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Silence falls in the kitchen.
Is he really that perceptive, or have I been that obvious? Christ.
It’s not like I’m a hermit. I do go out and spend time with other human beings. But maybe he’s not completely off base. If I’m not with Oakley and Ava, or Banks and Brie, or even Beth, I’m at home with Cooper. I didn’t think there was anything wrong with that, and there isn’t, but now that I think about it, I’m realizing that Scarlett has been the only woman in years I’ve spent time without outside of that small group of people.
The only woman I’ve wanted to spend time with.
The weight of that slams into my chest, winding me. I drop the collection of dirty utensils and measure cups into the sink and grip the edge of the counter.
What does that even mean? She’s my employee and someone that I’ve grown to care about. Sure, we have chemistry. I might have fallen a bit out of touch with women over the last few years, but I’m not dead. And I would have to be not to feel that there’s something incredibly palpable between us. Like a live wire connects the both of us.
But that’s just sexual energy that sparks between two people who are attracted to each other. And I am incredibly attracted to Scarlett, there’s no denying that. From her freckle-covered cheeks and bright blue eyes to her round, tight ass and muscled thighs, there isn’t a single thing about her that doesn’t drive me fucking crazy.
And if the circumstances were different, maybe I would have acted on that attraction. Maybe I would already know what she feels like beneath me and if that frown of hers disappears when I’m balls-deep and she’s coming on my cock.
That’s not how this can go, though. Sex leads to feelings, and feelings lead to trouble. I have Cooper to think about now. Even if he does believe I need a woman in my life, I can’t risk it right now.
The sound of the front door opening and closing has me pulling back out of my thoughts. My hands are sweaty on the counter when I drop them to my sides.
“Dad?” Cooper asks cautiously, almost timidly.
“You’re right, kid. I do need to go out more,” I admit. There’s no denying that.
“I do like having you around all the time. I didn’t mean it like I didn’t.”
With a sigh, I reach over and rub his back. “I know. You wouldn’t know what to do without your old man.”
“I can’t believe we were at the store and forgot garlic bread. That’s the most crucial part of a good dinner,” Beth shouts from the front door. Bare feet slap the floor, getting louder and louder until she enters the kitchen.
I quickly put the casserole in the oven and set the cooking timer. Turning to the kitchen island, I watch her place a grocery bag and a bottle of white wine on the counter.
“Did you get the loaf or the slices?” Cooper asks, peeking into the bag. He fist pumps the air before pulling out a thick loaf of bread. “Hell ya!”
“What do you take me for? A rookie?” Beth juts a hip.
Cooper grins and moves to the oven, grabbing a baking sheet from the bottom drawer and getting the bread set up.
Beth turns to me and points to the wine. “Corkscrew? I figured I would pick this up while I was out. You still like wine, right?”
“I do. But I would have been happy to have soda with you.”
I don’t drink while Beth is around because I don’t see the point in teasing it in front of her knowing she shouldn’t consume alcohol. It’s not a loss, considering I’m not a big drinker.
Regardless, I grab a corkscrew from the drawer before finding a glass and grabbing her a soda from the fridge. After I have everything, I toss her the corkscrew and a can of Coke and set down my glass. Her brows furrow with concentration as she yanks out the cork.
“What were you boys up to while I was gone? It was so quiet when I got in that I thought you might have left,” she says while setting the cork off to the side.
I take the bottle from her and start filling my glass. “Cooper was just expressing concern for my social life.”
“I told him he needs a girlfriend,” he adds bluntly.
Beth laughs. “Welcome to the club, sweetheart. I’ve been telling him that for the past year.”
“And I tell you that I’m fine without one every single time you do.”
“And then I tell you that you have too much love in your heart to only give it to the two of us,” she sings.
Cooper moves to the sink to wash the grease from the garlic loaf off his hands. When he uses way too much soap, I can’t fight off my smile. “Mom has a good point.”
