Page 11 of Swiped By My Dad's Best Friend
“Not really.”
I cleared my throat. The two siblings were as bad as any old couple, never missing an opportunity to bicker. So far, it seemed good-natured, though I was a little bothered by her insinuations that Cooper was nothing but a partier. Then again, she knew him better than I did. Just because he’d been in my room, ready to offer up his body, didn’t mean I knew the first thing about him.
Not anymore.
Was he gay? Bi? Some other newfangled term the kids were using these days? I didn’t even know that much. I knew he was gorgeous and game for a little daddy play in bed. And that I was apparently a feature of his “wet dreams.”
I shifted again, trying to refocus my mind on the conversation rather than Cooper’s delectable body sitting a few feet from me. His tantalizing lips tilted up, his eyes locked on mine, and I found it difficult to breathe.
“I do work on people’s yards,” I said, to which Lena smiled victoriously. “Cooper’s right though. I don’t do their yardwork. I design their landscapes.”
“Like what flowers to plant?” Lena asked.
“Exactly. There’s more to it than that, of course. You want to make sure you choose native plants, or at least plant life that will thrive in that environment, and also that you plant them in an area that provides enough sunlight or shade for them to thrive. Some clients want something simple; others want a work of art that incorporates patios, fountains, and more. And of course, there’s other projects. Parks, corporate landscaping, and things like that.”
“That’s so cool,” she enthused. “I worked at a garden center once. It was awesome.”
“Maybe that’s something you’d like to look into for a career, hon?” Matthew suggested. He’d been sipping a whiskey quietly while Lena drew me into conversation, but now he straightened, excited.
Cooper seemed to draw into himself, retreating from the conversation. His gaze fixed on his plate, and he pushed his mashed potatoes around listlessly. When he’d first arrived, he’d had a good appetite, eating with enthusiasm that was entirely too enticing, but that seemed to have vanished.
“I don’t think I have the fortitude for all that time outdoors,” Lena admitted. “Besides, Dad, you know I want to go into art.”
Matthew chuckled. “Right, how could I forget? Lena is so talented. She’ll probably end up displaying her work in a gallery one day.” He cast a fond glance at her. “I’m so proud of how hard you’ve worked.”
“What about you, Cooper?” I asked, despite knowing it was a bad idea to draw him into conversation. There were already too many sparks between us, even when we weren’t speaking at all. Then again, words seemed safer than Cooper’s heated gaze and frequent desire to clean his silverware with his tongue.
“I like working outdoors, too,” he said.
But he’d misunderstood my question. I’d intended to ask about school. There was a weird vibe at the table, so I let it go.
“I don’t have much of a green thumb though,” he added.
“He prefers working on his tan,” Lena teased.
“Like you don’t?” he shot back, then shrugged. “I do some charity work for the frat. House painting, roofing, that kind of thing. So I get my fill.”
“You like it?”
“Yeah, I’ve always liked working with my hands.” He gave me a knowing smirk, seeming to reanimate at the opportunity to flirt.
Matthew’s forehead creased. “I didn’t know you were involved in charity work.”
“The frat has always done philanthropy,” Cooper said.
“I guess I hadn’t thought about it,” Matthew admitted. “That’s reassuring.”
“It is?” Cooper asked, looking just as befuddled as his father had a moment ago. I got the sense that these two didn’t communicate all that well.
“At least you’re doing one worthwhile thing with that frat,” Matthew said. “I was tempted to drag you out of there, see if you might find more time to study for your classes from a dorm room.”
Cooper visibly shut down right before my eyes, turning his attention to his plate, where he snagged a fry and dragged it through ketchup. An awkward lull in conversation settled over the table, until Lena started talking—animatedly—about her art projects.
The family dynamic had changed from ten years ago, and I wasn’t sure what to think. I watched Cooper while Lena chattered, fascinated once more as he finished his fries, one by one, shooting me heated looks between bites.
When he was done, he licked his fingers clean, then shot me a wink that made me choke on my swallow of beer. Dinner ended with Matthew smacking my back while I turned red.
Cooper smiled unrepentantly, the little brat.
