Catching Cooper (Red Maple Falls, #4)

by Theresa Paolo

  “I thought your Mom said you weren’t getting a dog.”

  “I know, but she also said I wasn’t getting a dad either but…” He shrugged then met Cooper’s eyes with those innocent brown ones. “I did.”

  That same emotion from earlier rose in his throat, and he did his best to keep it at bay, but it was getting harder and harder to control it. Tears pricked the back of his eyes and his throat burned. He wasn’t an emotional person, was always the one who could brush things off, yet a seven-year-old boy with big brown eyes and freckles was making him break. And it wasn’t just because it was unexpected, which it was. No, it was so much more than that.

  He was…honored.

  A few months ago, the thought of being anyone’s dad would have had him running for the hills, but now he wanted to make sure he did everything to make this kid proud of him.

  Cooper smiled. “I’ll see what I can do about the dog.”

  Tommy’s eyes doubled in size. “Really?”

  “Really. But no promises.”

  Tommy tackled Cooper in a hug, and Cooper laughed. Just as he looked up he spotted Sarah looking down at them from the doorway. A sad smile touched her lips, and he quickly play wrestled Tommy off of him, setting him on the floor while Cooper stood.

  “Hey baby,” Cooper said, cupping her cheek. “Everything okay?”

  She nodded and smiled. “Everything’s good.”

  He narrowed his eyes, not believing her for a second. “What aren’t you telling me?”

  “Nothing.”

  Dread landed in his stomach like a solid mass. “How was the doctor?” She tired-out easily lately and while they both assumed it was after effects of the flu maybe it wasn’t. Oh god, what if it was something worse?

  What if she was really sick?

  No. That was impossible. He wouldn’t believe it. But the world had a funny way of throwing him curve balls so he needed to be sure.

  “Please tell me everything’s okay.”

  She met his eyes and though her lips weren’t smiling her beautiful brown eyes were. “Everything is fine.”

  “Oh, thank god.” He rested his forehead against hers as relief flooded him. “Go get your purse,” he said.

  “Why?”

  “Because,” Cooper said with a smile, “we’re going out to celebrate.”

  “Celebrate what?”

  His lip quirked, and the joy that he’d been holding inside burst out of him. “My agent called today. There’s been an offer on my book.”

  “Are you serious?” Sarah asked the smile on her lips finally genuine.

  “As a heart attack.”

  He scooped her up in his arms and swung her around. When he placed her back on the ground she took his face in her hands.

  “Oh my god! How are you just telling me this now?”

  “I tried calling, but you didn’t answer.”

  “I must’ve left my phone in the car.”

  “It’s okay. I’d rather have told you in person anyway.”

  He kissed her long and hard until Tommy made several noises of disgust. He pulled back with a laugh. “Come on Tommy. Go get cleaned up. I’m buying you the biggest dessert on the menu tonight.”

  “With hot fudge and sprinkles?’

  “You know it.”

  “Wahoo!” Tommy yelled as he jumped up and ran down the hallway.

  Cooper turned back to Sarah who seemed to be somewhere else entirely. “Are you sure you’re okay?” he asked, needing reassurance.

  She patted his chest then lifted up on tiptoe and kissed him. “I’m just so proud of you,” she said. “Let’s go celebrate.”

  She took him by the hand and led him toward the front door, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that she was hiding something from him.

  ***

  All day Sarah had been wrestling with whether to tell Cooper or not that she was pregnant. Pregnant. She thought she’d get used to the word if she said it enough, but it was just as shocking now as it was the first time.

  She had finally decided to hold off for a little bit when she overheard Cooper and Tommy talking. Tommy called him “Dad” and maybe it was in an indirect way but the intent was still there. Sarah had choked up in the hallway and needed a second to get herself together.

  She waited to hear Cooper’s response, wondering how he would handle it. He was notorious for taking off, and she waited, expecting him to make some lame excuse and go flying out of the room, and when he didn’t, warmth rushed through her body filling her heart.

  When she stepped in and saw the two loves of her life in an embrace, she had made up her mind. She was going to tell him. She only hoped that it wouldn’t be too much too soon because her biggest fear was him leaving her to be a single mom again.

  Cooper treated them to dinner at the Happy Apple where Terry and Walt joined them for a few moments to help toast Cooper’s success. After Tommy had his massive dessert Cooper had promised him, they headed home.

  Tommy was fast asleep in the backseat and Cooper’s hand inched higher and higher up her thigh. “Remember the last time we went out to dinner.”

  “Tommy is in the backseat. I don’t care if he’s sleeping. Don’t you get any ideas.”

  “Oh, I have ideas all right, but don’t worry. I don’t plan on acting on them until Tommy is in bed, and we’re behind closed doors.”

  The thought of Cooper’s hands on her, his mouth exploring her body caused moisture to pool between her legs. Even though she was exhausted, she couldn’t wait to get home.

  They pulled into the driveway a few minutes later, and Sarah went to get Tommy out of the backseat when Cooper rested his hand on her shoulder. “I got him. You go ahead in.”

  “You sure?” she asked, and Cooper nodded. “Okay.”

  She went to the front door and opened it before turning back and watched Cooper carry Tommy from the car.

  He walked by pressing his finger to his lips as he passed. She followed behind, easing the door shut quietly and heading to her bedroom.

  She slipped into a black silk night gown and waited for Cooper who didn’t make her wait long. He paused in the doorway, leaning against the frame as he filled the small space. His gaze roamed up and down her body with a hunger radiating from his eyes.

  Her teeth slid over her bottom lip and she shifted causing the silky material to rub against her most intimate parts. “Like what you see?” she asked.

  “You have no idea how much.”

  “Then come show me.” She beckoned him with her finger and watched as he stalked across the room, pulling his shirt over his head as he moved.

  She knew she should tell him about the baby, but just in case it was too much for him, and he walked away from her, she wanted this moment. She wanted to feel him inside her, to wrap her legs around him and stare into the blue depths of his eyes while he brought her to the edge. She needed something to hold onto.

  His hand snaked around her waist, and he yanked her toward him, bringing them skin to silk. She ran a hand up his abdomen to his chest, branding every solid curve and cut line to memory. In her heart, she wanted to believe that she didn’t need to. That Cooper wasn’t going anywhere, but her heart had failed her before, and she needed to listen to her head.

  He took her hand and brought it to his lips, kissing each fingertip before backing her toward the bed. The back of her knees hit the mattress, and she fell back just as he lowered himself on top of her.

  His eyes bore into hers, holding an intensity that was much stronger than ever before. Or maybe it was just her hoping it was, searching for a glimmer of reassurance that he was in as deep as she was.

  She tilted her head, capturing his lips with hers, and pulling him down to her. A battle broke out in her mind between needing him now and making it last as long as she could, but the need for him was too strong to deny.

  “I need you,” she said against his mouth. “Don’t make me wait.”

  She reached down and lifted up, removing her night
gown and tossing it to the floor.

  “Please,” she begged.

  He reached for a condom, and she wrapped her hand around his. She shook her head as she pulled his hand away. “I need to feel all of you. No barriers,” she said, looking into his eyes and showing him how desperately she needed this.

  His other hand tightened around her waist, dragging her closer to him. He swiped a finger across her slick folds, moaning.

  “I love how ready you are for me,” he said, pressing the tip of his erection at her wet entrance.

  “Always,” she said, and he pushed into her causing her to gasp at the delicious intrusion.

  Her hands tightened around his neck, and he smiled down at her. “That’s right. Hold on, baby. Things are about to get crazy.”

  He had absolutely no idea just how crazy things were going to get, but she heeded his request and held on with all that she had because she had no idea how the night was going to end.

  She sent up a silent prayer then let all the fears dissipate as she focused on just feeling. His lips came down on her, sucking and nipping at her. His tongue swirled around her nipple before he moved to the next.

  Cold and hot mixed together sending heated desire and intense chills to every inch of her body. His hands wrapped around her back and next thing she knew they were on the edge of the bed with her on top.

  She moved against him, tightening her legs around his back and pulling their slick bodies closer together. His fingers laced through her hair, moving it aside as his mouth kissed a fiery path up her neck.

  Tiny sparks began to glimmer when his thumb pressed against her swollen nub. He moved his thumb in mind-numbing circles until the tiny sparks ignited an inferno, sending her spiraling to no return.

  Her body bucked against him, but he didn’t stop his ministrations and just when she thought the wave was about to crash to an end his hands moved to her ass, and he stood up, thrusting into her with unrelenting strokes.

  She was helpless to his delicious assault and held on, absorbing every sensation, every tiny spark that still held life until she was caught up in the wave again, barreling toward the shore. He thrust one final time, and they came crashing down together in sweet bliss.

  He went to let her down, but she tightened her arms around his neck afraid to let go, never wanting this moment to end.

  She didn’t have a plan for what came next and that scared her. But what scared her more was the thought of their future being the end of them.

  Chapter 20

  Sarah couldn’t sleep. Not when she had so many things weighing so heavily on her mind. She wanted to tell Cooper, like a Band-Aid just rip it off and don’t prolong it, but every time she tried, she couldn’t find the words. She couldn’t seem to get her head and her heart on the same page. So she let him fall asleep without a single mention that she was carrying his child.

  She stared down at him, all gorgeous tan and long lashes and wondered what their baby would look like. If it would be a boy or girl. Would she have his blue eyes or her brown ones? Would the baby have freckles like Tommy? So many questions, and the more she thought about them the less scared she became.

  She was being ridiculous. She needed to just tell Cooper and get it over with. If she didn’t, the worrying would drive her insane. When he woke up she would tell him.

  She was about to try to force herself to sleep when she heard a phone buzzing. She got up and found hers but there were no new notifications. She heard the buzzing again and found Cooper’s phone in his pocket.

  Not one to snoop, she was about to place it on the nightstand when the new text caught her eyes.

  Just ordered my pack. September can’t get here soon enough.

  September? Even though it was against everything she believed in she opened the text. The name Gray was at the top and her eyes skimmed over the messages.

  I have it all mapped out.

  Can you just see our name in the headlines? Two shitheads walk the entire length of the Great Wall.

  The Great Wall? He was going to China? Sarah’s heart plummeted as her knees gave out, and she sat down on the edge of the bed, staring at the rest of the texts.

  Hey, my man. The Great Wall. This September. You in?

  Not sure yet. When do you need an answer by?

  Don’t skip out on me now! Leaving second week in September with or without you.

  I’ll let you know.

  Tick Tock

  It’s going to be epic. I’ll see you in September.

  Her mouth dropped open, and all she could do was stare. Here she was, hoping that they had a future together, afraid to tell him about the baby because she was afraid it might scare him off. She was too stupid to realize that he was already planning to bail.

  It was like her life was on repeat. She was about to be a single mother for the second time, and there was nothing she could do to fix it. Cooper already went ahead and made plans. Already was planning to be gone for… She scrolled back through the texts. Eighteen months. Eighteen months!

  Sadness turned into anger as Cooper shifted beside her. Her hand landed on his shoulder and she shook him.

  His eyes popped open, and she ignored how sexy he looked with droopy eyes and bedhead.

  “What’s wrong baby?”

  “Don’t you baby me!” she said, throwing his phone at him.

  His reflexes were slow and the phone smacked him hard against the chest. “What the hell is wrong with you?”

  “Wrong with me?” she said, a sinister laugh bubbling to the surface. “When were you going to tell me, huh? When?” Her voice was getting louder, on the verge of screaming.

  “Did you have a dream that you thought was real?” he asked, sitting up and rubbing the sleep from his eyes. “Because I’m fucking lost.”

  “China! When were you going to tell me you were going to China? For eighteen months? Are you kidding me! I get that you have a career. I knew that you would have to leave eventually, but I didn’t think you’d be gone for eighteen fucking months. And maybe I’m the idiot for thinking this was more than it actually was, but forget about me. What about Tommy? For crying out loud he called you his father.”

  Thinking of Tommy and the disappointment that he would endure made her tear up. Her lip quivered as the pesky tears forced their way over her lids.

  “Are you done?” he asked, standing up and walking toward her.

  “Am I done?” He had some nerve. He was getting ready to up and leave her like she was yesterday’s wash, and he had the audacity to ask her if she was done. “No, I’m not done! You made me trust you. You made me love you and now you’re just going to walk away from me. From us.” She walked away and grabbed the door. She pointed her finger to the hallway. “I think you should leave.”

  “Shut the damn door, I’m not leaving.”

  “Cooper, please. Don’t make this any harder than it has to be.”

  She could have the baby and raise it on her own. She had done it before. She didn’t need a man to help her. She was more than capable of handling things on her own. He didn’t even need to know. Well, he would. His family practically made up the town, and she wouldn’t be able to hide it for long. But she didn’t have to tell him. Not yet. He could go off on his stupid trip, and she could stay back and raise their baby.

  He didn’t move, standing there in his boxer briefs and looking too damn desirable. She couldn’t be strong with him there. She needed him to leave. She picked up his shoe and threw it at him. “I said get out!”

  His reflexes must have kicked in because he caught the shoe before it hit him in the face. She picked up his jeans and tossed them, too. “I said get out.”

  He caught everything she threw at him then dropped the pile on the bed out of her reach. “What part of ‘I’m not leaving’ are you not hearing?”

  “I don’t want you here.”

  “If you stop yelling for two seconds I’ll explain.”

  “I don’t want to hear it. I just want you to go.�
�� She tried so hard to hold back the emotions, she wasn’t a crier dammit, but the dam broke and tears flooded her cheeks. Uncontrollable sobs racked her body and she let her head fall into her hands.

  Warm gentle hands wrapped around her and pulled her close. She wanted to push him away, to fight against his comfort because he was leaving anyway, but she wasn’t strong enough to let go. She cried against his check, savoring the soft strokes of his fingers on her back.

  “Hey,” he said, as he took her chin in his hand and urged her to look at him.

  She hated how much she loved those big beautiful eyes. How even though he betrayed her she could still lose herself in their depths. “I don’t hate you,” she said. “I’m just going to miss you.”

  “I’m not going to China.”

  “But… I saw the texts.”

  “I told Gray no. I told him that I had something better than walking the entire length of the Great Wall. I told him I found my soulmate, and there was nothing in the world that would take her away from me. Not even China.”

  Confused and unsure of his words Sarah tried to make sense of everything. “But the texts…”

  “Gray doesn’t take rejection very easily. He’s convinced if he talks to me like I’m going I’ll actually go, but baby, I told you, I’m not leaving you, and it hurts that you think I would.”

  “I didn’t know what to think. And you never told me about it. I thought you were hiding it from me.”

  “I wouldn’t hide it from you, and I was going to tell you, but every time I wanted to, something came up or you seduced me,” he said with that sexy smirk. “I’ll never keep anything from you. I promise.”

  Her eyes dropped to the floor and he tilted her chin back to him.

  “Now tell me.” He ran a thumb under her eyes, catching the tears and wiping them away. “What is going on with you?”

  He knew her better than anyone. He knew when something was weighing on her mind or when she was having a rough day. He knew how to make her happy and just the right things to say. Nobody ever knew her that well and maybe it was because she never let anyone else in but she wouldn’t let Cooper in either, and he still managed to worm his way in.