Page 40 of Flirty Thirty

“Buddy system,” he says without hesitation. “Disneyland, Universal Studios, water parks, flights… everyone’s gotta have a partner.” He leans in with a wink. “No child left behind.”

I suck in a breath, warming from head to toe from his proximity. His skin is sun-kissed and gorgeous, and I let out a frustrated sigh at his beauty. It’s not fair; why can’t a man this breathtaking be interested in a fling?

“Even spouting crazy talk, you are very sexy, Mr. Sterling.”

He laughs. “Likewise, Ms. Baker.”

I have the urge to plant a kiss on his lips, but I’m interrupted halfway on my quest to close the distance by a crash coming from inside, followed by an “Uhhhhh ohhhhhh.”

Cooper lets out a laugh at my pouty frown, and before I can even move, he offers me the sleeping child instead. And I gladly accept.

***

Cooper and I wave at a rejuvenated Jim and Katie as they take their children far far away from here. The second Cooper closes the door, we both fall back against it and slide to the floor. If I agree to babysit for ten hours again, someone please check me for early signs of senility.

I roll my head toward Cooper at the same time he rolls his to me, and I let out a laugh and run a finger over that red mark still on his cheek. His smile forms, denting a dimple under my nail.

“That was fun,” he says, and he actually means it.

“Strange, strange man,” I muse, shaking my head against the door. The house is a disaster. Toys strewn every which way, uncapped markers on a high shelf in an attempt to keep them from a two-year-old magician… who managed to undress herself five times throughout the day and made sharp and dangerous objects appear in her little hands. There’s a strong smell of spit-up hanging in the air, mixed with yet another burnt meal… my fault this time. After starting a pot of noodles, a poopy scent reached my nostrils and even the most advanced of diaper changers would have spent twenty minutes on that mess.

The moment Katie and Jim rang the doorbell, relief covered every inch of me. I gratefully handed over the half-naked children and rushed them out the door. Though, it was nice to get a squishy hug from Claire before she left. I wasn’t too fond of the very wet and chocolately kiss she left on my jeans. On closer inspection, I doubt even the toughest detergent is gonna get that out.

Cooper leans over, and before I realize what he’s doing, his lips are on mine in a gentle, soft kiss.

“Thank you.”

“Huh?” I say, swaying a little from the unexpected display of affection.

“For giving me a day with kids.” He blinks a set of tired eyes, a light smile on his lips. “There aren’t that many in my life.”

I chuckle through a yawn. “No wonder you like them. I’m surrounded by the little runts.”

He only gives me a tired, curious glance. I let out a breath and feel myself slipping into a sleepy babble.

“Well, my brother has those two,” I say, lazily tapping against the door. “My sister and her husband have four. My partner at work has three. And my best friend has one on the way.”

“Wow,” he says, and I’m grateful he appreciates that it really is a lot of children. “What’s the age range?”

“The oldest is Lucas… he’s ten. And Chase is the youngest at 2 months, unless you count Holland’s bun.”

“Holland’s your best friend?”

I nod, covering yet another yawn. My limbs are starting to turn to jelly. “She’s coming up on her tenth anniversary. She and her husband always wanted to wait to have kids, so they’re just starting now.”

He lets out a low hum, letting me know he’s still listening, but I think we’re both starting to drift. Going from one extreme to another is tiring, and it’s catching up to me.

“When did you decide you didn’t want them?”

I have to lift my eyelids, not realizing that I’d closed them. “Not everyone wants kids, Cooper.”

“I know,” he says. “I don’t mean to offend. It’s only… you mentioned that when things didn’t happen for you, you’d convinced yourself you never wanted them. I’m curious about when that was.”

My mind is way too done to think about the answer. And even if I was one hundred percent alert, I’m not sure if there is one. “I don’t know,” I say. “My brother’s wedding, maybe.” I pause, second guessing myself. “Maybe before that.”

His lazy smile twitches, eyes scanning over my face and then down my arm before he tangles his fingers with mine.

“May I sleep with you?”

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