Page 26 of The Off-Limits Rule: Extended Edition

Chapter 10

Cooper

I rejected Lucy, and I’ve never ever felt like a worse human being. I wish someone would punch me. Just right in the freaking face. Knock some teeth out, make my nose bleed—the works. Instead, Lucy trails behind me like the most heart-wrenching sight of a wounded puppy you’ve ever seen. I want to scoop her up and snuggle her into oblivion so her tail will wag again.

I can hear her clothes sloshing dramatically with every step toward my back door. I try to slow my pace to walk side by side with her, but she’s not having it. She slows down too, and now we look like we’re both moving in slow motion, the most ridiculous scene of two adults anyone has ever witnessed. I hate that she’s embarrassed, and I hate that I’m the one who made her feel that way. But what can I say? I panicked.

Normally, a kiss wouldn’t be a big deal, and I’d be happy to oblige her need for physical contact. I guess that’s the point. Lately, I’ve been that guy you go to for a fun time. No strings attached; no commitment needed. I once let a complete strangerkiss me in a bar without us ever saying a single word to each other. She was eyeing me from a few stools down, and we were trading flirtatious glances back and forth, and the next thing I know, she’s spinning my chair around and making out with me right there in front of everyone. My only thought at the time was,Why not? I’m not in a relationship anymore.

But when Lucy leaned forward time stopped, and I had a hundred thoughts flood my mind at once. Most of those thoughts were how much I really wanted to kiss her, how good she’d feel against my lips, but then I thought about how much I’d like to have a relationship with her. I don’t want something no-strings-attached with her. I don’t want to be just a fun time for her—the one who floats around aimlessly like a twenty-year-old with nothing but time ahead of him. Actually, I didn’t even act that way in my early twenties. I’ve always wanted a family and a steady relationship. But after Janie, I freaked out for a second. Lucy’s bringing me back, reminding me of old dreams I forgot I had, reminding me what it’s like to want to see someone day in and day out, to plan for the holidays together and have inside jokes no one else will get. I feel some of my wounds seal up, and I realize I might be ready for all that again.

But then I remembered Drew and his look of warning, because he has no idea I am capable of or desire any sort of a long-term relationship. I never told him about Janie. I just wanted to leave her back in Charlotte along with my humiliation. So basically, he thinks I will certainly, one hundred percent, without fail, break Lucy’s heart, and that’s a fair assumption since that’s the only side of me he’s ever seen.

All of this, coupled with the fact that Lucy is so much more to me than the possibility of a fun random hookup. And I get the impression she feels a connection between us too. Maybe she wasjust trying to continue the theme of the evening and live spontaneously, but I don’t think so. I think shelikesme.

So yeah, I cut off any chance of a kiss because I feel like if we’re going to do this, we need to do it right. I have to talk to Drew first and make sure he knows my intention before I try to start anything up with her, and I have to make sure Lucy knows what she’s getting into with me. She’s special. Loving, and full of heart, and has a child. I don’t intend to make her life any more difficult than it already is, so I want to get this right from the get-go.

Although, I realize, as I open the door for Lucy and she won’t meet my eye, that I might have just sabotaged any chance of a good start. She thinks I’m not interested in her. Maybe even that I’m not attracted to her, which makes me want to groan because just looking into that woman’s eyes makes my pulse skitter. She’s breathtaking, even soaked to the bone and hair turning into wild, frizzy curls. It’s taking everything in me not to sayforget itand wrap my arms around her.

But nope…nope, nope, nope. Can’t do that. Not to a best friend’s sister. The repercussions would be too great.

When I shut the door behind us, it’s quiet, and alone in the dark like this, I still feel the possibility of what could be with her. Which is why I flip on the bright overhead kitchen light. We both squint at the sudden dose of reality. The charged, magical pool moment is over, and Lucy looks like she’s torn between anger and mortification, arms tightly crossed and shoulders bunchedup.

“The bathroom is this way,” I say, nodding and walking through the kitchen toward the main hall.

“I’m good here,” she says, and when I look back she adds, “Don’t want to drip on your floor.”

Riiiiight. What she means is,How about you drop dead, Cooper?

I leave Lucy with her back superglued to the door and head tomy master bathroom to change out of my wet clothes and grab her a towel. When I come back into the kitchen, I see Lucy curiously peeking her head around the corner to the living room. She hears me approach and springs back to her spot at the door.

I smile at the guilty expression on her face. “Here, I went ahead and brought you some of my clothes so you don’t have to be cold on the way home.” She looks down at the sweatpants and T-shirt like maybe they’re full of frogs and I’m trying to trick her into wearing them. “I know they’ll be a little big, but I figured it would be more comfortable than what you’ve got on.”

She swallows and gives me a tight smile. “Thanks.”

I step forward and wrap the towel around her shoulders. I’m conscious of every tiny moment, every breath, every blink of her eyes as I look down at her with my hands lingering on her shoulders. Her long lashes are cast down to the lump of clothing in her hands, and I feel the need to clarify what happened, even if she doesn’t want to hear it. “Lucy—”

“Your house is empty,” she says in a rush, cutting me off.

I frown and look around, momentarily jarred by her change of subject. “Oh. Yeah. I just moved in a month ago.”

She pulls away, forcing my hands to drop, and steps farther into the kitchen. It’s clear she’s not going to let me address why I turned her down. “Or maybe you’re really just a squatter.” She tosses a mischievous smirk over her shoulder, and the fact that she’s joking again makes me relax slightly.

“You caught me. Only a few more months before squatter’s rights kick in.” It actually does look like that, though.

I bought this place because I liked that it was modern and also homey. The kitchen has slate-gray cabinets and white marble countertops, and although it’s not huge, it’s open concept, making it feel spacious. The floors are a light hardwood throughout, and ithas that new-build-house smell. But the rest is bare, minus a gray midcentury couch in the living room and my bed in the master. I’ve tried looking for furniture online, but every time I get ready to click Buy, I can’t commit.

Lucy delicately runs her fingers across the countertop and looks toward the empty breakfast nook. It’s surrounded by windows that overlook the pool. “It’s a really pretty house. It’ll look amazing when you get moved in.”

“I am moved in.”

Her eyes fly to me and then to the space around her with a new realization. “But there’s nothing in here.”

“Not true.” I point toward the sink. “There’s a bowl in the sink.”

She gives a short laugh and looks at me like she still can’t fully believe I’m telling the truth. “How long did you say you’ve lived here?”

“A month, give or take.”

---