Page 34 of The Long Walk Back

‘Now you’re in a mood?’ he asked, tussling with his prosthetic.

‘Nope, it’s fine. Like you said, we should get on with the session. It’s our last one, anyway.’ It was a cheap shot, but him closing down on her so easily had stung. They were still feeling each other out half the time, their struggles rising to the surface and butting heads. Cooper was in her face then, as he reached for her arm and whirled her around to face him.

‘What do you mean, our last session? Did Trevor fire you?’ His face turned to fury. ‘I’ll go talk to him.’

She reached for him, looking down at their feet. ‘Cooper, you’re standing.’

‘Yes, damn right I am. He’s not firing you over me!’

‘No!’ she exclaimed, turning her hands to clasp around his. ‘You’re standing up! You walked over to me!’

Cooper wobbled a second then, as he realised. His expression changed from anger to pure joy and he started to laugh. Kate laughed too then, and they both stood there for a long time, laughing like crazy, happy people, their hands wrapped in each other’s. She brushed away a tear from her face, and Cooper pulled her other hand in close, wrapping his left arm around her back tightly.

‘You’re crying again,’ he rumbled against her chest. ‘I don’t like this new habit of yours.’

‘I’m fine. Happy tears!’ she laughed through a sob. He was fighting, finally. ‘I’m only letting you hug me because you might fall over if I don’t,’ she said playfully. He pulled her a little closer, steadying himself.

‘That right?’ he teased. She felt his breath on her face as he moved in closer. He slowly, deliberately, rubbed his stubbly cheek against hers, making her shudder slightly. He kissed the tip of her ear, the movement making her neck tingle. ‘And what else would you let me do, to keep me on my feet?’

She was going to answer but when he rubbed his cheek against hers again, she couldn’t stand it any longer. She turned her face to meet his and kissed him hard. He didn’t miss a beat and kissed her right back. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders, pulling him in, but he didn’t sway. He stood rock solid, meeting her passionate embrace with every bit of urgency that she felt. She wanted to rip his clothes off there and then, and she groaned to herself at the thought of stopping. Cooper mistook her grumble for a release of hormones, and he kissed her more ferociously. She took it as long as she could without boiling over, and then she wrenched her lips from his. He looked at her, disappointed, but seeing her as dishevelled as he was, he started to laugh again. They parted a little, Cooper again standing straight on his own.

‘And that’s why this is our last session,’ she breathed as his look turned devilish again. ‘I can’t be kissing patients at work. I told Trevor I thought you should work with Jamie.’

‘Yeah?’

‘I think you’re good for each other.’

He grinned at that. ‘Sounds like a plan, and it solves me thinking about you naked when I’m supposed to be working.’

She felt her skin flush. ‘Exactly. Once Jamie and I set up home, it will be easier. For all of us. After today, you are no longer my patient.’

‘Then we need that date,’ he said, the lust making his voice so thick it made Kate’s stomach lurch. ‘I have to get my Missy fix somehow, tide me over.’

‘I know,’ she said, trying not to pant. ‘Tonight?’

‘Tonight,’ he agreed readily. ‘I’ll make the arrangements. Seven okay?’

Kate nodded. She would have gone at any time. ‘Shall we get on?’ she asked, brushing her hair back into place. He raised his eyebrows at her as he wiped his lips on the back of his hand.

‘Sure, but get on with what?’

‘Cooper!’ She groaned. Looking down at his leg, him standing there, she had another idea. ‘For starters, let’s get some walking practice in. If you’re going to leave the chair at home for your event, we have a lot to do.’

His head fell onto her shoulder. ‘God woman, you’re a pain in my ass. Anyone ever told you that?’

‘It’s been said,’ she giggled. ‘Now get to work, soldier.’

Dinner was lovely, and now she understood just why he wanted her to dress warm. They’d been driven to a small family pub on the canal, a homely place with tiny bookshelves and knick-knacks on the walls, a roaring fire in the corner. It was such a relaxed place, couples eating, families having meals together, a few groups of drinkers milling around. They ordered stodgy pub food, and Kate cleared her plate even faster than Cooper did. At one point she looked up from her food to find him watching her open mouthed. She blushed, taking another bite, this time resisting the urge to shovel it in.

‘Want a trough?’ he teased. She rolled her eyes, mouth full of food. He laughed when she gave him the V sign. She knew he’d been trying to get her to eat more over the past few weeks. She was grateful for the care. The calorie-laden coffees, the breakfasts he brought daily. The food was lovely at the centre, but her body had been crying out for a bit of something different than perfectly balanced nutritional meals, or the one salad a day she had lived on in the weeks after the accident. She made a mental note to bring Jamie here one day, when things got better.

‘So,’ she said when she finally drew breath. ‘Is this the sort of thing you would normally do with your dates, take them to the pub?’ She took a sip of wine as she sat back on the comfy sofa. Having finished their meal, they had moved closer to the fire, taking a bottle with them. Cooper had surprised her by having a glass with her. ‘And wine drinking, I didn’t see you doing that.’

Cooper sat down next to her, his chair discreetly put in the corner by a helpful waitress. His prosthetic limb was doing well, and he seemed more relaxed than she had seen him for a while, if ever. His shoulder brushed against hers as he got comfy, and she didn’t move away.

‘Well, first of all, I didn’t really do dating, so I don’t have a dating plan. And men can drink wine, I actually enjoy a glass now and then. Not when I am… was, serving, obviously.’

Something flashed momentarily across his face, a wince maybe, and Kate waited for him to come back to her, back to the present. He smiled at her eventually, taking another gulp of wine.

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