Page 26 of Cooper’s Passion

“Thirty-six years. And when you see them together, you’d think they’re still on their honeymoon. So, Lydia and I moved out quite a while ago to give those lovebirds some privacy.”

Anita smiled. Was that why Cooper was such a considerate man? Because he was raised in a home with loving parents as an example? So where was the catch?

“I’m curious,” she started. “Ahm…”

“Curious about what?”

She sighed, not really sure how to ask what she wanted to know. “Why did you offer me to stay with you? I mean you didn’t have to do that. And if it’s just for the sex…”

Cooper put his hand on hers and squeezed it. “I wanted to do it. I enjoy spending time with you.” He cast her a sideways look. “I’ve dated a lot, but I’ve never been with a woman like you.”

She wasn’t sure what he meant by that. “How like me?”

“Brave, smart, strong,” he said with a smile. “Passionate, beautiful, and direct. Most women play games with men. You don’t. When I look at you, I can see exactly what I get. And I like that. Work is stressful enough. It feels good to be with somebody I can relax with.”

No man had ever spoken with such openness, and she was unprepared as to how to answer. All she could do was to show him that she appreciated his confession. She put her hand on his thigh, and felt his muscles flex under her touch.

“I like being with you too,” she said quietly.

Cooper took her hand, and she thought that he wanted to remove it from his thigh, but to her surprise, he pressed her palm over his crotch. When she felt a hard ridge there, she gasped. Cooper had a full-blown erection.

“That’s how much I like being with you,” he murmured and looked at her, his gaze heated.

Around them, it was dark all of a sudden. They’d entered a parking garage, and Cooper was pulling into a parking spot. When he switched off the engine, all she could hear inside the car was Cooper’s breathing and her own heartbeat. Their gazes connected, and Anita inhaled sharply. She could think of all kinds of things she wanted to do right now. All of them involved unzipping Cooper’s pants and taking out his cock. It would be so easy.

She reached for his waistband, about to pop the button open, when he snatched her wrist and stopped her.

“Trust me, I want nothing more than for you to suck me.” He leaned over to her and kissed her on the lips. “But I’d rather enjoy that when we’re somewhere we won’t be interrupted by my colleagues.”

Cooper opened the car door and got out. Anita did the same, and together they walked to the elevator. Inside the elevator, Cooper swiped his access card, before he pressed the button to one of the lower levels.

“How many people work for Scanguards?”

“A few hundred,” Cooper replied.

His answer appeared vague, but she didn’t dig deeper. “How long have you worked for them?”

“I started with their bodyguard training when I was eighteen.”

“So about five years then,” she said with a grin.

He chuckled. “I’m not that young!”

“You look it though. You could easily pass for a college kid.”

“If that’s a roundabout way of you asking how old I am, I’d better put you at ease. You’re not robbing the cradle. I’m thirty-two.”

“That’s a relief. I wouldn’t want to have to arrest myself for sleeping with a minor.”

The elevator doors opened, and Cooper ushered her along a well-lit corridor. The walls were pastel-green, and the floor reminded her of a hospital. At a door, Cooper swiped his access card again, and held the door open for her. She entered the sterile looking room. A young black woman was already waiting for them. She stood in front of a steel gurney. The body on it was fully covered with a large white sheet.

“Hey, Buffy,” Cooper said as he entered behind her. “This is Anita Diaz. She’s with the Elko County Sheriff’s Department.”

Buffy nodded. “Nice to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you too,” Anita replied.

Buffy turned to the gurney. “Are you ready to look at her?”