Page 71 of Craving Cooper

“Okay. But I’ll have to go feed Saffron first.”

“That’s fine.”

We both hear a cough, and step apart, moments before Greta comes back into the room. I wonder for a second if the cough was deliberate… if she was checking the coast was clear before entering the room. But how can it have been? She doesn’t know there’s anything going on between us.

Does she?

Getting through the rest of the day has been torture.

Having had so many unexpected visits from Cooper this morning, I’m surprised he hasn’t been out here once this afternoon. Not once.

I’ve missed him, which is ludicrous when he’s only a few feet away… but I need him so much, I can’t bear the thought of even that much distance between us.

By the time the last patient leaves, I’m so on edge, I can barely book his next appointment, and I can almost hear my teeth grinding, as he stands by the front door, talking to Greta for what feels like far too long.

Eventually, he’s gone, and Greta returns to the surgery, giving me a smile as she passes. I lock the front door, and turn the ‘open’ sign to ‘closed’, leaving the keys behind so she can get out, before I return to my desk, my hands shaking with anticipation as I tidy my things away.

“No, really…” Cooper’s door opens, and he ushers Greta out. “I don’t mind tidying up.”

“Are you sure? It would be great if I could get away a little early today. I couldn’t get everything I needed at the deli, so I’ll have to go to the grocery store before I go home.” That explains why she came back from lunch earlier than we expected, and while I still regret that interruption, I wish she’d take Cooper up on his offer.

“It’s absolutely fine, Greta. You go. I’ll take care of everything.” He glances over at me as she smiles and turns toward the lunchroom, and my body ignites at the look in his eyes. Is he thinking of ‘taking care’ of me? I hope so.

Before I can say anything, though, he ducks back inside his surgery, and I feel more deflated than I think I ever have in my life. Why didn’t he come out here? Has he changed his mind about tonight? About me?

Should I go ask him?

The lunchroom door opens again, just as I’m getting to my feet, and I plaster a smile on my face for Greta’s sake.

“Are you going upstairs?” she asks, clearly noting the fact that, although I’m on my feet, my computer is still whirring away on my desk.

“In a minute.”

She nods her head, her eyes sparkling as she smiles at me. “Have a good evening.”

“You too.”

She wanders to the door, letting herself out without another word, and I quickly shut down my computer, before I follow in her footsteps, locking the door for the second time and pulling down the blind.

“Ready?”

I jump at the sound of Cooper’s voice and spin around. He’s standing just outside his surgery door, and I notice he’s turned off the light inside.

“Are you?”

“I’ve done everything that has to be done. The rest can wait.”

“A—Are you sure?” I hate the uncertainty in my voice, and he clearly notices it too, tilting his head, like he’s confused and then he walks over, coming to a stop right in front of me.

“Of course I’m sure. Why? Has something happened?”

“Not to me, but… but I haven’t seen you all afternoon. You came out here so many times this morning, but then after lunch, after everything we did in your office, I haven’t seen you at all.”

I’ve never sounded so needy in my life. It doesn’t suit me and I lower my head, knowing how much he’ll despise me for it, and that I’m ruining everything.

“Hey…” I feel his finger beneath my chin, the upward pressure raising my head until I’m looking into his eyes. “Don’t look so worried.”

“Why wouldn’t I? I’m becoming everything you hate.”

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