Page 8 of Craving Cooper

We’re vaguely exclusive now… by which I mean I don’t see anyone else. That doesn’t mean I don’t look. I look quite a lot, if I’m being honest. Meredith probably does the same, even if she doesn’t do anything about it, because she’s not like that. I don’t make a move on anyone else because it’s not my style, and because I’m still too lazy to make the effort. I can’t see anything wrong with that, or with the way we are. It works for us. Or I thought it did… until about ten minutes ago.

Sure, Meredith’s talked about wanting more before. She’s even walked out on me a few times. Not just about this, but about other things, too… like me not appreciating her paintings as much as she thinks I should, and her ass being out of bounds. Still, that’s a whole other story, and it’s going to have to wait. I’ve wasted enough time thinking about things that don’t matter, when I know what I should be doing is taking a shower. I’ll admit I’d been hoping to share that particular pleasure with Meredith, but she’s not here anymore, so I guess I’ll just have to wait.

It won’t be for long.

It never is with Meredith.

Chapter Three

Mallory

I got up early, even though it’s Saturday, because I wanted to be ready in plenty of time. It’s just as well, too, because it took me ages to decide what to wear. Obviously, anything too smart was out of the question, but I debated between jeans and cut-off denim shorts for quite a while. My shorts aren’t that short, so it wasn’t a question of wanting to tempt Cooper. It was more a question of how hot I was likely to get. The last thing I needed was to end up red-faced and sweaty in his presence. So, while my jeans are super-comfy, I decided on the shorts, and put them together with a simple gray t-shirt. Sneakers seem like the best idea for my feet, although Saffron holds me up, playing with the laces while I’m trying to tie them.

“You need to stop that.” I shoo her away, although she’s not easily dissuaded and comes right back, making me smile. “Heaven knows when I’ll be home,” I say, even though she doesn’t understand a word, and is far more interested in pawing at my shoes. “I’ve left you some extra food, so don’t eat it all at once. Okay?” She’s ignoring me, which isn’t at all unusual, and I get to my feet, grabbing my phone and keys, and heading out the door.

I know Cooper said he’d come up to fetch me, but I can’t see the harm in waiting for him, and I stand outside his door, checking the weather on my phone. It looks like it’s going to be a hot day, and I’m relieved I went with the shorts now, and am just returning my phone to my back pocket when his door opens and he stops in his tracks, smiling down at me.

“I was just coming upstairs to find you.”

“I saved you the trouble,” I say, pushing myself off of the wall, and trying not to make it too obvious that I think he looks utterly gorgeous in his stonewashed jeans and a white t-shirt that clings to absolutely every muscle.

“You’re never any trouble.” His reply makes me smile, and every inch of my skin is tingling with need for him… not that he notices. Instead, he just closes the door and leads the way down the stairs, letting me go ahead of him through the door at the bottom and then locking it behind me.

He does the same with the front door of the dental clinic, and once we’re on the sidewalk, we turn to our right, both of us knowing where we’re going. Our cars are parked at the rear of the property, in two designated spaces, which are accessed via a track that leads out onto Maple Street. It’s a bit of a walk, but as there’s no rear access to the clinic, there’s no option.

“I’m gonna have to look at putting a door into the back of the building… somehow,” he says, looking down at me. “I don’t know how, though. Not without getting rid of the storeroom.”

“Where would you put all your supplies if you did that?”

“I honestly don’t know. Which could be why none of my predecessors have ever tried it. Besides, Greta loves the storeroom. Tidying it is a hobby of hers.”

“I’m not surprised. Greta’s very organized.”

“Don’t I know it,” he says, rolling his eyes. “But it’s still a pain in the ass having to walk around here every time you wanna go somewhere in the car.”

“It’s far worse when you’ve been to the grocery store and need to unload everything,” I say, looking up, and he nods his head.

“Yeah. Especially if there’s nowhere to park out front.”

“That’s why I’ve taken to going on Sundays. At least I can park here more easily than I can on a Saturday.”

He nods his head as we turn into Maple Street, and take an immediate right behind Dawson’s Bar, by-passing the parking lot, and making our way behind the neighboring shops until we reach our destination.

I smile, just like I always do, at how small my hatchback looks beside Cooper’s SUV… not that I don’t like my Honda. But it is tiny by comparison. His car is fairly new, black and shiny, reflecting the early morning sun as he opens the door and waits for me to climb in.

“Thanks,” I say, looking up at him, and he smiles, closing the door again.

He comes around to the driver’s side, getting in beside me while I sit and admire the interior. It’s impressive, even if I don’t understand what everything does. There’s no key to start it, but a button, which he presses, the engine firing to life.

“Comfortable?” he says and I nod my head, fastening my safety belt. He does the same, although the space between us is so wide, there’s no danger of our hands touching… worst luck.

I know I shouldn’t think like that, but I can’t help myself… not when he’s so close, the scent of his body wash is driving me crazy.

He reverses out of the parking bay with ease, then drives slowly down the track, coming out onto Main Street and turning left at the end.

“Where are we going?” I ask, twisting slightly in my seat so I can look at him in all his perfection.

“Laurel’s place to start with.” He told me that last night, but I’m none the wiser.

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