Page 46 of This Time Around
My eyes darted to the side of the closet I’d swiped clean.Tomorrow, I’d bleach my eyes to erase that visual.
“Rebecca.”
“I’m fine here.”
He laughed low and slow, beautiful and over too quickly.I was not moving.
“You don’t come out, I’m coming in there to get you.”
No way in hell was he touching me.Not dressed likethat.
I stepped over the bucket of shoes at my feet and stepped into the room.He moved back, giving me space and crossed his arms over his chest.
It hid nothing.I couldn’t find a place to focus on.
I was losing my mind.It had to be sleep deprivation.I looked to my bed and ruffled covers which made me think of…
Nope.Not going there.I stared at the wall.It was cream and void of any decorations or photos.It was safe.
Finally, I breathed.He stood there, watching me, I felt it like I felt my skin crawling from his inspection.
“Want to talk about this?”he asked.
Nope.I didn’t.I didn’t want to say a single word to Cooper Hawke.The man in underwear in my bedroom.
I crossed my arms over my stomach.Uncrossed them.“No.”My hands went to my hair and I untangled my hair tie, shoving my hands back into my hair and re-fixing the messy knot.“I don’t want to talk about it.”
“I might be able to help, you know.It’s not like I haven’t stood in a closet, wanting to do the exact same thing you’ve just done.”
“You can’t help me.”
He stepped closer.I shuffled back.He moved again.I retreated.He was getting closer when he needed to move back.
“Cooper,” I said, “Please.I need to be alone.”
“I thought we were friends.”
“What?”My gaze jumped to him, fell.Tight, tanned skin and black boxer briefs.A trail of hair from his bellybutton that disappeared beneath those briefs burned into my retinas.I squeezed my eyes closed.A futile attempt to erase that pretty, pretty sight.
“I thought we were friends,” he repeated.
I forced my eyes open and choked out, “We are.”
His full lips quirked into a grin.I knew that look.He had it downstairs.I did not like that look.Not one little bit.“Friends help each other, don’t they?”
“Friends respect what the other person wants and needs.”
I scooted away from him again and bumped into the wall next to my closet.
He took one more step toward me.Slowly.Like he’d done downstairs, allowing me time to move away, allowing me time to see his intention.My head screamed to move out of the way while my body shoutedstay right where you are.
My body sucked.
He was in front of me, not touching me.Far enough away where he was in no danger of touching me.
I still wanted him to touch me.
His hand raised and he settled it on the wall above my shoulder.And I could smell him.
