Chapter 17 #2
“The timber,” he said again. “You said we should bring it in now that the roof is done, in case of more rain.”
“Right. Yes. Thanks.” Cooper tried to get a grip. Distractions were for guys who sat around in an office all day. On site, his lack of attention could cause serious damage. “Let me help with that.”
He put his head down and focused on the job, pushing all thoughts of Poppy away until the rest of the crew were packed up and clocked off.
Cooper thought about heading home to shower and change, making a better impression than after a full day of sweaty work, but the temptation to see her was too strong.
Besides, Poppy had already seen him covered in sawdust and three-day stubble, and it hadn’t seemed to bother her yet.
He waited until the last truck drove away, then headed over and knocked on the door. No reply. He tried again, then sent a text. The reply came right away.
At the cabin. Come find me.
Cooper set off along the beach path. He was pleased the cabin was working out for her, especially now that they were hammering plywood all day long. He walked faster, and was struck with a sudden sense of déjà vu—years ago, when he was a teenager, sneaking off to meet a girl in the woods.
Back then, he’d been intoxicated with hormones, and the liquor he and his friends liberated from their parents’ cabinets, sitting out by a campfire late into the night.
Now, he was supposed to be older and wiser, but somehow he still felt just as reckless, his pulse kicking up at the thought of Poppy—and memories of everything they shared the night before.
He couldn’t get enough of her.
Cooper emerged from the treeline and found the cabin doors thrown wide open to the shore.
The light was dimming, but he could see the glow from a couple of lanterns he’d left stacked inside.
Poppy was curled up in the old wingback chair with her laptop, just the way he’d imagined her.
She was dressed in a sweater and jeans, focused on her screen, deep in thought.
She twisted a lock of hair around her fingertips as her lips moved, reading to herself.
“Ahoy there,” Cooper called, not wanting to startle her.
She looked up, and a brilliant smile spread across her face. “Hey you,” she said, then looked around. “What time is it? It can’t be sunset already.”
“Afraid so.” Cooper reached her, and leaned in for a kiss. She tilted her head up to meet him, her lips soft and warm, even as the ocean wind whipped around them.
“I swear, I lose track of time completely when I’m writing,” Poppy said. “Sometimes I’ll get so deep in a chapter I’ll surface later and the whole day will be gone.”
“So it’s going well?” Cooper asked. She nodded happily.
“I’m getting so much done—especially here. This is such a great spot, there’s barely any cell reception, and no internet distracting me with cute kitten pictures and book reviews.”
“You have a kitten problem?” Cooper teased. He tugged Poppy out of the chair, and then settled into it himself, pulling her back into his lap.
“A big one,” she admitted. “Basically, all kinds of adorable fluffy animals. They’re like crack, I could look at them all day long. Especially when I’m on deadline, and someone sends me a video of two puppies trying to climb over a wall.”
He laughed, relaxing back. Sitting there, looking out at the darkening waves, with Poppy curled against his chest, he felt a sense of calm and total contentment wash over him.
He could get used to this.
“What about you?” Poppy asked, resting her head against his shoulder. “Good day?”
“Good enough.” He nodded. “Aside from this little minx, tempting me in her towel . . .”
Poppy groaned. “I didn’t realize you could see in from down there!”
“I guess I should just be glad you didn’t put on more of a show for Billy and the guys.”
“No!”
Cooper cut off her blushing protest with a kiss. It was leisurely and molten, and sent his blood raging in a heartbeat. Damn. This is what had been driving him to distraction all day: the thought of her, right here in his arms. Against his lips. Soft, and sweet, and yielding.
Poppy let out a sigh of satisfaction and looped her arms around his neck.
“There’s something I should probably tell you,” she said, when they finally came up for air.
“Debra caught me leaving your place this morning. She was stopping by just as I was on my way out. It didn’t take much to put two and two together. ”
“So you’re saying a new town gossip bulletin just went out,” Cooper chuckled, imagining how red-faced and flustered Poppy must have been.
“I’m sorry,” she said, looking embarrassed. “I don’t know if you wanted to keep this . . . you know, discreet. Or even what this is. Not that you need to know,” she added hurriedly.
Damn, she was adorable when she was flustered.
“I don’t know what this is yet,” Cooper said slowly, searching her gaze. “But I’d like to find out, if that’s OK with you?”
Poppy relaxed again, and nodded. “More than OK,” she smiled.
“Good.” Cooper felt her shiver against him, and pulled her closer.
“It’s getting cold out,” she said. It was darker now, and the ocean was just a dark silhouette against the shadows.
“I’ll warm you up.” Cooper grinned.
She smiled, her eyes sparkling in the lantern light. “I bet you will.”
Cooper chuckled, and slid one hand under her sweater. She yelped as his cool touch hit her warm skin. “You said warm!” Poppy laughed.
“Patience.”
He kissed her again, deeper, the spark igniting as they grew breathless. His hands slid higher, teasing at her breasts and roving to cup the curves of her ass. Poppy moaned against his mouth and shifted to straddle his lap, rocking gently against him until he was half-crazy with wanting her.
She reached for his belt, and the last working brain cell in his head made him do the noble thing. He pulled away. “You’re going to get us arrested,” he warned her, even as his body screamed for more.
“It’s dark,” Poppy replied, with a teasing smile on her lips. “Who’s here to see?”
Cooper glanced around. The beach was totally dark, and only the lanterns could be seen flickering in the dark.
To hell with noble. He leaned over and blew them out, plunging them into darkness.
Poppy’s laugh echoed in the tiny cabin, and then he felt her lips on his again: sweet and tantalizing.
She kissed along his jaw, and leaned to nibble at his earlobe.
“I wrote a great scene today,” she whispered. “But it was missing something.”
“Uh huh?” Cooper tried to focus, but her hands were stroking over him and tugging his jeans open. The last thing he could do right then was think about her writing.
“I decided what I need is some research. If that’s OK with you?”
“Research?” Cooper mumbled, confused. Poppy stroked him again, harder, and Cooper had to stifle a groan.
Thank god for this woman and her books.
“Happy to help,” he said, as she sank to her knees. He felt her close her mouth around him, everything else in the world fell away.
This woman was heaven, and he couldn’t get enough.