Page 31 of The Sexy Part
“That would’ve been easier. Though Cooper’s been tempting me with ice cream.”
“Ice cream’s good for you. It has calcium and protein. And it’s a known mood booster.”
“Really?”
“I haven’t found anyone who thought differently.”
We laugh.
“You have a lovely family,” I say. “I don’t think I’d be in as good a shape as I am without them.”
“Thank you. I hope you’ll join us for another dinner. Open invitation, every Sunday.”
“I would love that.”
She beams a sunny smile. “Good. You’re exactly the kind of person I want for…my children. My grown children.”
I cock my head. For a moment there, I thought she was going to say for Cooper. “Thanks.”
“Cooper’s a lot like his dad, laid-back, easygoing, but you’ll find underneath that, there’s a spine of steel. He won’t ever let you down. Just between you and me, he’s never been a player. He’s had a few relationships—”
“Mom.”
She whirls to face Cooper. “Are you finished in the kitchen?”
“Yes. Were you talking about me?” He glances at me, pink creeping up his neck.
I bite back a smile.
She smiles serenely. “Just saying how you take after your dad.”
“He’s much trickier than me. Did you see him psych me out to win arm wrestling?”
Hailey gives me a knowing look. “I did.”
He turns to me. “If you want, I can walk you home.”
“Oh. Mackenzie drove me.”
“I’m staying here for a while,” Mackenzie calls from the kitchen. She steps into the living room. “It’s okay if you want to head home, or you can stay. Dad and I are watching football.”
The one advantage to being Dave-free is not having sports on all the time. I turn to Cooper. “You don’t want to watch the game?”
“Nah. I prefer to play than watch, though I’ll go in person if someone has tickets.”
“I think I’ll go now, then. Thanks for a lovely dinner.”
I say my goodbyes to everyone. Hailey surprises me with a hug goodbye.
I leave with a smile on my face.
6
Cooper
Rowan fit right in with my family. Another point in her favor. The more time I spend with her, the more I like her.Remember Brianna. She pulled the rug right out from under you after you helped her get back on her feet.
Rowan looks up at me. “So it’s pretty safe to walk in the dark here?”
