Page 18 of This Time Around
“Leave that to me.I could use a night out too, and this way if someone gives you problems, I’m there to handle it.”
That definitely couldn’t happen.Jordan would hear about it.And I hadn’t even thought of my brother.He’d called and left a handful of messages over the last couple of weeks I hadn’t bothered to return, and his last one was irritated enough I knew he was already bound to show up.If I went to town with Cooper, that visit would be imminent.
“I’ll call Brooke and cancel.Maybe have her here instead.”
I reached for my phone, but before I could pick it up, Cooper’s hand covered mine.
“What’s going on?”
I squeezed my eyes shut.Opening them, I avoided his gaze and dipped my head.
His hand covering mine grabbed my attention.Cooper was so much larger than me.Larger even than Joseph though I always tried to forget I was even comparing the two.Now it was impossible.His hand was warm.Long, thick fingers with dirt caked into his knuckles and beneath his fingernails showed just how hard he’d really been working.
Calluses on his fingers and palm rubbed against the back of my hand.And in between his fingers was the shine of my ring.
I yanked my hand from beneath his and shoved it into my lap.
My flesh burned.How dare I even think of another man touching me.And liking it.
“Rebecca.”
At my name, I jerked my head up.“What?”
“What’s wrong?”
He was almost as relentless as Brooke.And in the KU hat, they’d probably become best friends in no time.When Brooke wasn’t scouring Nordstrom’s sales to be as fashionable as possible on her budget, she was decked out in royal blue and crimson to cheer on the Jayhawks.
She was also part of the twenty percent who would recognize him.Crap.
“Maybe it’s best if you don’t meet Brooke at all.”It came out harsher than I intended.
Shock flashed in his eyes right before something else appeared.
Disappointment.It cooled the room by ten degrees and I fought a shiver.
“Want to tell me why?”
No, thank you very much.There was no way to get out of the hole I was quickly burying myself in.
“What if someone recognizes you?”
“If that’s the problem, no need to worry.I have a wig that worked for me getting here.”
“Oh.”
Satisfied, he grinned.“What time are we leaving?”
“Seven.”He nodded and turned toward the door.He had to understand.
“Cooper.I haven’t been seen with a man since…” I couldn’t finish the thought and I looked at the window to hide the tears in my eyes.“People will talk.”I barely managed to choke it out.“They talk enough.”
A shadow fell over my lap and then Cooper was in front of me.
I froze.
He crouched down until our eyes were at the same level.
“You could have just said that.I understand not wanting to be watched and gossiped about.”
