Page 87 of Love Thy Neighbor

“Hey, handsome,” she drawls in an obviousI want to sleep with youtone. “What can I get for you tonight?”

“Hey, Shayla.”

Cooper says her name with a familiarity I don’t like one bit. That same fleeting feeling of jealousy I had when Maya talked about Cooper’s lips zings through me again.

“I’ll have my usual,” he tells her. “And a spiced rum with root beer.”

Shayla slides her eyes to me for the first time, and recognition dawns. I’m sure she remembers the last time we were here and I was sitting in this same spot flirting with a different guy.

“Oh,” she says quietly. “I didn’t realize you were with someone tonight.”

“Yep.” Cooper slides his arm around my waist, pulling me closer. “This is my girlfriend, Caroline.”

And there it is: the first time he’s introduced me to anyone as his girlfriend and not just his best friend.

I wait for the surge ofWell, this is weirdto hit me, but it never comes.

It just feels natural.

That’s how it is with him. Easy.

Almost like we don’t have to try at all. We just ebb and flow together.

All my insecurities about Shayla dissipate as Cooper’s eyes shine down at me with affection.

Cooper’s past is his past, just like mine is mine. And none of it matters because nothing has ever felt this good before.

How could I have missed out on this feeling for so long?

“Well, in that case…” She slides her hand over the bar toward me, giving me a genuine smile. “Hey, Caroline. I’m Shayla. I work pretty much every Friday night and have been slinging drinks your guy’s way for way too long now. He’s mentioned you several times. It’s nice to officially put a face with the name.”

“Hi.” I give her hand a shake. “It’s great to meet you. I just hope he hasn’t told too many embarrassing stories.”

“None I’ll ever repeat.” She winks, then taps the bar. “I’ll be right back with those drinks.”

She hurries down the bar, and I turn toward Cooper.

“So,” I say.

“So,” he mocks.

“I take it you have a thing for blondes?”

He grins, like he knew I was going to say something about the girl he’s obviously slept with before.

“Just one,” he tells me. I lift a brow, and he shrugs. “She was brunette then.”

I shake my head, grinning at him. “You’re hopeless.”

He leans down, pressing a kiss against my shoulder. “Lydevoted to you,babe.”

“Here you go.” Shayla slides our drinks across the bar. “I put it on Eli’s tab. Paul said that’s where all your drinks are going tonight.”

She shoots us another smile before taking back off in the other direction.

“Are you guys really going to saddle Eli with the whole tab tonight?”

“Yep,” Cooper says, taking a sip of his drink. “That asshole ruined over twenty hours of work this week all because he didn’t back his crap up. We’re pissed.”

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