Page 85 of Enticed

I check my appearance in the bathroom mirror once I hide inside, brushing stray hairs in place. My long brown locks are soft and wavy around my face, my lips glossed over in a blush stain I know Cooper likes on me. I wore a navy blue sundress that hugs me in all the right places and wedges to give me just a few extra inches in height. Cooper has never shied away from telling me how beautiful he thinks I am, but tonight I wanted to knock his socks off and remind him how much he finds me irresistible, just in case he’s extremely pissed off when he arrives like I know he will be.

The slam of a car door outside alerts me to his arrival. I know he can tell from the parking lot that we aren’t all alone here, but the look on his face when he walks through the door will be priceless as he takes in the empty room.

I scurry through the bathroom door and around the corner to hide in the hallway as I wait for him to come inside. My heart is pounding so hard, my entire body is vibrating from the pulsations. My hands are sweaty and I feel like my lips are trembling from my nerves. But it’s more nervousness that things won’t go as planned—not nervousness about telling Cooper that I love him and want to be with him—no, that is something I am one-hundred percent sure of now. It took me a moment for my guilt to overpower my fear, but I’m finally there. Add in almost two weeks away from the man I love to provide some much-needed clarity and suddenly nothing else matters besides him and me.

“What the hell?” Cooper’s voice booms through the room as his eyes search around for people. “Clara? Tony? Where the hell is everyone?” He’s twisting and turning, and as his back is to me, I slowly creep out of my hiding place to appear on the other side of the room. When his body faces mine again, his eyes widen when he sees me standing across from him—and I swear my body goes hyperaware with his presence. A wave of comfort wraps around my soul as I stare at my other half, while my body is flushed with heat as I take him in—a tight black shirt stretched across his muscular chest and arms, dark grey shorts hugging his narrow hips, and tan flip flops—he looks as handsome as ever, but his face shows me his anger and desperation. I struggle not to move to him, to run into his arms just yet. Hopefully, after everything I have to say, that can still happen—but right now, I have a lot of explaining to do.

“Clara, what’s going on? Why are you fucking drinking again? How many times do we have to discuss that this is not the way to handle your frustrations…” His jaw is clenched so tightly together, his lips barely move as he speaks.

“I’m not drunk, Cooper. That was a lie to get you here,” I say, standing rooted in the same place.

“But Kane said…”

“Kane lied. I asked him to and he was all too eager to get his revenge on you,” I smirk.

“What? Why did he need to get revenge?” Cooper’s puzzled look is making me want to laugh, but I fight desperately to control myself.

“Well, apparently you kind of ruined his proposal to Liv, so he saw this as a perfect opportunity to upend your life a bit,” I tilt my head and study him as a wide smile overtakes my face.

“Fucker,” he mumbles. “So what am I doing here then if you’re not drunk, Clara?”

“I’m doing what I should have done two weeks ago.”

“And what is that?”

“Cooper, I am so, so sorry that I hurt you. I never thought I would be capable of that, but boy, was I wrong. Turns out insecurities have a nasty way of making you act irrationally and unfortunately you were the victim of mine. I know that by now you understand that I overheard a conversation before Liv found us together that made me flip a switch and retreat to the cowardly girl I was when we first started dating—but nothing I can say can undo the hurt I caused you and change what happened. However, I promise to always try to make it up to you, starting now.” I turn around before yelling, “Come out everyone!”

Cooper’s eyes steer away from me as he watches our family and friends appear from the back of the bar, walking out slowly with corny smiles all over their faces. Cooper and Liv’s parents, Kane and Olivia, Perry and her husband, Amy, Penny, Tony, Cash and Luke all come out followed by the other patrons that were in the bar tonight.

“What the hell is going on?” Cooper’s eyes find mine again as I walk towards him finally, reaching to take his hands in mine. Standing there, touching him again and being so close yet so far away from him emotionally is torture, so I speak up to get the ball rolling.

“Cooper, I’ve never been with anyone that has made me want the things I want with you—a future, a life full of love and small moments that really turn out to the be the big ones. When I first saw you again after years apart, you weren’t the same scrawny boy I used to call Twiggy… you were a man—a bad-guy-busting, sarcastically handsome, muscular man that got me all hot and bothered.”

I can hear snickers coming from behind us, but I don’t dare turn around until I’m finished.

“Fuck, now Cash is gonna call me Twiggy,” Cooper closes his eyes and mutters and I can’t help the chuckle that leaves my lips.

“But then you saved me in one of the darkest and most terrifying moments of my life,” my voice turns serious again, “and that day everything changed. You saw me at my worst and helped pick up the pieces when I felt like crumbling. That experience connected us and I think all the time we’ve spent together before that did too. I couldn’t help being drawn to you and buying your date at the auction was the best decision I ever made.”

Cooper cracks a small smile, giving me a glimpse of hope that I’m headed in the right direction, so I keep going. “I’m so sorry that I ever suggested keeping our relationship a secret, but what I felt for you was so foreign to me, I didn’t know how to be open about it—I didn’t know how to talk about it, or whether anyone would understand it. Now I know it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks—because the only thing that matters is that I love you and want to be with you,” I say as tears cloud my eyes and Cooper’s smile widens.

“You love me?” He whispers, leaning down to nuzzle his nose against my neck.

“More than anything,” I whisper back.

“I love you too, Clara… so fucking much,” he pops back up and then smashes his lips to mine as our friends and family cheer behind us. But I drown them out and get lost in Cooper’s kiss again because I have gone far too long without it. Trying to control the urge to jump in his arms and dry hump him, instead I focus on showing him how much I missed him as I wrap my arms around his neck and twirl my tongue against his. His arms encase me against his chest and he meets my every move, kissing me like it might be the last time we touch.

When we part, we rest our foreheads against one another as I ask him discretely, “Can I introduce you to my family and friends now as my boyfriend?”

“About fucking time,” he teases and then grants me a quick press of his lips against mine.

“Everyone,” I address our group as we turn around, “I’d like you to meet my boyfriend, Cooper Walsh. He’s a deputy, incredibly handsome and funny, I love him, and he makes me very happy,” I beam as Cooper pulls me in close to his side.

“Oh my Gosh! Clara, you’re in a relationship? When did this happen? How did you meet? We need ALL of the details!” Olivia jokes as everyone bursts out in laughter.

“Well, he’s actually my best friend’s younger brother, so it’s a little forbidden—but he’s really hot and sweet and makes my toes curl, so naturally, I couldn’t help myself,” I wink as everyone rolls their eyes.

“Alright, we don’t needallof the details,” Liv cringes as chuckles resonate from our friends before individually they start to congratulate us. “I really am happy for you two, though. And hopefully one day, we can actually be sisters,” she winks and then nudges Cooper.

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