Chapter Fifteen
Rushing into Aggie’s house, I wave to Cooper as he drives away after he drove me over to my house to change.
“My, my. We are running a little late, aren’t we?” Aggie stands in the kitchen with a shit eating grin on her face.
“Aggie,” I warn.
She holds her hands up in defeat. “Fine. I won’t push, but you know Tommy will at breakfast.”
“Ugh. I just need my girl. Where is the monster?”
“Helping Tommy pick out a matching shirt with her.” She laughs.
Of course she is. I don’t know where she got her affinity for matching, but she will take any chance she gets.
I’m waiting for the day she asks to match Cooper.
That day will probably be my undoing. Because he’s going to let her do whatever she wants, and probably take her shopping to do it, then add on lunch and toy shopping.
I laugh to myself at the scene playing out in my head. That man was made to have a daughter, and how lucky is mine to have him in her life?
“Mommy! I match Tommy!” Said monster comes running down the stairs and straight into my legs.
I hug her back, holding her tight to me. As much as I want a break, I spend my time away missing her.
“Ready to get some grub?” Tommy walks into the kitchen in a light blue shirt that matches the dress Lily is wearing. I try to hold back a laugh.
“Yes! I’m starving.” I rub my belly for effect.
But I don’t miss Aggie’s smirk. “I bet you are, babe. Did you burn a lot of calories last night?”
I shoot her a look. “I don’t kiss and tell, Aggie.”
“Who you tiss, Mommy?” Lily looks up at me like she’s just as ready for the tea as Aggie and Tommy.
“Just you, my love.” I kiss her forehead with a large smacking of my lips for dramatic effect.
It serves the intended purpose and she runs out the door giggling behind Tommy.
“Come on, I owe you a donut and you owe me some gossip.” Aggie wraps her arms around my shoulder and we head out for the walk over to Emerald Roasters.
I’ve quickly learned that Emerald Roasters, and Esther, is the gossip hub of the town. If you want to be seen or know what’s going on, it’s where you go. Since I don’t want either, I typically avoid it. But I do love coffee.
On the walk over, Lily bounces between all three of us to hold hands with. At least she’s sticking to my rule that she needs to hold a hand. That’s all I can hope for at this point with her.
“Don’t worry, I won’t ask you any details. I know you’ll come to me when you’re ready.” Aggie bumps my shoulder when Lily leaves to go back up front to walk with Tommy.
“I slept with him. I think we’re dating.” I blurt out.
“How do you feel about dating?”
“With Cooper? I feel good. If I had a checklist of qualities I’d want in a man, he has every one. But isn’t that too good to be true? Isn’t that a red flag? What if I let him into our lives only for him to flip a switch?”
“I’ve known the Keatons since those boys were stealing apples off my trees. Trust me, Cooper Keaton is one of the good ones. There’s no flip to switch because Anna wouldn’t hesitate to correct his behavior. They were raised right. Not like Jack.” A sad smile ghosts over her face.
“You did a good job. He was just too much like his parents. And a really good manipulative liar.” I roll my eyes.
“I’m so sorry you dealt with all that, babe. I wish we knew all that was going on. I wish we could have helped sooner.”
I give her a weak smile and reach out to squeeze her hand. “You’re helping more than enough now. More than I could ever have expected.”
It’d kill her to know the full truth.
Headlights shine in the front window.
“Coopa!” Lily runs to the front door and rips it open despite my heart pounding in my chest because it might not be Cooper.
She stands on the front porch bouncing on the balls of her feet.
“I’m so sorry I’m late, I got stuck working with Liam and didn’t realize what time it was until Violet came out,” he apologizes, joining Lily on the front porch.
“It’s okay.” I smile.
“Is dat fo me?” Lily excitedly points to a bag in his hand.
“This?” Cooper holds the bag up. “I don’t know. Let’s let Mommy peek inside first.” He winks.
I take the bag, opening it to see a bag full of candy. Of course this man would bring her a bag full of candy at seven o’clock at night.
“She can have a couple.” I say handing the bag back to him.
The two of them run off, thick as thieves, to the kitchen table. By the time I join them, Lily has already chosen her two pieces of candy and the rest is being put away.
He pulls out a smaller box from the bag. “Don’t think I forgot you, gorgeous.” I step closer and take the box from him. “Raspberry and orange creams, your favorite.”
Inside the box are four chocolates. Just for me.
“Thank you so much.” I choke out over sobs.
“Always.” He pulls me in and squeezes my hand.
“Coopa, you put me ta bed?” Lily asks, tossing her candy wrappers into the trash.
“Of course. What book are we reading?”
The two of them walk away hand in hand to pick out a bedtime story. Popping a piece of chocolate in my mouth, I put my candy away and savor the flavors of the chocolate before I go into Lily’s room to join them for the story.
He’s just finishing up Goodnight, Moon when I sit at the end of her bed.
Her eyes are ready to close, so I kiss her forehead and we slip out, shutting her door behind me.
“I can’t stay too long, but can I talk to you real quick?”
My heart drops when he asks that. Nothing good ever comes after that and a quick stop at the house.
“O-o-okay. Is this a serious kitchen table conversation? Or a casual couch conversation?” I turn to ask him.
“Just the couch, gorgeous. It’s good. I hope.” His broad smile eases the worry clutching my chest.
He takes my hand and pulls me down onto the couch next to him. He cups my cheek and kisses me, softly, slowly, gently.
“Sorry. I couldn’t wait one more second to taste you again.” He gives me one more quick kiss before pulling back.
“You can kiss me whenever you want. I won’t argue.” I giggle. “What do you need to talk to me about?”
“First thing, there is a family resort with a water park in Vermont that wants me to come do a piece on them for the blog. I was hoping that maybe you and Lily would like to join me? We’d have to leave in two days, so I understand if it’s too short notice.”
“Lily would absolutely hate me if I said no. So I’m afraid you’re stuck with us because we would love to come.” I kiss him this time. A whole weekend planned with my baby girl in mind? Seriously? “Second?”
“Oh, just that I’m officially your new neighbor as of this afternoon.” His smile reaches his eyes.
“Really! You finally moved in?”
“Sure did. Sounds like you’re the one who is stuck with me.”
I launch myself at him, straddling his lap, and kissing him, making out like teenagers again.
His cock hardens underneath me. Grinding on him, I let myself seek out the pleasure I’ve been desperate for since this morning.
“I wish I had time for more, gorgeous. But I don’t. So I’m going to take care of you. Is that okay?”
“It’s not fair. I was promised a quickie.” I pout at him.
“I did. I did promise that.” He looks around the room, when his eyes settle somewhere in the kitchen, he scoops me off the couch and carries me over to the counter, dropping me on the floor.
“Get those pants off,” he demands.
Both of us hastily undo buttons and zippers. As soon as my underwear hits the floor, he flips me over on the counter and pushes me at my hips so I bend. Running his cock through me, coating himself to slip inside.
Notching himself, he pushes his tip inside, then pulls back out.
“Oh, God!” I moan, trying to stay quiet. The anticipation has me on edge, waiting for him to fill me.
“Be quiet, gorgeous. I can’t have you screaming my name and waking up that little girl, ruining our time.” He places his finger on my lips. “We’re going to be quick, it’s going to be rough, but you need to stay quiet.”
God, this domineering side of his in the bedroom is sexy as hell. I nod my head, letting him know that I understand him.
His finger drags down my neck, across my peaked, braless nipple, and down to my clit. Lazily circling my clit has me on edge when he slams into me hard and fast. My breath is stolen with the action.
I pant hard and fast with his cock moving at the same pace, the orgasm coming quickly. His orgasm is chasing right behind mine when his movements get sporadic and he starts to slow down.
“I’m going to… I need to…” Then it hits me, all at once. The pleasure tingling through me from my toes to the tips of my fingers. I wrap my arms around his neck, pulling him close to me and biting his shoulder to stay quiet.
“Shit, shit, shit” he mutters in my ear. “Fuck, you feel so damn good squeezing my cock.”
My head lulls back at his words. I never knew I liked dirty talk until him. But now it sets me off and I could come a second time just with his words.
He kisses me sweetly after what we just did on my kitchen counter, pulling me to him before he bends down to pick up my panties and shorts, sliding them up my legs, buttoning and zipping them for me.
He can fuck me hard and rough, and still find ways to show me that he’s the caring sweet man that I fell for.
Am falling for. Not fell for. No. Not yet.
“I’m so sorry, but I need to get home. I’ve gotta take care of some emails and confirm everything with the resort so we can go.”
“It’s okay. You’ve been busy with moving.
” I wink at him. “Then getting candy, and still making sure you held up your promise of coming over. There’s never been a man like you in our lives before, Cooper.
And I’d be lying if I said this didn’t scare the shit out of me.
But you feel like home, so I’m trying like hell to not let it get to me. ”
“I get it. I’ve never felt like this about anyone, but the moment I met you, I knew. I knew you were going to turn my world upside down.” He kisses my forehead and opens the front door. “Goodnight, gorgeous.”
“Goodnight, Cooper.” I close the door when he gets in his truck.
I turn back to my living room, taking in all that just transpired in the quiet space. Nothing looks different, but my heart feels different. It all feels more.
My phone buzzes on the kitchen counter where I left it.
Opening my phone with a smile on my face, he’s been gone for all of sixty seconds and already texting me.
Only when I pull my phone out, my heart drops. It’s an unknown number with a Montana area code.
Unknown: You can run, sweets, but you sure as shit can’t hide. >
I look at the link they sent, and it leads to Cooper’s blog.
How the actual fuck did they find his blog and how did they know where to look?
My body breaks out into a cold sweat and I smash the lock, turning the deadbolt.
Me: Did you see anyone when you left?
Cooper: No. What’s going on? Are you okay?
Shit. I’m so fucking paranoid right now. If I tell him, he’ll freak.
Me: Nothing. I just heard a noise and scared myself. I’m sorry.
Cooper: Need me to come back and check things out?
Me: No, no. I’m just being silly. You’re close enough if I need you now. > Thanks for coming over tonight.
Cooper: Of course, call me if you need me. Don’t hesitate, okay?
Me: Promise. xo
Cooper: >
Leaning against the back of the door, I take in a deep breath.
You’re being stupid, Aubrey. They can’t get you from Montana.
But they could. They killed my husband. What is stopping them from killing me?