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I spin to face Cooper, a mix of frustration and confusion bubbling within me.
“What?” he asks, a frown forming on his lips.
“What?” My voice comes out sharper than I intend, but I can’t help feeling annoyed. “Why would you do that? Why did you pack everything up?”
His brow knots. “I thought I’d save you the trouble.”
“Cooper, I don’t need—” I suck air into my lungs and blow it out, then, hopefully more calmly, continue. “Tearing down and packing up the supplies is my job.”
“I was just trying to help, to save time.”
He doesn’t mean to imply I’m slow, but there’s no way he could have missed how I take twice as long to do things anyone with two good hands…anything he could do easily, without thinking twice. I take a deep breath and blow it out, forcing the defensive need to prove myself to take a back seat, just this once.
“Thank you.”
His head falls to the side, as if he doesn’t know whether to believe me.
“Really, I mean it. You’ve saved me at least an hour, if not more.”
He steps toward me, and I release the wagon as he reaches for my hand and gives it a squeeze. “I have to admit my intentions weren’t completely honorable.”
“How’s that?”
He raises my hand to his lips and presses a kiss to my knuckles while his eyes meet mine. “Let’s just say I wanted to ensure we have enough time for other priorities.”
This is it. The moment I’ve waited for. “Right,” I reply, swallowing hard, my mouth as dry and rough as sandpaper. “You promised to show me your bedroom, didn’t you?”
“I did.” His voice is low and seductive. “Still want that tour?”
“Definitely.” I’m trying for casual, though a curl of desire winds through my core, down to the juncture between my legs, distracting me from everything except this fine specimen of a man in front of me.
“Would you say you’re hitting on me, Ms. Watts?”
“Can’t you tell?”
“I can. You’re doing an excellent job. But I just wanted to make sure.”
“So you don’t get in trouble with Penny? I’ll be very clear it was my idea. Plus, Penny didn’t warn me off you. She just warned me.”
“Perfect. Follow me, then.” Cooper leads the way down the hallway, holding my hand the whole way.
My pulse races as we approach his bedroom door, anticipation building with every step. Whatever happens next, I know one thing for certain: I won’t be the same person when I leave this room. Which is exactly what I want.
The moment Cooper kicks the bedroom door closed behind us, his hands find my waist, his fingers gently tracing the curve of my hips through the thin cotton of my dress. I shiver at his touch, grateful he’s taking the lead. It’s exactly what I need right now, someone to guide me through this uncharted territory.
“Are you okay?” Concern laces his voice as he holds my gaze.
“Yes.”
His eyes narrow as if he doesn’t know whether to believe me. I run my fingers along the stubble on his jawline. The coarse bristles are rough under my fingertips and stir something deep inside me I can’t quite explain, yet crave more of. Much more. “Now, where’s that senseless kiss I was promised?”
His fingers tighten on my hips and pull me against him. A growl erupts from deep in his chest, and before I can blink, his lips are on mine, tender at first then gradually deepening.
His kisses become hungrier and more demanding, and I meet him right where he is, every step of the way. His hands roam over my body, up my sides, through my hair, down to the small of my back, leaving sparks of desire in their wake. My hand is far from idle, mapping the hard planes of his chest and the sculpted muscles of his abs.
I am on fire, squirming with a need I’ve never felt and couldn’t describe if I tried. My breasts are heavy with an ache, and I press against Cooper’s broad chest, seeking any sort of friction to ease the desire. But it only grows, along with the throbbing between my legs. A pulsating pattern that begs for release.
Cooper seems to know exactly where I need to be touched even before I do. A moan escapes my throat as his fingers draw my dress up my thighs, searing the skin, then slip beneath the hem and continue tugging it upward.
