Page 31 of Save the Drama for your Mama
She feigned annoyance, but that subtle twinkle in her eye gave away her begrudging amusement. “You don’t know the half of it, mister.” She brushed past me, with Benedict Beagle right behind her.
I stood there long after she’d gone, unsure what to make of the intriguing woman who’d literally barreled into my life at the worst possible moment. Her quick wit and defiant manner should have put me off, yet I found myself drawn in, tempted despite myself.
I would be lying if I’d said I wasn’t attracted to her.
There was only one question on my mind at the moment . . .
Was I going to do anything about it?
ChapterSeven
MELODY
Forget my ten thousand steps a day—I was pretty sure I had walked around the kitchen island enough times to circle the earth twice over. My patience was wearing thinner than the soles of my shoes.
It was almost 7:00 p.m. and Cooper was still barricaded in the library doing who knows what. Writing? Napping? Moping?
Whatever he was up to, it was high time he came out of hiding. I was dying to discuss our next covert mission up in the attic. Okay, so maybe I was a tad bit obsessed with the place, but hey, he seemed just as curious as me about what secrets it held.
Earlier, Cooper had emerged to take Romeo out, but I’d been busy with Chip, pointing out an issue with the terracotta tiles in the courtyard. By the time I was done, Cooper had slunk back into the library and even taped a “Do Not Disturb” sign on the door.
Party pooper.
Luckily, I had the perfect plan to lure him out.
Chinese food.
I remembered Cooper’s leftover “Meathead Pizza” from Village Pizzeria in the fridge that was loaded with pepperoni, spicy sausage, meatball, and canadian bacon. Based on those toppings, I figured he’d eat just about anything I stuck in front of him.
I ordered a Chinese feast to be delivered.
To my surprise, the misanthrope hadn’t emerged from his lair when the delivery guy rang the bell, even though Romeo had been barking.
Cooper was either playing hard-to-get or playing dead.
How could he not smell the food?
I needed to change my tactics.
I paraded by the library several times, swinging the takeout bags back and forth, wafting the savory scents under his door.
Nothing.
I gave up and headed back to the kitchen to pull out some plates, hoping it wouldn’t be much longer. Luckily—before the food got cold—Cooper finally wandered into the kitchen with Romeo glued to his side.
“What’s that smell?” he asked, his eyebrows lifted when he spotted the takeout boxes on the counter.
I played it cool. “I ordered way too much takeout. Want some?” I batted my eyelashes, then offered him chopsticks.
“Please—I’m starving,” Cooper said, grabbing the chopsticks and settling onto the stool next to me.
“Dig in,” I said, still pretending like it was no big deal that I ordered enough food for an entire army.
Cooper eyed me as he grabbed the nearest carton of orange chicken, followed by the beef lo mein, then the pork fried rice. He filled his plate high and to the edge, before topping it off with two egg rolls.
He was about to take a bite of the first egg roll, but then paused and waved it at all the food. “This wouldn’t be a bribe to get me to take you back up to the attic, would it?”
I gasped. “How could you even think such a thing? Can’t a girl just order an excessive amount of Chinese food without ulterior motives? Especially since I love leftovers.”
