Page 28 of Cooper

He looks towards her as well. “You’re right. Let’s let her make her own pace here. Maybe she’ll be one of them kids that comes up and asks, ‘hey, so, when are you two going to get together?’.”

I grin at him. “Maybe.”

Another kiss. “God, I hate leaving you.”

“We’ve all got to earn a living here, Cooper. Don’t feel too badly about it. I’ve got to work tonight, too.”

“We’ll have to make up for it at some point.” He says, nose-to-nose with me. “I miss making love to you.”

“I miss making love to you, too.”

I kiss him once more and he catches himself, before tilting his head, to French kiss me. On a sigh, he chuckles. “God…damn, I want you so bad, but I’ve got to go.”

I pull away from him, feeling bad that I’m making him feel this way, when he has to go. “Here, you go on, Cooper. I’m not going anywhere. I promise.”

He searches my eyes. “I love you so much.”

“I love you, too. I’ll make some more Christmas cookies with Bean tonight. You can take them to work tomorrow.”

“Sounds good.” He leans in and kisses me once more. “Thanks for dinner.”

“You’re welcome.”

He lets me go, battling with himself as he releases my hand from his. “Alright, Bean. You take care of Nate for me, okay?”

Bean nods emphatically. “Make sure he doesn’t eat all the cupcakes.”

“I promise I won’t let him.”

“Okay. I’m outta here. I’m on cell until long after you two should be in bed.”

“Be careful driving.” I tell him.

“You, too, darlin’.”

He walks out with a wink at me, and I join Bean at the table. “So, what did you think of the piano, baby?”

“I love it. I wish Cooper had a piano here.” She looks at me. “But I’ll settle for a kitten.”

I snort a laugh, tousling her hair. “Nice try.”

“Mommy?”

“Yes, baby.”

“I told Cooper about daddy.”

I try but I fail to not widen my eyes. “What…what did you tell him, baby?”

“Just that he’s in jail.”

“Why did you tell him that, sweetheart?”

“Well, I asked if he knew my daddy, and when he said he didn’t, I told him.”

“And…what did Cooper say?”

“Not much. He said he was sorry to hear that.”

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