Chapter 44
STEPHANIE
I’m furious.
I’m not furious, but I don’t know what I am.
Confused?
Shocked?
Alarmed?
I can’t place my emotions, but I’m incredibly uncomfortable with this entire turn of events.
The phone beside me rings, meaning my ten minutes are up.
I shift in my seat and try to decide what to do.
Second ring.
How many times will he let it ring before he hangs up? I’m going to answer, but I find a perverse sense of satisfaction in making him wait.
Third ring.
Do I pick it up now? If I don’t, will he really hang up?
I’ll give it one more ring.
Fourth ring.
I grab the phone. “What?” I’m pleased with how frosty I sound.
“Hey, Steph. I’m sure you were debating how long I was going to let it ring before hanging up. What made you choose the fourth ring?”
I don’t answer because I don’t like how easily Cooper seems to read me.
“I would have let it ring five times. I was going to give you ample time to make me stew—” the phone goes dead, and then I hear the curtain open and turn to see Cooper walking toward me—“but after five rings, I would have known you really didn’t want to talk.
” He hands me a blanket and a Diet Coke. “So, how are you doing?”
“I’m not sure. It’s like I’m mad, but I don’t know exactly what I’m mad about.” For some reason, Cooper having enough money to buy a jet—and a really nice one—has stirred something inside my head.
“Stephanie,” his voice is soft as he leans forward and takes one of my hands, “does my money scare you?”
The second the words leave his lips, I realize he’s right. I’m not mad—I’m terrified. He reads the answer on my face.
“Why?”
I shake my head. “I’m trying to figure that out.”
He squeezes my hand and then lets go. “You will. You always do. And for what it’s worth, I’m thrilled you hate the money.” He flips open the mini fridge and grabs an orange juice. “I’m going to take this up to Maverick.” He holds up the orange juice. “I’ll be right back.”
He stands and walks up to the cockpit, stopping on the way to take some chips out of another cupboard.
He’s thrilled I hate his money? What kind of man thinks that way? Cooper is one surprise after another.
I settle in and decide to make myself comfortable as I sort out my emotions. The seat I’m in is something otherworldly; it reclines until it’s almost flat. After such a long day, I wrap myself in the blanket, close my eyes, and try to make sense out of any of this.
Cooper has money.
A lot of money.
My father can never know!
That one thought makes everything click into place.
“Stephanie.” Cooper’s voice sounds so far away. “Steph.” I try to see him, but I can’t. “Stephanie, we’ve landed. You need to wake up.” I realize my eyes are closed, and as I pry them open, I see Cooper kneeling beside me.
“I fell asleep?”
“When I came back, you were passed out cold, and I thought I’d let you sleep. But you need to wake up, because we’re on the ground.”
“What? How long was I asleep?” I stretch my body in an attempt to wake it up.
“A couple hours, but it’s okay.”
I bolt straight up. “Has the baby come yet?”
“Don’t worry.” He puts a calming hand on my knee. “I talked to Deke, and there hasn’t been a ton of progress in the last few hours, so we should be fine.”
A few minutes later, after getting a rental car in record time, we are on our way to the hospital.
“How much longer till we get there?” I can’t stop my knee from bouncing.
“The hospital is only about fifteen minutes from the airport.”
“How fast are you driving? Can you drive faster?”
“Not if you don’t want me to get pulled over.” He reaches over and takes hold of my hand.
His hand is large and strong, and his touch reminds me of our toe-curling kiss this morning, when that same hand slid slowly and confidently up my back and into my hair. How was that only this morning?
“It’s going to be okay. You’re not going to miss it.” He adjusts his grip so that our fingers are woven together.
My eyes drop to our intertwined hands—my heart rate already elevated after thinking about this morning—and I panic. “My dad can’t know you have money.”
Cooper lets out an involuntary laugh. “Okay. I wasn’t planning on calling him and setting up a lunch to go over my financials, so I think it will be okay.”
“I’m serious, Cooper. He’s ferocious when he smells money. He’s a master manipulator, and he’ll work his way into your life and try to suck you dry.”
“This is why my money scares you? Because you’re worried for me?”
I nod. “I don’t want him anywhere near you. He’s not a good man.”
He doesn’t say anything for a moment. “So . . . you’re trying to protect me?
” He lets out a quiet puff of air. I’m not sure what to make of it.
“Stephanie, I’ve been paying attention to you since we met.
” He catches my eye for a second. “Between things my sisters and Adeline have said, I think you’ve figured that out by now.
” He pauses. “I’ve always loved that you go to bat for the people in your life.
You put so much energy and passion into others—I’m just a little taken aback that you’re doing it for me.
” His thumb moves gently across the back of my hand.
“I’m a big boy, and I can take care of myself, but you have no idea what your concern means to me.
” We drive, the silence stretching before he finally speaks again.
“I’ve always wondered who your cheerleaders are. ”
“Sam.” I reply immediately. “Then Alyssa, Amber—even if it was for too short a time—and Cheryl.”
“Do you need one more? Because I’d like to apply for the job.”
I quietly bite my lips to hide the smile that’s spreading across my face. When I turn toward the window, I see that we are pulling into the hospital parking lot.