Page 104 of Craving Cooper

“Naturally. Although I can’t say he’s one of my favorite artists.”

Cooper turns, smiling at me, but Meredith coughs, getting his attention again. “That just shows what you know about art,” she murmurs, her eyes leaving mine and returning to him. “We need to talk,” she says.

I hear his sigh and see his shoulders drop. “I used to hate hearing those four words when we were together,” he says. “But we’re not together anymore, so I no longer have to listen to them, or you. We’ve got nothing to talk about, Meredith.”

She stares up at him for a moment and then glances back at me. “Can we do this in private?” she says, moving closer to him. Seriously? Who does she think she is, and how dare she expect me to leave? I have more right to be here than she does, and I open my mouth to say so, when Cooper spins around, coming back to my desk and looking down at me. The words die on my lips the moment I see his expression.

“Can you excuse us?” he says, making my blood freeze.

He’s dismissing me?

I want to ask why. Why is he putting her first? Does he want to be alone with her? The thought makes my skin crawl and my eyes sting with unshed tears, and although I want to ask him all those questions, my voice won’t work. So, I grab my purse and turn away, refusing to let either of them see me cry.

I head for the stairs, but I leave the door open and perch on the edge of the third step up, holding my breath and listening. It’s wrong to eavesdrop. I know better than anyone that it usually means you’ll hear things you don’t want to. Experience has taught me that. But what else can I do? I can’t get into Cooper’s place without his key, and I don’t feel like going up another floor and sitting all by myself in my own apartment, without even Saffron for company. Besides, I feel entitled to know what’s going on… even if hearing it might be the last thing I need.

It could mean everything I’ve ever wanted is about to go up in smoke.

Chapter Twenty

Cooper

I lean back on Mallory’s desk, wishing she was still here.

I hated asking her to leave, but what else could I do? Whatever Meredith’s motives in coming here, I know what she’s like. I’ve seen her cut people dead, just for having different tastes in art. I hate to think what she might say and do to Mallory, given the opportunity, and I don’t intend to let her.

She can throw abuse at me if she wants, but I’ll move heaven and earth to protect Mallory. Speaking of which…

I tip my head toward Meredith, who’s still standing by the door, a smile touching at her lips.

“That’s better,” she says. “We can talk now.”

“I’ve already said, we’ve got nothing to talk about.”

“Then why did you ask your receptionist to leave?”

“It seemed best, in the circumstances.”

“Exactly.” She walks forward, only stopping when she’s standing right in front of me, and looking up into my eyes. I fold my arms across my chest, hoping the defensive pose will give away how uncomfortable I feel. “Let’s stop playing games, shall we?” she says.

“I’m not. It’s not me who’s using false names, making fake appointments, wasting other people’s time…”

“I’m not wasting your time, Cooper. And you are playing games, whatever you might say. You brought that girl to the festival to make me jealous, and we both know it.”

“No, I didn’t.”

“Yes, you did, and just so you know, it worked. You spoiled my plan to make you suffer for the way you’d treated me, and…”

“The way I’d treated you?” I raise my voice and she jumps, moving back slightly, thank heavens. “What exactly am I supposed to have done to you? You wanted more from our relationship than I was willing to give. That was it. When you couldn’t get your own way, you flounced off, just like you always did.”

“I didn’t flounce,” she says, getting closer again. “I’ve never flounced.” I could argue that point for a couple of hours, but I’ve got better things to do, and I just tip my head, letting her know I don’t agree. “You’re missing the point,” she says, which is her way of saying she knows she won’t win her argument, so she’s changing the subject.

“What point, Meredith? What’s the fucking point in this?”

“I’ve decided to come back.”

I laugh, unable to stop myself. “You’ve what?”

“I’ve decided to come back,” she repeats, lowering her voice to something that resembles the soft, sexy tone she used to use on me. It worked back then… some of the time. It does nothing for me now, and I shake my head.

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