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My rent was paid up, but what about all of my other bills and expenses? Either Cooper hadn’t thought of that, which seemed unlikely, or, he still wanted me to need him to some degree.
I shook back my hair and lowered my helmet onto my head.
All of my musings wiped away from my mind as I revved the engine and screeched out of the tiny alley behind the building. The freedom washed over me as I sped down the street and snaked through the city. This was why I Loved Cherry Bomb. Freedom. Independence. I rode back to my apartment, my drowsiness threatening to overtake me again. I knew it wouldn’t be smart to make such a long trip, but before I closed my eyes, I resolved to myself that first thing the morning, I’d have to go to the one place I had absolutely no interest in going…Cooper’s house.
Chapter Ten
I started my trip a little after seven the next morning and did my best to enjoy the long ride down the freeway but my mind kept going back to Cooper, remembering his eyes as he explored my naked body, lying in the soft folds of his shirt. His soft lips and how they ravished over every inch of my skin. His masculine hands as they teased and caressed me. But, then, the images shifted and I saw the coldness in his eyes when he told me he was leaving, the tight line to his lips that made them no longer seem like they could ever belong the same man who had pleasured me endlessly the night before, and the hands that no longer seemed interested in touching my body.
The conflicting version of Cooper was battling in my head and it took a lot of effort to remain focused on my driving.
Finally, over an hour later, I arrived at the huge gate that blocked the long driveway that led to Cooper’s house.
“Shit,” I whispered to myself. I had forgotten about the gate. I flipped up the visor on my helmet and leaned over to inspect it closer. There was a speaker button, and I pushed it quickly, not giving myself time to freak out over who would answer.
“How may I help you?”
It wasn’t Cooper’s voice that echoed from the tiny box.
“Um, yes, my name is Allie—Allison Rand. I was here yesterday and left some things behind.”
“I’m sorry, but Mr. Brighton is not here at the moment. You’ll have to come back another time.”
I scowled at the voice. “I don’t need to see Mr. Brighton. I need my stuff. That’s it, and then I’ll go.”
There was a pause and I turned my attention back to the gate, waiting for it to start opening.
“I’m sorry, I cannot let you in. You will have to come back.”
“What the fuck? I just told you, I don’t need to see Cooper. I just want my stuff. Can you call him? I’m sure he won’t mind.”
Silence.
“Hello?” I punched the speaker button again. “Hello? Can you hear me?”
I screamed to release my frustration. My brain scrambled to find a new plan. I had just ridden an hour to get here. There was no way I was going to leave without my money. I took my helmet off and balanced it between my legs as I grabbed my phone out of my pocket.
Thankfully, my cell phone bill had been paid, so I still had service.
For now, I reminded myself.
I shook the thought away and dialed Cooper’s number—thankful that I hadn’t deleted it after the last asshole thing he had done.
The phone rang and rang, and eventually went to his voicemail. I hung up and immediately dialed again.
I got the voicemail message again. “Cooper, it’s Allie. Please call your idiot assistant and tell him to let me into your house. I need my money from the club the other night.”
I hung up and hoped my bitchy demand would get me somewhere, and fast.
It was so quiet I could hear my own heart beating. I got tired of waiting and after a few minutes, I leaned over and pushed the button again.
“Ma’am, as previously stated, I cannot let you into Mr. Brighton’s home. I am very sorry.”
“I just called him and left a message. Can you call him, please? This is very, very important.”
“I will try. One moment.”
I sat back, my fingers tapping the top of my helmet that sat in between my legs.
