Chapter 15
RYAN
I settle into my comfortable seat in first class, stretching out my legs. If this were an evening flight, I’d be ordering alcohol after my encounter with Cooper. Instead, I open my laptop and prepare to work as people pass by, herded like cattle to the back of the plane. I’m focused when I feel a kick to my foot. I look up to see Cooper smirking at me. She kicked me on purpose. Is she five years old?
“How’s your throne, VP?”
God, she’s so provoking . I smirk back, sticking my foot out just enough to trip her as she takes another step.
She stumbles over my foot, losing her balance. Not wanting to knock into the person in front of her, she leans toward me, bracing one hand against my chest and the other against the seat above my shoulder.
“What the hell, Ryan?”
She’s so close I can feel her breath on my forehead. The mix of her perfume and the sight of her tits just inches from my face makes me feel disoriented. She’s wearing a low-cut shirt under a denim jacket, and from this angle, all I can see is skin—smooth, tempting, and way too close for comfort. Fuck. I keep my gaze on her face, but it takes everything in me. She has no idea what she’s doing to me—or maybe she does. I plaster a smile on my face. “Karma’s a bitch, sweetheart.”
She pushes herself off me with a disgusted exhale and continues on her way to the back of the plane. Part of me wishes she were sitting next to me, if only so I could push her buttons. I don’t know why it’s so fun, but I’m starting to look forward to her snarky remarks. It keeps things interesting, never knowing what I’m going to get. Sometimes it feels like she hates me, pouring the wrath of hell onto me, and other times it’s like immature flirtation—like we’re back in high school. I can’t figure her out. She went from hostile to friendly, warming up to me before the Christmas party—shit, I would’ve even called her a friend. But afterward—pure seething hatred. I have no clue what happened at that party.
All I know is that she’s hot as hell, great in bed, and I like arguing with her.
The plane starts to taxi. I connect to the Wi-Fi and decide to have a little fun. I shoot her a text.
Ryan: How’s your seat back there?
Cooper: Everything I dreamed of, and so much more.
Okay—she didn’t shut me down.
Ryan: Did you manage to grab your vibrator before you had to put your luggage away?
I add the smug-faced emoji at the end. I also know that if anyone ever saw these texts, I could possibly lose my job.
It’s a dangerous game.
Cooper: You wish. Have you managed to jerk off in the bathroom yet? I saw your eyes wandering. #subtleVP
“Oh, shit,” I mutter under my breath, laughing.
Ryan: Can you blame me? Even the guy in the window seat’s jealous of the view you gave me.
She sends an eye-rolling emoji.
Cooper: Is he an asshole too?
Annnnd the wicked witch is back.
Ryan: Did you forget to take your medication this morning, PM?
Cooper: PM?
Ryan: Yeah… project manager. That’s YOUR new nickname.
Ryan: Or maybe peasant… It’s still up for debate.
Cooper: Ha. Ha. Ha. You’re so funny.
Ryan: Thanks. I think so.
Cooper: Did you and window seat create a brotherly bond over your “view”? #ASSHOLES
Jesus Christ. She really is something. I hesitate before I type.
Ryan: What do you want me to say, PM… you’ve got a great rack.
Ryan: But seriously… What did Brad do to make you hate men this much?
I watch the text bubble disappear and reappear on her screen, waiting for her to type something back. She takes longer than usual, then the bubble vanishes again. I start to panic. Dammit. I went too far. The bubble finally reappears.
Cooper: Fuck. You.
Cooper: Why don’t you worry about your own fucked-up life, VP?
Shit. If she didn’t have a reason to report me to HR before—she sure does now. I hit a nerve, and it’s not pretty. But if I’m right—if Brad’s cheated—I understand her bitterness. I’ve been in those shoes. But I don’t understand why she’s taking it out on me.
I scowl at my phone. I feel like a dick. If she and Brad are struggling, and if it’s because of infidelity, the last thing she needs is me being a prick. I don’t want to give her any more ammo, or prove her right. Not all guys are assholes and cheaters.
Ryan: I didn’t mean that, Cooper. I’m sorry if I crossed a line.
She doesn’t respond for the rest of the flight, and I’m not going to lie—I’m a little terrified to land. Why did I do that? We were in a good spot, flirty banter instead of angry, and then I took a wrong turn.
We land at 2:30 PM, and I immediately call the hotel to see if we can get an early check-in. I’m waiting anxiously in the terminal for Cooper to exit the plane, not knowing what I’m going to be faced with.
She walks toward me, not missing a beat. “Let’s go, VP.”
Alright, better than expected. We grab our rental car and head to the Fairmont in downtown Austin. The car ride is quiet, aside from the occasional question about today’s properties. We’ve only got time to see two of them today. Travel days always feel like such a waste of time. Cooper texts the realtor and confirms our 4:30 PM appointment.
We check in and head to the elevator.
I glance at my phone for the time. “You want to meet back here in fifteen minutes after you change? Is that enough time for you?”
“Jesus, Ryan, I just have to change my clothes.”
I roll my eyes, pressing the button for the fifteenth floor. “I know, but I didn’t know if… you know… you had to get ready or something.”
She laughs as the door opens. “Don’t flatter yourself. It’s not like we’re going on a date. I’d never need to—” she makes air quotes, “‘get ready’ for you.”
We walk down the hall together, and it takes everything in me not to lose my shit right now. I’m already teetering on the ledge—just waiting to be pushed off the cliff.
“Whatever. Just meet me in the lobby in fifteen minutes.”
She doesn’t respond, just swipes her key card and disappears inside. I take a deep breath and open the door to my room, already savoring the next ten minutes of peace without her.
Seventeen minutes later, I’m in the lobby, about to text her when she steps off the elevator—and goddamn, she looks incredible. She looks very ready. Professional and sexy as hell. She’s wearing one of those… I don’t know what it’s called, but it’s all one piece. Whatever—it’s black, sleeveless, and shows every curve, especially her tits. She’s got a coat draped over her arm, and looks ready to take on the world.
“You ready?” she says coolly.
“This is you not getting ready?” I snide.
“I didn’t say I wasn’t getting ready, VP. I said I wasn’t getting ready for you .”
“Right.” Why does it feel like that's exactly what she did? I wave my arm out in front of me. “After you.”
* * * * * ? * * * * *
The first property was a bust. We’re now at the second location with the realtor. I like it, Cooper does not.
“What don’t you like about it?” I ask, needing to know she’s not just trying to be disagreeable.
“I don’t know. It just doesn’t feel right, you know?” She turns to the realtor. “The vibe’s off.”
“The vibe’s off?” I repeat, skeptical. “How are we supposed to rationally pick a building when you’re just going off vibes ?”
“That’s not all I’m going off. But yeah, I think it’s an important detail. It has to feel right.”
“Right. Because you’re such a good judge of character,” I mutter under my breath.
“I heard that,” she says coldly.
The realtor looks between us. Her name is Kellie, and she’s in her mid-thirties. She and Cooper hit it off immediately, chatting like old friends.
“I completely understand, Cooper. It has to speak to you,” Kellie chimes in.
“Yes! Exactly!” Cooper exclaims, grinning. “Don’t mind him. He hasn’t been laid in a long time.”
They both laugh.
Holy fuck. I’m in hell—a girlfriend’s retreat, and I’m their target practice. This is going to be a long week.
They lower their voices to a whisper, probably thinking I can’t hear them, but everything echoes in here.
“Well, I could fix that for him. Is he single?” Kellie asks Cooper.
“Yeah, but… he’s gay.”
Typical. Add cockblocker to the growing list of names I’ve got for her.
“Of course he is. The hot ones always are,” Kellie says.
I can’t help but laugh to myself.
“You’re not wrong there,” Cooper agrees.
“Okay, well, if the vibes are off, let’s get the hell out of here. I’m starved,” I say, my patience running thin.
Cooper shrugs. “I guess we’re done for the day.”
Kellie walks us out. “I’ll see you two bright and early tomorrow morning?”
“Yeah, see you then. Thanks, Kellie,” Cooper says, waving.
Once we’re in the car, Cooper slides into the passenger seat and immediately turns to me. “Well, you were rude.”
“I wasn’t rude. I just don’t want to waste any time.” I grip the steering wheel. “You know, maybe tomorrow we can bring a psychic along. Get some expert opinions on these ‘vibes’ you keep talking about.”
She lets out a sharp laugh. “Oh, I didn’t realize you were so into expert opinions, Ryan. Maybe I should call my friend—she’s a therapist. She might be able to help you.”
“Oh, you’re a comedian now too. What hat will you be wearing for the rest of the trip, Cooper? Because I never know which version of you is going to show up.”
“Oh, God. You’re just such a lonely, middle-aged man who desperately needs to get laid.”
I scoff. “Oh, that’s original. Maybe I should give Kellie a call. She seemed more than eager to help me out with that. But wait, I forgot. I’m gay.”
She bursts into uncontrollable laughter. “Oh my God, you heard that?” She doubles over, struggling to breathe.
I can’t help but laugh along with her. That laugh—so unexpectedly cute—brings me back to the first time I heard it, and I feel myself softening toward her despite everything.
She sits up, wiping tears from her cheeks, struggling to contain herself. “Oh, God. That’s good stuff.”
We ride in silence for a few minutes, Morgan Wallen playing in the background, Bluetoothed from my phone. Cooper grabs my phone, swipes up, and holds it in front of my face for facial recognition.
“What are you doing?” I ask, suspicious.
“What does it look like I’m doing? I’m playing DJ.”
“But I like this song.”
“Well, I don’t,” she replies with a scowl. “I’m not exactly a big fan of country.”
“Okay… So what are you putting on?”
“Something fun. You’ll see.” She types into my phone, a grin spreading across her face. “You need to loosen up.”
“I’m loose.”
She glances at me, unconvinced. “You will be in a minute when I hit you with this banger playlist.”
Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” starts playing, and she begins bopping to the beat.
“Are you ready for this, VP? Come on, I know you know this song. Everyone your age knows it.”
“Oh, I know it,” I say.
“But do you know it better than I do? Because we’re about to have a rap-off.”
I laugh. “I know every word. You’re going down.”
“I’ll believe it when I see it.”
We both start in, “His palms are sweaty,” neither of us missing a beat. By the chorus, she cranks up the volume, and we’re rapping as loud as we can. We make eye contact mid-song and both burst into laughter. She can’t rap anymore, too caught up in the moment, but I keep going, nailing every word.
I point at her, letting her know I’m still in the game, finishing the song with a triumphant grin. “Whoo! Damn!” I clap my hands together. “Did I win? I think I won.”
She claps in mock admiration. “Damn, Ryan. That was impressive.” She cups her hands around her mouth and yells, “Eminem in the house!” She giggles, and it’s the cutest damn thing.
I soak it all up—because when Cooper Bradley is laughing with you, you want to be fucking present for every single second.
We pull into the valet and step out of the car. “Do you want to grab something to eat together?” I ask, trying to sound casual but secretly hoping she’ll say yes.
She hesitates. “No, I’m good. I’ll just order something to my room. I just kind of want to be alone, if that's okay. Thanks, though.”
I nod, forcing a smile. “No problem.”
She turns and heads inside, and I can’t help but think it’s a shame—a girl like her spending the night alone, dwelling on… well, whatever it is that’s weighing her down. It’s like there’s always something just out of reach with Cooper, something she’s not letting anyone see. And for some reason, that only makes me want to get closer.
* * * * * ? * * * * *
I’m up early the next morning, about to grab a coffee and head to the lobby to get some work done, when I hear Cooper through the wall. Her voice is raised, and she sounds upset.
“God, it’s not like that,” she says, her frustration clear. “I told you already, there’s a whole group of us.” There’s a pause. “I’m staying with Genevieve; we’re sharing a room.” Another pause. “He has his own room. Do you bunk up with coworkers when you travel?” Another pause. “I don’t know what floor he’s on, but he’s not on mine.”
Holy shit. They’re fighting about me. And she’s lying through her teeth about it. I feel uncomfortable listening, but my curiosity gets the best of me, so I stay.
“Ugh, you’re so paranoid, Brad. It doesn’t matter if you like him or trust him. I work with him.” There’s a longer pause. “This has nothing to do with you.” She starts crying, and it pisses me off that this asshole has pushed her to tears. “I’ve never done anything to make you question my integrity. I’ve been so loyal to you…” This next pause is even longer. “Oh, but you can fuck whoever you want?”
I take a deep breath. Time to go. It was wrong of me to listen. I grab my shoes.
“You bet I am… If you’re going to accuse me of things I’ve never done, I’m sure as shit going to bring it up.”
I open the door quietly and slip out, my heart pounding in my chest. Jesus, the unhealthiness of her relationship. I don’t even know what to think, but I know one thing—I don’t want to be in the middle of it. Yet, somehow, from what I overheard—I already am. Brad must really be threatened.
* * * * * ? * * * * *
Ten minutes later, with coffee in hand, I decide to text Cooper.
Ryan: Hey, I’m in the lobby. Want to meet me for coffee and go over a few things?
Cooper: I thought we were meeting at 9 for a quick review before heading out?
Ryan: That works too. Just figured I’d ask since I’m down here already. If it works out, great. If not, I’ll see you at 9.
Cooper: Give me twenty minutes. Can you order me a latte, please?
Ryan: Yeah, sure.
I brace myself for whatever mood Cooper’s in. After the morning she’s had, I doubt she’ll be easy to get along with today. But I’m determined to give her a break and take the high road.
Twenty minutes later, she sits across from me in a short black dress. A really short dress. She’s wearing sheer black nylons, but still—I can’t even think straight. Great. How the hell am I supposed to focus on work when I’m fighting back a chub all day? She has this way of making sexy-as-hell clothes look professional, or maybe it’s professional clothes that look sexy as hell. Either way, I’m in a real spot here.
“Why are you staring at me?” she asks, raising an eyebrow. “Do I have something in my teeth?”
I snap out of my trance. “No,” I shake it off. “Sorry, I was lost in my thoughts.”
“Oh. Okay. Well, thanks for the coffee.”
“You’re welcome.” I study her for a moment. No signs of distress or sadness. She’s really good at hiding her feelings. You’d never know she had a fight with her fiancé this morning. “You look… really pretty,” I say, unable to help myself.
A small, sad smile crosses her lips. “Thanks, Ryan.”
* * * * * ? * * * * *
Today was different. Instead of Cooper’s snarky, sharp attitude, she’s been soft, quiet, and reserved. It’s depressing as hell. It’s like she couldn’t care less whether I’m here or not. As much as the hostility gets under my skin, at least it’s interesting, fun even. But this? I don’t even know what to call it.
I’ve had time to think, and I’m starting to believe Cooper actually likes having me around—maybe even likes me, at least a little. All the time we spent working together before the Christmas party, when things were good, has to count for something. I don’t think she’s mad at me; I think she’s mad at Brad—hurt and upset.
I just wish she’d talk to me. She’s barely said three words all day.
We did find a place we like—a spot similar to Elemental. It’s called Austin Work Space, right downtown. Cooper said the vibes are good, and I couldn’t agree more. We spent most of the day touring buildings with the realtor before meeting the leasing manager at Austin Work Space. I’m relieved. It’s going to be so much easier to sign a lease at a place like this instead of building out from scratch. All we’ll have to do is hire a team and move in.
“Let’s get some food,” I say as I pull up to the valet.
“I’m not very hungry.”
“Come on, Cooper. You haven’t eaten all day, and your mood is depressing as hell.”
We walk into the lobby. “I was actually planning to go to the pool. You can come if you want,” she says, rushing to the elevator. I follow her.
“The pool?”
“Yeah… I just want to zone out and relax.” She presses the button for the fifteenth floor.
I think about it. The pool does sound tempting. It’s a rooftop pool, heated, and the idea of being alone with Cooper in a swimsuit suddenly makes me forget I’m hungry. Besides, blowing off some stress would be nice.
We step off the elevator and head toward our rooms.
“You coming or not? I don’t have the patience to wait for you,” she says, turning to her door.
“Yeah, I’ll come.”
She blows out a breath. “Alright. I’ll meet you down there in ten.”
I dress quickly, tossing my clothes on the bed like she just invited me to something more than a swim. I almost didn’t pack a swimsuit, but after reading about how great the pool and hot tub were, I figured I’d better. With how freezing Chicago has been, I’m definitely not passing this up.
At the pool, I find a lounger and drop my stuff. It’s not crowded—only a handful of people. It’s getting dark, and the lights are on in the pool. I guess this would be what Cooper calls a good vibe. It’s chilly by Texas standards, but warm compared to home. I glance up as Cooper walks in, wearing one of those coverups with holes in it. Never understood the purpose, but if it’s to get a man’s attention, it’s working.
She drops her things next to mine and pulls off her coverup, her movements bringing me right back to that night in Newport. Jesus, she looks incredible. The swimsuit leaves her practically naked—a shimmering little thing with ties in all the right places. I could just pull one string and she’d be bare. I smirk, caught up in the memory. “Not the first time I’ve seen you do that,” I say without thinking.
Without missing a beat, she shoves her hand in my face, turning my head. “Don’t be a creep.”
I chuckle inwardly. Yes. She’s back. Does this mean I can play back? I hesitate, knowing she had a rough morning, but maybe teasing her a bit will keep her from dwelling on it—help her loosen up so she can enjoy herself tonight. “So I’m back to being a creep?”
“You’ve never not been one, Ryan.”
“Did you bring any snacks? We might be here for a while. I’d hate for you to get hangry and overshadow that charming personality of yours.”
She grins, digging into her bag. “Oh, I’ve got something better than snacks.” She pulls out a small tin. “Got some edibles. You want one? Or do you enjoy being a stiff asshole?”
I raise my eyebrows, leaning back on the lounger. “You brought edibles?”
“What? Are you, of all people, judging me?”
I furrow my brows. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
She rolls her eyes. “Please. You know exactly what it means.”
I sit up. “Jesus. If it’ll make you less of a pain in my ass, I’m in.”
She rolls her eyes, popping one into her mouth. “Why do you think I brought them in the first place? I knew I’d need to get high after spending so much time with you.” She ruffles my hair. “Desperate times, Ryan. Go on, take one. Maybe it'll help you remember how to have fun.”
I chuckle, grabbing an edible. “Alright, but if I end up high and have to listen to you rant about how all men are assholes, I’m throwing you in the pool.”
She narrows her eyes, but there's a hint of a smile. “Oh, trust me, if you throw me in, I'm dragging you in with me.” Her gaze flicks down before meeting mine again. “Maybe the water will help you get that boner in check.”
I laugh. “Touché. May the best man win.”
Without hesitation, I scoop her up and hoist her over my shoulder, walking toward the pool.
“Ryan, don’t! I swear to God, if you throw me in, there will be hell to pay.”
“Oh, I’m already in hell with you, babe.” I toss her in, knowing she’ll make me pay—and I’m looking forward to it.