Cooper

by Hazel Parker

  Twenty minutes later, he finally relented, beginning by telling me he hadn’t expected me to be so sharp. I could detect grudging admiration now, and it had nothing to do with my looks. In fact, he treated me like an equal now, even offering a toast as we sealed the business deal.

  I smiled. I forced myself not to look at Cooper again, even when I saw him and his date leave out of the corner of my eye.

  Maybe this night wasn’t so bad after all.

  CHAPTER SIX

  COOPER

  Practice today wasn’t as smooth as I wanted it to be, but I forced myself to be satisfied and not to dwell too much on it. It was a weakness of mine, really—this persistence to do things until everything was perfect, and my insistence to take up any challenge thrown my way to the point that it was no longer healthy.

  Jane, of course, knew this about me and was the first to point it out and complain that she was only here for a short time and I needed to pay her a little bit of attention. I rolled my eyes as we stood at the race track garage, where I was still debating if I should go back to the track and trying not to listen to Jane beside me.

  “Please, Cooper? Please? You can always practice tomorrow. You’ve got that simulation thing at home. I’m your sister. Doesn’t your sister matter more than your car? Are you really going to leave me alone where I can get lonely and be sad because you’re not there?”

  She pouted at me and gave me those pleading eyes that I didn’t think anyone could resist. She’d been giving me that look since she was a toddler, and by now she perfected it.

  Damn it.

  I sighed reluctantly. “Fine. Practice is over.”

  The pout turned into a smug grin, one she immediately tried to hide behind her hand. But her eyes twinkled, and I couldn’t help smiling back. “You really love me, don’t you?”

  I chuckled and pinched her ear, making her yelp and glare at me. “Don’t be too cocky. Where are we headed, anyway?”

  “You decide. You’re the one living in Florida. Just take me somewhere casual with good food and beer, and we’re all set.”

  In the end, we settled for Jay’s, which was owned by popular race car driver Scott McCall himself and was one of the most laidback hangout spots in the city. It was a low-key bar where everyone just had a good time, with some of the best food I’d tasted. Scott wasn’t around when we got there, but the place was pretty filled up by the time Jane and I settled down. We ordered their bestsellers right away—fish and homemade chips—and slid into one of the circular wall tables, where Jane talked my ear off before she started complaining again. This time, she was moaning over the fact that Nancy and I didn’t hit it off and didn’t set up a second date.

  “I just can’t understand. She’s single; you’re single. She’s beautiful and smart, and I know you like beautiful and smart.”

  “Jane, just because my type is beautiful and smart doesn’t mean I’ll end up liking anyone beautiful and smart. You know it doesn’t work that way.”

  “So what’s wrong with her?”

  “Nothing’s wrong with her.”

  “Then why not give a second date a try? Maybe something will come of it.” Those big eyes turned to me again, but I resisted and gave her a frown.

  “And if it doesn’t work out? Wouldn’t that be cruel to Nancy, especially if she’s hoping for more?”

  She frowned back at that, at a loss for words. Then she pouted again and folded her hands in her lap.

  “I guess that does make sense,” she admitted reluctantly.

  I grinned. “Of course it does. Stop mulling over it.”

  “I’m not mulling over it. I just want you to find someone already.”

  “Why?”

  “The family wants additional babies.”

  I stared at her, then at the wink she gave me. “I’m not a baby-making machine…”

  “Oh, I know you aren’t. But you know our nephews and nieces are already toddlers and growing up. We just want to fuss over a baby again. Plus, I’m sure your babies will be absolutely beautiful.”

  “Quit buttering me up.”

  “Quit going around on pointless dates and try to find someone you’ll be serious with.”

  “I’m twenty-eight. I’ll find the right woman soon enough. I’m not going to actively look for someone, because that’s just not me.”

  Jane sighed. “Well, I can always make a baby if you’re not ready for it yet…”

  “Over my dead goddamn body, Jane Oliver. I’m going to punch the guy first.”

  She burst out laughing, making me realize that she said that on purpose to stir me up. I glared at her, then reluctantly dropped it when the food arrived and we got distracted. Soon, we were people-watching, and Jane decided to call another friend of hers who was in town to join us.

  I gave her a pointed stare. “No matchmaking.”

  She rolled her eyes. “She’s happily committed and bringing her boyfriend with her. Calm down.”

  “Just reminding you,” I said mildly.

  Her friends came soon enough, bringing with them another friend until our dinner turned into a little party. They were all younger than me, but not by much, and I found myself enjoying the night as we had some drinks and socialized. I always kept drinking at a minimum, not wanting to lose myself in wild moments and ending up disappointing my family with malicious scandals. But that didn’t mean I didn’t drink from time to time. My dad taught me how to drink, and I could pretty much handle my alcohol well since I was a teenager.

  We were well into our second round of food and drinks when I decided to go to the restroom, then get some fresh air in the back alley. One of Jane’s women friends was already starting to flirt with me, and it was best to avoid that scenario altogether when I was simply in no mood. I waited until she was distracted before slipping out of there, whispering to Jane that I’d be back in a bit. She shot me a look before shrugging, but didn’t make any commotion about it. I managed to get to the restroom without being followed, then out to the back alley where I inhaled the fresh night air and watched the moon glow bright and full up in the sky.

  The need for a cigarette suddenly popped into my head, which I shook off easily. I wasn’t a smoker, but I had started smoking when I first got to Florida. It was more a way to relieve stress from trying to prove myself in the racing world, but I quit after a few months. What they said about getting addicted to it was true enough, and the urge came every now and then to pick up a stick and suck it back. But I was able to control the urge, and the need wasn’t that intense anymore.

  Voices came from the sidewalk, some laughing and others just talking. Most of them were coming out of Jay’s, while others were just out and about walking and enjoying the pretty night view. This was a pretty popular spot in the city, but I chose to stay in this part of Florida mostly because it was close to a good, private race track and safe. It also wasn’t that crowded, which meant fewer enthusiasts bothering you during the racing off-season.

  I was just about to head back in when voices started up again. One was male and a bit loud, while the other was female and decidedly clipped.

  I recognized the clipped tone right away. Sure enough, when I glanced from my spot by the back door to the sidewalk ahead of me, I saw Sara standing near the alley entrance.

  What the hell? What was she doing here?

  She was wearing something casual for once—if you could call a cotton jersey dress casual. But what was more surprising was the color she chose. It was a deep, vibrant red, one that popped out and made her stand out in the dark. Her hair was still up in that loose bun, and the itch was back to untie it and let her curls down. Diamonds winked at her ears, making me frown that she was wearing something so expensive so casually. I’d heard of her last name—and yes, I’d heard of Gary Montgomery, her late husband who’d been named one of the top businessmen of the decade a few years before he died. Apparently, they were a power couple back then, up until he had cancer and started deteriorating. Now, it was Sara who
managed the business, which explained her rather no-nonsense attitude. It also explained why she was so polished, as she probably ran in high society circles out of necessity.

  Rich and elite: that was what she was. I’d never really been fond of such women, preferring the outdoorsy and casual type more than anything. But here I was, anyway, staring at her like someone so mesmerized. I couldn’t look away. It was like she was this forbidden fire and I was the stupid moth getting entranced before I could realize the dangers. It was getting annoying, really, and I knew I should stop.

  I shook my head. Then I turned my attention to the man she was with. Her date, I presumed.

  It was a different man from the one at the restaurant, making me wonder how often she got around. This one also looked older than her, and looked just as polished as she was. But soon my attention was on something else as I found myself listening in to their conversation.

  “It’s getting late. I think we should leave,” Sara was saying.

  “It’s still early, and you’re just too uptight. Come with me, and I’ll show you why it’s not yet time to leave.”

  There was something in the man’s tone that I picked up on right away, and my nerves went on alert immediately. I wasn’t sure if Sara picked up on it as well, because she seemed her usual calm self.

  “Are we still talking about business, Louie?”

  Okay, maybe not as calm as she was with me. Her tone was a bit tense, which in turn made me tense up.

  “Of course we’ll be talking about business,” the man said confidently, his hand going to her arm and stirring her in a certain direction. She didn’t budge, and I watched a flash of impatience enter his eyes before he pushed it down. “I know this business is important to you, Sara, so why don’t we just finish it off tonight and get the deal done? Will you come with me?”

  My hands fisted at my sides as he kept his hand on her arm, and a part of me wanted to shove it off. But I fought the urge and waited, because I didn’t want to ruin Sara’s night and disrespect her that way.

  Finally, she nodded. “Okay. I’m coming with you.”

  She tried to sound pleasant, but I could hear the undertones of discomfort there. Still, she smiled at the man and let him lead the way, and I could only watch as they disappeared from view.

  I knew I should leave them alone. I really should have, because it was none of my business. Most of all, Sara had made it clear that she didn’t want me in her business.

  But instincts were telling me something was off, and my instincts were almost often right.

  I inwardly argued with myself. Then I groaned when I realized it was useless, as my mind was already made up before I could even stop it. I took out my phone and texted Jane, telling her I wasn’t coming back and had something important to attend to. She called after a few seconds, but I sent it to voicemail and put the phone back in the pocket.

  Then I stepped out of my spot in the alley shadows and set off to follow Sara and her date.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  SARA

  I thought no one could be more annoying than James and his arrogant ways, but I was wrong—I was so, so wrong, it was insane.

  Louie Andersen beat him by miles. Miles.

  The man was only a year older than me and was still at the start of his success after investing his inheritance in the right hotel business. But the way he talked, he sounded like he was here for generations and thought no one could beat him in the game. James may have been sure of himself and treated me in a silly manner, but he dropped the act the moment he realized I was in for the long haul and not to be messed with.

  Louie didn’t.

  He kept flirting with me, even when I specifically told him that this wasn’t a date—something I hadn’t clarified with James before but needed to do so now with this guy to avoid further misunderstanding. Still, he kept hitting on me, often bordering on aggression, and that it began to make me uncomfortable. He’d chosen the bar as a meet-up place for business talk for a more casual appeal, but now I wished I demanded a different venue.

  But then again, it wasn’t the venue that was the problem.

  Excusing myself to cut the meeting short was the first solution, which was immediately rejected when he insisted that I went with him and got the deal done. I decided to give him a chance, reasoning to myself that this was our first meeting, anyway, and first impressions usually had a way of biting you in the ass. I was willing to be open.

  And then things took a different turn.

  It wasn’t until we got near his car that Louie started acting up again. He grabbed my arm firmly, squeezing suggestively as he did so. I tried to disentangle, but to my surprise, he only pulled me closer and started sliding his palm down my lower back. Lower.

  I fixed him with a death stare. “What are you doing?”

  “Trying to see if you’re as soft as you look.” He leaned forward, and it was only then that I realized one thing as I involuntarily smelled his breath.

  He was drunk.

  Had he drunk a lot before I arrived at the bar? Darn it.

  “Let go of my arm, Louie.”

  If anything, his hand only tightened. “Why?”

  “Because the lady asked you to.”

  My eyes widened at the familiar voice. I turned and saw Cooper approaching us, and the sight was so shocking that all I could do was stare for the first few seconds. He had his hands in his pockets as he strolled casually towards us, and there was an even calm expression on his face. But it was the first time I saw his eyes spit fire, all directed towards Louie.

  Louie was oblivious, narrowing his own eyes. I tried to pull my arm away again.

  “And who the hell are you?” Louie asked. “Fuck off and mind your business.”

  I was afraid Cooper was going to punch him then and there, judging from how his gaze hardened. Considering how huge and tall Cooper was compared to Louie, it would knock Louie out instantly and probably fuck him up. But instead of making a move closer, Cooper merely shrugged his shoulders, acting casual.

  “I’m a friend of Gary’s. I’m also a race car driver. I know Sara personally and she doesn’t exactly look comfortable in this situation. I also want to point out that there is paparazzi right there watching.”

  Immediately, he dropped my arm as if burned and took a step away. I fought the urge to rub my arm and leveled him with a cool stare.

  “The deal’s off. Don’t ever show your face to me again.”

  He blubbered something about me regretting this, but I ignored him and went to Cooper, who turned his attention to my arm, which now had a pink bruise.

  “I’ll be fine,” I said. “Let’s walk to my car.”

  His jaw tensed as his gaze found Louie’s again, but he nodded his head and followed me. We left the area quickly, and I was only relieved that Louie didn’t follow us.

  When I got to where my car was, though, the relief was instantly replaced by irritation—mostly with myself for not foreseeing that.

  A hand touched my arm gently, and I looked up. Cooper was watching the bruise, then patting it firmly.

  “What are you…?”

  “My mom’s a physician back home and taught us the basics,” he murmured. He looked up. “I just wanted to make sure you’re really okay.”

  He was standing so close, probably even closer than Louie had been. But for some reason, it made me feel safe.

  “Thank you,” I said. “I could have punched him in the nose, but you just made me avoid a scandal altogether.”

  He grinned. “I know all about avoiding scandals.”

  I rolled my eyes and couldn’t help grinning back. “Right. I’ll see you around.”

  Cooper looked at me for a long time before finally nodding his head. “See you, Sara.”

  He stepped back, giving me enough space and watching as I got in the car and started the ignition. He kept watching as I left, and I found my eyes watching back in the rearview mirror as his silhouette started getting smaller and smaller.
When I turned the corner, my heart was still beating so fast.

  And it wasn’t because of Louie.

  *****

  A flat tire was the worst thing to have driving the dark, quiet road back to my house.

  And that was exactly what happened.

  The night was definitely against me, as I found two things that also didn’t work in my favor: I forgot my phone in the bar, and I lost my wallet somewhere along the way. Then a third thing happened when I was walking in the middle of the road on the way home: my heel broke, rendering my shoe completely useless. I ended up going barefoot.

  It didn’t make me miserable yet, but the fact that it was steadily getting colder as the night grew late was working against me, too. I tried not to shiver as I kept walking, determined to make it home in time to get a hot shower, put on my most comfortable clothes, and just snuggle in bed.

  A few minutes later, I was saved by headlights approaching me from behind. Hoping against hope it wasn’t a murderer or Louie, holding my broken shoes tight in case I needed to get a good throw in, I waited for the car to stop beside me and the window to roll down.

  Okay this is getting absolutely ridiculous. Seriously? Cooper, who was by the way frowning at me.

  “Why are you always in trouble every time I turn around?”

  “I wasn’t in trouble,” I said defensively. “I was walking home and fine. Are you stalking me or what!?”

  The frown disappeared as his mouth quirked. “I live in Upper West. Just your luck.”

  Oh. That was only a few minutes away from my neighborhood, and I realized I was making baseless accusations again.

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be. Hop in.”

  I opened my mouth to argue, then looked at him. He had that determined look that told me he was going to argue back, and I realized I was tired of arguing altogether and just wanted to get home. So I shrugged. Then I opened the door and slid in as casually as possible, trying to ignore the shivering which was escalating.