Page 28 of Cooper’s Promise

“You told me to say something. So I said the word, something.” God, she was a brat. She was his brat. He loved her. She couldn’t leave him.

“I love you.” She stiffened. “Did you hear me? I love you.”

She shook her head, and gave him a sad smile. What the hell? He shifted and got up to go to the bathroom to take care of the condom. That had not been the reaction he had been expecting.

Brenna was pulling on her panties when he got back to the bedroom.

“What are you doing?” he demanded.

“I’m going to the guest bedroom.”

“You are not.” He pulled her bra out of her hands and threw it back on the floor. “You’re sleeping with me tonight. Why in the hell are you planning on bailing?”

“Because you’re playing bullshit mind games. I’m a grown woman. Four days ago you told me that you needed time, you needed to see where your head was at in regards to how you felt. Now you get your dick wet, and all of a sudden you say you love me. Fuck you, Coop! I don’t need you to play with my head. I thought you were a straight shooter.”

“My name is Cooper!” How in the hell had this gone to shit so fast? “I do love you. I’ve loved you forever. I just didn’t think you could handle me. This cinched it.” As soon as the words were out of his mouth, he knew he’d blown it. The incredulous look on her face just solidified the fact.

“How dumb are you? I don’t do dumb. I like my men smart.” She grabbed her t-shirt off the floor, and yanked it over her head. His dick twitched as he watched her breasts bounce. God, he had no sense.

“Brenna, I’m sorry, it’s so much more than just sex. Please let me explain.”

“Nope.”

She stormed out of the bedroom, and he followed. When she made it to the living room and went to pick up her suitcase, he grabbed it. “I’ll take it to your room.”

“Fine.” She followed him to the room, and he set it on the bed and sat down and crossed his arms. He didn’t intend to leave until they settled this.

“Brenna, please give me a chance here. You’ve known me for six years. Do you really think I’m a player?” he asked quietly.

She unzipped her suitcase, her hair was covering her face. She pulled out a Ziploc bag with a toothbrush and toothpaste. He covered her hand. “Brenna, answer me.”

“No, you’re not a player. But I don’t understand why you’re just now saying things,” she said in a quiet voice.

“Because what we shared, how it made me feel, broke something open inside of me.” She turned her head and peered over at him. “Since you’ve moved to Florida, you’ve become my best friend. Did you know that?”

She shook her head.

“Think of all the times I came over. Hell, I was at your place at least three times a week. It damn near killed me when we stopped seeing each other in January.”

She swung her head, and her hair went flying. “You mean when I told you how I felt and you threw it in my face?”

He winced. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that. But, do you know how much I valued you then? I should have realized that me loving you as a friend was just the tiniest step away from being in love with you. Fuck, looking back on it, I was in love with you, I just didn’t want to admit it.”

“Why, Cooper? Why did you push me away? I need to understand.”

He grabbed her arm, and pulled her down into his lap. He needed to hold her. He needed the connection. He loved how she softened against him. Maybe all wasn’t lost.

“You’re not going to believe me if I tell you that you were Hudson’s little sister, and I thought you were too young, are you?” he whispered.

She cupped his jaw. “I believe that’s part of it.” She was so strong, taking him on and calling him on his bullshit. But, cuddled in his arms, her eyes glossed with tears, he knew that her heart was vulnerable to him, and he had to tell her his whole truth.

“What if you realize that I’m not what you want? You’re young. You haven’t had a chance to experience life like I have. What happens if five years in, you want more than me?” He whispered the last word.

“Ah, Cooper, that’s just not going to happen.” He looked into her earnest eyes. “Do you know what the stupidest thing in my life has been?”

He shook his head.

“I listened to you. At Paula’s wedding. Remember when you spewed that shit at me about me being young, and having my life ahead of me, and needing to spread my wings and experience life?” she gulped. A tear trickled down her cheek.