Page 59 of Wrecked

Before I can even pick up my fork, he leans across the counter, grasps my chin, and pulls me close for a kiss. “Did you sleep well?”

“Mm hmm,” I murmur, because his mouth is on mine again, and I can’t form words.

“I wasn’t too rough last night, was I?” he asks quietly.

I squirm a little on my barstool because I’m still feeling the delicious residual aftereffects. “I’m certainly not complaining.”

He kisses me again before pulling back. “You’ll speak up if I am, all right?”

I salute him. “Yes, sir.”

He wags a finger at me. “Don’t get smart with me, young man.”

“Who’s getting smart?” Beth asks as she comes around the corner and takes the seat beside me.

“This one here, that’s who,” Cooper says. He sets a plate in front of Beth and grabs the coffee pot. “Now, both of you eat up and get to work. It’s getting late.”

Beth and I hop to it and scarf down our breakfasts, because Cooper is definitelyone who shall be obeyed. I find myself having to suppress a perpetual smile because, despite having to keep our relationship a secret, I’m just so damned happy these days. I have a job I love, a new girly BFF, and a partner I… like a lot.

Oh, hell. Who am I kidding?

I’m in love with Cooper. I just haven’t said the words to him, because he hasn’t said them to me. I know he cares about me. He goes out of his way, every single day, to show me he does. But as for saying the words… they’ve never crossed his lips.

Maybe they never will.

The thought makes my heart hurt.

* * *

That evening, the girls and I go out for a little impromptu party at a neighborhood nightclub. Beth and Shane are engaged now, and Lia and I talked Beth into a girls’ night out to celebrate the event. Beth invited Erin; her former roommate Gabrielle (another redhead, yay!); and Gina Capelli, a woman who owns a local coffee shop and catering business. Gina’s going to cater the wedding reception.

When Erin orders aBlow Job, the entire table cracks up.

“God, Erin,” Lia says, shaking her head, “you just had to say that, didn’t you?”

Beth orders her drink of choice—a strawberry daiquiri, heavy on the strawberry and light on the alcohol.

Lia and I both order soft drinks. We’re both abstaining from alcohol because we both consider ourselves on bodyguard duty tonight. That’s overkill, of course. We both don’t need to be onduty. But Lia and I are sort of fighting over Beth. I suspect Lia resents that I have taken over her territory.

Tonight, since Lia is coming and is perfectly capable of being Beth’s protection, I was given the option of going out with the girls or joining the guys for a poker game at Jamie’s new apartment. Shane and all of his brothers are at the poker game, along with Cooper.

I chose to hang with the girls, partly because I knew I’d have fun with them, but also because I knew I’d be miserable at the poker party. I would hate being in the same room with Cooper all evening but unable to act like we’re more than casual acquaintances. He’d end up ignoring me, and I’d be a brooding mess.

It’s certainly entertaining to watch Erin, Gina, and Gabrielle trying to down their Blow Jobs without using their hands. After they clean up the resulting mess—liquor and whipped cream spilled all over the table—they head to the dance floor. The music is loud, and the dance floor is packed.

Beth and Lia pass on the dancing, but I’m game. “I’ll go with them,” I say, pretending to be put out. The truth is, I love to dance. “Just to make sure they don’t get pawed by drunks on the dance floor.”

Beth’s not one bit fooled by my self-sacrifice.

That leaves Lia to stay behind at the table with Princess.

While I’m getting my groove on with Erin and the other two, I glance over at our table just as Beth stands. She says something to Lia as she gestures toward the bathrooms. Naturally, Lia rises to follow her.

As we continue to dance, I watch for Beth and Lia to return to our table. To my surprise, Beth returns by herself, looking rather flustered. I’m about to head over to her to see what’s wrong when Lia arrives. Looking totally miffed, she drops down in her chair beside Beth’s. I wonder what’s up with that.

And thenshewalks up to our table—someone whom I later learn is Luciana Morelli. Initially, I have no idea who the woman is. She’s certainly striking, though. At least six feet tall thanks to her heels, with dark hair and kohl-lined eyes, she’s stunning. She’s wearing a form-fitting black dress with black stiletto heels. Her skin is a light shade of soft brown.

The longer they chat, the more upset Beth becomes. Clearly something’s wrong. Lia looks like she’s ready to put the woman in a headlock.