Page 15 of Enticed

I nod. “I will. But Kane…” I grasp his forearm before he retreats. “Please don’t say anything to anyone, even Olivia. I don’t want the girls to worry. I can handle this.”

Kane hugs me once more, whispering in my ear again. “I won’t. I promise, ifyoupromise to get help. Now let Cooper take you home,” he says as he pulls away and I see Cooper standing behind him in his uniform, looking as handsome as ever. But the look of disappointment on his face makes me think he’s not as excited to see me as I am to see him.

Even though I know he picks me up each time I drink more so out of obligation, I still get slightly giddy like a teenage girl when I see his attractive face and muscular body draped in that uniform walk into the bar and head right in my direction.

“Hey, Kane,” Cooper shakes Kane’s hand and then Drew’s. “Taking care of my sister?” he teases.

“Like my life depends on it,” Kane fires back.

“Oh, it does,” Cooper jokes, patting Kane hard on the shoulder.

“Get her home safely,” Kane says to Cooper as he walks away, leaving me standing there as Cooper’s eyes focus back on me and he gives me that disapproving look.

“I don’t want to hear it, Cooper. Just take me home, please,” I grab my purse and walk around him, bee-lining for the door. Tony already ran my card so my tab is paid, and the desire to rip off my skirt, blouse, and heels comes on strong as I walk out of the bar and wait at the back door to Cooper’s cruiser, my buzz fading considerably after my conversation with Kane.

“Clara…” Cooper comes up behind me, placing his hand on my shoulder, making me flinch at his touch and then my entire body releases the tears I’ve been fighting back. My hands cover my face as my body shudders and I sob. He pulls me into his chest, encircling his arms around me and lets me get it all out—my despair, my self-loathing, the pain and ridicule I’ve been imposing on my mind.

And even though I’m exposing myself to him right now and can’t imagine how haggard I must look, Cooper continues to hold me, his chin resting on the top of my head, his hands cascading up and down my back—and I melt into him. I can only describe the feeling of being in his arms in one way—safe. Cooper makes me feel safe—like Anthony or anyone else—can’t touch me. He has protected me once, and I can’t help but feel like I want him to do that forever.

I’m sure that it has a lot to do with the fact that he saved me months ago—but I can honestly say that no other man in my thirty-one years has ever made me feel that way in his arms—besides my dad, maybe.

When I feel composed enough to stand tall again, Cooper brushes the tears from my cheeks, opens the door to the backseat, and never utters a word to me as he drives me home. He walks me inside and waits in the living room as I change into a camisole and pajama pants, clean my face of my smeared make-up, and finally make my way back into the living room.

“Thank you, Cooper… again,” I say sheepishly, avoiding meeting his eyes with my own, even though I swear I can feel him scanning my entire body right now.

“Are you okay, Clara?” I flick my eyes to his now and see the concern there.

I take a deep breath before answering. “I will be. I think… I think I’m going to talk to someone,” I finally say, making Cooper’s eyebrows shoot up.

“Wow. What brought that on?”

“Kane, actually,” I shrug, wrapping my arms around my body.

“Well, if it’s any consolation, I think that’s a great idea, Clara. I hope it helps…” he offers while placing his hands in his pockets, looking supremely uncomfortable right now.

“Me too,” I give him a small smile before following him to the door.

“I’ll see you soon, Clara. Just hopefully, not at Tony’s,” he winks at me while I open the door.

Rolling my eyes, I stand back and hold the door open for him. “I’m not making any promises.”

Cooper leans forward and lightly presses his lips to my forehead, catching me off-guard and kick starting my heart. It seems like an innocent touch, but that’s the first time he’s ever placed his lips on me—even after the many times I’ve begged him too when I’ve been drinking. The soft touch sends my hormones into overdrive, reminding me yet again how long it’s been since a man has touched me.

When he stands tall again, he flashes me a panty-melting smile and then walks through the door.

“Goodnight, Clara,” he says before sauntering off—leaving me a confused mess as I close the door and ponder why the hell he just kissed me.

Chapter 6

Clara

“Do you need help with anything?” I come up beside Olivia in their kitchen as she sets out trays of food. Perry follows closely behind her with bowls of chips and dip.

“No, I think we’ve got it handled, Clara,” she smiles over her shoulder at me and then catches the look on my face. “Of course, you already knew that, didn’t you?”

I smirk and then take a sip from my champagne. “Yeah, but I thought it would be polite to ask anyway,” I wink.

I turn my back to them after they both roll their eyes at me and survey the open room filled with balloons, streamers, and signs everywhere in celebration of Kane’s 30thbirthday. Drew and a few of the other teachers from the school all took Kane out to golf today, freeing Olivia to decorate while he was gone. The party is a surprise, as well as the fact that she’s using this congregation of their families and friends to reveal the gender of their baby.

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