Slow Ride (18 page)

When they reached the parking lot he handed her a helmet, waiting patiently as she
put it on. “Coop, I’ve never ridden a motorcycle before.”

“Glad I’m your first then.” He chuckled at her scowl. “C’mon, let me help ya over.”
He got on and helped guide her on behind him. “Hold tight, doll, and get close.”

Kyla scooted forward, sliding her hands around his waist and linking them in front
of him. “This better be better than my actual first time, ‘cause lemme tell you, that
sucked. As it usually does for the girl, apparently.”

Cooper stilled, turned his head, and lifted his visor. “Don’t worry, this first time
will get you going in all the right places. Just squeeze me tight if you need to make
a stop to take care of things.” He winked at her before turning around and starting
the bike.

She held on tightly as they roared off to the picnic, itching to squeeze tight but
using every ounce of self-control she had to stop herself.

• • •

She felt like she walked into the biggest family reunion she could imagine as Phil’s
mom, Edith, introduced her to the guests. This wasn’t a reunion though, just the family
Fourth of July picnic with family defined as “everyone we know.”

Most of the guys from the shop were there as were their significant others. Edith’s
house was on the edge of town and deep in the woods. When they’d arrived, Cooper had
shown Kyla around and took her over to the edge of the property that sloped down into
the bay. The waves were light with very little wind, which made the sea shine like
rippled glass. They stood in silence, Cooper’s arm around her shoulders. His fingers
grazed her skin, sending a shiver through her body. Kyla loved that he could affect
her like that with just a touch. She tucked herself into him, despite the heat, and
he didn’t mind at all.

“So what do you think?”

Kyla kept her cheek on his chest. “It’s breathtaking and so peaceful. I mean, all
the chaos of the party and then you walk down this trail and it’s like another world.”

“Glad you like it because my house isn’t far from here and is a similar set up. It’s
closer to town and with a few less trees between the house and the water. I’ve planted
a bunch more, so eventually, maybe in fifteen years, I’ll have an identical set up.”

“You want trees blocking your view?”

“From the second floor I can see the water. But it’s nice to have that buffer, especially
in the winter when the wind whips up. I could have bought a piece of land just like
this when I was looking, but my place has a very private beach. It cost a fortune,
but it will be worth it.”

Kyla scrunched her nose. “What will be worth it?”

“You, naked on that beach, working on getting rid of any tan lines you might have.”
His fingers poked under the strap of her tank top, a teasing touch.

Kyla’s laugh floated on the wind. “Is that all you think about?”

“Babe, I’ve wanted inside you for awhile now. The fact that we haven’t gotten there
is killing me.” His forefinger touched her cheek and moved down to trace the outline
of her lips. “I’m patient though and I know it’s worth the wait.”

“Cooper. . .” she started, but before she got anything else out they were walking
down the path toward the party.

“Let’s get back before Edith sends out a search party. We need to eat, too.”

She nodded and let him lead her over to the food table and then she sat down at a
picnic table set up in the semi-shade of several large trees. Kyla pushed her sunglasses
onto her forehead and was happy for that shade, given the heat of the unusually hot
day. Edith and Sheena, Phil’s girlfriend, were sitting across from her. Kids were
running around, shouting and playing. Teenagers, some that Kyla recognized from the
music store, were lounging on the grass and beach towels. Groups of men and women
stood around, drinking beers. It was a friendly, laid back atmosphere Kyla knew she
could get used to. Heck, she already was used to it and she’d only been there for
an hour. Cooper’s friends had embraced her like they had known her for years. She
felt at ease, laughing and joking, collecting new recipes and invitations for coffee
or to hang out on the beach. While it scared her, it wasn’t scary. It was the kind
of change she knew she could live with . . . maybe even forever.

“I gotta say I was quite surprised to find that Cooper hired someone, especially a
woman, to work in his shop. That hasn’t happened in . . . well ever.” Sheena laughed
as she said it. Kyla had taken to her sunny personality right away. “Even Phil was
surprised and it takes a lot to surprise him.”

“Now, Sheena, Cooper knows a hard worker when he sees one, I’m sure. I was in there
yesterday. Place looks divine, at least in comparison to the last time. I love the
new coffee pot, too. I might have to stop in more often.”

Sheena snorted. “I’m sure they wouldn’t mind as long as you brought some fried chicken
and potato salad, Edith. Spoiled brats.”

“Sheena’s right. They don’t need any more of that,” Kyla chimed in. The guys already
were getting used to her ordering and picking up lunch for them. She needed to break
them out of that habit and fast, or she’d be stuck doing it forever. And there was
that word again, forever.

“I’m afraid it’s too late for that. But they’re as good as they come and would do
anything for anyone, especially the ones they care about.” Edith gave her a knowing
look and nodded over in Cooper’s direction. “Be careful with him. He might look tough,
but he is still in many ways fragile like the day he came to live with us.”

Kyla smiled. “Phil mentioned Cooper came to stay here for breaks from college after
his dad passed. I’m glad he had someone to look out for him.”

Edith’s face got soft. “I’ve always had a soft spot for Cooper even before he and
his dad moved away when he was little. So when they came home, I was ecstatic, as
was Phil. Those two became partners in crime right away, tearing through town. Cooper’s
dad or I, were always having to go out searching for ‘em to rustle them up for meals.
Usually they were found by the water. Those two were like fish as kids. They’d come
out of the bay all pruny and shivering, but they kept at it ‘til we hauled their butts
home.”

The three laughed at the image of mini-Phil and mini-Cooper whining about wanting
to stay in the water longer.

“When his dad died, Cooper was in college, but I insisted he stay here, let me take
care of him until he was ready to buy the shop. Thankfully Jack had left him a bit
of money and he was able to do that right after graduation. Set up his shop and well,
now the rest is history as they say.”

Kyla’s eyes drifted to Cooper and she watched as he grabbed some beers from the cooler,
handing them out to the group of guys he was talking to. A younger boy came over and
tossed a football to him, and she couldn’t help but smile as he threw it a pretty
far distance, the children running after it. She noticed a woman nearby practically
drooling over him as she laughed at something he said, clearly flirting. She recognized
her, even from here. Fucking Marla. What the hell was she doing here and why was she
flirting with her Cooper?

Her Cooper.
Oh fuck, where did that come from?

Kyla heard Sheena make a strangled noise in her throat. Edith pursed her lips in disapproval.

“What the heck is she doing here?” Sheena bit out, clearly no more thrilled about
seeing Marla as Kyla was.

Edith sighed. “You know she is always invited and I can’t just take that away. She
has nothing else. And I know. . . .” Edith put up her hand and Sheena clamped her
mouth shut. “I don’t want her trying to get between you and Phil or go after Cooper.
I don’t want her near any one of my boys frankly, but I have to hope that one day
she will get her head out of her patooty and straighten out her life. For her brother’s
sake.” Edith’s eyes slid to Kyla. “Her brother was killed in Iraq and had been buddies
with Cooper and Phil in high school. Marla was seventeen when it happened and her
mother couldn’t deal with her son’s death or her daughter’s grief. I don’t approve
of what she does or how she acts, but I have to try.”

Kyla felt a pang of sadness for Marla but even more for Edith. She was a woman who
wanted to help others, to fix people. She just hadn’t figured out that Marla was not
looking to change or turn her life around.

She exchanged a look with Sheena, but said nothing before concentrating on eating.

Kyla finished her food and pushed her plate away only to notice Cooper watching her.
His head was tilted to the side and he had that sexy half-grin on his face. God, he
looked so freaking
hot
when he smiled like that. She smiled back, turning her head quickly as she felt her
cheeks flush.

“I can’t believe he grew up here because your house is so tidy and I don’t know if
you’ve noticed, but Cooper has no organizational skills whatsoever,” she said to Edith.
“He has a serious hoarding issue.”

“Or you have a touch of OCD.” Kyla stilled as she felt him standing behind her, Cooper’s
hands resting casually on her shoulders.

Edith beamed like a proud mother. “I was just telling Kyla here about how great the
office looked and that I might need to come over for coffee more.”

“Well you’re welcome anytime,” he said as he leaned over and kissed her on the cheek.

Kyla stood and turned into Cooper, leaning against him as she untangled her feet from
the bench. Her eyes flicked to Marla against her will—she’d just as soon ignore her.

“She was invited awhile ago. Edith couldn’t rescind the invitation even though she
wanted to,” Cooper said softly.

She shrugged. “Edith explained. It’s fine. I can be civil. I just hope she can.”

“Football time!” Phil yelled as he began handing out flags that people were strapping
around their waists.

She lifted up on her toes and kissed Cooper on the cheek and then hollered to Phil.
“I’m in!”

Cooper was surprised and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “You sure you want
to play? I’ve seen you fall all over your own feet just walking.” He slid his hand
to the small of her back, his thumb tracing circles and sending shivers from her ears
to her toes as they moved toward their other teammates.

“I’ll be fine. Someone had to play receiver at the Thanksgiving pre-dinner games at
home.”

She missed those games, and she had been damn good at them. Her brother had made sure
she could run and catch along with their cousins and friends.

“This is touch, Kyla,” Phil said as he handed her a flag. “You’re on Coop’s team.
Be prepared to get your asses kicked.”

“It’s okay, Phil, no need to reassure me. Just remember, all’s fair in love, war,
and football, right?” She smiled, giving one of the other players a high five as she
passed by to get into the huddle with Cooper and Tommy.

The first few plays went well. Cooper threw her the ball at one point, which she fumbled
when she saw Phil barreling toward her. The man was a commanding figure on the field.
Cooper took every opportunity he could find to smack her ass, and even though she
pretended to be offended and to swat at his hand, she really didn’t mind. She wanted
to win more than anything.

“They are so cute together.”

Kyla heard Edith’s comment as she ran down the side of the field and tripped over
her own feet. She hit the ground with a thud and somersaulted awkwardly.

“Ugh,” she groaned, pushing herself up on her hands. “That was spectacular.”

“You okay?” Cooper asked as he grabbed a hand and pulled her up.

“Yeah, I’m fine. Let’s go. This is third down.” She limped over to the line of scrimmage,
sore, but she knew she could shake it off; she’d taken harder hits before. And she
could pick up some ice bags at the convenience store later. Getting into her stance
she found herself face to face with Marla.

“Better watch out, klutz. It’s easy to break something out here.” She rolled her eyes
at Marla’s sneer but the woman continued. “I’ve tried to give you the benefit of the
doubt, ‘cause you’re new and you might not know Cooper and I are a thing. I thought
letting him have his fun, working you out of his system, would be enough. Because
that’s what he does, Kyla. He fucks ‘em and leaves ‘em. He never dates the same woman
more than a few times.” She leaned in and hissed, “So back the fuck off. You’re only
going to get a broken heart.”

She lifted a brow. “Well if he only dates someone a few times, then you have nothing
to worry about. And I guess you’d know since, from what I hear, he had you once and
hasn’t gone back in for seconds.”

She ignored Marla’s glare, and the rest of her muttering, and glanced back to Cooper,
who was in the quarterback position. Was Cooper one of
those
kind of men who saw a challenge and sought to conquer it before moving on to the
next? No, he told her this was real. That he wasn’t into her because she needed fixing.
And she believed him with every part of her being.

Besides, Kyla had survived the mess with Frank, barely. Like her mom said, she had
to move on and whatever happened in the future, she’d be ready for it. She wasn’t
going to let the likes of Marla or Frank run her out of town and away from the new
life, the new home, she’d found. She wasn’t giving that up.

Tommy was next to her on the line and apparently overheard just enough. . “Shut it,
Marla,” he ordered before it could go any farther. “Just play the game. The game is
tied, Kyla.”

She nodded. “You’re right. Let’s get this game done.”

Kyla heard the snap from Cooper and did the only thing she could, which was dart around
Marla and run for the end zone, turning her body to look for the ball. She reached
out and felt the leather hit her hands, tucking it into her body as her feet came
down and hit the ground. She heard a huge cheer go through the crowd of players and
onlookers, but her joy was short lived as a half second later someone slammed into
her. She felt the air fly from her lungs before her head smacked the ground, hard.