“Thanks.” He patted Sophie on the top of the head and gave Olivia his best smile before slipping out the back door.
By the time he returned, the kitchen was clean, and the girls were already in bed, tucked in tight and waiting for him to sing.
He took his too-familiar place between them. He tried to think of something upbeat, but his fingers could only pick out sad songs.
But they seemed to do the trick. Both girls were soon fast asleep.
Annabelle stood in the doorway, with a sleepy, come-hither smile on her face.
He stood, carefully carrying his guitar to the hallway. “I should go.”
“Or you could stay.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” His heart twisted at the thought of disappointing her. But better to let go now, before it got that much harder to walk away.
“Why not?” She leaned against the wall, keeping her voice low.
“I’m really sorry about what happened at the play.” He had to fight to keep his hands to himself. He wanted her. More than ever. But… “I hate that you and the girls had to hear that. I don’t want to put you through that again.”
“It was a little embarrassing. But I felt more sorry for that guy’s daughter than for us.” She pushed off the wall, leaning toward him.
“But it was my fault. Everything he said was because of what I’d done.”
“You made a mistake.” She put her hands on his shoulders. “You’re human.”
“But you shouldn’t have to pay for that mistake.”
“Maybe not, but you’ve already paid for it.”
“Only officially.”
“You think you’re the only one who’s screwed up?” She shook her head, frustrated with him. She dropped her hands to her sides. “You think you’re the only one with regrets?”
“No.”
“You want to know why I quit modeling?”
“Because you got married. Had babies.”
“No. I’d walked away before I met Clayton.”
She started down the hall, motioning for him to follow her to her bedroom.
“I quit because I made a fool of myself.” Annabelle sat on the edge of her bed. He stood in the doorway, not trusting himself to come all the way in. “I got greedy. I wanted a third cover. I thought it would be my ticket. I would have done anything to get it. Including sleeping with the photographer.”
“I guess I’m glad you didn’t.”
“I did. I slept with Alfonso. He’d promised to make me a star. He told me his camera would reveal the fire deep inside me.” Her voice contained a note of regret. “He convinced me that I could be wild, unleashed, and uninhibited.”
“That’s just great.” He really didn’t want to hear about her sexual liberation at the hands of the famous artiste, Alfonso. A guy so famous he only needed one name.
“For the first time in my life, I felt like I didn’t have to hold myself back.” She crossed her arms over her chest, as if she were trying to hold back painful memories. “It was liberating. Until I found out he’d also been sleeping with two other models.”
“I’m sorry.” And he was, mostly. He didn’t like that she’d been hurt. “That was a rotten thing to do.”
“My reaction was pretty rotten, too.” She rubbed her hands up and down her arms, as if she felt a sudden chill. “I was a total bitch, actually.”
“He probably deserved it.” The son of a bitch.
“I destroyed half his camera equipment.” She didn’t sound quite so justified. “Probably thousands of dollars’ worth, but that wasn’t the worst part.”
He waited for her to go on.
“The worst part was how I lashed out at the other girls.” She shuddered at the memory. “I would have made a reality show producer blush. I got into a hair-pulling, nail-clawing, face-slapping cat fight. I actually drew blood on Serena’s face.”
She closed her eyes and clenched her fists. Then she let out a huge sigh and drew her hand up to the left side of her face, where the scars were still fresh.
“Maybe this is my penance.” She gave him a crooked smile, the left side of her mouth still not able to stretch into a full grimace. “My payback for being such a bitch.”
“You don’t deserve this.” He moved from the doorway to her side, and reached up to stroke her cheek. “There is nothing you could have done to deserve this.”
“I don’t know.” She lightly touched her scars. “I went on a bit of a self-destructive phase. After the Alfonso fiasco, I went a little crazy. Sowed my wild oats.”
He didn’t want to think about what that meant.
“Sometimes I miss the wild girl I used to be.” She sighed. “But then I settled down to become this closed off, uptight woman who ended up settling. I don’t think either of them are the real me”
“So who is the real you?”
“I think I’m somewhere in between. I’m not the wild child who slept her way through New Zealand and South Africa. But I’m not the empty shell of a woman who just smiled and pretended my world revolved around my husband. I think I’d like to be a woman who goes after what she wants.” She gave him a wicked grin and reached for him. “I want you, Nathan Cooper. I like who I am when I’m with you. I feel…alive. And safe. When I’m with you, I feel beautiful.”
She touched her scar, but he grabbed her wrists, gently pushed her onto the bed, and covered her mouth with his. She tasted so good. So full of passion and hunger. Even a little bit wild.
He kissed her, slow and hot. Deep and wet. She made him feel everything. And for the first time he could remember, he welcomed the feelings. All of them.
“I like who I am when I’m with you, too.” He came up for air and pulled his shirt over his head. “I feel like I can be a better man. I want to be a better man for you.”
“You’re a good man already.” She helped him tug his shirt all the way off and moved toward his jeans. “A very good man.”
“I’m trying to be.” He shimmied out of his pants and went to work on her clothes. “I want to be the best you’ve ever had.”
“Oh, you are.” She arched her back as he slipped her blouse over her head. He unfastened her bra and watched with awe as her breasts spilled out of the lace cups.
“Annabelle,” he sang. “You’re so beautiful. So damned beautiful. I…”
He’d better shut up before he made a complete fool of himself. He took one luscious nipple into his mouth, savoring and sucking on her sweet flesh. His hand drifted below her waist and she squirmed, trying to get closer.
Slipping one finger between her folds, he felt her quiver. Heard her sigh. He picked up the pace, stroking and sliding his fingers along her most sensitive flesh. She felt so good. Too good to be true. But she was true. She was real. And she wanted him. Even after everything.
“Please Cooper,” she moaned. “I need you.”
Chapter 23
The next few days went by in a bliss-covered fog. Annabelle was happier than she’d ever been. Her daughters were delighted to have Cooper meet them at the bus stop each afternoon. He helped with their homework or made them dinner, and every night he sang to them.
And every night he sang to her. Then he made love to her as if he was playing the world’s finest and rarest instrument.
She didn’t worry about getting too close, because it was already too late. She was in love with Nathan Cooper. It seemed a little crazy at times, but there were those little moments where it made perfect sense. Like at dawn, before the world intruded upon them. Before he had to slip out of her bed, put on his clothes, and tiptoe out the door.
“I hate sneaking out like this.” The sun was barely up, the light filtering through her sheer curtains as he pulled on his pants.
“We’ve been through this.” Annabelle reached for the pajamas she’d left on the floor next to her bed. She slept better in the nude, once she got past the fear that one of the girls would wake up and discove
r her and Cooper naked together in her bed. Thank goodness for door locks.
“I know. I just don’t like it.” He gave her a quick kiss on the top of her head. “I wish…”
He sighed and grabbed his shirt.
“You can come by for breakfast.”
“Sure.” He’d already stocked her fridge with his favorite foods. Lots of leafy green vegetables, fresh fruits, organic eggs, and hormone-free, uncured bacon.
“I’ll have the coffee ready.” She got the feeling he wanted more. But they didn’t talk about it. They didn’t talk about how she was still a married woman. They didn’t talk about him leaving in a few weeks if he got the call.
“I’ll see you in a little while.” He didn’t bother taking his guitar with him. He spent more time here than at his own place. He came over for breakfast, left for his workouts during the day, and returned for dinner each night.
It was almost perfect.
After he left, Annabelle took a quick shower, dressed, and got the girls up to get ready for school. She made sure they were dressed and had their teeth brushed before they went downstairs to start breakfast.
She was just starting the coffee when she heard a familiar knock on the back door.
“Cooper!” Sophie and Olivia both jumped up to let him in.
“Good morning.” His smile lit up the whole kitchen. “How are my three favorite girls this morning?”
“Good.” Olivia wrapped her arms around his waist.
“Did you come for breakfus?” Sophie asked.
“You don’t want me eating all your food, do you?” His smile was teasing and the girls just ate it up.
“Don’t be silly.” Sophie cocked her head to the side, making her curls bounce. “We have lots.”
“Yeah. Lots.” Olivia looked up at him with such admiration it hurt. Just a little.
“Okay, if you insist.” He ruffled her hair and made his way across the kitchen. Pulling eggs, bacon, kale, and a hunk of parmesan out of the fridge, he started prepping to make omelets.
“Make yourself at home.” Annabelle had gotten used to him taking over in the kitchen. He was much more willing to give and take in the bedroom.
She turned away from her daughters, hoping they wouldn’t catch the blush on her face.
He let Olivia and Sophie crack the eggs and rinse the produce.
While Olivia whisked the eggs together, he got to work chopping the kale and the bacon to add to the mixture.
“I’ll make toast.” Sophie scooted over to the bread box and popped two slices of bread into the toaster.
Annabelle poured coffee for herself and Cooper. She stirred half and half into her cup and sprinkled cinnamon on top. She handed him a cup of black coffee and was rewarded with a warm smile.
It was almost as if they were one big happy family.
Almost.
After cleaning up the breakfast dishes and getting the girls’ backpacks packed, the four of them walked to the bus stop. Olivia hugged Cooper before getting on the bus, and Sophie gave him a kiss on the cheek before charging up the bus steps.
He grinned and waved as the bus pulled away, and Annabelle couldn’t help but think he was just as smitten with the girls as they were with him.
“So what have you got planned for today?” He waited until the bus rounded the corner before pulling her close. “I’ve got to get my workout in this morning, but after that…”
“I guess I should return my agent’s calls.” Annabelle sighed. “He’s been trying to get ahold of me the last couple of days.”
“He’s probably worried about you.” He ran his hands up and down her back. “You should give him a call.”
“I know, it’s just…” She pulled away and started walking toward the beach. She had a feeling it had something to do with the anniversary show and wasn’t sure how she felt about not showing up. But she couldn’t imagine they’d still want her.
“Call him. Get it over with.” Cooper took her hand, and walked with her. “I know it’s hard, believe me, I know. But the more you avoid him, the harder it’s going to be.”
“I guess I do need closure.” She looked up at him and saw encouragement and unconditional support in his eyes. “Would you mind?”
She pulled her phone out of her pocket and scrolled through her contacts. Cooper took a few steps toward the water to give her some privacy.
She fully expected to get Victor’s voicemail, but he picked up on the second ring.
“Annabelle, darling!” He sounded happy to hear from her. “I was starting to think you’d fled the country.”
“Sorry. I’ve been busy with the kids and getting back into my everyday routine.” There was a slight breeze and she had to brush her hair away from her face. “But everything is fine. I’m doing much better. I’m even able to drive.”
“Good. That’s great.” The change in his tone told her small talk time was over. “Listen, I need an answer on the Fiftieth Anniversary party. It’s a week from Sunday.”
“You think they’ll still want me?” She wasn’t sure what would be worse, showing her face on primetime or showing her face to the model she’d been so bitchy to.
“Annabelle, honey, of course they want you.” He sounded like he was losing his patience with her. “You were the third best-selling cover of all time. They want you there.”
“That sounds wonderful, but…” She wasn’t sure if she was strong enough. “I’ll need to find a babysitter and…”
“Let me know as soon as possible. And Annabelle?”
“Yes.” Her hands were so sweaty, she almost dropped her phone.
“You can do this, kid. I know you can.”
“Thank you.” She blinked back the sudden stinging in her eyes. “I’ll be in touch.”
She hung up the phone and turned to look for Cooper. She already knew what he’d say, but she wanted to run it by him anyway.
“Well?” he asked. “What did your agent have to say?”
“He wants me to go to the fiftieth anniversary party for Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition.”
“That’s wonderful. When are you going?”
“I’m not sure that I am.”
“Of course you are.” He wasn’t being bossy or overbearing, it was one hundred percent support that made him ignore her hesitation. “When is it?”
“Why, so you can rent a tux?” She smiled, just thinking of how hot he would look.
“You don’t want me to go with you?” Now he was the one with reservations.
“I’m certainly not going without you.”
“But what if…?”
“I guess I’ll call Victor back and tell him I can’t do it.” She reached for her phone, but he grabbed her hands.
“You really want me to go with you?”
“Of course. I need you to be there. I can’t do this on my own.” She sighed. “I need your strength. Your support. Just the thought of being on camera, like this…”
She brushed her fingertips over her scars. Something she realized she did far too often.
“Annabelle, you’re beautiful.”
“You can say that because you look beneath the surface.” God, she loved this man. “You see me as more than just my face, my body… That’s not what this is about. It’s all about the outside. What can be captured on camera.”
“Hey, I first fell for your pretty face.” He stroked the side of her face that was scarred. “You captivated me with your smile. Your brilliant blue eyes. You still have that smile. That sparkle.”
“Oh please. I hardly sparkle anymore.”
“I have seen you glow.” He gave her a naughty grin. “But that’s private.”
“Yes, it is. And I’m not sure if I can go onstage and publicly display my wounds.”
“Why not?”
“The whole idea is to celebrate beauty. Perfection.” She was afraid. Afraid people would recoil in horror at the way she looked now. Espe
cially when compared to the way she used to look. “I’m as far from perfect as you can get.”
“You can’t hide forever, you know.”
“It’s too soon. My scars are too raw.” They were still red and raised. “I don’t think I can cover them enough for television.”
“So expose them,” he suggested. “Show the world what happens when people don’t stop to think about their actions. One lousy text and you’re afraid to celebrate one of your biggest accomplishments.”
“You’re saying I should stand up there and tell the audience, ‘Don’t text and drive or you’ll end up looking like me’?”
“Sure. Why not?”
“Because. That’s not what I’m there for. It’s supposed to be a celebration.”
“So celebrate.”
“Will you accept your ring?”
“What ring?”
“You were on the Goliaths’ roster until the trade.” She’d discussed the matter with Hunter. The way the rules were set up, he’d be issued a ring along with his teammates.
“But I’d only appeared in two games before they traded me.”
“But you were a part of the team. You’ll get a ring.”
“I can’t accept it.” He almost sounded afraid of the idea. “I didn’t earn it.”
“The Goliaths won the two games you played in.” She’d looked up his stats. “They might not have won the division without those two games.”
“Look, this isn’t about me,” he said. “This is about you attending the anniversary celebration. You should go. You don’t have to go up on stage. Just sit in the audience and support the other models.”
“What if they hate me?”
“Why would they?”
“I told you, I wasn’t very ladylike on that last shoot. I got into a fight with another model.”
“I’m sure she’s over it.”
Making a Comeback Page 20