Chapter 11
Kendall had thought Livie would have a meltdown when they told her that she’d be leaving home, where she felt safe.
When they’d said they were going to Myrtle Beach, all she’d heard was the word beach.
The only thing she wanted to know was could she take her glove, ball and bat.
The icing on the cake had been when Cooper had told her he had a dog she could play with.
The plane that had brought Cooper to Decatur had flown them to Myrtle Beach, and Livie, never having flown before, thought the whole thing was grand fun. Cooper’s truck was at the airport, and he’d loaded them up, and now, they were minutes from his house.
Was she doing the right thing letting him talk her into coming home with him?
She barely knew him. Yes, she liked him.
A lot. But was it smart just taking off like this with him?
When she’d told Rebecca her plans after asking for a leave for a few weeks, her boss had agreed it was a good idea to remove herself from the unknown danger.
Rebecca also said she’d find a replacement for the adult reading class, thus removing any objections Kendall could think of for not going.
What if she and Livie got on Cooper’s nerves?
He had been great with Livie so far, but he wasn’t used to a rambunctious four-year-old.
And what about this chemistry that still existed between them?
She wasn’t looking for a relationship, and with a daughter, she didn’t do flings…
Well, she might make an exception where Cooper was concerned.
Before him, she hadn’t done one-night stands either.
If something did happen between them, she wouldn’t have to worry about Livie getting attached to a man who would disappear from her life.
Cooper said he planned to be a part of Livie’s life, and Kendall believed he meant that, so even if she and Cooper didn’t have a future, he’d always be here for his daughter.
“Some deep thinking going on over there,” Cooper said. “Anything bothering you?”
You are. Why do you have to be so hot? She glanced behind her to see Livie was asleep. “I’m a little worried that Livie’s going to get on your nerves. She has a lot of energy and wants to be entertained all the time.”
He turned into an apartment complex and came to a stop in a numbered parking space.
He turned the key, shutting down the engine, then shifted to face her.
“That’s not something you need to worry about.
That little girl already owns my heart, Kendall.
She’s a joy to be around, and I plan to spend every minute I can with her.
Come on. Let’s get her inside, and I’ll come back for your suitcases. ”
Instead of taking Livie out of the car seat, he carried her in it so that she didn’t wake up. They took the elevator to the second floor of a three-floor building.
“It’s not much,” Cooper said as he held the car seat with one arm and unlocked the door with his free hand. “I’m renting until I decide where I want to buy. I’m thinking a house with a yard for Ruby.” He grinned. “And now a yard I can put a baseball field in for Livie when she visits.”
Warmth filled her that he was including Livie in his life. “She’d love that.”
They stepped inside his apartment, and he flicked on the light. “The furniture’s pretty basic and came with the rental.”
“Stop apologizing.” He was right, though.
The door opened right into the living room, and there was a brown leather couch, a matching chair, one side table and a coffee table.
It was one big room, and a round dining table that sat four was the only other furniture.
All of it screamed “I’m cheap rental furniture. ”
“There are twin beds in the guest room.”
She followed him into the room. “This will work fine for us.”
“I’ll go get your luggage so we can put her to bed.” He set the car seat on one of the beds. “Be right back.”
While he was gone, she got Livie out of the car seat. Her daughter was a heavy sleeper and did nothing more than mumble when Kendall removed her clothes. When Cooper returned with their suitcases, she found Livie’s pajamas and got her into them.
Cooper touched her arm. “Come out when you’re done, and we’ll talk a little.”
“Okay.”
He pressed his lips to Livie’s forehead. “Sweet dreams, Princess.”
After he left, she sighed. Livie had won the daddy lottery. She’d recently started asking about her father. Who was he? Why didn’t he come see her? Kendall knew it was because now that she was in preschool, she was seeing other children had fathers and she didn’t understand why she didn’t have one.
“Your daddy would be here if he could,” she’d finally said after avoiding answering a few times. “He’s in the Army, and he lives in a faraway land.” That was really all she had known about him, and for now, it seemed to satisfy Livie.
Before Cooper had appeared in their lives, she’d worried about what she would tell Livie when she got older, and that answer wasn’t good enough. Well, that was one good thing that came out of this. She wouldn’t have to admit to her daughter that she had no idea who or where her father was.
She pulled the covers up under Livie’s chin, kissed her baby girl on the same spot Cooper had and, leaving the door open, she joined Cooper. He sat on his rental couch, and a glass of wine and a beer were on the coffee table.
“Which one’s for me?” she asked as she settled next him but not touching.
She’d like to touch him, though. She’d gone out with a few men since that night with Cooper, and that was her trying to feel wanted again.
Sadly, the men hadn’t made her feel wanted the way Cooper had in just one night.
After that, she’d decided she didn’t need a man in her life.
She had Livie, a good job and a home she’d bought without help from her father.
Life was good, and she hadn’t felt like she was missing anything. Now, she did.
“The wine’s yours.” He picked it up and offered it to her.
“I’d rather have that beer.”
He grinned as he stood. “I knew I liked you.”
A minute later, her wine had disappeared, replaced with a bottle of beer. “Thanks.”
“I’m surprised Livie didn’t wake up when you changed her into her pajamas.”
“Once she’s out, you could have a loud party in her room, and she’d sleep right through it.”
“She’s amazing, Kendall. You’ve done a wonderful job with her.”
“That means a lot that you’d say that.” It really did. She kicked off her sandals, pulled her legs up under her and shifted so that she was facing him. “She’s pretty easygoing as long as she’s not bored, then I’m sometimes ready to give her away.”
He chuckled. “I’ll help you keep her entertained while she’s here. You mentioned that she’s close to her grandfather. I’m surprised he wasn’t by your side as soon as you told him she’d been kidnapped.”
“If he’d been home, believe me, he would have been.
He’s on an Alaskan cruise with his lady friend.
I didn’t want to worry him when he was so far away and couldn’t do anything.
If we hadn’t found her when we did, I would have gotten a message to him.
He would’ve come straight home.” She noticed a basket full of dog toys. “Where’s… Ruby, is it?”
“Yes. She’s at Grayson and Harlow’s. I’ll get her in the morning. She loves kids and will be excited to see one in her house.” He picked at the label on his bottle. “Has there been anyone special in your life since we were together?”
“No. Between Livie and teaching, there wasn’t much time for me. You?”
“No. I wasn’t really looking while I was still in the Army. I was gone too much to have any kind of successful relationship.”
“You’re out now, so…”
He smiled. “Maybe I was waiting for you.”
Oh, he shouldn’t say things like that. Her silly heart was doing ridiculous somersaults.
“There are things we need to talk about, I know there are, but all I can think about is kissing you.” His gaze fell to her lips. “Do you taste as sweet as I remember?”
She stretched her legs out and tapped his thigh with her foot. “Would you like an answer to that question?” From the moment he’d sat down next to her at The Tipsy Turtle bar, and she’d looked into those warm chocolate eyes, there had been chemistry. There still was.
“I would very much like an answer.” He put his hands around her ankles and pulled her to him, then took her bottle and set it on the coffee table with his.
She stared into his eyes again and the five years between then and now disappeared.
And when his lips brushed over hers as light as a feather, goose bumps prickled across her skin.
He brought his hands up, cradling her face, and deepened the kiss.
Her eyes slid closed, and all she felt was his mouth possessively on hers and the stroke of his thumbs over her cheeks.
It had been this way that night. Nothing existed but him and his touch, his scent, his heat.
He lifted his head and smiled. “Sweeter than I remembered. If you only knew how many times I wished I could kiss you again.”
Same. She traced her fingers along his jawline, feeling the roughness of his stubble beneath her touch.
She wanted to ask him where they went from here.
Aside from her one night with him that she thought would never be repeated because she’d never see him again, she wasn’t one who could have an affair with an expiration date. Which would be the case for them.
She lived in a different state, had a good job and, most importantly, was a mother. If she was single, different story, but she wasn’t. He was Livie’s father, and she wanted him in Livie’s life, but a relationship between the two of them would be complicated. Maybe too complicated.
“More deep thinking going on there.” He tapped her forehead. “Talk to me.”
“I—”
Livie screamed, then began crying. “Mommy!”