25. Cooper
25
COOPER
I T WAS THE first time in days I’d opened my laptop, but when Lachlan needed to get work of his own done, we made our way down to the business center.
When I’d asked if being glued to me was one of the stipulations of my stay, he’d only given me a look, but that wasn’t a no. I chose to believe he stayed because he couldn’t bear to be away from me, but the thought made me roll my own eyes at myself. I’d barely scratched the surface of who Lachlan was, and now I was dreaming of happily-ever-afters? I needed to get it the fuck together.
Starting with my article.
Now that I had a few more firsthand details, I could fill in what I knew about Mick and his guys so far. Better to get it down while it was all fresh in my mind, and the words practically flew from my fingers. It was a hell of a difference from a few days ago, when I wanted to bash my head on the keyboard from a lack of information. It finally felt like I was getting somewhere, and that had everything to do with Lachlan and his connections.
My eyes drifted over to where he’d set up several workspaces away. He didn’t like to sit while he worked, that much was clear from the way he paced while on calls, only occasionally referring to one of several screens.
It was hot to watch him like this. He was an in-control, bossy type, but it suited him.
And speaking of suits, no one, and I mean no one , filled out a tailored suit better than Lachlan Stone. Today it was navy with a matching tie. Crisp white shirt. Silver bracelets stacked around his wrist. Since he wasn’t at the office, I’d figured he’d go a bit more casual, maybe even take off the jacket and roll up his sleeves. At least I would. Then again, I was in jeans and a t-shirt most of the time, so I wasn’t exactly the model for running a business.
Lachlan stopped moving and turned in my direction, his dark brows knitted together, but when his eyes met mine, his forehead smoothed out.
Busted again for staring. It was becoming a thing with us.
His eyes roamed over me, at first as if he was checking to make sure I was all good, and once it was clear I was ogling him, quickly turned heated.
Oh shit, I felt that look. Everywhere.
I suddenly hated the fact that we weren’t alone down here, but maybe that was for the best. I’d never get anything done if I kept trying to jump his bones.
Lachlan shot me a wink before returning to his conversation, and my stomach flipped before I forced my eyes back to the screen.
Focus.
I went back to the top and read through what I’d written so far. I was missing some visual detail, and though the images from the night in the alley should’ve been seared in my mind, I needed to pull up the photos I’d taken to make sure I got it right.
Glancing over my shoulder to make sure Lachlan was otherwise occupied, I brought up the picture folder and clicked on the first photo. Without a flash, it had been dark, but I could still make out the men standing several feet away while I hid behind a dumpster.
It wasn’t like I’d had much of a choice where to hide. The spur-of-the-moment decision to follow them had led me somewhere without a lot of options, and it was pure luck they hadn’t noticed me.
My heart began to race as I clicked through the photos, realizing how close I’d been to danger. To losing my life. It was easy to sit back now and ask “what was I thinking?” but I hadn’t been thinking. I’d been doing, so consumed with finding out more and exposing the pieces of shit involved that I’d forgotten how to be cautious.
Not that being careful in my line of work would ever get me anywhere.
But I was too nosy, had too much of a one-track mind to give a damn about anything but getting the story and getting justice. What would I have done if the masked man hadn’t shown up when he did?
I’d be missing a head in Queens, that was what.
So I had some mystery stranger to thank—though maybe I’d thanked him sufficiently when he snuck into my window. When I let him have full control over my body.
I pinched my brow as those memories came flooding back.
How did I keep falling into bed with strangers? That wasn’t like me. Just like the people in those sex clubs, I seemed to have lost all my inhibitions and welcomed anonymous orgasms.
Well, Lachlan wasn’t really a stranger. I knew him, his name, his job, that he was a good guy. Or maybe protective was a better word than good . After all, I’d seen the way he twisted the guy’s arm at the club when the man tried to put hands on me. Anyone with moves like that had a reason for them.
He’s in security—of course he’s got a reason.
But how wild was it that I’d met two men, two badasses at that, they’d both rescued me when I needed it, and both were freaking incredible in bed.
I glanced at Lachlan and felt heat hit my cheeks before averting my eyes.
While there was something forbidden and sexy about the stranger, I couldn’t deny that being with Lachlan was exciting in an entirely different way. Seeing him, being face to face, getting to know him… that was what made me interested. I wanted to reveal all those hidden layers of his, not for a story, but for me.
“What the hell is that?”
I jumped at Lachlan’s voice behind me and looked up to see him staring at the photo on the screen.
“Uh, nothing,” I said, closing the picture. “Just research. How’d your call go?”
He ignored my sad attempt at changing the subject. “Where did that photo come from? Did you take it?”
I had two choices. I could lie and risk Lachlan seeing right through me, or I could tell the truth and hope he didn’t ask too many more questions about it.
I went with option three: “I might’ve taken it.”
“Try again.”
“Remember when I said I followed a guy?”
He nodded. “From the club.”
“Right.” I brought the photo back up on the screen. “Well, it was more like guy s , and that little escapade took me to an alley in Queens.”
Lachlan leaned in, resting a hand on the back of my chair as he studied the photo.
“They were trying to move some product, but it got ugly, and—” How the hell did I tell him how I got involved without mentioning the mystery man? I didn’t want to get him in trouble, not when he’d saved my life. “Anyway, I managed to get away, but I dropped my phone at some point, and I’m guessing that’s when I accidentally picked up the key card. I didn’t realize it until I got home.”
The muscle in Lachlan’s jaw twitched, and he nodded at the screen. “Show me the others.”
I clicked through the photos one by one and wondered what had happened to those men once I left the alley. I’d combed through the news, but there had been nothing to do with anything that happened that night. It was like it’d all been wiped away. If I hadn’t been there, if I didn’t have these pictures as proof, I’d wonder if I had imagined the whole thing.
“Go back to the last one,” Lachlan said, and then pointed at something in the far corner. “Zoom in on the driver.”
I did as he asked, as much as I could, anyway. It wasn’t the clearest picture of the background, but even I could make out that it was…
“That jackass from the club,” he confirmed.
The one whose arm he’d twisted. I definitely didn’t remember his being there, but then again, I wasn’t paying attention to the van driver when I had a gun pointed at my head.
“You said you got away,” Lachlan said. “Did anyone see you?”
“Uh, no. I mean, it was dark and I didn’t think anyone saw me, but I also didn’t expect someone to trash my place, so…”
Lachlan shot up and resumed his pacing, clearly trying to rein in his temper—jaw clenched, face set in a stony mask. Every muscle in his body wound tight.
Was he upset at me or for me?
“Lachlan?”
When he didn’t answer, I stood and wanted to go over to him, but maybe giving him space was better.
“Lachlan—”
“Just give me a minute.”
I snapped my mouth shut, but something had obviously triggered him. And I couldn’t just let it go.
“Lachlan, if I could?—”
He turned around suddenly, so fast I lost my words.
“You asked me last night what scares me,” he said, his voice gravel rough. “Not being there if you get into a bad situation… That scares me.”
I reared back, blinking as I tried to wrap my head around his words. That admission was not what I’d expected. An unfamiliar feeling flooded my chest as I stared at him.
“Do you…mean that?” I hesitated to even ask, but I had to be sure I’d heard him right.
The fierce, protective look in his eyes took my breath away. “Yes.”
There was no doubt in my mind that he meant it. I felt his admission so deep in my bones, and I wondered what I’d done to deserve it.
My mouth moved, but I couldn’t force anything out. I wasn’t even sure what to say to that, and it wasn’t like I could promise I’d never get into a bad situation again. My short time in New York had proven I compromised my safety on a regular basis, intentionally or not.
But the fact that he wanted to be there…
I launched myself at him without thinking, wrapping my arms around his neck and pulling him in for a kiss, letting that be my response. For a moment, his lips parted, greeting my tongue eagerly, but then I felt him tense again before drawing back.
His eyes shifted up to the corner, and I immediately realized my mistake.
The cameras.
“Shit. Sorry,” I said, putting some space between us.
“Don’t be sorry.” He glanced up at the corner again and swore. But before I could get any farther, Lachlan reached for me, both hands cupping my face, and just before his lips crashed down on mine, he said, “Fuck it.”
And just like that, every other thought I had flew out of my head.
There was no trashed apartment.
No masked man.
No need to confess I’d figured out exactly where this building was thanks to the view and Google Earth.
No article.
No meeting with King this week.
Nothing.
There was just Lachlan, his strong hands holding me tight to him and stealing my breath. Making me feel wanted, safe, and aroused, all at the same time.
Even with the cameras watching.