Lost in Flames (Lost Series Book 2) (16 page)

Yep, she was pissed alright. Maybe something lingered there between them. The feel of the grin spreading across his face shocked him. This smile was real. For once he was happy and all because of his sweet Sophia. Coming back home felt hard, but if he left again, it was going to be hell.

"You've done it now."

His attention pulled once again to Ryan. He fisted his hands as the guy shook his head and smiled. "It's none of your business."

Ryan leaned forward to place his elbows on his knees and narrowed his green eyes on Cooper. "You're wrong about that. She is my business and if you hurt her again, don't think I won't be there defending her. I may not act like I have a temper and you may think you can take me, but it won't happen. Don't mess with Sophia if you're not serious this time."

Respect for Ryan grew. Only a little. He couldn't believe the guy just threatened him. Cooper kept his body in shape, but Ryan was not a small guy and he wasn't stupid enough to think he wouldn't be a challenge. Of course, Ryan hadn't lived the last few years like Cooper.

"Cooper!" Nick's voice didn't pull his gaze from Ryan.

It might have been childish, but he wasn't going to be the first one to turn away. A small amount of satisfaction filled him when Ryan changed his focus to Nick. "What's up, Nick?"

"Nothing much. Sorry, I had to take a shower after Mike and Jacob. They hog it more than Sophia." Nick smiled at Cooper. "How the hell have you been? And where?"

He told the same story he'd just related to Sophia and Ryan.

"Well, we sure have missed you around here. I hate it's taken this long for you to come back home." Nick twisted to look into the kitchen and his nose wrinkled up. "Damn, I'm going to apologize in advance. Jacob really isn't that great a chef but he likes to cook anyways and we have to deal with it. It's always a good damn day when Mike can take over."

The door swung open and Mike came in, as if he had been waiting for his name to be called. His blonde hair curled out just a little from his hat. The fair-haired Johnson brother. Cooper jumped up and took one of the brown paper bags from him.

"Thanks. Oh, Cooper!" Mike still had a pair of sunglasses on as he carried the other bag over to the empty counter. After setting his load on it, he pulled off the shades and held his free hand out. "It's about time you showed back up."

Cooper pulled him for a quick hug and smiled. "Sorry I'm late."

Mike's nose scrunched up. "Damn. I thought Jacob was going to wait on me before he started cooking."

"I heard that! I can handle dinner for once."

Funny how he sounded so confident, but kept jumping around and dropping things every few seconds. Made no sense to him that someone would want to cook so bad if they weren't good at it. Cooper could cook, but was used to making food for himself if his aunt didn't ask him to dinner.

Entertaining a group of people wouldn't be as easy as fixing dinner for one. He leaned over to Mike who was watching Jacob and shaking his head. "Maybe you should go in there and help him."

Mike laughed. "Not sure he'll let me, but I want to eat edible food tonight and he won't have a choice."

As they started arguing in the kitchen with Nick sitting at the bar eating an orange, Cooper looked back over at Sophia and found her big blue eyes on him. Her gaze dropped instantly and a light shade of pink colored her cheeks. Now he had no doubt she was still attracted to him. The only problem remained her boyfriend and how serious they were about each other.

C.T. Nicholson juggles raising three kids with her husband, a full time job, and still manages to get her writing in. Sometimes she even manages to get some sleep...sometimes.

Writing and becoming a published author is a dream come true. Everything she reads revolves around happily ever afters and her writing follows the same path. The fun of weaving new worlds, people, and species into existence is her true calling. She's a romantic to the core and wants nothing more than a happy ending. And of course sexy heroes and sassy heroines!

You can find more on C.T. Nicholson on her website.

www.ctnicholson.com

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