Show time. One, two...three.
I swung the door open and sauntered out as though I had all the time in the world to get wherever I was going. The first thing I noticed, just like yesterday, was her eyes, made up with mascara that only accentuated the blue depths of them. The second thing was that they were trained on me, unblinking, like I’d caught her red-handed in some unthinkable act.
“Oh, hey,” I offered. But I couldn’t seem to move, either, trapped under the intensity of her gaze. The door of my apartment remained open, my hand still on the handle.
“Uh...” A deep blush crept into her cheeks, and she pushed her son gently behind her, shielding him from me. “Hey.”
God, she was gorgeous. Without even fucking trying.
But she may as well have reached through my chest and ripped my heart out, the way she hid the sandy-haired boy from me. “Get all moved in?” I finally asked, realizing I was staring.
“Oh.” She waved a hand after pulling her apartment door closed and locking it. “Not really. I—”
Her gaze flitted over at my own door, and I closed it. “Well, hey, anyway,” I said awkwardly, not wanting to come right out and offer to help her immediately. “I thought you must’ve been the one who rented 2B. I’m Cooper. Looks like we’re neighbors.”
Her eyes pierced through me, an icy blue that resonated somewhere deep within my soul.
I didn’t know if it was smart, but I kept my eyes locked on her, too, and held out a hand.
She stared down at it like she didn’t understand the concept. “You’re C. Henley?”
I cocked an eyebrow. “The one and only,” I quipped. “You seem...surprised.”
“I’m not going to lie. I envisioned C. Henley as an elderly woman. With ten or fifteen cats.”
I laughed—I couldn’t help it, but she maintained her composure, managing to keep her expression stoic despite the slightest twitch of her lips. “Sorry to disappoint you,” I chuckled, shrugging. “There’s no one elderly in my apartment. Just me.”
With hesitation, she finally reached out and shook my hand gingerly, nodding. “Good to know.”
We stood there, silent. It could’ve been minutes that passed, or hours. And if it was uncomfortable for her, it wasn’t for me. I was too busy taking her in, basking in the prettiness and mystery that emanated from her every pore. I wanted to know this woman. I needed to.
She was the first to pull her hand away, but there was a hesitation in her movement, too. “Well, we should go.” She slid a hand down and clutched her son’s fingers in hers. “I’m, uh, sorry for yesterday. It was a rough day, but I shouldn’t have taken it out on you.”
I tucked my hand back into my pocket. “No need to apologize. How about you just tell me your name and we’ll call it even?” I suggested, a sly smile spreading across my face.
Her throat moved visibly, and she checked her son’s jacket, tugging at the zipper to make sure it was all the way up.
“Hi.” The little boy spoke louder than needed, and he waved at me excitedly, his hand flapping up and down with exaggeration.
I crouched down in front of him and his mom. “Hey there, little man.”
“We should go.” She squeezed the little boy’s hand tightly, her movements jerky enough to make me stand up again.
“Of course,” I said, like it was no big deal. “I’ll see you around.” It was a lame attempt to get her to stay, and I knew it as soon as it fell from my mouth. “If you need anything, you know where to find me.”
But the woman was already dragging her son toward the stairs, their jackets swishing together as they moved.
I let out a long breath. Shit. Somehow, I’d overstepped, and now I’d ruined any chance of—
“Cooper?”
I turned at the sound of my name on her lips, a shock of electricity traveling down my spine. “Yeah?”
She gave me a small grin. “I’m Samantha.” She waved a hand toward her son. “And this is Levi. I’m sure we’ll see you around. We are neighbors, after all.”
She left without another word, leaving me standing there in the hallway with a crooked grin on my face and a sliver of hope to hold on to. And that was more than I’d had in a long time.
CHAPTER THREE
SAMANTHA
“Rise and shine, buddy.” I whispered against Levi’s little ear and placed a kiss on his temple. I hated waking him, but I’d already let him sleep too late and if I didn’t get him up and ready now, I’d be late for work. Levi stretched his arms above his head and yawned.
“Morning, Mommy,” he said, groggy. Throwing his blankets back, he slid out of bed and ran toward the bathroom.
Afterwards, I told him gently, “Go get dressed. I put your outfit on your bed.”
I shuffled down the hall toward the kitchen, filled my travel mug with coffee, then sprinkled a spoonful of sugar and a splash of creamer into it.
My phone vibrated in the pocket of my dress pants, and I pulled it out to find I had a call coming in from Ethan.
“Hello?” I wasn’t sure why he’d be calling me, especially this early, when he very well could have texted. His voice was not one I particularly cared to hear unless I absolutely had to, whether it be due to drop-offs or pick-ups. But phone calls were generally unnecessary at this point.
“Hey, Sam. I won’t be able to get Levi today. Something came up with work and I have to go in.”
Of course, I thought. Of fucking course. I should have known.
“You’re kidding me, right?” I whispered angrily, low enough that Levi couldn’t hear me. “Levi, Mommy is going out in the hall for a minute!” I hollered loud enough so he could hear me from his room, then stepped out into the hallway, leaning heavily against the wall.
“Sam—” Ethan tried to speak, but I cut him off.
“No, I don’t want to hear it. I asked you two weeks ago if you could take this week off to be with Levi so I had time to find a sitter, since we both know you won’t do it. This is my first week at my new position, and now I’m going to have to call and say I can’t make it into work today because of your selfish ass.” Rage coursed through my veins and my cheeks filled with heat. I felt the burn of the tears, begging to be released, but I refused to let him hear me cry.
“Samantha, I’m sorry. I can get him later tonight after work.”
“You mean after you’re done fucking her and can squeeze in a little time for your son? Hell, you probably won’t even get him in time to feed him at a decent hour.”
“That’s not fair, Samantha.”
“No, what’s not fair is you bailing on me right before I need to be at work. Knowing I wouldn’t be able to find a sitter on such short notice. Knowing I got this promotion and can’t fuck it up. Won’t fuck it up. I have nothing more to say to you, and I need to call my boss. Hopefully you’ll actually follow through and pick Levi up after you’re off work.”
“Okay, b—”
I ended the call before he had a chance to finish saying goodbye.
Fucking asshole. I can’t believe this.
Sighing, I leaned my head against the wall and slid down, sitting on the hallway floor as I wiped away the tears as quickly as they fell. The sound of a door creaking open startled me, and I hastily stood up.
“Hey, Samantha. You okay?” Cooper’s head peeked out from around the corner of his doorway, his hair slightly tousled. His eyes were just as intense as they’d been the day before, though, and now they watched me, tainted with concern.
I waved a dismissive hand. “Oh, hey. Yeah. Sorry. Absolutely fine.” I couldn’t rein in the edge in my voice.
He pushed away from the doorframe and came out into the hallway. The sight of him in a simple white t-shirt and perfectly fitting stonewash jeans made me swallow down the lump that formed in my throat.
“I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but I did hear that you’ve got a dilemma. If you want, I can watch Levi for you?” Cooper sounded unsure of the words himself, but I didn’t know if it w
as because of what he was suggesting, or just because he was suggesting it to me.
Either way, I hadn’t expected the offer, and my eyes narrowed. “Oh. Well, thanks, but...you don’t have to do that. I do appreciate—”
“I don’t have anywhere else to be right now, so I’m available, pretty much every day, for a while.” Cooper’s voice was deep and soothing. But, he must have realized what his offer sounded like, thought about it, and added, “I just mean, I’m not really working right now. I play hockey for...I mean, I’m a hockey player, a professional one. I just have a shoulder injury that’s preventing me from playing this season. I do work, just not right now.” The resultant upward curl of his lips was adorable, and I idly wondered if he was trying to impress me.
“I don’t watch hockey,” I admit. “So, I’ve never really heard of you.”
Cooper laughed. “I never said I was a celebrity, just a hockey player in the NHL. I’m not bragging, I swear.”
“I get it. Thanks, Cooper,” I said with a laugh. “But I could never ask you to babysit.”
“You’re not asking. I’m offering. It’s different.” The thin smile turned into a smug grin.
“I don’t even know you.” The words were out of my mouth before I realized how defensive they sounded. “And you don’t know me,” I added, hoping to level the playing field a little.
“Nope, I guess you’re right.” He ran his hand through his hair. “But the offer still stands, Samantha. If it makes you feel any better, you can call me every fifteen minutes to make sure everything’s good, and you can ask the superintendent for the background check they ran on me when I moved in to prove I’m not a criminal. Just a hockey player, with a son of his own.”
I didn’t mean to, but I chuckled. Normally, I wouldn’t trust a stranger with my child, but there was something about Cooper that was different, and I knew deep in my bones that I could trust him with Levi. That alone made me even more hesitant because I didn’t understand what it was about him, or why or how I could feel so sure about someone I didn’t even know.
That said, I only had two options—go to work, or stay home with Levi myself and risk ticking off my boss.
“You have a son?”
He nodded. “Yeah. He’s six months old. But he’s only with me half the time, unfortunately. My ex and I try to keep it as even as possible.”
I could hear the sadness in his tone. “I see.” I couldn’t believe I was actually contemplating this. But what other choices did I have? “Well, uh... are you sure you want to spend the day with Levi?” I muttered out nervously.
“Yes, I am.” Cooper stepped forward, reaching his hand out to press it to my shoulder in a comforting manner.
Relief washed over me. Without thinking, I wrapped my arms around him in a hug, probably more for my benefit than his.
“You’re a lifesaver. Seriously, thank you. I just got this promotion, and I—” Realizing that I was hugging him, I awkwardly pulled away. His scent, however, had reached my nostrils, and I inhaled him deeply.
Sandalwood.
Thank goodness he didn’t smell like musk. That’s what Ethan smelled like, and if he’d smelled like him I probably would have gotten sick and made this situation even more awkward than it already was.
Cooper laughed. Without realizing it, my eyes fixed on his plump lips and sharp, steel-cut jaw. Quickly glancing up into his icy blue eyes, butterflies fluttered in my belly. I’d had so many words to say moments ago, but now I was at a loss for them.
“It’s no problem, really. I’m looking forward to spending the day with the little man. Any specific routine he’s on? Naps? Eating? Hopefully he’s not in diapers. If so, I may take back the offer,” Cooper advised playfully.
I laughed, shaking my head. “Nope, no diapers. He’ll need breakfast at eight, which is in about thirty minutes. Lunch is usually at noon, and then he usually takes a nap around one. I haven’t had time to go to the store yet, so we only have a few things.”
“I grew up with siblings, Samantha, and he might be young, but I’ve got a little guy of my own. Trust me, I think we’ll manage okay.” Cooper grinned. “I’ve got to grab a couple things and I’ll be right over.”
“Okay,” I nodded. “Sounds good.” I turned away from him first, wringing my hands as I ducked back into the apartment. I scrambled to get something to write on, scrawling my cell number on an old receipt, just in case of any emergencies.
A knock on the door a few minutes later made my stomach clench, nervous. I scurried to open the door, hollering for Levi. “Come here, pal!”
The little boy bolted down the hallway from his bedroom and into the living room just as I opened the door for Cooper.
“Who’s here, Mommy? Is it Daddy?” The excitement in his voice crushed me to the core, and I hated that I had to tell him his daddy canceled again. “Oh...” Levi’s face turned down in disappointment at the sight of Cooper, and I knelt before him, placing my hands on his shoulders.
“Daddy had to work today, but Cooper—you remember him from yesterday, right?—he’s going to hang out with you today, okay? You guys can play cars and superheroes!” As soon as I mentioned superheroes, his face lit up.
“Okay! Come on, Cooper!” Levi reached out for Cooper’s hand, intent on heading toward his room.
“One sec, little man!” Cooper said wryly. “Want to give your mommy a hug goodbye first?”
Little giggles filled the air as Levi ran back toward me with his arms opened wide. His lips puckered up dramatically as he kissed my cheek. “I love you, Mommy!”
I ran my fingers through his messy head of curls. “I love you, too, buddy! You be good for Cooper, okay?”
“I will!” He grinned wide, showing off his gapped teeth. I felt slightly more at ease leaving him with Cooper since he was so excited about it, and he seemed surprisingly comfortable with him being there. “Okay, now, come on!” Levi tugged at the man’s hand again, pulling him toward the hallway that led to his room.
“I’ll be there in just a second, I promise.” Cooper’s face beamed with joy. Focusing his gaze back on me, he smiled.
I handed him the receipt with my number on it. “Here’s my cell number.”
Cooper arched his brow at me and smirked.
“In case of emergencies,” I blurted as an afterthought.
“I’ll make sure I don’t start a fire or anything.”
My eyes widened and then I narrowed them at him, giving him a playful glare. “Not funny. That little boy is my life, and if you do anything to harm him, I’ll kill you.”
Cooper’s hands shot up in surrender. “You’ve got nothing to worry about, I swear.” His tone had changed, as did the look in his eyes, and there was a sparkle of sorts in them. His voice was low, but reassuring.
“Thank you,” I said quietly, the words barely slipping from my lips. “But I do mean it.” My eyes were transfixed on his, and after a moment of gazing into them, I felt a little weak in the knees. “I...uh...I should go. Call me or text me if you need anything.” I grabbed my keys and purse from the kitchen table, still unable to believe I was agreeing to this. I would be calling the superintendent about that background check, despite knowing that Cooper would undoubtedly find out since the superintendent would surely call him for permission before releasing it. But Cooper was a father, so he had to understand how hard this was.
“Will do,” he said with a nod, slowly passing me to head toward Levi’s room.
I watched him disappear down the hall, and Levi’s voice carried from the room a few seconds later. “Which superhero are you?”
The question made me grin as I opened the door, but it resonated within me on a different level, too.
Yes, Cooper Henley, which superhero are you? Was this purely some chivalrous plight to save a damsel in distress? Or was there another motive for my new neighbor’s actions?
Friend or foe, which is it? I took one last glance around the apartment—mentally taking inventory of what little I�
�d managed to unpack and where things were—and I left my son in the hands of a man I hardly knew.
I guess I was about to find out.
CHAPTER FOUR
COOPER
It took about sixty seconds flat for Levi to practically own me; hook, line, and sinker. He’d asked me which superhero I was, and when I didn’t answer fast enough, he stood before me, one hand on his hip and the other tapping his chin like a grown man. Then, he pointed at me with more seriousness in his eyes than I’d expected from a three-year-old.
“You’re Superman,” he stated matter-of-factly. “You look like him.”
Well, if that didn’t boost my fucking ego, nothing would. “I look like Clark Kent?”
“No, Superman.”
“But Clark Kent and Super—”
“I said you’re Superman,” he insisted, his voice strained with exasperation at my obvious incomprehension.
“Superman, it is, then.” I had to purse my lips together to keep from laughing. “And which superhero are you, Levi?”
“Spiderman, duh!” He held his arm out toward me, flicking his wrists theatrically as though he could shoot webbing from the base of his palms. “He’s the best!”
“Agreed, little man.” I finally pointed back toward the kitchen just as he was searching through a backpack beside his bed—a Spiderman backpack, of course—and pulled out two action figures, one Spiderman and the other Superman. “Well, I’ll be, Levi! There’s you and me, huh?”
The little boy handed me the Superman toy, nodding emphatically.
“Do you think even superheroes need breakfast? Because I’m pretty sure your mom said that was first on our list of things to do.”
“Superheroes need good breakfasts!”
“Like what?”
“Like...” Levi’s finger went back to tapping his chin again. “Like chocolate cake!”
I lost it, bursting out laughing without the ability to contain myself. “I must admit, I like the way you think,” I chuckled. “But I’m pretty sure your mom wouldn’t agree.”
Defensive Daddy: A Bad Boy Hockey Romance Page 2