Page 68 of Enticed

“Well, you interrupted a very important conversation, Cooper,” Amy chimes in, shooting me a glare that only a pissed off woman could perfect.

“So sorry. See you ladies later,” I declare as Clara shoots me a wink before I make my way down the hallway towards my old room.

It only takes a few minutes before there’s a small knock on the door and then Clara ducks inside, shutting the door quietly behind her.

“Hey, beautiful,” I greet her with a smile so big my face hurts, and then I pull her into me so fast, our chests collide and she chokes on her breath. But I don’t give her much time to gather herself before I crush my lips to hers and devour her. Kissing Clara makes my body come alive—and if we were any other place right now, I would try to fit in a quickie.

Her arms wrap around my neck and she dives in to our kiss with just as much passion as I am, swirling our tongues together in a heated dance. I take my time and slow down the kiss so the desire ebbs to something more meaningful—a physical declaration of how much I love her and call me crazy, but I swear I feel it from her too.

“Jeez, Coop,” she giggles as we part and I rest my forehead on hers.

“It’s killing me to be here with you and not touch you. Can we talk to Liv now?” I beg, standing up tall again and looking down into those eyes that own me.

“I don’t think now is a good time. She’s pissy and is waiting for your dad to finish grilling the burgers so she can eat. All she keeps talking about is how badly she wants a cheeseburger with extra pickles.”

“Alright, I’ll see what I can do. But once she’s fed and tranquilized, let’s tell her,” I plant a kiss on her lips as Clara nods.

“Okay.”

I slip out of my room first, passing by the women again and back onto the deck, catching up on the baseball conversation between my dad, Kane, Drew, Cash, and a bunch of the other men. Everyone seems to be hard-pressed that the OC Rays are going to the series this year.

The day and the party passes by as children splash around in the pool, games of corn hole and horseshoes help further inebriate the men, dad grills burgers and hotdogs and everyone eats more food than they should.

I’m surrounded by family and friends and people I’ve known for practically my entire life—yet the only person I really want to be with is still so far out of reach.

The sun is setting, which means fireworks will be starting soon and Clara has still been avoiding pulling Liv aside. I know damn well the woman has been eating for the past few hours at least now, so there are no more excuses.

I’m standing on the deck, sipping on a beer alone since Cash left for his shift over an hour ago. The orange and pink glow in the sky beneath the few scattered clouds holds my attention until someone passing behind me shifts my focus.

“Pssst,” the person says as I flick my head in their direction and see an ass covered in a red sundress I could never mistakenly identify.

Clara is walking away from me now, never turning her head back, but heading in the direction around the side of the house, out of the main part of the yard.

“Hey,” I say as she turns around to face me once we’re far out of sight.

“Hey. I don’t know if this is such a good idea anymore,” she says as pure terror slides across her face.

I reach out to stroke her bare arms with my hands, offering her whatever comfort I can. “It’s going to be fine, babe. Liv might be shocked, but once she knows that this is real between us, how can she be mad?”

“She’s been in a mood all day, Coop. And Amy too. I just don’t know if this is the best time.” Her eyes are shifting across the yard, looking anywhere but at me.

“Clara, we agreed. If we don’t do it now, we’re going to continue to find reasons not to.” I said “we” but I meant “her” because I feel like she’s just a walking list of excuses lately.

I watch her inhale deeply and then blow out a long breath. “Okay. You’re right. I’m going to go get her,” she smiles thinly and then kisses me on the cheek before walking away. “Stay right here. I’ll have her follow me out.”

“This will all be over soon and then we get to watch the fireworks together.” I raise my eyebrows at her as she grins back at me.

She nods and then I watch her walk away, closing my eyes and wishing my racing pulse to slow down. This is it. A few words and sentences, maybe a hug or two, and then this will all be over and out in the open and then I’m going to tell Clara that I love her.

What feels like an hour passes, even though in reality it’s only a few minutes, before Clara reappears and the look on her face should have warned me for what was about to come out of her mouth.

Chapter 24

Clara

Anxious wouldn’t even begin to describe what I’ve been feeling all week leading up to the Fourth of July, knowing that Cooper and I would finally come clean. My meeting with Dr. Martinez on Tuesday helped to relieve some of the anxiety, making me realize that although telling people would be scary, the result of being able to love Cooper out in the open would be one-hundred percent worth it.

And that small feat was the only thing standing in my way from having a man in my life that made my world feel complete—a feeling I’d never experienced before and wasn’t sure any other person could ever replicate. In fact, I knew with certainty that I didn’t want any other man to even try. I wanted Cooper, and it was time to speak the truth.

---