Throb (6 page)

“Tell me about it.” She exhales loudly and together we finish the bottle before going to bed. We’ve both had a long stretch of self imposed abstinence. Sadie’s to recover from a broken heart her fiancé left her with when he broke things off. But my broken heart doesn’t come from the hands of a man. Well, not one in the same respect as Sadie anyway.

I’m early for the production meeting when we pull into the studio parking lot. The silent click of the minutes on the dashboard catches my attention as the number changes. 11:11. Four of a kind. I close my eyes and make a wish. Today may turn out better than I expected after all.

“Thanks for the ride.” I reach for the door handle and Sadie cuts the engine.

“I’m coming in with you.”

“You really want to meet him? He’s a womanizer.”

“I’m hoping he’ll womanize me.”

We walk through the studio toward the conference room where the remaining contestants are meeting this morning to discuss the shooting schedule. Of course, Flynn and Jessica won’t be there—they have the day off to recover from their stranded date. I’m guessing any man needs a day of recovery after a date with that woman.

Walking down the long hall to the conference room, I stop in my tracks as I catch sight of someone barreling down the hall, typing away on his iPhone, about five seconds from crashing into me. Sadie walks right into me as I halt. “What the …” She’s just about to yell at me when she spots the man that has halted my path. She gasps, instead of finishing her sentence. The sound catches the attention of the otherwise occupied man.

The casual appearance and demeanor of the other night gone, Cooper looks every bit the picture of power and authority in a custom-tailored three-piece suit. His longish hair grazes his collar, giving him the appearance of a model dressed for an Armani ad. My stomach flutters before he even utters a word.

“Kate.” He closes the distance between us, holding out his hand to me, palm up. Shaky from seeing him again without warning, I place my hand in his. My pulse reacts on its own accord, my stomach churning nervously, like a damn schoolgirl’s. I stare at him wordlessly, my mind filled with racing thoughts I can’t seem to make sense of and pull into words.

“Kate?” he repeats, concern in his voice.

“Cooper. I … I … you caught me off guard, I didn’t expect to see you here.”

“I didn’t expect to see you either.” He smiles. “But I’m glad I did.” Amusement dances in his eyes, obvious male satisfaction at my being flustered.

Breaking eye contact to collect my wits, I take in the full sight of him. Broad, thick shoulders, the way his shirt tucks into his pants, hanging so perfectly from his narrow waist. Scanning the length of him down, I flush more than when I was caught in his gaze.

He raises one eyebrow playfully, having watched my slow assaulting inspection of him. A lopsided grin graces his face as he speaks, “Let’s grab a cup of coffee.”

“Coffee?” I mimic, still unable to comprehend even the simplest of conversations. What the hell is wrong with me?

“Yes. Do you drink coffee? If not, I’ll buy you tea. Or water. You do drink water, right?” he teases.

“She drinks coffee,” Sadie interjects from behind me. I’d completely forgotten there was anyone else in the hall. Anyone else in the universe, in fact, at this moment.

Cooper smiles, addressing Sadie, instead of me. “Good to know. How does she drink her coffee?”

“Cream, no sugar.”

He nods, smiling. Something unspoken passes between the two of them.

Thankfully, Sadie snaps me out of my haze. “I have to run, Kate. Do you want me to pick you up?”

“No, I’m good. I’ll get a ride.”

“You sure?”

Cooper responds, “I’ll drive her.”

“You don’t even know where I’m going,” I say.

“It doesn’t matter.”

“Bye, Ms. Biel-Timberlake.” Sadie saunters off, a shit-eating grin on her face.

“So … coffee?” he asks, already guiding me with his hand on the small of my back.

“Sure.” I’m early and a cup of coffee isn’t a date, I justify in my head.

We only make it a few steps down the hall together before Cooper’s cell phone rings. He mutters something I can’t make out before he excuses himself to answer. “What?”

I’d hate to be on the receiving end of that phone call.

“No. You can’t offer that. Every union will be breathing down our neck if you do. That’s not negotiating, that’s throwing in the towel.” He pauses, listens for a minute and then growls, “Christ, Evan. I’ll be right there. No. Don’t let them walk out the door. Tell them to wait.”

“I’m sorry. I have to run. What time are you leaving?”

“Five?” I guesstimate, since I actually have no idea how long a reality TV planning session will take. Foolishly, I used to think reality TV was about reality.

“I’ll pick you up here.”

“Thanks. But you don’t have to. I can get a ride.”

Stepping in my path, he turns to face me, halting my stride. Eyes lock on my mouth for a long moment, then his lips curl as he meets my gaze. “I’m taking you,” he says in a raspy voice. “It’s probably the one thing that is going to keep me sane today. Thinking about seeing you again later.”

How can I argue with that logic?

Sitting around a long conference table, two rows deep, the “talent” in the front, crew in the back, I listen as Miles Montgomery spends hours detailing his vision. He lays out who we are.
Who we are.
I guess I should be happy he’s dubbed me “the girl next door,” especially since the room apparently contains one “town slut” and another “drunk gossip.” He actually gives us these titles, as if he’s the king at the coronation and we’re his subservient minions. I wasn’t a big fan the first day I met Miles Montgomery, even less of one after today.

I find myself daydreaming for a good portion of the meeting, my mind continually wandering back to one person, Cooper. He was even more striking than I remembered; his captivating green eyes were difficult to tear mine away from. And the way he spoke today, the command he held, heightened how sexy he is to a whole new level.

As if reading my mind, Miles throws a file onto the table. “This, ladies and gentlemen, is a copy of your contract. Putting aside the legal ease, this is what it boils down to. He motions to his assistant and she flicks off the lights. A screen projects up on one side of the room. The first few bullet points fill a page. Miles reads them aloud.

“You are a character in a loosely scripted play. You are not free to choose to play a new one.

Forget the cameras are there. Don’t whisper; we need to capture that secret you’re telling.

Discussing anything that has not been aired with anyone outside of the show is a violation of your contract.

Cameras and cell phones are prohibited. You are to have no outside contact of any kind during the hours you’re filming.

Dating or sexual relationships, of any kind, other than with the bachelor or a fellow contestant, are prohibited until the last episode has aired.

Violation of any of the terms of the contract will result in forfeiture of any prizes. And you can, and will, be sued for breach of contract.”

He smiles as if he’s enjoying himself. Something about the guy just makes me want to shower after spending time in a room with him.

I’m outside talking to Ava when Cooper pulls up in a classic convertible Porsche. Her eyes go wide when he hops out of his car and heads over to me as if he’s on a mission.

“Ready?” he asks in a businesslike manner. His hand reaching out to the small of my back is the only indication he could be more than my ride.

“Yes.” I smile somewhat wearily at Ava. “See you tomorrow.” Her mouth is still hanging open as we walk away.

Remaining silent as he opens the door for me and waits for me to get in, Cooper jogs around to the driver’s side and pulls out of the parking spot in a rush. “If you’re in a hurry, I can get a ride,” I offer, but he’s already barreling out of the lot.

“Sorry. I just want to get out of here. It’s been a long day.” His hand flexes, shifting the gear stick into third and, as ridiculous as it seems, even the sight of him taking control of the car does something to me.
What the hell is wrong with me?

“Everything okay?” I ask, turning to watch him drive. There’s tension on his face … in the clench of his handsome jaw.

“It’s better now.” He flashes me a sexy grin.

As we make our way through traffic and reach the highway, he turns east, rather than west. “Ummm … I live the other way.”

“Not taking you home,” he says with a smile. One that reaches all the way up to his eyes. They’re now covered with sunglasses, but I picture the sunflowers growing bigger as his smile broadens.

“Where are you taking me?”

“For something to eat.”

“And you’re not going to bother to ask if I want to go?” My eyebrows rise, intrigued more than offended by his assumption.

“This is the third time I’m asking you out. The first time you shot me down. The second time we were interrupted. So I’m not taking any chances by hesitating.”

“What if I were to tell you to take me home right now?”

He glances at me and quickly back to the road. “I’d take you home.” His unwavering response solidifies what I’ve felt since the moment I met him. Underneath the bossy exterior lies a gentleman at heart. The combination is sexy as hell.

“I guess I am sort of hungry …”

Cooper chuckles. “You’re difficult, aren’t you?”

“Is that a problem?”

“Not all. Good things don’t usually come easy. And I love a challenge.”

A flutter grows deep in my belly. I consider arguing with him for a second, telling him I’m not a challenge for him to conquer. But instead, I relax into the seat, deciding to enjoy the wind in my hair and the beautiful man sitting next to me.

“So you work at Mile High?” I ask, breaking a comfortable silence.

“No.” His response is fast, almost as if the notion insults him.

“You just hang around there in a business suit and drop in to play cards sometimes?” I say, waiting for him to fill in the blanks.

“Something like that.” The corner of his mouth twitches up, but he tries to hide his amusement.

Merging on to the scenic Pacific Coast Highway, Cooper hits the gas and the car’s power pumps up my adrenaline. The roar of the engine coupled with the beautiful late afternoon sun warming me as the wind streaks through my hair is invigorating. Freeing. A feeling I realize I haven’t felt in a very long time. I lean back into my seat, shut my eyes, and let myself sink into the sensation.

Cooper reaches across and gently lifts my hand from my lap, wrapping my fingers around the gearshift before his hand covers mine. Our eyes meet for a split second and we both smile.

“You like the car?”

“I like how I feel right now,” I reply honestly. Cooper’s hand tightens around mine.

A short time later we exit the highway, traveling off the beaten path for a while until we pull into a parking lot. I’m surprised to find we’re at a roadside food truck. This seems more my style than I would have taken Mister Custom Three-piece Suit for. He comes around to open my door and offers me his hand.

“Not what I would have expected,” I say.