For Keeps (2 page)

Her attraction to Cooper had sprung to life the moment she first laid eyes on him, but the weekend of the ice storm kicked it into overdrive. Forty-eight hours alone was a delicious form of torture, watching how expressive his eyes were when he laughed at her jokes, how he managed to move that long body with ease. When he talked about his flourishing start-up company, the self-confidence oozed out of him, making him irresistible.

His self-assured demeanor told Allie that he’d never be interested in her. He was an absolutely stunning physical specimen and at twenty-eight, with his looks, he could have any woman he wanted. He was so smart that he sometimes tried to hide it, always lightning fast with a self-deprecating quip.

“What’s the latest in the world of software design?” she asked.

Cooper leaned against the counter, remaining close as she worked on dinner. “Our new office space is almost ready. It’s going to be amazing.”

“On schedule? Impressive. How many people do you have working for you now?” She sprinkled peppercorns into a stone bowl and cracked them with a pestle.

“We finally broke down and hired an office manager. My brother Brian has an assistant now. That takes us up to…” He counted on his fingers and looked at the ceiling, putting the stretch of his sinuous neck on display. “Twenty-one people.” He crinkled his forehead. “Is that even possible? It doesn’t seem that long ago that it was three of us in my old apartment.”

“That’s what happens when you’re successful.” Allie turned on the gas and placed a cast-iron skillet on the flame.

“Hey. My mom has a pan like that.”

Of course she does.
She sighed.
Fabulous. I’m like his mom.
“It’s good for steaks. It holds heat well.”

“How’d you get to be so good at cooking?”

“I’ve always liked it, but Ian showed me a lot of things.”

Cooper downed another piece of bruschetta. “Right. The ex. Do you still talk to the Grim Reaper?”

She caught the smirk painted across his face and laughed. “I forgot you’d given him that nickname.”

“What? It’s not a nickname. He really is the Grim Reaper.”

Ian didn’t come off well to most of the world, and she’d asked herself many times since their breakup what she’d ever seen in him. “I suppose you’re right.” She pressed the steaks into the hot pan and they sizzled and bubbled, the aroma quickly rising. The fan gently whirred to life as she flipped on the range hood.

Cooper’s presence behind her was evident again and he pressed his hand against her back, but this time it had landed in a decidedly lower spot. A tingle built from the heat of his palm and fingers. She glanced over her shoulder and rolled her neck as if she were working out a kink.

“I always wondered what a woman like you was doing with a guy like that,” he said in a warm tone, his baritone lazing over her.

Her heart thumped as he leaned closer. The placement of his hand was exactly what she wanted and completely unfair. She didn’t want to get revved up for nothing. “I should get the salad going,” she said, stepping away to the fridge. “Do you mind getting the salad bowl down for me? It’s on the top shelf of that cabinet.”

“Sure.” He stretched as he reached for the bowl but it all played out in painfully slow motion. Everything about him was so long—his arms, his torso, his legs.

Dammit. Stop staring at him.
She dumped a bag of pre-washed arugula into the bowl and began slicing a cucumber. “Balsamic vinaigrette or honey mustard?”

“Balsamic all the way.” He plucked a piece of cucumber from the cutting board and munched on it. “What’s up with you and work?” he asked. “Things must be busy. You brought home fifty pounds of files.”

Allie’s nose twitched at the hint of a new smell in the kitchen. “Shit,” she said, lunging for the tongs and flipping the steaks, which were now charred around the edges. “I hope you’re okay with blackened.”

“Sure. I love Cajun food.”

She added a touch of olive oil to the skillet and adjusted the flame. “I’ll try to keep from burning the other side.” Steam began to escape another pan on the stove. She lifted the lid and pulled out a green bean. “Want to be my official taste tester?”

He surprised her when he didn’t use his hand when she offered it, but his teeth instead. The motion of his lips, mere inches from her fingers, was infinitely fascinating. Her throat tightened, her chest heaved. “Mmm. They need another minute.”

I
need a minute.
Allie checked the steaks again, turned off the heat and transferred them to a plate, covering them with foil. “I need to let the meat rest.”

He coughed and twisted his lips before reaching for her wineglass. “Let me top you off.”

They took their meal to the small dining table on the far side of the kitchen, in front of the windows. The sky was a bluish-black, broken by scattered rectangles of light from the building across the street. She’d set out a single candle but stopped short of dimming the lights or changing the music to something seductive. The embarrassment of setting the stage for romance when one person wasn’t interested would last a lifetime.

Chapter Two

Cooper dug into his steak as Allie served the salad. It was the best-tasting thing he’d eaten in weeks and he’d been to top restaurants all over the city. “Allie, this is so good.”

She smiled and he felt as if someone were yanking a rope tied to his bellybutton. “Glad you like it.”

“Salad and beans are great too. You’re making sure I get my veggies.”
Why the fuck would you say that?
The corners of her lips turned down and although the pout of her lower lip was enticing, his heart sank again.

“I try to eat healthy. I suppose you probably need more to eat than this, huh? I should have made some mashed potatoes or something. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry. This is perfect. Really.”
Time to change the subject, dipshit.
“I asked you about work earlier, but we got sidetracked by the steaks.”

Allie wiped her mouth with a black cloth napkin. She took a long sip of wine, plump raspberry-pink lips curving around the glass. “Things are going surprisingly well. We have a handful of new clients, a few proposals out right now.”

“What’s in the box?”

“I have a huge presentation due on Tuesday. It’s one of my old clients. They’re not happy now that my old agency is so big. If I get the account, it’ll be the third that left to work with me again. That’s pretty gratifying.”

“Doesn’t that piss off the Grim Reaper? I thought you said he’s a big shot now that the company expanded.”

“Big shot isn’t the half of it. He’s the Senior VP of accounts. He was just another marketing guy two years ago. Luckily, he hasn’t said anything. They’re so big now, maybe he won’t notice.”

Allie had winced when she mentioned Ian, and it made him feel oddly protective of her. He didn’t just dislike the guy because he was once Allie’s boyfriend. He’d only met him once, but that had been enough.

“Don’t worry. Send me after him if it’s a problem.” He winked at her and although her reaction was an immediate smile, he regretted it.
You’re always winking. Stop acting like a goon.
He needed to get his act together. Quick. “You’re beautiful in this light, you know.”

The shade of pink that swept across her cheeks was ripe with a warm glow. “You don’t look half bad yourself.” She bit her lower lip and cast her eyes at him for a moment before shying away.

“I’m not just saying that,” he said, taking another bite of his steak, but no longer hungry for food. His stomach twitched with anticipation.
Just make a move already.

After dinner, they cleared the table and Allie got out flour and eggs. “I thought it’d be fun to make crepes. I should’ve made the batter before you got here, but there wasn’t enough time.” She turned as Cooper placed the dinner plates in the dishwasher. “Thanks for cleaning up.”

“No problem.” He shut the stainless door and wiped his hands on a kitchen towel. “What can I do to help?”

“You can get the butter out of the fridge. I need two tablespoons melted.”

“Got it. Now what?” He wagged the stick back and forth.

She eyed him, loving the playful smile across his face that unfortunately highlighted the boyish quality of his charms. “Look at the lines.” She ran her finger along the parchment wrapping. “Cut off two tablespoons, put it in a bowl and pop it in the microwave for thirty seconds.”

“That much I can manage.”

His bangs flopped down onto his forehead as he worked. His profile was strong and something about that particular view of his mouth left her breathless. It didn’t take much to imagine gently tugging on his lower lip with her teeth, sinking into him, their tongues tangling. Staring at him, thinking naughty thoughts may have been an ill-advised plan, but after a glass and a half of merlot, she could no longer keep her brain from the course it longed to take.

“I need you to drizzle in the butter while I beat this,” she murmured.

He pulled the bowl from the microwave and flashed his eyes at her. “Yes ma’am.”

Her eyes clamped shut for an instant.
No you don’t. Please don’t call me ma’am.
She whisked the batter and he parked a hand on her lower back, streaming the golden-yellow butter into the bowl.

“Like this?” he asked.

Oh yeah, like that.
His hand was scorching through her thin cotton t-shirt. “Yes,” she answered. A rough huff of air escaped her lips as he applied more pressure when the final drops spiraled down into the bowl.
He’s driving me crazy.
“I was thinking Nutella in the crepes. Does that sound okay?”
Please say yes. Chocolate might help at this point.

“It all sounds good to me.” His voice was as rich as the butter in the bowl. “Over here, right?” A pang of disappointment hit her when he lightened his touch and stepped away. He was only gone for an instant, but she missed his touch all that time.

“The batter needs to sit.” Allie turned as Cooper unscrewed the lid from the jar. Her breath caught when he dipped his finger into the chocolaty spread and popped it into his mouth.

“Mmm,” he hummed. “So good.” His tongue swept across his lower lip.

“It is,” she mumbled, the most coherent string of words she could assemble.
How long before I melt into a puddle on the floor?

Cooper dipped his finger into the jar a second time.

“You’re cheating,” she said. “No double-dips.”

He shook his head and his eyes softened, drawing her in as her pulse quickened. “It’s not for me.” He eased closer and held out his finger. “You know you want some.”

Her mouth gaped, but more from shock than a craving for chocolate. She drew in a long, slow breath.
Is he doing what I think he’s doing?
He let his finger rest on her lower lip before sliding it into her mouth. Her tongue quivered with anticipation of the sweet reward. She cursed her impatience, but immediately closed her lips around his finger and sucked. Her eyelids felt impossibly heavy, but closing them was an idiotic idea. The smolder in his eyes told her she’d done exactly what he’d been hoping for.

He pulled his finger from her mouth and she dropped her chin in disappointment. If the highlight of her entire weekend had just happened, that would be sad. Luckily, he didn’t step away. Instead, he leaned closer. His hand slid around to her back. At first, she was confounded by his lighter touch until he began to caress her back with the tips of his fingers. They rode along her spine in long passes, even over her bra strap.

He lowered his head and she sensed what was about to happen. She’d been in this position before but never with Cooper, never with a man she’d fantasized about in such detail. Her mind raced to make sense of it all—up was down, left was right. Everything else was backward. She could feel every drop of blood pumping through her body as she raised her chin. She debated whether or not to close her eyes, but eventually they fluttered shut as she began to act on nothing more than pure instinct.

Cooper’s lips were on hers, warm and giving, at first the most exquisitely gentle pressure, then more insistent. He urged her closer, flattening his hand against her back while heat bloomed where her stomach pressed against his. His mouth opened as she kissed him back, a hint of sweet chocolate traveling between them. She rose on to her tiptoes as he suggested he wanted more with a commanding tug at her waist.

As mind-boggling as the kiss was, her mind scrambled for a reason.
Is he doing this to see what it’s like to kiss an older woman? He had an entire weekend with me in my apartment and he didn’t try a thing.
Her shoulders became rigid, her back tight, even when she wanted only to surrender.

“Are you okay?” he mumbled, still grazing her lips with his. “Was I out of line?”

Allie shook her head and dropped back to a flat-footed stance. “No. I mean yes. Shit.” Her eyes were wide with bewilderment but they softened when he smiled. “I’m fine. I was just surprised.”

He reached for her hand, gathering her cool, slender fingers in his. “I’ve wanted to do that for a long time.”

Pink colored her cheeks and her mouth sat open in an enticing “O”. She moistened her lower lip with her tongue, which he took as a possible sign of approval. “You do realize that I’m significantly older than you.”

“Twelve years is nothing.” He saw the doubt in her eyes and he wished it would go away. His hand went to her hip as he became determined to show her that he wasn’t feeding her a line. “I mean it.”

“You’re saying that to make me feel better.”

“Nope. You couldn’t be more off base if you tried.” He slid his hand to her hip and sneaked his thumb under the hem of her t-shirt, caressing the petal-soft skin. It was meant as reassurance that he truly wanted her, but that one touch set off fireworks in his belly. He dragged his fingers around her narrow waist, entranced by the flutter of her eyes. “I hope dessert can wait. If I touch any more of you, I won’t be able to stop.”

Allie raised her chin, causing his breaths to lag as the graceful sweep of her neck tempted him. “I’m not starving. Are you?”

“I can always eat, but I’d rather kiss you.” He gripped her waist and hoisted her onto the center island. The instant she wrapped her legs around his hips, all blood seemed to rush to his groin as she muscled him closer with the heel of her foot.

Allie rested her arms on his shoulders and dug her fingers into his hair as her lips worked against his. Her mouth was so much better than he’d ever imagined, impossibly supple and welcoming. He took in her scent, soft and seductive, like rain on a hot afternoon. There was no naming the fragrance—he only hoped to be permeated by it before the end of the evening.

His hands slid under her top, her skin dotting with goose bumps from his touch. Every response her body made to his was a vote of confidence, a nudge to keep going. He sensed she was his for the taking and the most testosterone-fueled parts of his brain thought he was a fool if he tried for anything less than a command performance.

He eased her t-shirt over her head, suddenly concerned he might be going too fast. Allie’s take on the pace of things became apparent as she bowed her back and eliminated the sliver of space between their stomachs. Her breasts were full and perfect and he couldn’t wait to rid her of the lacy white bra. He kissed the creamy skin of her chest as his hands went to the clasp. It wouldn’t budge on the first try, nor would it cooperate on the second. He continued to kiss every part of her breasts he could get to while her bra frustrated him, anticipation chipping away at his resolve.

The third time was the charm. His gaze washed over her as he traced the edges of the straps before pulling them forward. “You’re beautiful,” he said as she ruffled it from her arms.

He couldn’t have wished for a better reaction from her, now that her breasts were bared. She showed no timidity, planting her hands on the countertop, arching her back to give him free rein. She gasped as he teased the taut skin of her nipple with soft flicks of his tongue. A moan bubbled from the depths of her throat as he took her into his mouth, sucking while caressing the underside of her velvety breasts with his thumbs.

Allie leaned forward and tugged his shirt from his pants, working on the buttons as he explored her breasts with his mouth. Her skin was so soft and alluring, with a taste all its own—his lips could have remained forever and he would’ve been content. His cock pulsed in his pants and he was reminded that no, that would not be enough.

She pushed his shirt past his shoulders before he stripped the sleeves from his arms. Now that he had a few inches of distance, seeing her naked from the waist up the second time was even better than the first. The wait to see the rest of her, even if it was only five minutes, would be interminable.

“Are you sure you’re okay with this?” she asked in a breathy voice.

His eyebrows drew together.
Huh?
“Do you mean you and me?” He stopped short of describing in greater detail everything he wanted to do with her, everything he wanted to do
to
her.

“We’re friends. Our age difference.”

He shook his head. “I love that we’re friends. And no more mentions of age. It’s just a number.” His hand dug into the silky hair at the nape of her neck. “You are much more than a number.” His mouth lingered over the sweet-smelling skin along her jaw.

Her fingernails trailed lightly up his back as she moaned into his ear. “Kitchen sex could be fun, but maybe we should go to my room.”

His brain momentarily froze after hearing “kitchen sex”, but he snapped back into the moment when she smiled and hopped off the counter. Taking his hand, she led him to the far side of the apartment.

Allie’s bedroom was dark with soft strains of light from the living room. She slipped her hand into the waistband of his jeans, pulling him to her. He watched as she unbuckled his belt and unhitched the button. The vision of her slender fingers grasping the zipper and drawing it down brought a groan from the depths of his belly.

She pushed his jeans past his hips until they slumped on the floor around his ankles. He was about to step out of them when she did the same to his boxer briefs. The touch of her hand as she wrapped it around his cock caught him dead in his tracks. She peppered his chest with delicate kisses, stroking him so firmly that everything in his body stiffened, even when he thought he might collapse at any moment.
Damn. She doesn’t waste any time.