Lilly couldn’t stop her eagerness to know this man. “Was she your high-school sweetheart?”
He snickered. “Most girls I knew back then I wouldn’t call sweet. But yes, Angie was one of the nice ones. Too nice for me. I was pretty wild back then, but she was my soft spot. I couldn’t seem to say no to her.” He glanced at Lilly. “We came from the same rough El Paso neighborhood. We were going to run off and live happily ever after.”
Lilly was in between being jealous and curious about this woman. “What happened?”
“She got a better offer. A four-year college scholarship.”
“Why didn’t you wait for her?”
He shook his head. “She got her chance to break away from her bad life. I broke up with her and sent her off. Then I joined the military. It was the best for both of us.”
“She didn’t want to leave you, did she?”
He shrugged. “We were too young and besides, I didn’t want to get attached at eighteen.”
She couldn’t help but think about the boy who’d lost so much. No dad. A mother who had passed away. The recent death of his brother. “No one since?”
He turned to her and those dark eyes bore down on her. “What do you want to hear, Lilly? That you keep me up at night? That I can’t think of anything else?”
She felt a warm rush go through her. “Every woman likes to hear those things.”
“That’s the problem, Lilly. You aren’t any woman. You’re the kind a man can’t walk away from.” He leaned toward her and she couldn’t take a breath. “Even when he knows he should.
“You’re that woman that every man dreams about,” he went on, then brushed his lips over hers, once, twice and finally his hands cupped her face and held her there as his mouth moved over hers, feeling, tasting, caressing. When he finally broke off they were both breathing hard.
“We can’t do this, Lilly.”
“Then send me away,” she told him as she rose up and kissed his jaw, then his neck. This was so out of character for her. She never went after a man, was never the aggressor. “But not if you want me.”
Coop gripped Lilly by the arms, only meaning to move her away, instead he pulled her closer. With her gasp, his mouth covered hers. Just one more kiss, he told himself as he parted her lips and pressed his tongue inside. One more taste, he promised. Yet he already knew it would never be enough.
He finally broke off the kiss and tried once more. Yet—even with her son sleeping in the next room—he was praying she wouldn’t reject him. “Lilly. It still isn’t right.”
Even in the shadowed light, he could see those haunting green eyes. “It’s all right to want me, Noah.”
“Oh, God. I want you like I’ve never wanted anything in my life. But—”
Her mouth covered his, stopping any more protest. “I want you, too, Noah,” she breathed. “I don’t want anything more from you tonight than to know that you desire me. To make the rest of the world go away.”
He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her to the sofa. His mouth closed over hers as he lowered her to the cushions. He shut off everything from his head, and concentrated on Lilly. Nothing else mattered but being with her.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
THE next morning, Cooper took his post at the window, staring out at the sunrise, then glanced back at the sofa. It was empty now. He’d reluctantly sent Lilly into the bedroom hours ago. He wanted nothing more than to have her stay, to hold her during the night, to make love to her all over again. To make promises he had no right to make, but in his heart he wanted her like no other woman.
He couldn’t do any of those things. He was a Texas Ranger, and for now, working a case. He couldn’t be distracted by anyone or anything. Yet last night he’d crossed the line, and by making love to Lilly Perry he’d broken every rule in his book.
He closed his eyes. Not that he regretted a second of being with her, holding her, loving her. Ethically it was wrong, no matter how right it had felt to him, or how much he’d come to care for Lilly. He couldn’t let this go any further. He had to keep her safe. Keep them all safe. And the only guarantee was to get Santos and put him away for a long time. Of course, once Lilly learned the truth, she would hate him.
“Coop…”
He swung around surprised to see a sleepy-looking boy. “Hey, Robbie. What are you doing up so early?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know.” He came toward him, wearing a T-shirt and a pair of sweatpants. “Mom’s still sleeping.”
And he’d wished he was there next to her. “Good. She needs her rest. Are you hungry?”
The boy shook his head as a frown marred his face. “I have to tell you something.”
“Okay, what is it?”
He looked up at him with those big blue eyes. “Promise you won’t get mad.”
“I won’t get mad.” He couldn’t imagine what the kid could do to upset him. He crouched down in front of him. “What is it, son?”
Robbie brought his hand out from behind his back and Coop was relieved to see a baseball. “I sneaked this out of my bedroom when you said we shouldn’t touch anything. I didn’t want to lose it. The bad man broke the case and I found it on the floor. When my dad gave it to me, he said I had to take care of it.” He shook his head. “I had to take it, ’cause I promised.”
Coop looked down at the autographed Nolan Ryan baseball. “I think it’s okay.”
The boy didn’t look relieved. “But something else happened to it, and I don’t want Mom to blame me.” He turned the ball over to show the stitching along one of the seams was opening up. “See, it’s coming apart. Can you fix it, huh, Coop? Please.”
Coop eyed it closely. The stuffing was coming out, too. That was odd. Then he realized that the ball looked strange. The covering wasn’t as taut as it should be. Had someone tampered with it? “Why don’t you let me have a look at it?”
The boy handed it over. That was when Coop realized how light the ball felt. “You go and get dressed. I promise I’ll take good care of this. And be quiet so you don’t wake your mom.”
“Okay.” Robbie smiled. “Thanks.” The boy walked off.
After the door closed, Coop took out his pocketknife. He had an odd hunch as he began cutting farther along the seam. He dug out the stuffing and realized the cork center was missing. In its place was a hard foam.
His hopes were still high. Could Perry have hidden something…? He worked carefully to pull the center out, and as he unwrapped the foam, and discovered a small object.
“Damn.” It was a key. He had no doubt that Perry hid it inside his son’s baseball.
He pocketed the key and began to replace the stuffing until he could have the ball fixed. He pulled out his cell phone and punched in his captain’s number.
When Ben Collier answered, he said, “It’s Coop. I believe I found the proof we need.” He went on to explain about the baseball. “If this is what I think it is, Mike Perry probably got all the information we want in a safe-deposit box, or a locker.”
“Okay, Coop,” his captain said. “You hold tight, I’ll have two Rangers there in a few hours. You are not to go after it on your own. I repeat, you’re not to go on your own. Santos is probably watching you.”
Coop felt excitement rush through him. “You’re right. But I want to be there when we find the evidence.”
The captain agreed, and Coop listened for more instructions. “I’ll wait to hear about the meeting place.” He flipped closed the phone and turned around to find Lilly standing there. He didn’t have to ask if she heard, her expression told it all.
He put on a smile. “Good morning, Lilly.”
She looked beautiful, but angry. “Who are you?”
He wasn’t sure how much to say and keep her safe. “Noah Cooper.”
“That’s your real name?”
“Yes. I’m Noah Cooper.”
“You’re not a carpenter, are you?”
He started toward her, but stopped. “Lilly, I’m not abl
e to tell you much right now. I don’t want to put you in any more danger.”
She forced a laugh. “Just tell me if you’re the good guy or the bad guy.”
He felt like a heel. “Good guy. You can ask Sheriff Bradshaw, but that’s all I’m at liberty to say right now. Not until we finish this.”
“You’re talking about Stephanie and Rey Santos aren’t you?”
He nodded. “And I can’t say any more, except this is serious. We don’t want anyone else hurt.”
She couldn’t hide the hurt on her face. He wished he could take it away.
“These weeks you’ve been staying here.” Her voice was shaky. “It was all a lie?”
He went to her, grateful she didn’t back away. “Give me twenty-four hours, Lilly. I’ll tell you anything you want to know. I promise.”
Those incredible green eyes searched his face. “Last night was a lie, part of an act.”
He released a breath, knowing he had to be truthful about this. “No, Lilly, nothing between you and me was a lie.”
An hour later at the cottage, Lilly had managed to get a shower. She’d cried through the streaming spray, but she didn’t feel any better. Her life was in shambles. Her crazy sister-in-law was after her. Once again she’d been betrayed by a man, and in some ways it felt worse than when Mike had left her.
The only thing she really knew about Noah Cooper was that he was doing some sort of undercover operation, and getting in good with her and her family was part of his job. She thought about last night, and how she’d literally thrown herself at him, practically begging him to make love to her. Of course, he took what she offered.
Dear God, had she meant anything to him?
She managed to pull herself together, and get dressed in fresh clothes Noah had brought from the house. She added some makeup from her purse and checked herself in the mirror. She gathered her things up and saw Noah’s personal items on the counter, reminding her that she had to face him again. She ran a brush through her hair, then pulled it back into a ponytail.
She released a breath, then walked into the living room to find Noah gone. Instead there was a woman sitting on the sofa with Robbie.
“Excuse me. Who are you?”
Robbie jumped off the sofa first. “Mom, this is Karen. She’s a special agent. Isn’t that cool? Coop had to leave, but he said I should trust Agent Karen to take care of us until he comes back.”
The blond-haired woman looked to be about Lilly’s age. “Hello, Mrs. Perry, I’m Federal Agent Karen Baker. And until this case is completed, I’m here for you and your son.”
“What case?”
“I’m sorry, ma’am, I’m not at liberty to talk about it.”
Robbie jumped in. “Coop said it has to be a secret for now.”
It seemed that Noah had confided in her son more than her. She didn’t like being in the dark, not when it came to her family’s safety. “Is it okay if we go see my mother? She’s working at the Blind Stitch downtown. My daughter is with her.”
“Just let me check.” The agent took out her phone and made a call. Lilly couldn’t help but wonder if she was talking to Noah.
Stop thinking about the man. Whenever this mess with Santos was over, she knew that Noah Cooper would be gone.
Karen Baker closed her phone and turned to her. “It should be fine. I do need to stay with you and your son.”
“Whatever,” Lilly snapped. She knew this woman was only doing her job, but that didn’t mean she had to like it. “Sorry. It has been a trying few days.”
Her son came to her. “It’s okay, Mom. Coop’s going to fix it.”
Lilly felt tears threatening. Was he going to fix her broken heart, too? “Come on, let’s go see Grandma and Kasey.”
Agent Baker checked the outside area then led them to a black sedan. Once they arrived at the Blind Stitch, Lilly rushed her son through the doors, anxious to see her mother. She was with Kasey in the classroom area talking to the women of the Quilter’s Corner. Her mother crossed the room as Lilly grabbed her in a hug, then she burst into tears.
“Honey, what’s wrong?” her mother asked, pulling her farther away toward a private corner.
Lilly shook her head. “I wanted to make sure you and Kasey were safe. I’ll be okay in a few minutes,” she said, but couldn’t stop her tears.
Her mother took her by her arm and started out of the room. “Kasey, would you watch your brother while I talk to your mom?”
It surprised Lilly that her daughter looked so concerned.
“It’s going to be okay, Mom,” Kasey said and hugged her. “Coop will help us.”
Lilly nodded again and followed her mother through the back of the shop and up the stairs to an attic apartment. It was a nice little place. There was a kitchenette, a living area with a sofa and a flat screen television. Jenny had once lived here when she was single.
“Okay, now tell me what else happened since last night?”
Lilly couldn’t tell her mother how she’d been a fool and jumped into bed with a man she barely knew. How she’d fallen in love, and he was going to leave her.
“Noah found a key.” She shook her head. “I overheard a phone conversation, so I’m not exactly sure of all the details. But it has to do with this key and some information about Stephanie and Santos.”
Her mother nodded. “Good, then we’ll finally get to the bottom of this mess. And they’ll get out of our lives.”
“It’s all so crazy. Mom, Noah lied to us. He’s not a carpenter. He’s working undercover for some government organization and he won’t say which. He’s been after Santos for a while, too.”
Beth Staley smiled. “Well, I see a lot of things more clearly now. His interest in helping you find the papers.” She looked at her daughter. “But you’re upset because he didn’t confide in you, that he didn’t tell you about the operation.”
It was a little more than that, she thought. The man didn’t need to get involved with her.
“Lilly, if Noah was working undercover, he couldn’t. It would have put us all in danger.”
“But I thought he cared about me—us,” she blurted.
Her mother studied her. “From what I saw, I’d say Noah does care very much about you. And you care about him. So I’d say for that reason it made his job even harder.”
Lilly shook her head. “How can I trust him?”
“Listen, daughter.” Her mother gave her a stern look. “Don’t you want the question about Mike cleared up? Don’t you want to finally move on with your life and put all the past behind you and the kids?”
“Of course I do.”
“Well, Noah Cooper is the one who might be able to do that.”
“But it got…personal last night.”
Her mother smiled. “Oh, is that what they call it these days?”
Lilly couldn’t stop the heat creeping up her neck to her face.
“Look, Lilly, I can’t tell you what to do any longer. Just give yourself some time, at least until this case is cleared up.” She took her daughter’s hand. “But if you’re lucky enough to find love again, then don’t let it slip away.” She smiled. “I’m not.”
“I might not be that lucky, Mom. I don’t think it’s up to me.”
Cooper was losing patience as he and Vega climbed out of his truck. They’d been to two bus stations with nothing to show for it. They hadn’t used the same kind of key. This one was a stubby key with a plastic base.
Where would Mike feel safe hiding the evidence? He could go ask Lilly, but she didn’t know much about her ex’s life the past year. He couldn’t put her through an interrogation, no matter how easy he’d make it. No, he needed to rely on the other agents searching the surrounding area.
“Hey, let’s grab something to eat,” Vega suggested. “And then we’ll start again.”
“I’m not hungry.”
“Well, I am.” The agent nodded toward Rory’s Bar and Grill. “C’mon, a quick sandwich.”
After
making a call, Coop followed him inside. He was surprised to find Sean working today. He followed Vega up to the bar as a flash of memories hit him, recalling being here with Lilly and the kids. How he danced with her. How she’d felt in his arms.
“Hey, Coop. How are you doin’?”
He blinked, hearing Sean’s voice as he climbed onto a stool. “I’ve been better.”
“I’d say you look as miserable as Lilly does. This mess with Stephanie and Santos is bad for everyone. Wish the sheriff could get rid of him.”
“You said you saw Lilly.”
“Yeah, they’re all at the Blind Stitch.”
Good, they were safe there, especially with Agent Baker.
“What can I get for you two?”
“Iced tea, and a barbecue sandwich.”
“I’ll just have iced tea.”
Sean brought over the tea and he took a drink. “Hey, Sean,” Coop asked. “Would you happen to know if there is anywhere in town you could find a locker with a removable key? You put in coins and you keep the key.”
The gray-haired man leaned back against the counter. “Sure. The bus station still has them.”
“Anywhere else?”
Sean raised an eyebrow. “There’s the locker room at the fitness center.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out his key. “I go there to swim.”
Coop pulled his key out of his pocket and compared it to Sean’s. They were identical. “Bingo.”
Vega whispered something in Spanish.
“Where is this fitness center?” Coop asked as he pulled out his phone.
“Two blocks down, make a left and go three more blocks. It’s on your left side.”
Vega pulled out a five and left it on the counter. “Hey, hold the sandwiches,” he called as they were out the door and followed his partner into the truck. “Are you going to be okay?” he asked.
“Yeah, I will be as soon as I get this guy.”
For the first time in over two years, he thought he might be close. Coop tried not to drive too fast. He had to remain professional about this. Do his job, and not think about Lilly right now.
Tall, Dark, Texas Ranger Page 12
