Chapter Seven #3
Lexi blushed. “Don’t know if I’d go so far as to say I’m great at everything I do, but I appreciate the compliment anyway.”
Cooper tasted the wine and couldn’t resist saying candidly, using a baseball analogy, “I just call the balls and strikes as I see them.”
“Okay.” She chuckled. “I take it you’re a fan of the Arizona Diamondbacks?”
“Yeah, I am.” He spooned chicken stew. “I like the Arizona Cardinals and Phoenix Suns, too.”
“Same here,” Lexi surprised him by saying. “Haven’t attended many games, but I do like watching them on television.”
Cooper met her eyes. “Maybe we can check out a game—of any sport—together sometime?”
“I’d like that,” she readily agreed, and ate some of the fried plantains.
“Cool.” Cooper imagined that he could watch her eat all day and night.
But he was even more intrigued at the prospect of intimacy between them—knowing this was something that definitely piqued his interest—once it became abundantly clear to him that they were on the same track in that regard.
He drank more wine. “By the way, I spotted Eleanor sitting by her window when I came. We waved to each other.”
“That was sweet of you—and Eleanor.” Lexi’s teeth shone. “She actually complimented you when I mentioned that we were spending time together.”
“Really?” Cooper flashed a quick smile. “That’s good to know. I think Eleanor’s great, too—she reminds me of my late grandmother.”
“Nice to hear.” Lexi was thoughtful. “I think Eleanor is hoping that you and I can use our common experience to build something together,” she spoke honestly.
Cooper angled his head. “One should never underestimate the wisdom of someone who’s been around as long as she has,” he said with a laugh.
Lexi smiled softly. “I agree.”
“Missing the husband that she was with for so many years, I’m sure loneliness has set in for Eleanor in a way that gives her a different perspective on the power of togetherness for practically a lifetime.”
“Well said—and I’m in complete agreement,” Lexi told him, and tasted her wine. As he contemplated this, she cut into his thoughts, asking inquisitively, “Has there been any progress in your investigation of how Horace ended up dead?”
Cooper leaned back with his wineglass. “Depends on what you mean by progress?” He sipped the wine.
“If you’re asking if the carjackers have been arrested, the answer is no.
But if we’re talking about moving the needle toward getting a better understanding as to why Eckhart was killed, I’d say that we’re making some headway. ”
She batted her lashes. “Then you’re thinking his death was related to being a building inspector and bribery…?”
“Good deduction,” Cooper answered, using his fork to scoop up more of the rice and peas.
“While the case is still ongoing, I can tell you that from what I’ve gathered, Eckhart’s death was anything but a random act.
I believe that it was directly tied to the public corruption probe—and what he knew and who—and may have involved blackmail or other dynamics that made Eckhart a threat in exposing whomever may have been bribing him to use his position to enhance theirs. ”
Lexi nibbled on the pan sobao and asked intently, “I suppose you have suspects that you’re looking at?”
Cooper considered the question. He didn’t fault her for wanting to know if anyone in her professional world may have conspired to murder the building inspector. The last thing I want is to drag her any further into the investigation than is necessary, Cooper told himself.
He tasted the pollo guisado and answered coolly, “I’d say, at this point, it’s more eliminating suspects as serious persons of interest than the other way around.
” Cooper favored her sideways. “For instance, I’ve spoken with folks from the Kenniston Group, including Reese Kenniston and Terry Morikawa.
” He knew that Lexi had done work for the real estate development company and hoped to put her mind somewhat at ease.
“As of now, there’s no reason to think that they were bribing Eckhart for illegal services rendered—or were solicited by the building inspector. ”
“All right,” Lexi said, relaxing her features as she sipped wine.
They finished eating and, after Cooper was shown around—he continued to be taken by the house’s interior—kissed while standing in the great room.
Lexi initiated the kiss and Cooper was more than accommodating to continue what they had started the day before.
Only this time, the kiss was deeper and longer, and ignited a passion in him that Cooper feared could only be extinguished when he took her to bed.
But without knowing if she was on birth control and not having protection with him, he wouldn’t push it for either of them and the risks of unprotected sex—no matter the rewards.
When he ended their kissing for the second time, Cooper promised himself there wouldn’t be a third.
Not unless this was what she wanted. Otherwise, he was more than ready to take things to another level, which would likely be electrifying and sustaining, if what his libido was feeling measured up to making love to her.