Page 28 of Touch Me (Complete Collection)

Jenny looked away laughingly. “Well, that depends on what he told you.”

Dexter chortled. “He didn’t really tell me. I mean…he wasn’t planning to I guess. I told him I needed his golf clubs and asked if he left the key with the security desk in the lobby…and it came up that he has someone living here.”

“So Cooper didn’t tell you it was me?”

“He had to when I asked. Because I was going to see you anyway when I came for the clubs.” He shook his head laughingly. “He mentioned very casually that you were staying here.” When Jenny nodded, and tried her damndest to think that Cooper wasn’t ashamed of her – the poor little nobody – while he…the CEO of Farrell corp.

Dexter delved farther. “So you’re a thing then?”

“Umm…” She snickered, unsure what to say. If Cooper didn’t want his brother to know, she didn’t want to tell him either. She tried to think sanely, without making Cooper the villain in the situation. Maybe he didn’t want anyone prying into our delicate, complicated relationship.

“You know what, Jenny? A woman, in his apartment, that’s a big damn deal. So it’s pretty obvious that you’re together together.”

She beamed at the pleasing statement. “Yes, I've heard he doesn’t have women up here. This is his domain. Only his.”

He smiled, and Jenny felt the familiar tug of emptiness in her chest. Dexter looked so much like Cooper. She missed Cooper even more.

“I’m so happy…seriously, it’s about time,” Dexter grinned. “Cooper’s been pining over you for years.”

Jenny choked on her beer, then wiped her lips. “He has?”

“Yeah!” His eyes widened to enunciate. “Mom kept teasing him for years about you. That he would settle down only when his beloved Jenny returned.”

Jenny bit her lip. “You're not serious.”

“I am! I swear to God. Wait till mom knows about this. She’ll probably throw a party or something.”

Jenny laughed out loud, and Dexter joined in. “I hope he comes back soon. It’s so annoying whenever he has to go to Sydney.”

“Yeah. He’s been avoiding this trip for several months now.”

“But he just went two months ago.”

Dexter gaped at her, his eyes narrowed. “Ahan?”

Jenny snickered. “He went for ten days. God!” She rolled her eyes. “I was so bored.”

Dexter swiftly looked away and took another long swig of his beer.

“Is something wrong?” confusion swamped Jenny. As soon as she mentioned Cooper’s last visit to Sydney, Dexter’s face had clouded.

“No. Everything’s fine. Do you think you could get his golf clubs for me? He said they’re in his bedroom closet.”

Jenny swiftly stood up to find them, wondering why in hell Dexter suddenly turned so aloof and distant. What was going on between the brothers? Did they have a personal rift, business problems? “Sure.”

“I’d get them myself but it’s probably…you probably live in that bedroom too.”

Jenny couldn’t bite back a chuckle as he tried to probe. “Yes. That’s very thoughtful of you, Dex.”

She found the clubs behind the array of Cooper’s suits, and Dexter stood up to leave as soon as she handed them to him. “Thanks, Jen. It’s been so awesome to see you. Now I’m going to go home and call mom to tell her the good news.”

Jenny smiled and hugged him tightly. “Come over for dinner with your wife when Cooper returns.”

“Will do,” he promised sweetly and left.

Jenny still felt a tiny wiggle in her chest over what Dexter had said – or not said essentially. Something had made him shut down a little. She shrugged. I’ll ask Cooper. With Cooper being the founder of Farrell Corp., and later hiring all four of his brothers, things were bound to get tricky between them.

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