Page 58 of Wrecked

After their tender greeting, Shane scoops Beth up in his arms. “Thanks, man,” he says to me.

I nod. “Anytime.”

As I watch them disappear down the hallway, I’m grateful that Howard Kline is no longer a threat to Beth. They can move on with their lives without that shadow hanging over them.

I’m tempted to call Sam and give him an update on what happened, but it’s the middle of the night, and he’s asleep. I don’t want to wake him. I guess he’ll find out soon enough.

Chapter 20 – Sam

Two Years Earlier

When I become Beth’s full-time bodyguard—after Shane reassigns his sister Lia to be Jonah Locke’s full-time bodyguard—the situation between me and Cooper gets even more complicated. As Beth’s full-time protection, I come up to the penthouse every weekday morning around eight to pick her up and escort her to Clancy’s. That means I get to see Cooper every morning because he doesn’t leave for work until after Beth departs.

And every weekday morning, Cooper and I pretend to be nothing more than casual work acquaintances—at least whenever Beth is around, because she has no idea we’re together. If Beth is out of sight, and out of earshot, Cooper is only too happy to sneak in a kiss, even though we just spent the night before wrapped up in each other’s arms.

Cooper spends nearly every night with me in my apartment. He comes down to my place after Beth and Shane go to bed, and he returns to the penthouse around six in the morning before they rise and have a chance to notice he isn’t there.

Shane knows about this arrangement, but Beth is completely in the dark. I want to tell her, but Cooper keeps vetoing the idea. I hate keeping this big of a secret from her.

Since I started working with her full-time, Beth and I have become good friends. She and I click, like brother and sister, or like high school BFFs. She’s one of the kindest, most compassionate, most empathetic people I’ve ever known. She’ssweet and loving and generous. She’s fiercely protective of her friends—Erin, Lia, and me—and her employees at Clancy’s. The best day ever was the day she sacked The Dragon Lady. It was epic.

The more I get to know Beth, the more I love her. And the more I love her, the more I hate lying to her about my relationship with Cooper.

I guess the situation is complicated because she sees Cooper as an adopted father of sorts, since her own father died when she was just a baby. And Cooper certainly considers her his adopted daughter. Cooper dotes on Beth. There isn’t anything that man wouldn’t do for her. He would take a bullet for her, no questions asked.

Actually, I would too. She means that much to me. She’s become far more than a job. She’s family.

So, let’s see. She’s like a sister to me, and Cooper’s like her father.

Yeah, I can see how that could get messy.

And because I’m fucking head-over-heels in—I mean, crazy—about Cooper, I’m willing to accept his need for privacy.

We compromised. We have a relationship, we just have to keep it quiet.

I can live with that.

Because the alternative—living without him—is unacceptable.

This morning, when my alarm wakes me at seven, I’m alone in my bed. Feeling wistfully neglected, I wrap my arms around his abandoned pillow and pull it close so I can press my nose against the cool material and breathe in his scent. I lie there for a while, reliving every minute of last night—every second, every touch—in my mind. That man has spoiled me.

After mooning over Cooper, I hop up, shower, dress, and hightail it up to the penthouse.

Yes, I have graduated to using the private penthouse elevator. I even have my own code now.

When I walk through the foyer into the penthouse, I head straight to the kitchen, where I’m sure to find Cooper.

As soon as he spots me, he points to the breakfast bar. “Sit.”

I do as he says, sighing as I obediently take my seat. Already, my dick is getting hard. Not the time, nor the place.

I glance around the great room looking for Beth and Shane, but I don’t see either of them.

“Shane’s already left for work,” Cooper says, reading my mind. “Beth’s still getting dressed.”

He pours coffee into a mug, sets it in front of me, and hands me a pitcher of his homemade French vanilla creamer, which is sinfully delicious.

While I’m pouring in the creamer, he sets a plate in front of me. This morning, we’re having scrambled eggs, bacon, and toast with butter and strawberry jam.