Page 71 of This Time Around
Twenty-Three
Cooper
The day had been better than any I could remember having on a movie set, especially when Peter and Gloria Whitman showed up.The man was what my grandpa would call crotchety, but his wife was as sweet as the fruit pies she delivered.It was the camaraderie while we worked that made the day fun.All hands on deck, Ryan had said, when I told him what I was thinking.And I was learning it was true.Farmers didn’t often work alone unless they wanted it that way, but when something needed to be done, everyone pitched in without needing to be asked.Peter had pulled me aside, explained all of this with a seriousness that told me he wasn’t just keeping an eye out on the Marx-Splendid Ranch, but he was keeping an eye on me.
I respected the hell out of him for it.
Rebecca had good people looking out for her, whether she turned to them or not, but she was getting better with that, too.
It took ten years off my life waiting for the bath water to turn off.While it took only a few minutes to fill up two glasses of wine, I used the restroom downstairs and splashed water on my face.It was streaked with mud and dirt along with my knuckles and I was sure every inch of my skin.
Once the water turned off, and I ensured I could hold the wineglasses without trembling hands, I kicked off my boots and set them by the back door.I grabbed the wine and headed up the stairs.Every step closer to her increased the pressure in my chest.
I’d been half-joking when I mentioned the bath, expecting her to laugh me off and send me on my way, but once I caught the expression in her eyes, the one that showed she was thinking of it…there was no turning back for me.
Still, I gave her an easy out, one she didn’t take.
Fucking thrilled and scared out of my mind I’d screw this up made me a nervous wreck by the time I reached the bedroom door.My dick was hard as rock, my breath shallow.Jesus.I hadn’t even seen her yet and I was on the verge of a heart attack.
Water splashed from the bathroom and I closed my eyes.
“Do not let me screw this up,” I muttered to no one in particular, although I couldn’t miss the cross hanging on the wall across from me.Doubted God would be thrilled to answer prayers about my sex life.
Shit, I was losing my mind.
“I heard you coming up the stairs, you know,” Rebecca called from the bathroom.Her voice was soft, teasing, but still held the hint of a tremor in it.
Right.I needed to move to actually take a bath with her.
I stepped around the corner, and found her instantly, and hell it was a miracle the wineglasses didn’t slip from my hands and shatter on the white tiled floor.
Stunning.Her tanned olive skin and jet-black hair were a stark contrast to the whiteness of the bathroom.White bubbles overflowed the edges of the tub that was encased in more white subway tiles.
All that white could have made it cold, but instead, it was elegant and classy.Just like the woman I knew was naked beneath all those bubbles, nibbling that bottom lip of hers while she watched me with wide, scared as hell, eyes.
“Your wine.”I set both glasses on the edge of the tub.My gaze didn’t drift from her face.
I was already hard, I didn’t need my dick punching through my denim zipper quite yet.
Her cheeks were cherry red, either from the heat of the tub, nerves, or the idea of being with me.It didn’t matter.
I settled my hands on my hips.“I’m not going to lie, I’m nervous as hell right now to get into that tub with you.”
“Then you’re not alone.”She picked up one of the glasses of wine and it shook in her hand, proving her nerves.“But no offense, you’re making me more nervous staring at me so can you hurry it up, please?”
I’d be an idiot to pass up the invitation.
I was no idiot.
I tugged my shirt up, reaching back behind my head and gripping the collar.I pulled it off and looked out the window.Her eyes were on me, burning through my skin as she inspected me.
I did sex scenes on movie sets.I was frequently without a shirt even when I was shooting people.Hundreds of people had seen me either half-naked or with only a fig-leaf shaped, nude-colored thong covering my junk.Hell, I’d been half-naked on the cover of GQ.
No one’s opinion of my body had ever been as important as the woman staring at me.
Don’t fuck this up, Coop.
My hands went to the waistband of my jeans and I flicked the button, yanking down the zipper.Denim scratched down my legs as I bent and removed my jeans.The entire time, my gaze was on Rebecca.
