live here. You’re so bossy and think you should have the upper hand all the time. Is this how you act when your charm doesn’t work?’
He didn’t say a word.
Which goaded her into saying, ‘You think I can’t cope? That I’m not up to looking out for myself? Next you’ll be saying I can’t raise my daughter on my own.’
Cooper was in front of her, in her face, instantly. ‘Our daughter.’
True. But, ‘Nothing’s changed, Cooper. I am looking for an apartment to move into the moment it’s available. I will not live with you for any longer than necessary.’
‘So you’re not moving in with your parents at the end of the day?’
She’d walked into that one. Losing her temper had been a mistake. ‘Excuse me.’ She stepped around him, careful not to let her stomach brush against him. She didn’t trust her body not to get in a lather even when she was angry at him.
‘Don’t forget to cancel that taxi.’
Plenty of words spilled into her mind, but somehow she managed to hold onto them. Silence was best. Sometimes.
* * *
Sophie turned to the letting agent. ‘How soon can I move in?’ Judging by the stacks of packed cartons the current tenants were already on the move.
‘A week from tomorrow.’
Her heart sank. A week living with Cooper. Or having to front up and ask her parents if she could stay with them. They’d say yes. That wasn’t the issue. Being told over and over what a fool she’d turned out to be was. She hadn’t learned anything from them, they’d say. Well, yes, she had. She wasn’t getting married for the sake of it. A loveless marriage was never in her plans. But, then, neither had been having a baby. ‘I’ll take it.’
‘You can’t,’ Cooper snapped from across the dog-kennel-sized lounge.
‘Of course I can.’ But she understood the shock on his face. The apartment was tiny, dark and in a less-than-desirable suburb. She was tired, and fed up with looking at places. ‘It’s available weeks sooner than the others I’ve looked at.’ And it was affordable. She found a smile for the agent. ‘Shall we do the paperwork?’
‘I need a bond and a deposit on the first fortnight to hold it for you.’ The woman dug through her bag for a key. ‘I’ll get the forms from my car.’
‘Not a problem.’ Tick. One job on her long list sorted. Tomorrow she’d start looking for furniture. Or should she buy a car first? Then she’d be independent of Cooper. She delved into her handbag for a credit card. An appointment with her new midwife came before anything else.
‘Can we talk about this before you sign up?’ Cooper parked his tidy backside against the bench next to her.
‘No.’ Why wasn’t she feeling happy to have found somewhere to live? Probably something to do with it being an unexciting place. But she had to suck it up and make the most of everything. She was planning on staying put for the next year at least, and starting out miserable wouldn’t be clever.
‘Sophie. Are you sure? Can’t we look at more places tomorrow?’
‘There aren’t any others. I went through the agencies’ lists again this morning.’ There’d been two she’d nearly asked to see but what would be the point? They were out of her price bracket and wandering around them would only increase her frustration level. That did not need any help. Not when she had Cooper driving her mad with need at the least convenient moments.
He didn’t bother to hide his impatience. ‘All right. What’s wrong with the first one we saw?’
The steep rent. ‘I didn’t like it.’ The large, sunny rooms, the modern kitchen, the small yard out the back, and the easy drive to the hospital once she went back to work: all added up to a perfect package. If she had loads in the bank.
‘Sometimes I don’t understand you.’
Neither do I.
‘You’re not meant to. Anyway, I’d swear I heard a sigh of relief when I turned it down.’
Guilt flushed his cheeks a light shade of pink. ‘Even so, I’d prefer you there than here, if you still insist on finding your own place.’
So that’s what all the less-than-helpful comments and questions at each apartment she’d viewed had been about. He’d been trying to deflect her from renting a property. Should’ve known. ‘I get it that you want to help me—’ in ways that suit you and not me ‘—and you can. By backing my decisions. If I get it wrong I’ll even agree to you laughing and giving me some stick.’ Lifting up onto her toes, she brushed a kiss across his mouth. ‘Thank you for caring.’ Whatever had precipitated that move she instantly regretted it while wanting more. Wanted to seal her lips on Cooper’s, to savour him, breathe him in. To shut him up. To get a taste of what she’d known that wild night in Bamiyan.
Warning. Danger. This is Cooper.
She jerked backwards.
Hard, hot hands caught her around her middle, pulled her hungry body close to that chest she’d been ogling on and off all morning. Had he noticed? Did he understand she still wanted him? Even in her balloon-sized, less than desirable shape?
Stop with the questions. Make the most of being sprawled against him.
Good idea.
‘Don’t you ever forget I do care about you.’ And then his mouth covered hers, possessed hers. Cooper took charge. As his tongue slid inside her mouth, the sensations caused by that hot thrust sent her mind into orbit so that all she was aware of was Cooper, holding onto him.
That hint of the outdoors that was his trademark scent. His full, masculine mouth. His firm muscles pressing against her softer ones. His erection pushing into her belly. Gulp. His erection. She moved against him, the long, hard length causing her lower muscles to contract with tension, with need, with memory.
‘Oh, excuse me.’ The woman was back.
Sophie leapt out of Cooper’s arms, but he quickly caught her and held her in front of him. Hiding his reaction to her? Her face was flushed and no doubt her eyes would be slumberous with desire. Great. Now she’d probably have to find a new rental agent. ‘S-sorry. We... It’s just...’ None of the woman’s business.
‘I understand,’ the agent said, glancing at Cooper.
Any woman would, Sophie thought as she held out a shaking hand to take the forms from the amused woman. ‘Let me fill these in and we can all get on our way.’
Before you decide I can’t have the place.
‘It’s not too late to change your mind,’ Cooper growled beside her ear, lifting the skin on the side of her neck in a delicious, tingling sensation.
It wasn’t only her skin having a meltdown. All parts south of her baby bump were in disarray, hot and tight. Ready, willing and wanting. Why had she kissed Cooper? Why wouldn’t she? It’d been a chaste touching of her lips on his, not a hot, deep kiss. No, not until he’d taken
