Chapter 7
Cooper
“What the fuck?” She sputtered before admonishing herself and, if I heard correctly, muttering that she would put a dollar in a jar later.
“Why the fuck– shit, ugh,” she shook her head vigorously.
Okay, not quite what I was expecting, but her response was making it difficult not to laugh.
I’d understandably caught her off guard but watching her mind race through thoughts, emotions and possibilities, was adorable.
“Ev, I know I’ve caught you off guard.”
“Understatement of the year,” she grumbled.
“And there is a lot to it, a lot I might not have answers for right now, but I know you will have questions. So, what are they?” I asked, knowing that mind of hers was prioritising and formulating the things she needed to know before she could even consider deciding.
Rubbing her chest as if eradicating a bout of heartburn, she cleared her throat.
“Why do I need to live with you? Why is it four months? And why do I need to be your fiancée?” she whispered the final word as if she wasn’t sure she’d heard me correctly.
“Honestly–”
“Obviously, honestly,” she interjected with that direct fire I loved.
“I may have told my parents we were dating,” I winced, expelling all the air from the lungs as if my body felt relieved at having finally admitted this aloud.
“Why?” No judgment, just why.
“Why?” I repeated as a ploy to give myself more time to think. More time to work out exactly how to articulate why I’d fabricated this entire thing when I still wasn’t sure myself. “I only have half an answer to that.”
“Half?” She deadpanned.
“Half.” I echoed, the mimicry clearly deliberate at this point.
She ran a hand through her hair and sighed. “You’re going to have to give me more than that.”
“You haven’t said no,” I mumbled, hope flickering in my voice.
She cocked her head, crossing her arms across her chest which drew my attention to–
My cock was suddenly awake and entering the conversation and I shoved my hand in my pocket in case she noticed the way my pants were beginning to tighten for no apparent reason other than the flicker of anger sparkling in those eyes.
Oh, shit. Nope. Not today.
I tried not to notice the way Evangeline Micallef had grown up but truthfully, Sebastian’s little sister was long gone and replaced by a very, very beautiful woman.
“I’m waiting for an explanation if that wasn’t clear,” she huffed, her snarky attitude tugging at the corners of my mouth. Her lips pressed into a line, gaze drifting up to the ceiling like she was consulting it for answers.
“It might be easier if you tell me what you’re thinking,” I said rather than answering.
“I’m confused,” she stated, matter of fact.
“I need you to answer my questions,” she rubbed at her sternum again, fingers tracing up and down as if trying to ease the tension building beneath.
“Because I’m thinking being closer would be ideal.
I’m thinking I don’t want your money, but I’m also thinking there’s no rule which states we can’t be paid and not having to clean houses on weekends would be great.
I’m thinking if you’re throwing money around, I’ll take it,” she smiled confidently. “But - fiancée?”
I could see her losing her train of thought, the idea of pretending to be in love acting as the roadblock to accepting this entire proposition.
“Just - why do I need to pretend to love you while doing those things? At the very least, it seems unethical to date my boss.” Her serious expression and pinched lips were so classically Evy, I had to fight back another grin.
Her patience was unmatched, never rushing to fill a silence, which was perfect when I needed all the time I could get.
“If we’re requesting explanations, can we also clarify why you want me to be fisted without lube?” I asked, far too pleased when her eyes grew wide, and a guilty grimace crept across her face.
“Ugh, so, you saw that?”
“I did. The white font was a cute touch though,” I bantered, and her smile lifted on one side, completely changing the air in the room.
“Your reply annoyed me,” she replied with a refreshing amount of sincerity.
“What?” I chuckled. “Why?”
“I put a lot of time into my email and yours was rushed and dismissive.”
“So, you wished me a dry, anal fisting?”
“That’s correct.” The surety in her stance only enhanced the ridiculousness of it all, and I tipped my head back, laughing.
“I’ve missed you,” I replied candidly. “You and that Evy fire. Damn Micallef trait if I’ve ever seen one.
” She fought as hard as she could, but the corners of her mouth twitched.
“So, you’ll move in with me and let me pay you?
” I clarified, focusing on the things she didn’t seem opposed to while I had her smiling.
“Pay me triple what I was earning and give me my own room?” She counteroffered and I smirked on a nod.
“Correct.”
“I want to see your house first,” her refusal to simply accept had me biting back another laugh. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d enjoyed a conversation as much as this one.
“Of course,” I shrugged, feeling strangely energised.
Her pragmatic, self-assuredness was one of the reasons why I liked her so much.
Why she had never just been Seb’s younger sister, but a friend.
Her grounded, logical approach to life was the same as her brother’s and it made them both trustworthy.
Something I didn’t find easy with many of the people who I’d had in my world.
“I love to bake. And I don’t like people. I wake up early and I wear headphones a lot and will ignore you if you try to talk to me when they’re on,” she challenged.
“Evs, I know we haven’t seen each other in a long time, but I’m not a stranger.
I know you and your brother are two of the seven dwarves, sharing the Grumpy hat.
I know you make the best desserts in the world, your mum a close second, and I know you need your own space.
” The facts were pulled easily from my memory as if they lingered just below the surface waiting to be called upon.
Her bottom lip pressed out a little further, as if thinking this through was causing her to pout.
Those deep brown eyes encased by the darkest of lashes and framed by a pair of black square glasses I’d never seen her wear, gave her a sexy little accountant vibe and I had to remind myself of who she was before I fantasised about sweeping the documents from my desk and – fuck, nope.
Not okay.
“Fine but stop avoiding my main question! Tell me why I need to be your fiancée and madly in love with you?” She was unflinchingly direct, the opposite to what I was currently being, and her tone cut through the fog of my less-than-innocent thoughts.
I sighed heavily, scratching the back of my head before meeting her gaze and digging deep for some courage.
She deserved the truth. I owed her that and I’d expect no less if the situation were reversed.
“I’m not sure if you remember my parents,” I started, and she nodded.
“They’re insufferable,” she replied plainly, and another unexpected laugh shot out of me. “Sorry, that was rude,” she mumbled, her cheeks turning a shade of red which only made me laugh more.
“No, it’s an accurate assessment, I just wasn’t expecting such honesty,” I chuckled.
“You’re right, they’re insufferable, and they are currently trying to set me up with the daughter of one of their friends.
I was there recently, and they were inviting her over and I panicked.
” Leaning my head until my neck cracked, I tried to release the building tension by actually saying this aloud.
“I told them I was seeing someone and when they asked who, your name fell from my mouth.” Grimacing, I waited for her anger.
“What’s wrong with their friend’s daughter?” She asked, taking me by surprise.
“Other than the fact we have nothing in common, absolutely nothing.”
“So why don’t you ask her to pretend?” There was nothing malicious in her questioning, she was genuinely trying to quantify the situation in her mind, and it was a fair thing to ask.
Shit, I didn’t have a good enough excuse other than the thought of pretending with Samantha made me feel uncomfortable. That when considering the thought of a girlfriend or even marriage it was as if my subconscious knew there was no other choice.
“Because I’m asking you.” I said instead.
“Right,” her brows scrunched as she pondered my words.
“Live at your house for the duration I’m here.
Work as a paid employee for four months rather than six weeks – which we will be circling back to, and pretend to be your entirely besotted lover if your parents are around?
” With each item she raised a finger to emphasise her points.
“Four months because my parents have an annual charity dinner they host and if I’m single, they will use it as a golden opportunity to remind me how another year has passed where I haven’t met their expectations and then try to thrust some poor woman onto me.
But otherwise, yep. That’s the proposition.
Although, I will need to tell everyone we’re dating.
If my parents get a whiff that it’s a charade, I’ll never hear the end of it. ”
I grimaced, this was a bigger ask than I initially realised.
I was asking her to alter her entire life almost and be around people who were intolerable.
Speaking quickly, to soften the deal, I added, “And in turn I’ll finalise your intern requirements and pay you generously.
I’ll be getting far more out of this than you,” I said truthfully, with another glance at the months of backlogged accounts which needed organising. “And I-”
“I agree to everything,” she interjected, and I stood up straight, shocked by how easily she acquiesced to what was outlandish even to me. “But,” she said and my face fell. Here it comes. “I won’t lie to Sebastian or my mum. We tell them the truth.”
Her non-negotiables were another reminder why she was the only option. Her family loyalty was everything I respected and always wanted.
I groaned, already imagining how that conversation was going to go and knowing I was likely going to have to dodge a fair few stray hits in boxing. She grinned, brushing her wild curls from her face, and her eyes sparkled as if she could read my mind.
“If my brother agrees, we have a deal,” she shrugged, her smile slightly evil. She knew this was the first hurdle and it was damn high.
“Well, that shouldn’t be an issue,” I replied with forced sarcasm and this time we both laughed.
I was overcome with a sudden urge to hug her again. To pull her into me like I used to do so easily. My gratitude was instant, but it was the contentment I felt with her which was my favourite part.
“I will also need a ring.” She said, murmuring how she couldn’t believe she was agreeing to this.
“Only the best for my fiancée,” I joked, before pausing and adding a serious tone to my next words. “Thanks, Evy.” It had been almost fifteen years since I’d spent any quality time with her, but it felt as though no time had passed at all.
Her soft, “You’re welcome,” mumbled almost shyly. “Thank me once he agrees,” she added, her tone laced with a humour which told me she lacked all confidence in my persuasive abilities. But there was nothing I loved more than a fight and this was one I was desperate to win.
“Let’s go see him now,” I exclaimed suddenly, wanting to get this over and done with. There was no time like the present. “Unless you have plans?”
She took a step back and pulled her hair over one shoulder.
“That works. I was heading over for dinner anyway and I definitely want to be there to watch him decimate you,” she giggled, and I paused, wishing I could bottle that nostalgic sound and replay it every morning before I first opened my eyes.
It was melodic and instantly brightened my mood just like it always had.
For a moment I just stared at her, trying to piece the cute little girl from all those years ago with the woman who stood before me now. Confident, stoic and calm.
“What?” She asked, her eyes darting around nervously, suddenly uncertain.
“Nothing. You just aren’t a kid anymore, are you?” I questioned softly.
She stilled, her face losing the playful lilt of moments ago.
“Nope, not a kid,” she retorted abruptly, her voice sounding like ice as any warmth evaporated from her eyes.
What the fuck?
Just as I went to ask what I’d done, her phone rang, and she flicked the screen towards me where it clearly displayed her brother’s name.
“Hey, Sebby,” she greeted with renewed happiness.
“Yep, leaving now. Is it okay if Cooper comes too?” She asked, listening to his reply before she gestured towards the door, indicating I should follow, although I noticed the way she avoided meeting my eye.
I was going regardless, and thoughts of what I’d done to upset her were shelved as I began thinking of ways to tell my mate I was going to pretend to date his very attractive, very much off-limits little sister.