Page 25 of Cooper’s Promise

“What?”

“You’re cute when you’re tipsy.”

“The alcohol has worn off,” she assured him.

“Sure it has. That’s why you’re spinning around in my living room,” he chuckled.

She liked it when he laughed. He hadn’t been doing it as much in the last six months. As a matter of fact, while their entire relationship had been going through a metamorphosis, he had been more and more distant. It had hurt.

“So, where’s my room? Or do I get the couch?”

“If there was only one room, I would be staying on the couch,” he assured her. “But there’s a guest room.” He picked up the suitcase he had dropped by the doorway, and started towards a hallway. She meandered to a window instead of following him.

“Aren’t you coming?” he asked.

“No. I’m not tired.”

He set down the suitcase. “Okay. What do you want to do?”

“What did you find out about Josiah?” she asked, as she continued to stare out the window.

“I sat down with his foster parents today. He definitely had problems. They gave me some names of his old high school buddies. One of them told me about another friend of his. He lives in St. Petersburg. This buddy thinks this other guy might take Josiah in.”

“Cooper?” She turned to look at the big man who had starred in so many of her fantasies. “Do you think I did this?”

“Huh? What do you mean?” he asked, as he came over to stand in front of her.

“Do you think I led him on? We only went out on two dates. I told him that it was me and not him.” She let out a shaky laugh. “Stupid line, isn’t it? But in this case it was true. I shouldn’t have ever gone out with him when he asked. I knew I was hung up on you.”

“It wasn’t some line. You were letting him down easy. You’re a nice woman, Brenna Wells. He’s a psychopath.”

Her head jerked up. “Really?”

“Ah, shit. I didn’t mean it. I’m really fucking up in what I’m saying tonight. No, I don’t think we’re dealing with a true psychopath. We’re dealing with a narcissistic nut that is stalking you. But when I talked to his foster parents today, I didn’t hear anything that made me think he was a full-blown psycho. If I did, you’d be back in Michigan with your mom and dad.”

She relaxed. “Thank you. I’ve been nervous.”

He gathered her up in his arms, and it felt marvelous. She nuzzled her nose in his chest and breathed in the scent of Cooper. “I lied to you,” she whispered.

“What, baby?”

“I want to make love. I’ve wanted to for so long. Do you want to?” She wouldn’t have had the nerve to ask if there still hadn’t still been a little bit of wine swirling around in her system.

“With everything in me, I want to make love to you. But I don’t want to do it, just because of circumstances. I wanted to date you, to take time to woo you.”

Brenna tilted her head back and grinned up at Cooper. “Did you just say woo?”

She saw his face flush. “Maybe.”

“You said woo.” She giggled.

He slapped her ass. She giggled louder. “I wanted to seduce you, to give you the time you needed to be sure you wanted me.”

“For God’s sake, I moved across country for you. What more do you need?” She grabbed his hand and placed it over her right breast. “Start with the wooing already.”

“Are you sure?”

He did not seriously just ask that. She stepped back so he was no longer touching her, and, before she even knew she was going to do it, she literally slapped him upside the head.