“Yeah, I hear that. I was a teacher in my past life.”
“You’re not from around here.”
“Is it that obvious?”
He smirked. “A little hard to disguise that accent.”
I dug around for a pen, wondering if I’d be able to get any work done in the office after all. “I just moved here from Mississippi.”
“Small town girl in the big city, huh?”
I raised an eyebrow. “I don’t know that I’d call Jackson a small town. Maybe compared to New York, but isn’t everything?”
Brian laughed, his eyes twinkling. “Fair enough. Are you in the market for a tour guide? Because I know of a mean coffee shop around the corner that I think you’d love.”
I raised a brow. “Already asking me on a coffee date?”
He shrugged. “I’m not known for passing up opportunities with beautiful, charitable Southern girls who are new to the city.”
I smiled, shaking my head. “That’s awfully sweet of you, but I’ve got to pass.”
He nodded, unable to fully hide his disappointment behind a smile. “I should have known you’d already have a boyfriend.”
“Who says I have a boyfriend?”
His smile fell. “I’m sorry, I—”
I waved him off with a sigh. “I’m sorry. It’s not you, you seem perfectly nice, and I’m pretty sure that with a smile like that, you have no problems finding a date. It’s just that I’m just getting out of a serious relationship, and things are … complicated for me.”
“Bad timing. I get it,” he conceded.
I smiled.
“Well, let me know if things change. You know where to find me. And in the meantime, we’ll be friends?”
“Sounds more like my speed.”
“And we’ll have Folgers instead of the Sumatra blend.”
I chuckled. “Deal.”
He made to get up, smiling at me. “I’ll go start a pot so we can get ready for Catherine. Cream and sugar?”
“Just sugar, thanks.”
I watched him leave the room, shaking my head at myself. I hadn’t thought twice about turning him down, even though he was … safe. He was the kind of guy I should be going after — a nice guy who worked in charity with a kind smile and a great body. I bet he gave back rubs and bought girls flowers before he took them on dates to hip coffee shops. But I wasn’t interested at all. Not even a tiny little ovarian flutter.
It was so easy to say no to him, but somehow I couldn’t deny Cooper when he set his mind to something. I wondered what in the hell that meant, other than I was apparently a glutton for punishment.
My phone buzzed on the table, and I picked it up to find a text from Cooper. Never mind speak of the devil — I couldn’t even think of him or he’d appear.
How’s work?
I texted him back. So far, so good. Got a lot of work to do before tomorrow. What’s up?
Come by before you head home. I’ll order dinner.
Ah, the old feed-and-fuck?
I mean, when you put it like that…
I smiled. Sure. I’ll text you when I’m on my way. I can’t stay late though, okay?
I’ll take what I can get. See you tonight.
I set my phone down and flipped through my lesson plans, trying to clear my mind of boys and their pretty smiles, and before long, I’d buried myself in the task at hand, feeling productive for the first time in a very, very long time.
Cooper
My doorbell rang early that evening — it was either Chinese food or Maggie. I tried not to hurry to the door, imagining it was her, and when I opened it, I wasn’t disappointed.
She stood in the entry, rosy cheeked and smiling up at me, wearing a sweet dress with tiny flowers all over it and white sneakers, unfussy and perfectly beautiful. “Hey.”
“Hey.” I wrapped my arms around her and laid a hot kiss on her lips.
She looked up at me dreamily when she broke away. “I was kinda hoping you’d already be naked.”
“That would have been awkward if you’d actually been the delivery guy.”
She chuckled.
“How was your day?” I closed the door and followed her into the apartment.
“Long,” she said as she set down her bag. “I have a lot of work to do tonight. Our benefactor is coming tomorrow, and I’m supposed to put a proposal together for her.”
I stiffened, smiling to cover my discomfort, hoping my decision to keep any details about her new boss to myself was wise.
Her eyes narrowed. “Why do you look weird?”
I grabbed her around the waist and dipped her. “I’m just hearing that you’re not going to stay very long, and I don’t like it. Not one bit.” I kissed her deep, and her arms wound around my neck.
Her cheeks were flushed when I broke the kiss. “Well,” she said, voice raspy, “better make the most of it while we can.”
I wasn’t one to argue.
I kissed her again with intention, contemplating just how I’d like to undress her when the doorbell rang. I didn’t stop.
Her hands pressed my shoulders, and she broke away, smiling. “That’s dinner.”
“Fuck dinner. I’m ready for dessert.”
She giggled and kissed me gently. “Well, I’m starving.”
“Me too.” I covered her mouth with mine, and she pulled away, laughing.
“Answer it, Coop.”
The doorbell rang again, and I set her down, grumbling before flying to the door and ripping it open, glad I’d already paid and tipped when I called it in. I swiped the bag of Chinese food and closed the door in one motion, leaving a stunned delivery man in my entryway. I tossed the bag on the island on my way back to her.
I scooped her into my arms.
She laughed into my neck. “Seriously, I’m so hungry. Can we eat first?”
“Nope.” I pressed my lips to hers.
She pulled back, smiling. “If you feed me first, I’ll last longer.”
I sighed. “Well, in that case …” I kissed her gently and let her go.
“Thank you.”
I made my way into the kitchen to grab plates. “Water or wine?”
“Water,” she said as she sat down. “If I have wine tonight, I’ll never get my work done.”
I stacked up plates and napkins. “Meaning you’d stay longer? Because if so, I think you should reconsider.”
“You are the worst influence.”
“Thank you.” I made my way to the island where she was already unpacking dinner.
She opened a carton and took a long whiff. “God, I could eat a horse.”
“How about a Giant Hammerhead Cooper?”
A laugh shot out of her. “Why, did you get shark soup?”
I snorted.
She was still chuckling. “I’ve actually been thinking about The Hammerhead all day.”
“Oh?” I sat down next to her, amused and very turned on.
She nodded. “Mmhmm. Sometimes I just need your dick in my face.”
My brows shot up, and I smirked. “Keep talking like that and I’m not going to let you eat first.”
Maggie pouted dramatically, though her eyes smoldered. “Aww. I really wanted some egg roll.” She pulled one out of the paper envelope and inspected it. “They’re so hot and fat.” I watched as she opened her mouth and wrapped her pink lips around it, took a bite with a crunch and closed her eyes, moaning.
I couldn’t tear my eyes away, and I realized distantly that my mouth was open. I wet my lips. “Mags …” The word was almost a warning.
She opened her eyes and blinked up at me innocently. “What?”
I turned and grabbed her stool, pulling her between my legs. “I thought you wanted to eat?”
She set down the egg roll and dusted off her hands. “I did say that, didn’t I?” she asked as she slipped off the stool. “I’m hungry, Cooper.” Her hands trailed down to my pants and tugged at my belt, her eyes wide as she looked into mine. My hands found her waist. “Will you feed me?”