by Hart, Hanna
"I wasn't handling him," she said honestly.
"That's why it worked!" he laughed. "Speaking of which, I wanted to talk to you about your job."
Here it comes, Grace thought.
"I know you've been trying to transition away from being my personal assistant to running weddings, but I was wondering if you had other aspirations in the company?"
"What, you mean like, stepping up?" she asked.
"Yeah, something like that."
"Here I thought doing weddings was stepping up," she laughed
"Anything to get away from working with me, right?" he teased. "Grace, I think you're charming."
She swallowed nervously and couldn't help but be taken in by his words. "You do?"
"I think you could be great for other aspects of the company. Do you have any background in business?"
Grace shrugged. "Just PR."
"And we hired you as an assistant?" he shook his head. "I'd like you to shadow me in schmoozing investors and buyers. Basically, take them around the island. Play tour guide. Show them why they want to invest here and buy property here. We want to open up a new entertainment wing in the resort. It'll take some big names to get it done."
"And you think I'm the girl for the job?"
"I think you and I make an amazing team. Can you imagine how we would look to potential investors? Husband and wife, escorting them around the island together? Besides, it would involve some exciting travel. No school-trip required."
"That sounds amazing," she said tentatively.
"I knew you would think so. I took the liberty of telling Turkish she may need to find a new assistant. She was a little furious, said she put a lot of time into training you. I told her if she could do it once she could do it again with someone else."
Grace didn't know what to think. Of course, it sounded like a dream come true. A once in a lifetime chance for her career. But she couldn’t help the bulb of hesitation that was slowly growing inside of her.
"It's just," she said slowly as they swayed against one another to the rhythm of the music, "What happens... after?"
"After what?" he asked.
"After this ends, our contract… How will that work, with us still working together?"
Cooper's eyes went an impossible shade of warm brown as he stared down at her. It was as if the whole room had heated up. She was taken in by his sharp jaw and the curl that draped down onto his forehead no matter how many times he gelled it back.
"Well, I don't want to think of that," he said with a small smirk. "Tonight, all I want to think about is you."
"But—" she began, but was immediately silenced when Cooper leaned in and pressed his lips against hers. His mouth moved against hers like they had always kissed—like they were seasoned at knowing each other's lips. The moved seamlessly together and she couldn't help herself from participating.
This single action changed everything. When she finally pulled away, it was like she was staring at a completely different Cooper. Suddenly, he seemed like he was hers. He was somehow more attractive than before, more desirable in every way.
They didn't speak about the kiss, and she didn't dare ask if he only did it because there were cameras around.
Not long after this, Grace made her way to the restroom to freshen up.
Grace walked into the gray restroom and let out a nervous breath. She didn’t know what was happening between her and Cooper, but she liked it. A lot.
The restroom was just as luxurious as the rest of the building. There were four mini-chandeliers splayed out across the ceiling, and gray textured wallpaper everywhere. In the middle of the room was a waterfall style sink that Grace had never seen before. It was like a garden fountain, only for your hands.
"So, you're the new girl, huh?"
Grace turned around and watched the dark-skinned beauty approaching her and immediately recognized the girl to be Brielle. She had shiny dark hair and wore a long maroon dress that made her look like she was seven-feet tall.
"Cooper's wife?" Brielle said with emphasis.
"Uh-huh," Grace said as she began to wash her hands under the waterfall sink. She turned her profile to Brielle and said, "Grace. Nice to meet you."
"Brielle," the woman said.
"I know who you are."
Brielle raised her chin, and her eyes seemed to spark to life. "Good," she said evenly. "You know, Cooper and I have only been apart for a little over two months."
"No," Grace corrected. "You've only been divorced for two months. You were separated for six months before that."
"You're keeping count? That's adorable." Brielle snickered in the way only a true mean-girl could. "How long have you guys been together?"
Grace's eyes widened, and she didn't know what she should say to the woman. As much as she wanted to argue with or go postal on her, Brielle was tall, beautiful, and an incredibly intimidating presence to be in front of. So much so, Grace couldn't help the spark of jealousy that ignited in her chest.
Standing in front of her, she began to imagine what Cooper ever saw in Brielle. She imagined them waking up and having coffee together. She wondered if Cooper ever took her to the bungalows and how many different countries they'd traveled to together.
She wondered how silly Grace must have seemed in comparison to Brielle. Small and flat-chested, thick-hipped. Completely uneven in body. Even less graceful in attitude.
"A couple of months," Grace finally answered.
"Well, I had a private investigator," Brielle said, setting one hand on her waist. "Does he know that?"
Grace frowned at this and walked over to the hand-dryer, slipping her hands into it until they were dry.
"Good for you," she snapped.
Brielle's mouth went thin as she snapped, "And he never found any hint of you guys being together. Not one photo, except for some sorry pictures dug up from a couple of years ago, which I think we both know amount to nothing."
"Because nobody would cheat on you," Grace said viciously.
Implicating that Grace and Cooper’s relationship had been an ongoing affair was a low-blow. It wasn't true, of course. But Brielle's arrogance was palpable, and Grace wanted to take her down a notch.
"No," Brielle said confidently. "And certainly not Cooper."
Grace's heart sank at that statement, and she shifted her weight to her left leg and crossed her arms. "Are we done here?"
"No," the woman scoffed. "I don't know what you're playing at here, but this isn't stopping me from coming after his money."
"I don't care," Grace said evenly. "Go after the island, throw yourself a pity-party, scramble to try and get Cooper back. You can do whatever you want, but it isn't going to work. Cooper and I are married now, and we're never getting divorced. Ever."
That much was true, Grace thought.
"Yeah?" Brielle said quickly. "Cooper and I were married, too. Don't forget that."
Chapter Fourteen
Cooper
Cooper's mother was right.
She was always right.
He was charmed by Grace. He felt invigorated when she was around. Every moment he wasn't with her was just a space of time he had to get through to be able to see her again. It had only been a week and a half, but he could already feel himself falling for her.
He knew it was wrong but pressing his lips against hers and tasting her no longer felt like a choice—it felt like a universal pull.
Cooper was so enamored with his beautiful assistant that when she excused herself to the restroom, he had followed her like a little boy, waiting just outside the restroom to take her hand and bring her back to the dancefloor like a lady.
Grace emerged in a strappy black dress with satin gloves, and he immediately went to loop her arm through his. Only he wasn't expecting to see Brielle storm out after her.
He watched the two of them in a blur. It was as though his eyes had completely glazed over. There was no recognition for a moment. He reached for Grace, and she approached with
an expression that told him any hopes that the two women hadn't spoken in the restroom should be thrown deftly out the window.
Cooper set his jaw as he looked his ex-wife. He then took Grace's hand and walked back toward the party.
"That's it?" Brielle seethed from behind them. "Not even a hello?"
He turned to face her and said, "Hi."
"What is this?" Brielle said, pointing between him and Grace. "A sham? A drunken mistake? Please, help me to understand, Coop. Because I know you, and this isn't you."
"This is my wife, Grace," he said evenly. "And she is more 'me' than you ever were."
"Oh, nice, Cooper," Brielle said. She sounded hurt, but not ready to give up on her argument, as always. "You think it's a coincidence that I try and come after the resort and suddenly you end up married?" She scoffed. "I don't think so."
"We were already together," he lied. "Why do you think I turned you down? Why do you think I didn't send my lawyers after you?"
"Because you were scared," she said defiantly, but he could hear her tone waver.
Cooper bit his lip and pat Grace's hand before removing it from his arm. He walked up to Brielle, standing just a few feet away from her. He squinted at her and said in a low tone, "What exactly do you want from me, Bree? You wanted to live apart? You got it. You wanted a divorce? Here it is. What else is there for me to give?"
“I wanted you,” she said defiantly.
“You had me!” Cooper said, close to a shout. “You got a settlement, you sullied my family’s name, you jerked me around. What else? You just need to know that I’m absolutely miserable without you? You got it, Bree. You broke my heart! Happy?”
"Cooper," Brielle said with the first tone that made her sound human. There was a lilt in her voice, a sadness there when she said his name. "Are you seriously married to this girl?"
"Yep," Cooper raised his left hand to her, wiggling his fingers to show off his wedding band. "And she isn't just a girl. She's my wife, so show a little respect."
"Then good luck to her!" Brielle scoffed, leaning against the wall. "Have fun waiting around for Cooper to get home. Sitting around for days on end until he decides he can spend time with you!"
"Bree," Cooper hissed, turning back and giving her a scolding look. Then he whispered, "We're at a fundraiser. You wanna scream at me? You call me. You don't harass my wife or embarrass yourself at an event. Now go home or leave us alone.”
Cooper did his best to save the evening after that. He tried to be charming and kind to Grace, who looked obviously shaken by the incident. They stayed for a few more dances before getting a water taxi back to the resorts.
His condo had been decorated professionally. It was all deep, rich hardwood, creams, and navy blue. It had a sleek and modern feel, with crisp lines and minimalist inspiration.
He had been exceptionally happy with how it turned out, but now, watching Grace walk in the front door, he wished it felt more like a home. Like somewhere you could curl up and feel comfortable. Right now, it felt like the second version of his office.
"Heck of a night," Grace said with a shy smile as she flopped down on the plush sofa.
Cooper nodded toward her, signaling for her to lift up her legs. She did and he sat down next to her before lowering her calves onto his lap.
"Which part?" he winked.
Grace gave a tired chuckle. "All of it," she said.
They watched as Buck bounded down the stairs leading to the second floor and ran toward them, panting and doing his wild doggy-dance in celebration of their return. Grace reached a hand out to pet him and, after a while, he eventually lay down at Cooper's feet.
Cooper began to rub Grace's calves and feet, trying to relax her. But there was something gnawing at his stomach that he couldn't shake.
"You know I wouldn't do that, right?" Cooper said nervously.
Grace leaned up to look at him and asked, "Do what?"
"I would always make time for you," he said—Brielle's words ringing in his ears.
It was amazing how one-sided relationships could be. Brielle felt abandoned by him, but he wasn't the one who got on a plane to Boston.
"Maybe she felt left out sometimes," he said with a lilt in his tone, arguing more with himself than with Grace as he continued, “But I always tried my best with her. I always wanted to be with her. But if she feels like I wasn't there or wasn't present, I just want you to know I would never do that to you."
Grace nodded. "I'm sure you were wonderful to her," she said slowly. "You guys always seemed happy to me."
Grace hadn't really known them, but she'd seen them plenty in the office and at various functions. And while he knew his new wife didn't properly know the ins and outs of his prior marriage, her sentence seemed to quell the rocking in Cooper's stomach.
"I tried," he said with a shrug, still rubbing her feet.
"But, what happened with me and Bree, I don't ever want that to happen with you," he said. "I will always make time for you, whenever you need me."
"I think you're forgetting something," she smiled.
"What's that?"
She shrugged. "You don't have to make time for me."
He pulled back, puzzled by her sentiment. "Why not?"
"Because I'm not really your girlfriend-err-wife. You don't owe me anything," she laughed. "So, consider yourself untroubled."
"What if I want to be troubled?" he asked nervously.
"Hey, the only thing you owe me is a big fat thank you at the end of the month," she joked.
“Right,” he said slowly, “A thank you and a big check.”
Grace gave him an odd smirk that he couldn’t read. Did she not hear him say he wanted to be troubled? That he wanted her? Was she trying to push him away? He didn't want to be pushed; he wanted to be pulled in. What he really wanted was to kiss her again and make his pain go away. He wanted to be with her.
Everything they had talked about at the function, about them traveling together as husband and wife, building businesses bigger and influencing clients—that's what he wanted. A partner. A real partner, both romantically and otherwise.
Grace let out an approving moan before wiggling her other foot in front of his hands and giggled, "This one now! Even them out!"
He laughed and took the dainty foot into his hands.
"It's all you can do, you know," Grace said. His brows perked up, and she clarified, "Try.”
“Ah,” he said.
“You tried your best. That's what I did.”
He cleared his throat, “And then what happened, besides the obvious?”
“I guess I was so happy that I forgot to worry that he might not be."
Cooper exhaled. Ah, Shane Gallagher. Grace's ex-fiancé.
He had known about him all this time, but it wasn't until that moment that he finally began feeling jealous of him. Who was this guy to think he could get better than Grace? What kind of person was he that he'd captivated Grace's attention so well? He wanted to ask her, but the childish part of him didn't want her to dwell on all the things about the guy that had made her happy.
"He was a fool," he said.
"Maybe," Grace shrugged. "Or maybe I was a bad girlfriend."
"Maybe I was a bad husband," he said, "Or maybe I wasn't." Then he looked over at Grace and felt his pulse quicken as she locked eyes with him. "I know it hurts now, but one day you'll be glad things turned out that way between you and Shane."
Sounding broken, Grace asked, "Why do you say that?"
He shrugged. "You didn't have to wait around for six years, watching everything you cared about slowly dying."
Grace swallowed and sat up, moving her feet down to Buck's furry back. She nestled up beside Cooper and took his hand.
"Maybe you're right, but you also got a chance to try,” she offered, “I never got to try. I didn't get a warning or a second chance. Everything was just over."
"I guess I never thought of it like that," he shrugged. "But in my experience, second chance
s don't always work out so well."
"When did you know it was over?"
Cooper thought about it. "As soon as she went back to Boston, which wasn't long after we got married, really. I just knew what kind of person I am and what kind of person she is. We need companionship in person."
"Ah," she nodded. "No long-distance for you?"
He snorted, "Is that even really a thing?"
"Of course!"
"Not for me," he said. "I mean, sure, we'd talk every day, and there's video chat and all that. But so much of how you communicate with someone isn't even verbal. It's not about talking your heads off all day long. I mean, that's part of it. But part of it is also doing nothing together. Sitting on the water, watching TV, cooking together, going for a walk with Buck. All these little things. The physical intimacy, you know?"
Grace's face pinkened, and he narrowed his gaze.
"What I mean is," he emphasized, "holding hands, laying around together, kissing. Small things like that make up a huge part of the marriage."
"I've never had a long-distance relationship," Grace offered.
"See!" He laughed. "You've never had them because they're no good!"
"I'm not sure if my choice was much better, to be honest," she laughed reluctantly.
"Ah, well," he petered off. "In other news, you did amazing tonight."
"Thanks," she said, brushing her hand against her arm.
"Everything okay?"
"Yeah, it's just," she rolled her shoulders and then looked at him bashfully. "I don't mean anything by this, and I'm not trying to sound ungrateful, but I would appreciate it if you would run things by me before you make decisions for me."
Cooper felt his face go white. He looked at her curiously and asked, "What do you mean?"
"I mean, don't tell Turkish to look for a replacement for me without asking first. I know everything you are doing for me is amazing, and I don't mean to be rude or whatever, but it freaked me out when she told me that. If you run it by me first, you know, you'll save me from having a heart attack."
He raised a brow and felt a smirk creeping up his mouth. "Sorry," he said, feeling more attracted to her than ever. "It won't happen again."