Page 37 of Enticed

“Be safe, Cooper,” I manage to say before the line dies and I set my phone back down on the table next to the tub.

After a long soak and one too many chapters of my book, I’m beyond aroused, so I take matters into my own hands and test out the toy Penny bought me while visualizing Cooper the entire time. And much to Penny’s credit—the sucking action is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced before.

The next day I enjoy breakfast in bed while answering emails and making a call to Cindy to make sure my schedule is concise for Friday before I get showered and dressed and head for the airport.

While I’m up in the air, an idea comes to life and I grin at the mischievous thought that develops in my brain. Cooper is already expecting sex tonight, but that doesn’t mean I can’t make him work for it a bit. I mean, I can’t make it that easy on him, right?

As soon as the wheels of the plane touch the ground and my bag is in my hands, I order an Uber and direct the driver to head to Emerson Falls—but not to Cooper’s place. Nope, we’re gonna make a pit stop first.

Chapter 13

Cooper

“What do you mean Clara is there?” I listen to Tony speak to me on my phone and I’m confused as fuck.

“She’s fucking wasted, Cooper. She came barging in demanding tequila, so I gave her the usual handful of shots. But then one of the other bartenders poured her three more and… it’s fucking bad, Coop. Just come get her, please.”

I run my free hand through my hair as I grab my keys and head to my truck. “Fuck. Alright, I’ll be right there.” I fire up the engine and peel out of my driveway and down my street, headed for Tony’s bar.

What the hell happened since last night? We were making progress all week, our date was one of the best dates I’ve ever been on, even though it consisted of a run and playing with my dog. And last night Clara made it perfectly clear that tonight when she got home we’d be getting to know each other on a very naked level.

Now, I’m speeding across town, pissed off beyond reason that I have to pick her drunk ass up again. Fuck! It kills me every time she drinks, thinking that’s the solution to her problems. I wish she could see that getting past a traumatic experience will take time. But in the back of my mind, I can’t help but already feel defeated, given how things changed so quickly after our date, and now I feel like we’re back to square one—can Clara ever get past the attack so we can move forward?

You are shitty human being for even trying to pressure her to deal with what happened before she’s ready. You can’t just forget something like that.

I know. I suck. But seriously? This is getting old.

You can’t leave her there, you know that. You’ll never forgive yourself if she got hurt.

“Yeah, yeah… always saving people, that’s my job,” I mutter to myself as the conversation in my head comes to a stop when I pull into the parking lot and climb out of my truck. I know I’m furious right now with her, but the truth is, I truly want her to get better. This version of her is not the person I know she is. She puts on such a show for everyone else and acts like the brave woman they know her to be—but I know she’s scared and battling the fear in her head, and I just wish I could help her get past it.

I push the doors to the bar open a little too hard, but I’m pissed, and I’m not afraid to let her know that when she sees me.

My eyes scan the room and land on her immediately, dancing belligerently around Chuck and Bob. I know they’re harmless and she would never entertain the idea of them. But there’ are also a few younger guys sitting with them this time, and the way they’re staring at her ass as she circles her hips instantly makes my blood boil.

But what can I do about that? If I go over there and pull her away and smack her ass like I want to right now, that will only fuel the rumor mill. We’re supposed to be keeping our relationship—for lack of a better word—quiet right now. And tonight our plans were to explore an entirely different side that we’ve both been fighting relentlessly for months.

Yet as I examine her state of inebriation, I feel like the two steps forward we made since the auction has only been pushed three steps back.

“Clara,” I reach for her arm once I arrive next to her as she rights her body and attempts to stand up straight.

“Uh oh, the po-po is here you guys,” she whispers out of the corner of her mouth in a shit-eating grin to the men sitting around the table enjoying the show. I catch the laugh that leaves her lips next and it makes me hard for her and even more pissed off at the same time.

“He’s off duty, Clara, so he can’t arrest you right now,” Chuck slurs and Bob nods his head in agreement.

“Uh, that’s not exactly how that works gentlemen—but no, I’m not here to arrest her. I am, however, here to take her home,” reaching for her purse, I leave my other hand on her arm so she can’t scurry away.

“Such a buzz kill, Deputy,” she snaps, and then turns to tell her goodbyes to her friends, including the group of women I saw a few times before. It takes every ounce of control I have not to flip her over my shoulder and carry her out of this bar, caveman style.

“See ya later, boys and girls. And Tony!” she shouts across the bar to get his attention, “You suck!” She finishes, but then winks at him before grinning like a fool and following me outside.

“What the fuck, Clara? What happened in the last twenty-four hours that made you want to drink yourself stupid again tonight, of all nights?” I’m raising my voice and trying not to sound like her father right now, but I guess my disappoint is hard to hide and is coming out as anger as we arrive at my truck.

“Cooper,” she starts, but I cut her off.

“I thought you said you were getting help, that you were going to talk to someone so you’d stop doing this to yourself…” I’m fuming and the chastising I’m giving her just won’t stop.

“Would you just listen for a minute?” She asks, but I interrupt her again.

---