Page 44 of Summer Nights

Cooper nodded. "Let me do the walk-through so you can get home and out of those heels."

"They don't bother me," I said as I followed him to the powder room.

"They might when you start to show," Cooper said as he turned his attention to the toilet.

"I haven't thought much about that yet. How I'll start to show and everyone will know."

He looked under the tank. "Are you worried about that?"

I laughed without any humor. "I don't want the gossip. Ivy's unmarried and pregnant? Who knocked her up?"

He glanced at me. "We'll tell everyone we're together if it's an issue."

"You'd do that? You'd pretend we were dating to stifle the rumors?" I asked, tipping my head to the side.

Cooper sighed. "Ivy, we were sleeping together. I'm not one that sleeps with two women at the same time. When I'm with someone, I'm exclusive. It's not a stretch to say we were seeing each other."

I chewed on my lip. "I'm not sure what I want to do."

"Whatever you need me to do or say, just let me know." He fiddled with the faucet and stuck his head under the sink. When he was satisfied it was running okay, he slid out.

"Why are you being so nice about this?" I finally asked him when he stepped into the hallway.

Cooper paused, his hand cupping my cheek. "You're the mother of my child."

His breath ghosted over my lips, and under different circumstances, I'd wonder if he was going to kiss me. Now there was this pregnancy that effectively stopped anything from happening between us.

"You're important to me. Your well-being and your happiness."

I sucked in a breath because it was a nice thing to say.

He shrugged as if it wasn't a big deal. "If you're worried about gossip, we'll just say we're together."

I wasn't sure what worried me more: people talking about how I was just like my mother or Cooper pretending to be my boyfriend. "I'll have to think about it."

Cooper winked at me. "I'm a great boyfriend. I'll bring ice cream over at night and make popcorn for you while you put your feet up and watch a movie. Run a bath for you before you get ready for bed each night."

My lips twitched. "That sounds heavenly."

"Have you ever had anyone take care of you?" Cooper's gaze searched my face.

"Not like that," I couldn't help but admit. What he described sounded like quicksand. If I gave into the temptation, I'd be lost.

"I want to take care of you."

That sent a tingle down my spine. It wasn't an unpleasant feeling. Just different.

His hand dropped from my face, and he stepped back. "I hope you'll let me. But I respect that you prefer to take care of yourself."

I wanted to call him back, to tell him I was on board with everything he'd just said. But the words got stuck in my throat. I always took care of myself. I never depended on anyone else. I shouldn't change who I was for Cooper Kingston. Not even if I was carrying his baby.

He sounded so possessive when he said I was the mother of his child. His declaration made me feel wanted, cherished. I couldn't let him sweet-talk me like this. I wouldn't be able to resist what he was offering.

I could handle the gossip. It sucked, but it couldn't be any worse than what I endured in school. I'd prove everyone wrong. I could be a successful businesswoman and a single mother. People weren't expected to get married anymore when they got pregnant.

We'd moved into the kitchen, and I sat at one of the stools.

"Your brain is working overtime," Cooper murmured.

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