I blush and force myself to take the compliment in my cut-off shorts and tank top. I’m getting better at receiving them. “Thank you.”
He hums and stares at me a little longer, undressing me with his eyes.
I like it.
“What did you get me?” I ask him, breaking the spell.
He pulls a small container from the bag and opens the top, and I squeal.
Cooper grins and hands me a fork. “You’re lucky. It was the last slice of the day.”
He gets two glasses, fills them with water, and sets them next to us.
I bounce on my toes and take a bite, groaning as the chocolate melts on my tongue. Best chocolate cakeever.
“Damn, stubborn, I didn’t know you liked it that much. Maybe I need to buy the entire cake next time.”
I purse my lips. “I wouldn’t say no to that,” I mutter taking a drink.
He huffs and crooks his finger at me. “You’re forgetting something.”
I frown, looking around, not sure what he’s talking about. He takes the fork from me and slides a hand to my lower back, spreading his fingers wide, pulling me into his front. “I missed that mouth of yours,” he rasps.
My chest flutters and legs tingle. It’s entirely possible that I might combust on the spot. I grab his collar, yanking him down to my height, and smash my mouth onto his. He grunts, tilting his head, taking control, and I let him.
I never thought I’d enjoy letting go, the way I do with Cooper.
“Thank you,” I murmur, and kiss him again.
“What else do I have to do to keep getting thank you’s like that?” he asks.
“If you keep doing what you’re doing, I suppose you’ll find out.”
He pats my butt and kisses me again. “Challenge accepted.”
I take another bite of cake, and he shifts on his feet.
“I’m sorry we had to push back our date,” he says
I shrug and take another bite. “No problem. How’s Naomi doing?” I ask him.
He sighs and takes a drink. “She’s better. Thank you for the flowers. It really turned her around.”
I lift a shoulder, focusing on the cake. “It makes me happy to know that flowers made someone’s day.”
“They really did,” he says, taking a bite.
“You were saying she was being difficult?” I want to know about Naomi. We may not have a relationship, but I care for the little girl.
“Mhm. Ever since sleepover-gate, she’s been acting out and won’t do what I ask, like cleaning up her coloring stuff. She was being ornery with Aunt Dixie, which made me feel terrible because she does so much for us. She wanted to make cookies one night, and I thought it would be a good idea because the last time she tried to bake was with Rebekah, and I wanted to replace those rotten memories with normal ones, if that’s possible. Well, we spilled the bowl, she had a full-scale meltdown, and I realized it was because she thought I was mad at her.”
“Why would she think that?” I ask, my heart tearing for the little girl.
“Rebekah yelled at her when she spilled something while they were trying to make banana bread.”
“Wow,” I rasp.
“I scarred her, Mae,” he rasps dropping his head. “I should never have let her have the sleepover.”
