Page 69 of The Sexy Part
Cooper clears his throat. “Rowan, this is my cousin Mason. He’s the one who lent us a truck to move your stuff.”
I smile. “Thanks for that. It’s so great to meet you in person. You’re, like, famous or something.”
Mason chuckles. “Aunt Claire is famous. I’m just a mechanic.”
“Real original costume,” Cooper says.
Mason gives his shoulder a shove and turns back to me. “Hey, you want a drink?”
“I’ll get it.” Cooper’s dark eyes smolder into mine. “I know what she likes.”
Mason looks between us. “Sorry, man. I didn’t know you two had a thing.”
“We do,” I say. “We have a thing.”
Cooper smiles. “We do?”
“Yeah.”
He leans across the bar and kisses me. “I get off at midnight. Meet me here.”
“Oh, it’s like that,” Mason says with a knowing look.
I gaze into Cooper’s eyes, affection bursting through me. “Something like that.”
“Time for the costume contest,” the DJ announces.
“Where’s our third blind mouse?” Mackenzie yells.
Cooper whistles, and she hurries over. She looks between us and sighs. “Cooper.”
“It’s good. No worries, sis.”
“Come on,” she says to me.
I follow her to the main dining area for the costume contest. “What was that about with Cooper?”
“I told him not to get involved with you. Nothing personal. The last woman he rescued dumped him as soon as he got her life back in order. Besides, you’re not serious about him, are you? How could you be so soon after your wedding and life imploded. It’s a rebound situation. I just don’t want him to get hurt again.”
“I don’t want to get hurt again either. That’s why we’re being careful.”
She lifts one shoulder. “Well, it’s his heartbreak. He’s a grown man. Nothing against you. It’s just not ideal, you know?”
“I know.”
Harper grabs our arms and pulls us into the line to show off our costumes for the judges. I tell myself not to worry about future heartbreak because things are great with Cooper just as they are.
“Sunglasses,” Mackenzie says, elbowing me.
I put my sunglasses on. “I won’t hurt your brother.”
“I know you won’t mean to,” Mackenzie says. “But what’s going to happen when you get your condo deposit back and you move back to the city? You’ll get caught up in life there.”
I almost say we’ll stay in touch, but I can’t guarantee that. We’re light and casual. Just having fun.
I look over to the bar, where Cooper’s laughing with Mason. My heart thumps harder. I can’t wait to have more fun when he gets off work.
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