Page 17 of Save the Drama for your Mama
My mouth gaped open in disbelief, and I couldn’t resist hassling him. “Oh, don’t mention it. It was no trouble at all. You’re more than welcome.”
He glanced up at me. “I would have found it, eventually.”
“I’m sure you would have,eventually,” I said, then foolishly thinking he might be a reasonable person, added, “If you need any help with the historical research, just—”
“I work alone,” he said bluntly.
I nodded, thinking about it and feeling a little disappointed he’d rejected my offer since I loved historical research with a passion. “Got it, Mr. Incredible. Okay, I’ll leave you to your work then.” With a resigned sigh, I turned to meet up with Chad, who had gone out to the front yard with Chip, Dale, and Marilyn.
“Eighteen-ninety-nine,” Cooper called out from behind me.
I stopped and flipped back around to face him, confused. “Pardon me?”
He gestured back into the library. “You said the desk was circa nineteen hundred. It was made in the year eighteen-ninety-nine. You were right about the maker as well, the Derby Desk Company in Boston.”
I nodded.
He nodded.
I nodded again and gave him a double-thumbs up.
Maybe this was his way of saying thank you?
By acknowledging that I was correct in my assessment?
I still couldn’t figure him out, but this was the first time he’d talked to me in a civilized way, so I figured I would accept it.
“It’s a beautiful desk,” I ventured. “Actually, I’m—”
“Can’t talk now—see you tomorrow,” he said, closing the door.
“An aspiring writer,” I said to myself in a low voice.
It was for the best that he didn’t know.
The last thing I wanted was for him to think that I was going to bombard him with a thousand questions about his writing process and getting a publishing deal. I was stuck on the idea of letting someone other than Abigail read my manuscript to find out if it was any good since she was biased.
As for Cooper, he perplexed me more than ever.
He was mysterious, secretive, cocky, multi-faceted, and complex. But despite the frustration when I was around him, a burning curiosity was pushing me to unravel the layers of his enigmatic personality.
Cooper was tight and stuffy, but he seemed to care about his books, his dog, and his brother. Other people, not so much.
Did I look at it as a challenge?
Yes. Yes, I did.
I wanted to loosen the man up.
Was I crazy?
Possibly. Yes.
It was like I was itching to poke a beehive with a stick. Despite the inherent dangers, I couldn’t resist the temptation.
ChapterFour
COOPER
