Chapter 18
“Tyler wants to have a slumber party with Livie and Ruby tonight,” Cooper said.
Kendall glanced at him over the rim of her coffee cup. “When did that come up?” She wasn’t sure about Livie being away from her overnight. What if she had a nightmare?
“When I talked to Grayson last night. I think it would be good for her. She loves playing with him, and she’ll have Ruby with her.”
Livie and Ruby had quickly become besties, the dog not letting her new friend out of her sight. “I’m not sure Livie’s ready to be away from us. What if she has a nightmare?”
“Believe me, Harlow and Grayson will be right there for her if that happens.”
“I don’t know.” She would be safe with the Montanas, Kendall knew that, but what if something happened and she wasn’t there?
He set his coffee cup on the kitchen counter and came to where she sat on a barstool. “She couldn’t be in safer hands, Kendall. I think it would be good for her to have a night of fun with another child. If she cries to come home, we’ll go get her.”
“Okay, I guess, but only if she wants to.”
“Let’s go ask her.”
She followed him into the living room, where Livie watched cartoons with Ruby’s head on her lap. She sat next to them, and Cooper sat on the other side of Livie.
“Mommy and Daddy, are you coming to watch cartoons with me?”
“Actually, we want to ask you a question,” Kendall said. “Would you and Ruby like to spend the night with Tyler? Have a pajama party?”
“I get to wear my pajamas at Tyler’s house?”
“Yes.”
“Does Ruby have to?”
“Ruby doesn’t have any pajamas,” Kendall said.
“Why?”
Cooper grinned at her over Livie’s head. “Because, Princess, they don’t make pajamas for a dog.”
“Why? She likes pajamas. She told me that.”
“I didn’t know Ruby could talk,” Cooper said.
“She only talks to me.”
“Then you’re very special,” Kendall said. “Do you want to spend the night at Tyler’s?”
“Yes!”
That settled, she stood. “What’s the plan for today?” she asked Cooper.
“We’ll have lunch here, then drop Livie at Tyler’s on our way to Phoenix Three. I have a few errands to run, and while I’m out, I’ll pick up something for lunch. Subs or burgers? There’s also a great noodle bar nearby that does takeout.”
“Livie loves dumplings, so that would be good. Dumplings works for me, too.”
“Noodle bar it is.” He kissed Livie’s cheek. “Back soon, Princess.”
While he was gone, Kendall got dressed, then got Livie dressed. She packed pajamas, clean underwear and an outfit for her to put on in the morning.
Tonight, she’d be alone with Cooper. She’d been disappointed last night when he’d sent her to bed. He’d said that something would happen between them. Would that be tonight? Did she want something to happen?
“If you’re agreeable, we’d like you to do a podcast scripted by us,” Cooper said. “We want him to communicate with you in the hope that he’ll give us some clues as to who he is. Also, would you be willing to let us write a response to his email to send to him?”
They were back in The Phoenix Three’s conference room. “I’m willing to do anything you think will help us find this man.” She wanted her life back.
“What do you need to do a podcast?” Grayson asked.
“Preferably, my home studio, but I can do it from here with the right equipment.”
“Write down what you need,” Cooper said.
“I was able to learn what the note pinned to Lacy Alexander said.” Grayson brought the note up on the wall screen.
Tears burned her eyes as she read the words.
“Don’t be sad. This beautiful child is an angel now.”
“It sounds like what he wrote in the email to me.” How could he think Lacy’s parents shouldn’t be sad?
“Although it’s close,” Cooper said, “the words aren’t exact to what he wrote to you. There’s not enough there to positively say they’re both the same man.”
“But you think it is?”
Cooper nodded. “I do.”
“Anything else we want to talk about today?” Grayson asked.
Cooper raised his hand.
“Are we in grade school now?” Grayson grinned as he winked at her. “The boy’s adorable, yeah?”
She thought so.
“You just wish you had my charm, brother,” Cooper said.
The guys had a great relationship, and she was a little envious.
From the day Livie was born, she’d cocooned them in a bubble meant to keep them safe.
Her fears had kept her from having the kind of bonds these three men had.
As she sat here, listening to Cooper and Grayson razz each other, she wished she could have a do-over for the past five years.
Sure, she had friends, mostly other teachers, but those relationships were superficial. She sat with them at lunch, talked with them a little before school or after, but she never opened up to them. Never shared her dreams and fears with them, never did fun things with them.
The only person in her life who truly knew her was her father. He was a great father and grandfather, but he had his own life. They did try to have dinner together once a week.
When this was over and she had her life back, she was going to make changes.
She was going to work on her relationships with the people in her life, start accepting the invitations to do things with those superficial friends.
She was going to ease up on Livie, stop controlling her every minute out of fear.
Well, that one was going to be hard, but Livie was already pushing at the limits Kendall tried to put on her.
She needed to find a compromise that they both could live with.
“Where’s Liam?” Cooper said.
“At the doctor’s with Quinn.”
“Everything okay?”
Grayson nodded. “It’s a routine checkup.”
“Okay, good.” Cooper touched her hand. “Ready to go?”
“Sure.” She stood. “Thanks, Grayson, for taking the time to deal with my situation and for hosting tonight’s pajama party.”
“No thanks necessary, and Tyler’s thrilled to have Livie and Ruby spend the night.” He waved her away. “Go enjoy your evening.”
Cooper’s gaze flicked to Grayson, and they both smiled as if they knew something she didn’t. What was that about?
“How’s a nice bubble bath sound?” Cooper asked as soon as they were back at his apartment.
“I’d never refuse a bubble bath, but now?”
“Why not? Take a little time for yourself. I have a few things I need to do for about an hour. When you get out, put on something soft and comfortable.”
She stared at his retreating back as he headed toward the kitchen.
He was up to something, but it had been a long time since she’d indulged in a bath, so she did as he suggested.
When the water cooled, she stepped out. It had actually been a pleasant hour.
She had a soft jazz playlist on her phone, and she’d almost fallen asleep while luxuriating in the warm scented water and listening to the music.
Now, she was more relaxed than she’d been in…
She couldn’t remember when. Before Livie was born, she knew that much.
After drying off, she slipped into the pale blue jersey sundress she’d brought.
The back was open, so the only thing she wore under it was panties.
A few swipes of mascara on her lashes, a bit of blush on her cheeks and cherry-flavored lip gloss, and she was ready to go find Cooper. She found him in the kitchen.
He pulled a barstool away from the counter. “Sit here.”
Bluesy music played softly from the speakers, and at least a dozen candles were spread out on the counters.
In front of where he wanted her to sit was a glass of wine and a plate of assorted cheeses, fancy crackers and grapes.
She stilled and her heart fluttered madly at seeing the warmth in his eyes and the soft smile on his face.
He performed a perfect bow. “Your adult evening awaits you, my lady.”
What could she do but curtsey? “Thank you, kind sir.” Already charmed beyond measure, she eased onto the stool. “Something smells awesome.” She had no idea what the food was, but the aroma of spices and garlic had her mouth watering.
“That’s dinner.” He picked up a glass of wine she hadn’t noticed and came around the counter, taking a seat next to her. “To a beautiful evening with a beautiful woman,” he said as he held up his glass.
“Thank you for this.” She touched her glass to his before taking a sip of the wine, savoring the fruity flavor of the pinot grigio on her tongue. The dim lighting in the kitchen cast a cozy glow over everything, making it seem as if they were in their own little world.
“If I kissed you now, would you taste like apples and spices?”
“You could kiss me and see.” Please kiss me.
He set down his glass and leaned in, his lips a whisper away from hers, his breath warm on her skin.
She couldn’t move, barely breathed, waiting to feel his mouth on hers.
Finally, he closed the distance between them.
His lips were soft against hers, and the taste of wine lingering on them blended with the sweetness of her own.
It was as if a spark ignited a flame, filling her with a warmth that spread to every corner of her being.
Lost in this little world of theirs, she didn’t know how long they kissed. Probably only minutes, but if you told her it was days, she would smile dreamily and murmur in agreement. No man had ever kissed her so tenderly, yet so passionately.
When he pulled away, she opened her eyes to find him gazing at her intently, his eyes dark with desire and need. For her. She reached out to touch his face, tracing the line of his jaw with her fingertips. “I never knew adult evenings could be so… .”
“Sexy with the hottest man you’ve ever known?”
He waggled his eyebrows, making her laugh.
“Well, I was going to say enchanting, but sure, let’s go with that.
” He was adorable. She picked up a grape and held it out.
When he caught her fingers between his lips, looking at her with so much heat that she thought she might melt, she couldn’t stop the moan bubbling up from her throat.
A wicked smile tilted his lips as he sucked the grape from her fingers. “Something you should know about me, Kens.”
Kens. She really liked him calling her that. “What’s that?”
“Just this. In order for a mission to be successful, one must plan down to the last detail. I’m a great planner because the end game is always for success.
I have a very detailed plan for tonight, and it’s taking all my willpower to stick to the plan and not toss you over my shoulder and carry you to my bed. ”
Pfff. Who needed a plan anyway?
“But I’m not going to do that.”
Well, that was disappointing.
“You want to know why?”
She nodded.
“Because tonight is for you.” He danced his fingertips across her shoulders, nothing more than a feathery touch, but she felt that touch down to her very core.
“If we successfully stick to my plan, the reward will be amazing. And I want you to have some amazing in your life.” He picked up her glass and handed it to her.
“Let’s enjoy our wine and get to know each other a little better. Okay?”
“Okay,” she said, the only word she was capable of after that, and yes, a thousand times yes, she wanted that amazing he was promising.
They fed each other cheeses and grapes, sipped their wine, and their conversation flowed effortlessly, weaving between topics both lighthearted and profound.
He told her about his baseball coach, a man who’d mentored him, helped him to see that if he worked for it, he could make something of his life.
She learned that he was a reader, his preferred genre thrillers, espionage and military histories.
She loved it when he admitted he secretly read military romances.
His favorite color was red, and his favorite TV show was Yellowstone.
“I’m sorry, but those are the most unhappy people ever. I tried watching it after everyone raved about the show, but I just can’t deal with them. And that Beth woman. She’s over the top.” She rolled her eyes.
He chuckled. “She is something else.” He refilled their wineglasses, then pushed to his feet and picked up the almost empty appetizer plate. “Step two of my plan commencing.”
“Can I help?”
“No, you may not.” He dropped a kiss on the corner of her eye. “Tonight is for you. Move over to the dining room table.” He grinned. “Please.”
He’d listened to her when she’d told him her imagined perfect night, and he couldn’t know what that meant to her.