26. Nese
NESE
With a jaunty wave to my three roommates, I precede Coop into the hall.
Before I know it, we’re in his rental car and on the highway to the restaurant. I rub the door handle. “Was the rental place all out of SUVs?”
“After what happened to your foot in LA, I specifically asked for a car.”
My heart sings louder than Bennett on the Oscars stage.
We pull into Miss Donna’s Kitchen’s parking lot and Coop gets in the valet line. I’ve gotten used to this treatment in LA, but this is Gainesville. Still, I don’t tell him it’s not necessary, merely let the attendant open my door.
Coop walks around the front of the car and places his palm on the small of my back. “Is this alright?”
The fact he asked shows me how far he’s come in his thinking. “It’s more than alright. Thank you.”
We enter the packed restaurant and he brings me to the host stand, where more than one head turns in our direction. I lean closer. “I think you’ve been recognized.”
He puts his arm around my waist and leans down toward my ear. “If they have half a brain, they’re looking at the beautiful woman next to me, wearing a sexy blue dress.”
The host looks up when Coop gives his name and apologizes profusely that our table won’t be ready for ten minutes. We turn, and a murmur goes through the diners. Coop sighs and whispers, “Give me one second.”
He waves to the crowd. “Hi there. Yes, I’m Coop O’Shea, Untamed Coaster’s guitarist. I’m here because of this amazing woman, and we heard this was the best place to eat in town. I can sign whatever and take photos now, and then we’re going to enjoy our meal. Deal?”
Several people surround him, and he autographs random papers and takes selfies with a bunch.
For my part, I can’t believe his transformation.
While not to the comfort level of Bennett or Río, he’s holding his own with his fans.
Fifteen minutes later, he raises his hand and says, “Have a great dinner!”
The host, who had been waiting off to the side, approaches. “That was very kind of you, Mr. O’Shea. Past celebrities have ignored our other diners. Please follow me to your table.”
As we walk through the restaurant, pride surges through me. Coop holds my chair before taking his spot across from me. “You were amazing.”
“I got it from a good source that I need to step up and handle some of the fans. Figured it was time to start.” He sips water. “Actually, I started in the airport. Even met a kid who is at the beginning of his guitar playing career. I gave him my sunglasses.”
“That’s where they went!”
He looks sheepish. “Can you help me buy a new pair?”
“I would be honored. Honestly. I have to say, the way you handled your fans out there was inspiring.”
He flips his menu open. “Trying to do my part.”
The Coop I met a year ago wouldn’t have tried. He would’ve slunk into the background and disappeared into the wallpaper. “I’m kinda in awe of this new Coop. He stood tall and interacted with everyone. Put them at ease. Are you sure you’re really an introvert?”
He smiles, and little lines around his eyes crinkle. I like that. “Definitely. I’m probably going to have to listen to five Zen audiobooks to make up for all this expenditure.”
I toss my head back and laugh. “I’ve missed your dry wit.” I rub my finger across my bottom lip.
“Keep doing that, Sweetie, and I’m carrying you out of this restaurant and mauling you in the backseat.”
I don’t know whether to object or demand he carry out his threat. Instead, I repeat his nickname for me. “Sweetie?”
“That’s what the clerk at the store I bought your dress called you.”
Such a Southern endearment. I can’t resist. “If she called me ‘Sweetie,’ what did she call you?”
His cheeks pinken.
This ought to be good. I strum the table. “Well?”
He rubs his shoulder. “Sugar, alright. She called me ‘Sugar.’”
For the second time in as many minutes, I laugh out loud. “We make quite the pair—Sugar and Sweetie. We’re only missing Honey Child and we’d have a full house.”
I wrap my arms around my middle and laugh. Pretty soon, he’s joining me. He doesn’t check to see who’s looking at us, or temper his reaction for the public. He simply is in the moment. Free.
I don’t have the chance to comment on this new aspect of his personality when the server approaches and takes our drink orders. When my beloved pomegranate martini is set before me, and Coop holds a Manhattan with a lemon twist—not cherries—he raises his glass.
“To the person who saw beneath my sullen surface, called me out on my misguided beliefs, and gave me hope to reenter the world of the living. More importantly, to the woman who makes my heart beat faster and gives meaning to my life.”
I can’t resist. “Even when she’s messing up the lines in your Zen Garden?”
He smiles. “Especially then. I can’t believe I get to have another chance with you. I’m the luckiest man on the planet.” He extends his glass toward me.
Before I touch mine against his, I need to share my own truth.
“You may think you hit the jackpot with me, but what you’ve done for me is even bigger.
You know my deepest secrets and see them as a challenge I overcame rather than a sad sob story where I was the victim.
You bring out the best in me, better than I ever thought was possible. I never want to let you go, Coop.”
He touches his glass to mine. “You never will.” We both drink.
Dinner passes in a whirl of delicious foods, laughter at misguided beliefs we no longer hold, and a shared dessert that’s beyond decadent.
He tells me about Luke’s comment when he told him about the earrings I made him—that I should make jewelry for the whole band.
I store this idea and share my honest observations of my life in Gainesville.
We’re starting something new. And exciting.
When we’re drinking after-dinner drinks, Coop says, “I would be very honored to share a bed with you tonight, Nese.”
He didn’t take charge. He didn’t try to control where this evening will end. All the power remains with me. Because of that, I have no decision to make. “I’m all yours.”
From across the table, he vibrates with repressed sexual energy. An energy I can’t wait to experience again. Unable to contain myself, I rub my palms together.
“Should we return to your apartment?”
“No.” My answer is immediate. “I’m proud of my place, don’t get me wrong, but I’d prefer our reunion not include three people on the other side of paper-thin walls.”
“Is there a hotel nearby?”
I give him the name of the nicest one I know, and faster than I thought possible, we’re in a one-bedroom suite with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking my hometown. Music fills the air. Not UC—rather an oldie by Adam Baret plays. He bows and offers me his hand. “Dance with me?”
In my blue dress with silver shoes, I could pass as Cinderella dancing with her handsome prince. Giggling, I curtsy. “With pleasure.”
He lifts his hands into an actual dance hold.
My right hand slips into his, and his left goes around my waist. We sway to the dulcet tones of the crooner who’s back on top of the charts. He leads me around the living room area, then raises his arm for me to twirl. I do, but stumble into his chest. My stupid ankle.
Immediately, his arm steadies me. This is what he does for me. Not just my balance. He tempers my free-wheeling nature in a calm, steady way. Never crushes it. Merely allows me to express myself in a more stable manner.
“I got you.”
I tilt my head. “You sure do.”
He leans toward me and my entire body anticipates his kiss. He gets a few inches away from my lips. “I want you, Nese. Not only your body, but every square inch of you. Your lame foot. Your hips that welcome me. Your scary-smart intellect. All of you.”
“You have me, Coop. As long as it’s reciprocal. I need the guitar-playing rockstar and the Zen meditation expert, the wise one of the band, and the man who spent far too many years convincing himself he didn’t get another shot.” I let this sink in. “You absolutely do.”
“I want to kiss you so bad right now.”
“I’m not stopping you.”
He closes the gap between our mouths and takes me to a different dimension with only his lips. When his tongue gets involved, I lean harder against his amazing body.
He bends down and picks me up, and I wrap my legs around his waist. With deliberate steps, he walks to the sofa and sits so I’m looking down at him. I fiddle with the earring I made for him what seems like ages ago. How things have changed.
I kiss down his neck, annoyed with the purple shirt he’s wearing. “I know I told you to buy this shirt, but it’s in the way now. Take it off.”
Leaning back in his lap, I help him rid the fabric from his body. He quips, “It was getting steamy in here.”
“It sure is.”
I admire the defined muscles before me. For the first time, I allow myself to explore his torso.
Every divot and bulge receives attention from my fingers and lips.
I bring his right palm into my hand and trace the deep calluses he’s earned by playing guitar for all these years. “Can you feel this?” I kiss the tip.
He smiles. “Yes. It feels like the touch of a butterfly wing.” He rubs his fingers against my lips. “I’ve always loved butterflies.”
“Your dress selection makes even more sense.” I suck his index finger into my mouth. “How about this?”
In a deeper voice, he replies, “Definitely.” He places my palm over the center of his trousers. “Don’t you agree?”
With a light touch, I squeeze his hard cock, causing him to suck in his breath. “I can tell.”
His hand runs over the outside of my body, going from the neckline to the hem of my new dress. A thought occurs. “Oh no. I don’t have anything to change into.”
“Then we better get you out of this dress ASAP. We have to keep it in good shape for your walk of shame tomorrow.”
I tap his naked shoulder. “I am not doing a walk of shame.” My chin rises. “More like a walk of pride. I want the whole world to know you’re mine.”
“I love how your mind works.” He kisses my lips. “But you’ve got it backwards. I’m the lucky one.”