Page 21 of The Sexy Part
I consider the alternative, hiring someone. It seems wise to save for an emergency like, say, food. Damn, I really am screwed. And here’s Cooper appearing out of thin air just when I need him the most.
“That sounds great,” I say. “Once again, thank you for your kindness and generosity.”
His brown eyes twinkle with good humor. “So are we talking a baby grand piano or…”
I laugh. “Nothing that heavy.”
* * *
Cooper
I can’t take my eyes off her. We’re sitting at the small table in my kitchen with glasses of water. I have the first-floor apartment of a house, the same apartment Dad used to rent. He’s the one who told me about it when I came back to town for good. As luck would have it, the tenant was leaving at the end of the month.
Rowan’s flushed from running, giving her a glow. She’s so beautiful.
She puts a hand self-consciously to her cheek. “What? Is there something on my face?”
“Sorry, didn’t mean to stare. Just lost in thought. I’ve been wondering how you’re doing after, you know, the whole wedding thing.”
“Ooh, it’s gotten so much worse than just the wedding thing.”
“What do you mean?”
And then she launches into a horrific story of Dave hocking her late mother’s jewelry among other valuables and stealing their clients. Not to mention he was cheating on her.
A cold rage bubbles through me. And I’m not an angry person. I want to throttle this guy and then pull Rowan close and protect her from everyone and everything.
She holds her palms up. “Welcome to my life.”
“I’m so sorry. I can’t fathom what kind of person would do that.”
“A self-centered man with zero integrity. He was great until suddenly he wasn’t. Obviously I was in denial.”
I shake my head. “He can’t get away with this.”
“He already did. I’m taking him to small claims court for hocking my stuff, but the rest of it, well, I’m not sure I can do anything more. I suppose I could try to woo my clients back, but if Endeavor Media’s offering a cut-rate deal, I can’t match that and stay in business.”
“So you think you’ll stick around Clover Park for a while?” I ask.
“I was thinking about it. I have to wait thirty days to get my condo deposit back, which I need to get another place.”
“There’s an apartment opening up on the second floor here, if you’re interested. One bedroom, shared backyard. Utilities included.”
“How much?”
When I tell her, her jaw drops. I laugh. “It’s not city prices.”
“I’ll say. That would get me a crappy apartment in a seedy area of the city, and I’d have to get two roommates.”
“Want the landlord’s info?”
Our gazes lock for a charged moment. She looks away, her hand fluttering in the air. “I’m not planning to stay that long. I was hoping Mackenzie and Harper wouldn’t mind too much if I stayed with them for a month.”
“So you must be getting along with them.”
She meets my eyes. “They’ve been wonderful. Just like you.”
“Must be something in the water,” I say, lifting my glass of water and taking a drink.
