Читать книгу Heart Of Courage: The Army Doc's Baby Bombshell / Taming Her Navy Doc / The Courage to Love Her Army Doc - Sue MacKay, Amy Ruttan - Страница 16
Оглавление‘LET’S EAT OUT,’ Cooper suggested on the phone three days later. ‘There’s a new Italian place just down the road.’
‘That’s cheating. You know I won’t be able to pass on that.’ But it would be fun to go out for a meal and relax, talk about things that had nothing to do with her new apartment that she’d spent the last two days scrubbing. She’d got the keys on Wednesday and should’ve moved in immediately. On closer inspection the place was a bit of a tip. The cold weather had also made the empty rooms uninviting.
‘That’s a yes, then.’ He sounded exhausted.
‘Are you sure you want to? I could cook eggs.’
‘No eggs. Need a proper meal. We’ve been doing an appendectomy. I’ll be home by seven.’
I’ll be home by seven.
How domestic. Sophie hugged herself. Cooper had got to her in a big way. He didn’t frighten her with easy comments like that one. Instead she was slowly being sucked into his life. Her barriers were coming down, one by one. To the point she almost wished she could say yes to his suggestion of living here permanently. This hesitation in everything she did at the moment was debilitating. All her life she’d leapt into things, be they work, travel or parties. She’d grabbed life with both hands and raced away. Filling empty voids was essential, kept her sane. If she dared to stop, there was a whole load of pain and rejection waiting to pounce and knock her to her knees. This past week she hadn’t run anywhere and she was still standing. No wonder that apartment remained empty.
Kick.
‘Hello, in there. I hope you’re up to a night out, because that’s what’s happening as soon as your father gets home.’
Had she really just said that? As in sounding like they were a regular family doing everyday things together? She couldn’t have. But she had.
Sophie sighed. Tomorrow she’d put in a big effort to finish getting the apartment ready, so she could move in.
But first she’d shower and put on an outfit that didn’t look like a sack over baggy clown’s pants. The red, scoop-necked top she’d purchased yesterday would go perfectly with her black, leg-hugging trousers. Yes, she’d spruce herself up for the evening. See if she didn’t get a smile from Cooper.
* * *
Cooper couldn’t believe the beautiful apparition that floated down the hallway towards him when he stepped inside his house. The exhaustion dragging him down vanished in a heartbeat and his body tightened with excitement.
Steady. Nothing’s happening here.
‘You’re looking fabulous.’ Sexy as all hell. Hot. Stunning.
She did a very unlike Sophie thing. She blushed. ‘Th-thanks.’
He couldn’t help himself. He reached for her, pulled her close, and the baby bump tapped him at waist level. ‘I mean it. You’re one beautiful lady.’ She smelt so tempting. And all that shining hair that she’d left free of its usual tie-back needed his fingers running through it. Her eyes were wide and welcoming and...
Cooper placed his hands on each side of her head to tilt her to one side. All the better to kiss her. His lips covered hers and he inhaled as her mouth softened under his. It wasn’t enough. His tongue slid into that warmth, tasted her. He didn’t need to go out to dinner. He had all the deliciousness he needed right here.
