and pepper, turning down the heat. While they finished cooking, I opened up the wooden bread box on the counter and unwrapped a loaf of butter wheat bread that I’d made Thursday. There was just enough for four slices
, which I laid carefully on the racks in the oven to toast.
A loud thump down the hall told me Cooper had finished his shower. I smiled as I heard him whistling. I hoped that meant he’d enjoyed last night, too. And this morning.
It’s a one-time deal, Em. Don’t go getting gooey and sentimental. Remember, breezy.
I nodded to myself, repeating the mantra in my head as I took out dishes and plated the eggs. He came into the kitchen just as I opened the oven to check the bread.
“Do I smell eggs? God, I’m never leaving.” His easy grin told me he was teasing. “My life is a great tragedy, because I love breakfast. Eggs, bacon, toast, pancakes, waffles, French toast, juice—you name it. Love it. And I can’t cook any of it to save my soul.”
The bread wasn’t ready, and I shut the oven, leaning against the door as I folded my arms across my chest. “You can’t learn how to do it?”
Cooper shook his head. “I make do with all the other meals. I can manage a chicken and even spaghetti sometimes. But there’s something about anything with eggs that just eludes me.”
“So what do you do?” I unhooked two mugs from beneath the cabinet and poured coffee. “Or is that why your life is such a tragedy, because you never get breakfast?”
He picked up his coffee and inhaled it, eyes falling shut. “Ah. That’s the stuff.” Shaking his head when I pointed out the sugar and cream, he took a long drink. “Well, most days I just have coffee and maybe a granola bar. But sometimes I go to that little diner out on route 18.”
I raised one eyebrow. “I don’t know if you’re aware, but one of your very best friends owns a restaurant not five minutes from your house. And she serves a mean breakfast.”
“I know.” Coop looked miserable. “But if I went to the Tide, I’d have to be sociable. Jude expects me to hold a conversation when I go there. When I go to the diner, no one cares about me. They don’t know me from Adam, and they leave me alone. So sometimes, that’s what I do.” He took another sip and then looked up at me with serious alarm. “Don’t tell Jude, though. I don’t want to hurt her feelings.”
If I knew anything about my boss, she was fully aware of her friend’s extracurricular restaurant activities. Not much escaped Jude, and Crystal Cove was small enough that word got around pretty fast. But I drew an X over my heart and nodded. “Not a word.” I peeked into the oven again and turned it off before I opened the door. “Toast is ready.” Using my fingers, I picked up the slices fast and dropped them onto our plates. “Oooh! Hot.”
“Imagine that, something coming out of the oven is hot.” Cooper shook his head. “Why don’t you have a toaster? It’s this new-fangled device that cooks bread so we don’t have to burn off our fingers.”
I stuck out my tongue at him. “I don’t need a toaster. They only work on faux bread and nasty breakfast pastries. We don’t eat them in my house, so we don’t need a toaster. The oven works just fine, thanks.” I carried the plates to the table and set them down. Cooper took the seat across from me, just as he had last night.
“This looks amazing. But what’s faux bread?”
I brought over forks, knives and butter. “Any bread that isn’t made at home is faux bread. Any bread that comes in plastic bags is faux bread.” I sat down and pointed at the toast on his plate. “That is not faux bread.”
He forked off a bite of eggs and laid it on a corner of toast before biting into it. I watched his face, grinning when his expression changed to surprised bliss.
“Oh my God, Em. This . . . this is amazing. It’s the best bread I’ve ever tasted. You made this?”
I smiled. “I did. And if you think it’s good toasted, you should try it fresh out of the oven. That’s when it’s best. My kids fight for who gets the first slice.”
“I don’t blame them. I’d mow them down.” He took another bite, swallowing before he went on. “The eggs are great, too. Seriously, Em, thanks. This is a treat.”
Breezy. “Well, I had to eat, and so did you. Glad you like it.” I turned my attention to my own plate, and we ate in companionable silence for a few minutes.
“What do you usually do on Saturdays?” Cooper pushed away his empty plate and leaned back in his chair, his eyes on me.
I shrugged. “Catch up, mostly. I do paperwork for the pie business, email managers and booking agents about the acts playing at the Tide in the next few weeks. Pay bills. Make lists for the baking I’ll be doing.”
“So, you pretty much take it easy?” I couldn’t miss the teasing note in his voice.
“Yeah, pretty much. My life is so glamorous. Try not to be jealous.” I rolled my eyes, one side of my mouth curving into a smile. “How about you? Are Saturdays just another work day?”
“Sometimes.” His eyes fastened on the coffee mug, and he used one finger to move it slightly. “When Lex was smaller, I usually spent weekends with her. Or at least most weekends. But now she’s in high school, and she’s got this thing called a social life. So old Dad gets relegated to the occasional Sunday.”
I felt a pang. I was thankful that I didn’t have to share my kids with Eddy. He hadn’t seen them in person in over two years. “I’m sure it’s not that bad. I’ve seen Lexie with you, remember. She adores you.”
He smiled. “We’re good. She calls and texts all the time, and I know this is just part of her growing up. Jolie says she never sees her, either. Lex is always running from one thing to another.”
I’d met Jolie, Cooper’s first ex-wife. She was a pretty brunette with flashing dark eyes. Jude always said Cooper and Jolie got along better as a divorced couple than they ever had when they were married, and I could see that was true. Jolie lived with a banker up in Daytona, and she seemed to have found her peace with life. Lexie was a lovely and well-adjusted young girl. She’d worked for Jude a few summers, and I’d enjoyed getting to know her.
“I don’t know what I’m going to do when my kids are that age. Cam’s getting close, but boys mature slower. I’m hoping he takes the real slow route.”
Cooper nodded. “Still, being in the Cove is the best. They can walk or ride their bikes to just about anything, so they have some freedom without the risk. I loved growing up on the beach, in this town.”
“That’s true. I did, too.” I grinned a little. “I used to ride my bikes to your baseball games. Not that you would’ve noticed.”
He winced. “You’re right, unfortunately. Back in those days, I was a jerk. Thought I had the world by the short hairs, being the big baseball player. Getting that scholarship. I had the whole thing planned out, and I didn’t have time to pay attention to anyone else.”
“You weren’t that bad.” I felt I had to defend the Cooper Davis who’d won my heart way back then. “You were sweet to me, once.”
“Really? When was that?”
I hesitated. For so long, I’d held that story close to me; it was at first an exciting taste of what life might hold, and then it faded into a memory that brought back all the shiny potential of those days.
“It was right before you graduated. I was at the high school for orientation, and I got lost. I ran smack into you, and you helped me find where I needed to go next. You were so nice, and you didn’t make me feel stupid. I really appreciated that.”
Cooper frowned. “I wish I could say I remembered it. I’m glad I wasn’t an asshole to you, but I think that was the exception, not the rule.” He regarded me steadily across the table. “Funny to think what if . . .” His voice trailed off, and I wondered if his what-if was anything like mine. What if Cooper had talked to me a little longer? What if he’d seen me at one of his baseball games and remembered me? What if we’d dated, and fallen in love? Would we have been just a quick fling before he left for college, or would we have stuck? Would our lives have been completely different?
I spoke first, breaking the silence. “It was so long ago. I was just a baby, not even a freshman yet. The age difference was pretty vast in those days.” I didn’t say what I was thinking, that now it did
n’t matter at all. We were both unattached adults.
Cooper stretched his arms over his head, groaning with the effort. It reminded me of how his muscles tensed when he was in the throes of an orgasm, and I had to close my eyes before I melted into a puddle right there in my chair.
“I better get out of here and let you get on with your exciting Saturday.” He stood, pushing in the chair, and picked up his breakfast plate. “I’ll help you clean up.”
“Don’t worry about it.” Suddenly, I wanted him to go. If he wasn’t going to stay—and he wasn’t; he’d been upfront about that, and so had I been. But I needed him to leave so that I could start putting everything back together in my head and adjust to my new life post-hookup.
“I don’t mind. You cooked, I should do the washing up.”
“Really, Cooper.” I took the plate from his hand and carried it to the sink. “I work faster by myself. And I’m sure you’ve got a lot to do, too. You have a rocking chair to make again, don’t you?” It seemed a hundred years ago that he’d told me about his annoying client and the chair that had to be done again. So much had changed in one night.
“Ugh. Don’t remind me.” He grimaced. “Yeah, I need to figure out how I’m going juggle everything to make it work.” He caught my arm as I tried to pass him, carrying our dishes. “Em, are you . . . you’re not mad at me, are you?”
“Mad?” I tried for a laugh and hoped it didn’t come out sounding bitter or slightly crazy. “Of course not. Why would I be mad?” There, that sounded breezy, like I couldn’t have cared less about him leaving. Like being angry or hurt was the furthest thing from my mind.
“I don’t know. When we . . . last night. Before we—when I said about this being a one-time thing. I didn’t know.” He ran one hand over his short hair, pressing his lips together. “God, I don’t know what I’m trying to say. I guess I assumed this was something you did from time to time. Discreetly. I didn’t know this was the first sex you were going to have since Eddy.”
I put one hand on my hip and looked up at him, my eyes narrowing. “And now that you know you were the first one since my divorce, somehow you feel—what? Responsible for me? Like you owe me something now?”
The Plan Page 6
