Cooper's Charm

by Lori Foster

  “No doubt he’s an excellent liar.”

  “Probably, but I think I believe him. He also said something about us sending a goon to harass him last night.” She further explained everything Harry had said. “Do you think David might’ve somehow known about Harry and visited him?”

  “I suppose it’s possible.” To her surprise, he sat back and draped his wrists over his knees. “If he’d been watching the place, he might’ve seen Gibb here and known something was up. If he followed him—”

  “Then he could have seen Gibb talking to Harry.” But that would require a lot of coincidence and perfect timing.

  When her cell phone rang, she set Sugar aside to lift a hip and draw the phone from her back pocket. The dog plopped down beside her with a sigh, already dozing off again.

  Phoenix didn’t recognize the number, so she answered with a polite, “Hello?”

  “Phoenix? It’s me, David.”

  * * *

  Coop nodded his thanks when Phoenix, appearing staggered by the unexpected call, pushed the speaker button so he could listen in.

  “David, hi.” She cleared her throat. “Um, what’s up?”

  Her effort at casual banter, which sounded strained to Coop, must have convinced David.

  Her ex blew out a breath, then said in a rush, “I owe you a big apology.”

  “Oh?” Her gaze locked with Coop’s. “An apology for what?”

  “Angie told me you called. She also told me that she wasn’t very nice.” David sounded tortured with that admission. “I’m sorry.”

  “It’s fine, David. I understand.”

  “Do you?”

  “Well, not really.”

  His laugh was sad and strangely exhausted. “She didn’t know that I’d visited you. I figured she wouldn’t understand, but I knew it was wrong to keep it from her. When I finally told her, she admitted that you’d called.”

  Phoenix licked her lips, thinking. But she was smart, so Coop wasn’t surprised when she said, “I hope I didn’t cause any problems. I want only the best for you.”

  “I know. I feel the same about you.” There was a beat of silence, then David asked, “Why did you call? I admit I wasn’t expecting it.”

  “I had wanted to ask you something, but you changed your number and I couldn’t connect on any of the familiar places like Facebook.”

  He sighed. “Fact is, after what happened to you, I was pretty shook up.” He hesitated, then rushed on, saying, “I loved you, Phoenix, but then you broke things off and—don’t feel bad, but I was a mess. If it hadn’t been for Angie, I’d probably still be sitting in the house you chose, moping about things I couldn’t change and making myself a miserable bastard.”

  Coop watched her close, guilt in her eyes. “I am so sorry.”

  “Please don’t be. Things were rough, I admit, but if they hadn’t played out as they did, I wouldn’t be with Angie now. Honestly, Phoenix, I’m happy. That’s why I visited, to make sure you knew because, hon, I know you and I figured you’d be feeling bad. I didn’t want that.”

  She nodded, swallowing hard. “Thank you.”

  “I also knew Angie wouldn’t understand. She thinks I’m still hung up on you.”

  “But you’re not,” Phoenix said fiercely.

  To Coop, it only sounded a little like a question.

  “I’m not,” David confirmed. “I love Angie.” He laughed, then added, “I’m working with her dad now and it’s great, and I’m living with Angie until we have our house built. We’ve bought the land and we’re working with the architect. It’s exciting and fun and...” His voice trailed off. “I guess you don’t need all the details. But if you ever want to reach out, you can use this number.”

  Gently now, Phoenix said, “Thank you, David.”

  “So why did you want to talk to me?”

  Coop saw her thinking fast, and he knew the minute she thought of a good reason other than the truth: that they’d thought he might’ve been there to cause trouble.

  “That day you visited, something weird happened.”

  “Weird?”

  “It’s not important, but I wondered if maybe you saw anyone, I don’t know—suspicious—hanging around?”

  Concern edged his voice, making him sound urgent. “What happened? Were you hurt?”

  “Not really, just scared.” She gave the bare bones of the incident. “It was the noise that startled me the most. I thought it was someone shooting.”

  “Jesus, Phoenix. After what you went through, you had to be panicked.”

  “A little,” she admitted.

  Coop frowned. Why did David have to press her? If he truly knew her at all, he’d know showing fear was a problem for her.

  “You don’t have any ideas?” David asked.

  “Unfortunately, no.”

  There was a heavy pause, and then he said with dawning concern, “You thought it might’ve been me, didn’t you?”

  Looking pained, she said, “Not really, no.” She bit her lip before adding, “Others mentioned the possibility.”

  “Honestly, I can see why. But I swear to you, I wouldn’t—”

  She interrupted him to say, “I never really believed it, David. I promise.”

  “I’m glad.” Except for the sound of his breathing, David was silent a moment. “I wish I could help, but that day I was so focused on seeing you, on making sure you were okay, I didn’t really pay attention.”

  “I understand.”

  “We’re still friends, honey. If you ever need me, please let me know, okay?”

  Softly, Phoenix pointed out the obvious. “Angie wouldn’t like that.”

  “I’ll make her understand. Just promise me you’ll call if—”

  “No,” she said, her voice gentle. “I appreciate it, David, I really do, but as you said, we’ve moved on. We each have other, more important people in our lives now.” At that, she met Coop’s eyes.

  He smiled, enjoying the way she’d just claimed him to her ex.

  “I’m glad to hear it. Take care of yourself, Phoenix.”

  “Same to you.” As she set the phone aside, Phoenix frowned. “If it wasn’t him, and it wasn’t Harry, then it must have been no more than a stupid prank.”

  Coop wasn’t yet ready to rule out either man, but he said, “Let’s hope so,” then lifted her into his lap. Sugar gave them both a look for disrupting her sleep, moved a few feet away and went back to sleep.

  Phoenix got comfortable against him, her head on his shoulder, her hand resting against his chest.

  “Am I important to you, Phoenix?”

  As if surprised by the question, she tipped back to see him, her incredible blue eyes widened behind the lenses of her glasses. “What?”

  “You told David that you now had more important people in your life.” Gently, he straightened her glasses for her, then tucked back a wisp of her sleek, inky black hair. “Am I one of those people?”

  A little uncertain, she asked, “Do you want to be?”

  “Oh, yeah.” He let his finger trail across her cheek, down her jaw to her throat, then to the upper swells of her breasts. “I’ve been working at it, you know.”

  She smiled at his teasing. “You don’t have to work for it, and yes, you’re very important to me.” She caught his hand, pressing it to her chest. “I don’t know how it happened so fast when I was trying my best not to get involved. But there you go.”

  His grin was slow and satisfied. Naturally, his fingers curved around her, enjoying the fullness of her soft flesh. She hadn’t mentioned love, and that was okay. When he thought of how far they’d come, it didn’t seem fast to him at all, but he’d take what he could get.

  God knew that each day, she became more important to him, too. He didn’t want to take it for granted, having her in his house, in his b
ed.

  In his heart.

  For now, being important to her seemed like a big enough step.

  * * *

  As the weeks went by and nothing else happened, they all accepted that the trouble was behind them, allowing them to move on without worries.

  July turned into August with a heat wave that scorched the grass and turned the leaves on the trees brittle. The lake and pool became the most popular hangout—and Phoenix actually broke down to swim.

  She felt more daring these days, so on a shopping trip with her sister, she splurged and bought a new modest two-piece. The bottom wasn’t nearly as minuscule, nor the top as skimpy, as the suit Ridley chose, but then her sister always did have more daring—and the body to make it work.

  Phoenix’s suit, a pale blue that Ridley said matched her eyes—never mind that Ridley’s eyes were the same color—had a wider top that adequately supported her breasts, and bottoms with a ruffle around the hip bone–level waistband. It was pretty, but she felt silly in it; her belly was pale compared to the light tan on her legs and arms. But seeing Coop’s face when she came out wearing it took care of her reservations.

  “Damn,” he growled, slowly rising from his seat. “We’re going swimming?”

  “It’s a nice night for it.” She loved how his gaze moved all over her. “That is, if we can use your private dock?”

  “Yeah, sure.” He came toward her. “We should make a calendar with you on the cover. We’d be rich in no time.”

  Laughing, Phoenix turned to show him the back—then felt his hands on her waist, hands that quickly slipped down to her hips.

  Against her ear, he asked, “You sure you want to swim?”

  Oh, it was nice to be wanted by Cooper Cochran. “Yes, absolutely.”

  His lips played over her neck. “All right. I’ll consider it foreplay.” He gave her bottom a pat before stepping back. “Give me just a minute to change into my trunks. Don’t go out without me, okay?”

  Her brows went up. “Why?”

  Like a lecherous wolf, he eyed her up and down. “I don’t want you tempting the masses.” After that outrageous comment, he headed for the hall.

  Grinning, Phoenix found Sugar’s leash. The second she lifted it, the little dog went nuts, knowing it was a signal that they’d be going outside.

  “Cooper is pretty awesome, isn’t he?”

  Sugar answered with a quick circle around her feet.

  “I know what I look like, and yet he makes me feel like a sex symbol. No one has ever done that before. Not that I’m hung up on body issues or anything.”

  Stopping to stare at her, Sugar seemed to be listening.

  “But it’s different with Cooper.”

  The dog gave a bark of agreement.

  Phoenix attached the leash, gave the dog a full stroke down her back, then turned as she heard Cooper reenter. He wore loose black swim shorts, a white T-shirt and he carried two towels with a plastic pouch for his phone and wallet.

  Crazy how much she anticipated swimming with him.

  After she added her phone to the pouch, he looped one towel around her neck and kissed her soundly on the mouth. “I’m good for an hour, no more.” He coasted the backs of his knuckles over her lower stomach. “Besides, I don’t want you to sunburn.”

  “It’s almost 8:00.”

  “And still sunny.” He snagged up a few water bottles and a dish for Sugar, and they headed out.

  When they reached his dock a few minutes later, she knew he was right. The sun remained a blazing fireball in the cloudless sky. They could hear the laughter and splashing at the beach, but no one intruded beyond the buoys that marked his private area.

  Cooper leashed Sugar in the only shady spot with a dish of water, then made a clean dive into the lake.

  Phoenix, feeling a little unsure, put her glasses safely with the towels, then waded in off the sandy shoreline. In only a few steps, the tepid water was past her knees, and a few more after that, it lapped at her breasts.

  She felt the movement of the water, then saw Cooper rise in front of her. This close, she could see him, and he looked gorgeous with his hair slicked back.

  “You’re okay?” he asked, taking her hands and leading her farther out.

  “It feels wonderful.”

  “Baxter and Daron are looking this way.”

  She laughed at his grumbling tone. “I bet it’s not just them.”

  “Maris and your sister, too,” he admitted.

  “Are they all swimming?”

  “Mostly your sister was flaunting, but Baxter just picked her up and, with Daron egging him on, tossed her in.”

  “In the lake?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Oh, wow.” Phoenix tried to look serious, but couldn’t repress her grin. “She’ll get even in a diabolical way. She always does.”

  “Yup. She’s already talking to a few other guys while ignoring Baxter. But it doesn’t appear he’ll allow that for too long.” Cooper shook his head, then leaned close, his body further warming her in the water. “I’m glad you don’t bring it as hard-core as Ridley.”

  Loving the feel of his wet skin, she slipped her hands up and over his wide shoulders. “Meaning?”

  “She loves making Baxter jealous, and the poor schmuck falls for it every time.”

  “That ‘poor schmuck’ did throw her in.”

  “True.” Rough fingers slipped under her chin, tilting up her face. “I like your sister a lot. I especially like how much she loves you. But I’m not a game player.”

  Phoenix wrinkled her nose. “Me neither.” She had a hard enough time keeping up with what was real without adding confusing games of one-upmanship to it.

  “I know, and I appreciate it. So let’s make a deal. Any misunderstandings will be discussed. I’ll never give you reason to doubt me, and you never give me reason to be jealous.” He didn’t wait for her reply. “And if one of us does get jealous, we’ll talk about it so it doesn’t become an issue.”

  “Deal,” she said immediately, but with all the discussion, she wondered if jealousy had been an issue with his wife. Personally, she wasn’t the type for it. She either trusted someone or she didn’t, and if she didn’t trust Cooper, she wouldn’t be with him still.

  Should she bring it up? Until she decided, she tried a different tack. “I think we’re already doing that, right? Maybe not about jealousy, but a few weeks back, when I wanted you to trust me not to take chances—”

  “And I told you it had nothing to do with trust—but I understood you didn’t like being coddled.”

  “Not when it feels like an insult to my intelligence.”

  “Which would never be my intention.” His breath teased her ear as he whispered, “Your brains are as attractive as your kickin’ body.”

  Phoenix shivered, and his teeth tugged at her earlobe. To give her brain something to focus on other than his big gorgeous body and subtle seduction, she asked, “What’s my smartass sister doing now?”

  He turned his head to look—and laughed. “She and Baxter are in much the same position as us.”

  Good. Ridley deserved to be happy. “I guess Baxter convinced her to forget her payback.”

  “Apparently.” He scooped his hands down to her bottom below the water. “We need to try this again some evening when no one else is around and it’s too dark for others to see us.”

  “Swim at night?” The idea didn’t sound appealing at all.

  “Have you ever had sex in the water?”

  “Actually...no.” But suddenly his suggestion seemed more appealing. “Cooper?”

  Lips to her neck, he murmured, “Hmm?”

  “Was your wife the jealous type?” As soon as the words left her mouth, Phoenix cringed. She hadn’t meant to blurt it out like that, but the way he touched her, the warmth
of his mouth, scattered her thoughts.

  For only a heartbeat, his body stilled against hers. In the next second, he leaned away, his hands now holding her waist, their bodies no longer flush together. “Why do you ask?”

  He appeared more defensive than offended. “It does seem to be an important matter to you.”

  Two more beats passed, then he leaned in for a fast, firm kiss. “Yes, she was jealous a lot, though she never had any reason to be. She’d have hated the resort.”

  “Because you deal with a lot of female customers?” Many of them, Phoenix silently added, dressed in skimpy summer clothes or even bikinis. And of course they often flirted with him. Why wouldn’t they? He was big, buff, gorgeous—and single.

  Cooper nodded, and then he surprised her by hugging her close, his chin atop her head. “We had a good marriage. But like most couples, we had our problems.”

  “Things are never perfect in any relationship.”

  “True. I never talked about it before, though, because it would have felt disloyal.” His laugh was rough, and filled with irony. “So odd that it doesn’t feel that way with you. It’s even odder that you don’t mind talking about it.”

  No, she didn’t mind. “I’m glad you had her.” She meant that with all her heart. Cooper deserved happiness, and Anna had given him that. “I’m just sorry that you lost her so soon.”

  With a groan, he held her out the length of his arms. “Phoenix...”

  “Yoo-hoo.”

  Recognizing her sister’s voice, Phoenix turned toward the shore. She could just make out Ridley’s outline—alone. “Where’s Baxter?” she asked her, worrying that they might have gotten into another disagreement.

  “Some new guests had scuba questions for him.” Sotto voce, Ridley confessed, “Two old dudes, so I happily left him with them. It’s the hoochies who come on to him that I don’t trust.” Hands on her hips, Ridley asked, “So Coop, how involved are you two in that water?” She peered at them skeptically. “The water is so dark, it’s hard to tell.”

  While Phoenix choked on a laugh, Ridley asked, “Any chance I can steal my sister for a few minutes?”