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The foyer was at least as big as the main room in her loft. The polished wood floors had a delicate inlay and were extraordinary. Coop led her to a set of double doors that were at least a story and a half high. They had gorgeous stained glass, which kept the room semi-private and when he led her inside, she gasped.
The library was two stories tall with bookcases lining three sides of the room and a ceiling-height arched glass window along the front of the house with a built-in window seat. There were the library ladders that rolled along tracks at the bottom of the second floor. The second floor was all books, with a narrow walkway running around the front of the bookcases. The back wall had bookcases and dead center was an elevator, the only way to access the second floor.
“This is amazing,” she said with awe.
“It is. Very different than the cottage but the collection of rare books, first editions, and popular fiction is impressive. Let me light the fire and we can turn off the lights and just get comfy.”
She nodded, going over to the sofa and removing the boots Samantha had sent her. “King’s wife has excellent taste in fashion.”
“She has excellent taste in most everything save her choice of husbands, but then King didn’t give her much choice in that. What’s bugging you?”
“I didn’t say that anything was bothering me.”
“No, you didn’t, and that in and of itself is a problem, but quit evading my question and tell me what’s wrong. I can’t help if I don’t know what it is.”
“Maybe I don’t want your help. Maybe the scariest thing for me is learning to lean on a man who has a very dangerous occupation and then having him ripped away from me.”
Coop nodded. “I can understand that, but baby, people without dangerous jobs die all the time—some of them violently. You’re an accountant, not usually thought of as an ‘at risk’ profession, and yet here you are on the run.”
“I know. I didn’t say it was logical, but you asked how I was feeling and that’s it. I just wonder if I stay with you if I ever get back to normal again.”
“You will; we will, but it’s going to take time. We’re working as hard as we can to unravel this mess that got put in your lap. If I didn’t already hate Blackwood Senior, I’d do so for him doing that to you. He might not have known who was doing what, but I find it hard to believe he didn’t know the danger involved, and yet he brought you in without giving you the full facts and left you to twist in the wind.”
“We don’t know that.”
“Yes, we do. He hasn’t tried to call, email, or reach out to you in any way.”
She had to admit he was right. Before she could speak again, there was a knock on the door, and Pete stuck his head in. “The boss sent dinner from the Turf Room. We just kind of divided it up. I thought you guys might enjoy just eating in here.”
“Thanks, Pete,” said Anabella. “I hope you don’t think I’m being antisocial.”
“No ma’am. What we all think is that you’ve had a pretty shitty day and right now everything must seem crazy and like all the bad stuff will never end. If we can do something to make things a little easier for you and Coop, then we’re happy to do so. I’ll leave you two alone. If I don’t get back to the kitchen, there’s a good chance there won’t be any food left.”
They spent the next couple of hours chatting and eating. They talked about sitting at the game table, but opted instead for the leather chesterfield sofa, facing the fireplace.
“It’s funny how a room this big and this grand can still feel so homey,” she said.
“I think that has to do more with the people you’re with than the furnishings or the size.”
“You’re probably right. I’m so tired; I should probably go up to bed. I’m assuming you and I are sharing?”
“Unless you’d rather not.”
“Oh, no. I can’t think of any place I’d rather sleep than in your arms.”
He smiled indulgently and pulled her back against his warmth, stroking her hair and just letting her be. That was one of the best things about Coop. He didn’t feel like he had to fill up all the spaces with a lot of other things. It was a trait they shared. They could just be. She was listening to him talk about working the club in London when she fell asleep mid-sentence.
Anabella wasn’t sure how much time had passed when she woke to the feel of Coop lightly caressing her cheek. As she rested against him, she realized, it wasn’t because he was trying to wake or arouse her. In fact, watching his face, it seemed as though it was more to soothe himself.
“I’m sorry, baby, I didn’t mean to disturb you.”
“You didn’t. Are you okay? Everyone keeps asking me, but I’m not sure if anyone has really checked in with you.”
“You’re the one who was in the hospital.”
“And you’re the one that had shrapnel removed from his back without benefit of anesthesia or painkillers. I don’t know how you did that.”
“Both of those dull the senses. That’s the last thing I want right now. Don’t worry, the first time I get a cold and think I’m going to die, you’ll know I’m just a guy like any other.”
