Page 1 of Compelling Urges

Chapter 1

Cooper Houston glared at the piece of paper he’d found propped up next to the cold, empty coffeemaker. He grabbed it and wadded it up in his hand angrily. It was a letter from Bodhi, his roommate and best friend in the world—or at least he had been Cooper’s best friend.

The wad had been a good-bye message to him and to Ivy, who still lay asleep in Bodhi’s bed, blissfully unaware that the floor had just dropped out from under them.

Cooper thought better of his actions and smoothed out the letter. It was, after all, addressed to both of them, and he had no right to deprive Ivy the dubious pleasure of reading it. He placed it on the counter again.

“What a miserable jerk,” he muttered as he stomped down the hall. Cooper had been out all night enjoying the company of a lovely lady.Mindy? Mandy? He wasn’t sure, but it didn’t matter anyway. He came home hoping for a cup of coffee and a quick chat with Bodhi before heading to his office. As usual, Ivy was sleeping in. She didn’t work on Mondays and often went back to her apartment after Bodhi left for work.

Cooper had a bad habit of seeking the company of anonymous women. They provided him with a temporary distraction from his true desire, which was so impossible and shocking that he could barely admit it to himself.

When Ivy had first appeared on Bodhi’s arm and began keeping company with him, Cooper burned with jealousy. Ivy seemed so perfect in every way, and he wondered routinely if Bodhi appreciated her…

But the jealousy ran deeper than that. It wasn’t just that he wanted Ivy for himself. He wanted Bodhi, too. It confused him no end, so he trolled for women and sought relief in meaningless hook-ups. The relief was only fleeting.

After showering and changing into fresh clothes, Cooper realized the house was still quiet; Ivy wasn’t up yet. Figuring she may need some moral support for what she was about to discover, he steeled himself and knocked lightly on Bodhi’s bedroom door. No answer. He tried again and waited. Still nothing. So, he opened the door and discovered Ivy spread out in Bodhi’s bed on her stomach, sound asleep. Her black cascade of hair covered most of her bare back, but the sheet was pulled down enough to reveal the cute dimples just above her round bottom.My god, she’s exquisite, he thought to himself for the umpteenth time. How could Bodhi up and leave someone so fine and so sweet? He also couldn’t stomach that Bodhi had lefthim,and the pain was like a knife to the gut.

“Ivy?” he asked softly. Still no response. He could hear her light snores as she slept on. Cooper sat down on the edge of the bed and gently lay his hand in the middle of her golden, tanned back. She felt like warm silk. “Ivy? Wake up. I need to talk to you.”

Blinking, Ivy dragged herself up slowly. Cooper got an eyeful of her bodacious tatas before she realized who was there and just how naked she was. With an embarrassed gasp, she snatched up the sheet to cover herself. “What’s going on, Cooper? Why are you in here? What time is it? Why aren’t you dressed for work?”

Cooper’s brows knit and his jaw flexed before he blurted, “Bodhi’s gone. He left us.”

“What? What do you mean he left us?” Ivy’s dark brown eyes went huge.

“Maybe you should put on some clothes for this. I’ll be in the kitchen. He left us a note.” Cooper strode from the room thinking that his office was the last place he wanted to be this morning, but home wasn’t a lot better.

∞∞∞

Ivy kept a few things at Bodhi’s place. When she opened the closet to grab something, she found that Cooper was right: Bodhi’s clothes were all gone. Every last piece.

A throbbing pain in her head reminded Ivy how much she and Bodhi had drunk the night before. Or anyway, she had assumed he was as drunk as she was… now, thinking more carefully, she remembered Bodhi filling her glass over and over with tequila, and she remembered him telling her to take a shot for this reason, then take a shot for that reason, but she didn’t remember him actually drinking much at all.The rat! She also had a hazy recollection of doing a silly striptease for Bodhi… and that was it. Did he get her drunk so he could secretly pack and sneak away? Apparently so. Seething with anger, she jerked on her clothes.

She grabbed some aspirin and went in search of Cooper, who she found making coffee and telling someone on his phone, “I just wanted to let you know that my schedule isn’t too bad today so I won’t be in. I need to take a personal day. Yeah. No, I don’t need help, but thanks for offering.”

Cooper was an attorney in a small private office with his father and older sister. He took his responsibilities seriously. Ivy couldn’t remember him ever calling out for a personal day before. He must be just as shaken by Bodhi’s disappearance as she was. As Cooper finished his call, Ivy reached for the wrinkled piece of paper on the counter.

Dear Ivy and Cooper,

Guess what? I’ve been offered the job of my dreams, and I am leaving today for London, England. Isn’t that great?

They asked me to head up the London branch of the finance firm, and it’s an offer I can’t refuse. This will make my career. I don’t expect I’ll be back.

Sorry I didn’t tell you both sooner, but I didn’t have much time to think about it. They gave me the offer and said it was immediate.

Ivy, I know we haven’t known each other that long, but you are very special to me, and I’ll never forget you. I know, however, that your gallery is important to you, and I wouldn’t have felt right asking you to leave it. I’m sure you’ll find a new boyfriend soon. I wish you success in everything.

Cooper, you’re the best. When I met you during grad school, and we hit it off the way we did, I knew you were destined to be my friend for life. I’ll miss you. You can always come and visit if your busy schedule ever lets up and you have a break. I’ll send an address when I’m settled.

Please stay in the house, Cooper. I paid cash, as you know, so there isn’t any mortgage. If you keep paying the taxes and maintain the property, there is no reason to pay me rent. The house is a great investment, and I don’t have plans to sell it.

Let me know how things are going from time to time. I had to leave my boards. Man, I’ll miss surfing with you. But… duty calls!

Best of luck to both of you.

Cheerio! (Do they really say that?)

Bodhi Monaghan

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