by Kat Baxter
Jilly smiled at me from behind the counter. “How you feeling this morning, Champ?”
“Better. Coop fed me a greasy breakfast and copious amounts of coffee and I’m once again a human.” I set down my stuff and washed my hands before putting on my apron.
“I’m sure he took very good care of you,” she said, her voice filled with innuendo.
“Shut up.” I scanned the front of the bakery and found only Mr. Hendricks drinking his coffee and filling out his crossword. I made my way over to Jilly. “But something did happen,” I whispered.
Her eyes round and her smile widens. “With you and Cooper?”
I wave her off. “Nothing like that. I just had a sexy dream. A really sexy dream.”
“About Cooper?” she asked, her perfectly sculpted black brows arched.
“Yes.” My brow grew heavy with a frown. “I don’t think I’ve ever dreamed of him before so it must’ve been a combination of the alcohol and being in his bed surrounded by his scent.”
“Yeah, I’m sure that’s all it was,” Jilly said drolly.
“Anyways, it was so hot I’m pretty sure I came.” I whispered that last word. “Have you ever done that before?”
“No, but I’ve heard of it happening.” Jilly paused for a long time before speaking again. “Are you sure it wasn’t real? I mean you were in his bed.”
My heart tripped at the thought, and the muscles in my stomach took flight. But nothing could have happened. I shook my head. “No. Of course not. Cooper slept on the couch or in his guest bed.” I shook my head again. “I don’t know exactly because he was already awake when I got up. I think he’d gone for a run and he’d made coffee. But I sure would’ve remembered if I’d had an intense make-out session with my best friend.”
Jilly frowned. “I don’t know. You were pretty drunk.”
I snorted. “Not that drunk. Besides, he would have totally called me on it or pushed me off him if I’d tried something. We don’t think of each other in that way.”
“Yep. I’ve heard you say that again and again. But I also have eyes and no man has ever looked at me the way Cooper looks at you.”
I rolled my eyes which made shooting pains jab through my skull. I groaned. “Remind me never to drink again. Seriously. Never again. I cannot handle hangovers at this age.”
I asked Ally again this morning about the fertility treatments and why she’d kept the secret from me. She wasn’t as honest as she’d been last night when she’d brought up my money and my desire to help her. She’d only said she hadn’t wanted to worry me.
But last night she’d made it abundantly clear she didn’t want my money, but I wasn’t satisfied with that. I couldn’t be. I was a natural at identifying problems and fixing them was as much in my nature as my affinity with electronics. She might not want my money but there was more than one way to skin the proverbial cat.
Me being in love with her had nothing to do with it. She was my best friend so I did tend to go above and beyond with her problems, but she was my favorite person in the world, how could I not? Not only that, but she’d been dealt a shit hand when it came to her family.
By the time she was twenty, she’d lost everyone. I was the closest thing she had to family. So if she wanted a baby this desperately I was going to try to find her a solution.
Which was how I ended up sitting in the human resources department at my company,
I leaned forward in my chair across from Becca, the HR insurance guru. “What kind of fertility coverage do employees have?” She eyed me warily before she rotated to face her computer.
“That’s an interesting question for a single man.” She tossed me a coy glance over her shoulder. “A confirmed bachelor, I’ve been told.”
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes, or correct her. Becca had always been a flirt and I admitted I had initially enjoyed the back-and-forth teasing we’d shared. But I’d never been interested in her, so I put an end to the flirting a long time ago.
“Okay, let’s see.” Her long red nail trailed along the computer screen. “All of the medications are completely covered. As for the treatments.” She scrolled down a few screens. “There’s a hundred and fifty-thousand dollar maximum.” Then she swiveled her body back to face me. Her tight dressy shirt did nothing to hide her large breasts. That was likely her intent, though.
My gut clenched. “And this is for any employee and spouse?”
She frowned, then slowly nodded.
“How long does it take to add someone to the policy?”
“A new dependent?” Her shiny red lips pursed causing her lipstick to crack. “As in adding a wife?”
“Yes.” I couldn’t believe I was actually considering this.
Her frown deepened. “The minute you can produce a marriage certificate, it goes into effect.”
I smiled broadly, which seemed to annoy her even more.
“Cooper, do you have news you want to share?” she asked.
“Not yet. Thanks, Becca.” I stood and made my way back to my desk.
This was a simple solution. Ally and I could get married. She could use my insurance benefits, then we could quietly divorce after the baby was born. That way I could keep her kiddo on my policy. It was a get in, get the job done, then get out scenario. Everyone got what they wanted—I could help my best friend and she would get her baby.
In under five minutes, I’d cancelled the rest of my appointments and shot off an email to my partners to let them know I’d be gone for the afternoon.
I only had two more stops to make and then I could put my plan into motion. I pushed the icon of Ally’s face to dial her at the bakery.
“Buns in the Oven, what can we bake for you today?” Jillian said as she answered.
“Jilly, let me talk to Ally,” I said.
“Ally, it’s Cooper.” Jillian’s muffled voice called.
There was a pause and a shuffling of things and then Ally’s voice. “Hey.”
“Hey yourself.” Then I wasn’t sure what else to say.
“Coop, I’ve got frosting up to my elbows. Whatcha need?”
“Come to my place for dinner. I’ll make your favorite.”
She sucked in a breath. “Fajitas?”
I smiled. Couldn’t help it. “Yep.”
“You’ve got yourself a deal. I’ll bring dessert.” There was a loud banging noise, then a crash. “Crap! Gotta go.” Then she hung up.
Two steps down. Two to go. I found myself whistling as I pulled my car into one of the spots angling in front of Foster’s Watches and Gems. It was the oldest jeweler in town and one of the few who still designed his own pieces.
The tiny bell hanging above the door jingled as I entered. I made my way to the display cases and walked slowly, examining each section. It wasn’t a large store, just a single room with about ten cases. My heart was pounding, but I figured nerves were normal under the circumstances. It wasn’t every day you asked someone to marry you.
“What are you looking for today?” The old man had managed to move his frail body with such stealth. I hadn’t even noticed his approach.
I blew out a breath. Shit. “Engagement ring.” I was pleased I hadn’t choked on the words.
“I figured as much. You had that look about you.” He glanced down at the case where I was currently looking. “Do you see anything you like?” Mr. Foster asked. “We can make any setting you want, with any kind of stone.”
“Well, she works with her hands so it needs to be something that doesn’t stick up too much.”
Mr. Foster was already on the move. “Otherwise, she’ll get it caught in everything,” the old man said.
“And she’s very practical,” I added, “and pretends she doesn’t like a fuss, but I know secretly she does. I want something special.” She’d be getting a proposal from a man she didn’t really want to marry, so she might as well get a great piece of jewelry out of the deal.
“Let’s see.” He opened one cabinet and pulled out a tray
. “I think I know just the one.” His remarkably nimble fingers pulled out the ring and held it out for me to examine. “This center stone is bezel set so that it’s flush with the platinum and won’t snag on anything. It’s encircled by pave set diamonds which will give her that added sparkle, plus it gives it a nice antique look. But what makes this ring truly special are the two bezel set sapphires that flank each side of that center stone. It’s truly one of a kind.” Mr. Foster looked up at me and smiled. “Much like your lady, I assume.”
I nodded and looked down at the ring. The sapphires were the precise color of Ally’s eyes. The old man was right, this ring was perfect. “I’ll take it.” Now all I had to do was convince Ally to marry me.
When I climbed back in my car, the paper bag on the passenger seat caught my attention. Ally’s cookies. I grabbed it and dug one out, popping the entire thing in my mouth. Lemony sugar and butter melted against my tongue. I reached for another and caught sight of the pamphlet from her doctor’s office.
Trying to Conceive: Tips for getting pregnant faster.
My fingers twitched, but I picked up the paper anyways. I gingerly opened the first fold of the pamphlet and was relieved when I found the first few tips were basically reminding the couple they should be as physically healthy as possible before they started on the road to making a baby. I unfolded the next and read about the typical twenty-eight day cycle and when sex would make things more probable.
We wouldn’t be having sex, though. I knew that. Still, my cock twitched as I read on. When I got to the part about the positions and how the woman should lay still, on her back, for a few moments after intercourse to allow the sperm to swim upstream.
Fuck.
What was I doing? Getting hard thinking about impregnating my best friend. Way to be a stand-up guy there. Literally. At least one part of me was standing up.
Of course, after last night with her grinding on me and that hot as fuck kissing…it couldn’t be helped.
My phone buzzed and I tossed the pregnancy guide on the seat and glanced at the screen. It was from a girl I’d met at a bar a couple of nights ago. I didn’t bother swiping to read the text at the moment. Instead, I started my car, and headed to the grocery store to get everything else I needed.
My dating life was about to come to a screeching halt. Then again it’d been a very long time since I’d been on a proper date. I’d had a handful of hookups over the last year, but lately I’d had no desire for random, meaningless sex. If tonight went well, I’d be married soon.
Married and celibate.
Maybe I hadn’t completely thought this through.
Chapter 4
“I’m so sorry I’m so late,” I called from the front of the house as I shut the door to Cooper’s three-bedroom bungalow. I inhaled deeply and my stomach growled in response. “Oh, man, it smells amazing in here.”
I dropped my ridiculously large purse on his couch and scratched Inara behind the ears. I picked up the calico and walked into the kitchen, nuzzling his cat under her chin as I walked.
Cooper turned from the stove and took one look at me and started laughing. “Have a fight with the flour today?”
I glanced down to see my COOKIE DEALER shirt caked in flour. “Damn. Guess I should have gone home to change first.” I put the cat on the floor. My denim capris hadn’t fared much better. “I look awful.” I looked up at him and winced. He, of course, looked perfect as he always did. Snug black T-shirt molded to his muscular chest and shoulders. Low-slung jeans that proved his ass was a work of art. His feet were bare and his hair was mussed as if he’d been pulling on it.
“Should I go home and change?” I asked.
“Don’t be stupid. You know where my sweats are if you want to take a shower and put something else on.” He turned back to the stove. “But you look fine. I was just amused. Besides, it’s just us.”
I considered his offer for a second, then shrugged. He was right, it was just us. He didn’t care what I looked like. “Nah, it’s not like it’s a special occasion.” I grabbed a beer from his fridge and opened him one and set it next to him on the counter. “Besides, I think once I take a shower I’m just gonna crash.” I took a swallow of beer. “I swear I wore an apron all day, but it was just one of those days. I don’t know how many things I dropped. Then I ruined two batches of cookies.” I fell into one of the chairs at the bar across from where Cooper attended our dinner. “Maybe I should start wearing those coverall suits that professional gardeners wear.”
He chuckled. “Don’t worry about it. I’ve seen you look worse.” He left the stove and pulled a plate out of the fridge, covered with beautifully colorful vegetables.
“Gee, thanks.” I picked up a carrot stick and bit into it. “So are we gonna talk about yesterday? You still mad at me?”
“I wasn’t mad.”
“Oh, okay.” I rolled my eyes. The hurt I’d seen on his face had plagued me all day, probably why I’d been so clumsy at work. “I honestly didn’t think you’d care.”
“Fuck, Ally. Why the hell would I care that you were doing fertility treatments? You know I support you in anything you do. I just get pissed you insist on doing everything alone.”
I bit down on my lip. “You know how I hate people feeling sorry for me.”
“I don’t feel sorry for you.” He went back to his cooking. “I was upset because I’d have thought you’d come to me with something like that.”
“Like what?”
“You know, my...” He motioned to the front of his jeans.
My eyes fell to the zipper of his jeans and damned if I didn’t find myself staring at the bulge there. “Your dick?”
“Shit. No, my swimmers.”
I pulled my eyes up to his. “Of course. I know you’re not suggesting we sleep together.” So why was my heart suddenly pounding?
He turned back to his cooking.
“I would want your sperm though. I’m sorry I didn’t ask originally. Maybe the treatments would have worked since you’re so obviously virile.” Get your eyes off his ass. Damn Jillian for making me notice.
“That’s why I thought you could use a good home-cooked meal. You’ve had a rough couple of months and didn’t even have me to lean on.” He pointed a spatula at her. “Your own damn fault.”
“Whatever the reason, I appreciate it. You know I love your cooking.”
“Because for all your brilliance with baking, your savory skills are sorely lacking.”
“Oh, thank you, Mr. Cooking Channel.”
He threw a pepper slice at me, then went back to sautéing.
“Oh, I got the Jenkins wedding cake,” I told him.
“Not surprising, but congrats. I know that was one you were wanting.”
He grabbed some plates from the cabinet, then proceeded to set up. “Dinner is ready.”
“Excellent. I’m starving.”
We settled into his overstuffed sofa and ate in silence for a few moments. I savored every bite. “This is so good,” I said. “You always get everything so flavorful.”
“What did you have for dinner last night?” he asked.
“I don’t know. Frozen dinner surprise, I guess.”
“How is it that you’re such a wizard with baking and you can’t make chicken to save your life?”
“For starters if I did both, I’d be in the kitchen my entire existence. I can’t do that.” I took another bite, the sour cream, salsa and peppers mixed perfectly with the tender, marinated chicken. “And I just don’t enjoy the other as much. Desserts are much easier for me.”
“You know I’m a sucker for your desserts.” He waggled his eyebrows and I poked him in the side with my sock-enclosed toe. “What did you bring tonight?”
“Double chocolate cupcakes with coconut buttercream frosting.”
He moaned. “That sounds good.” He was quiet for a few moments. “I did some research today.”
“For what?”
“On your situation and I think I may h
ave found a solution.”
I blew out a breath. “Coop, I told you, this isn’t your problem to solve.” I eyed him warily. “Let me guess, you found a doctor who does free procedures for poor single girls?”
He released a tight chuckle. “Not quite. My company’s medical insurance covers it.”
I frowned. “So you think I should get a job at your company? How would I do that and manage the bakery?”
He took my plate and set it on the coffee table. “Hell no. You’d be a terrible engineer.”
A laugh bubbled up from my belly.
He grabbed both of my hands. “I think we should get married.”
I laughed again, my belly clenching with my giggles. Then I quickly registered he wasn’t even smiling. He was serious. “WHAT?” My heart pounded.
“Hear me out first.”
I shook my head, my spontaneous shock and humor turning into anger. “What the hell are you doing?”
“Think about it, Ally. We’ve been friends forever, and you practically live here some weeks anyways. It wouldn’t be all that different.” He shrugged. “Only you’d change your name, move in here and you’d get all the benefits of my insurance coverage.”
“Damn it, Cooper.”
“You could stay until after the baby is out of the really needy stage and then move back to your place.”
“I can’t believe you’d try to pull this bullshit on me.”
His brow furrowed in confusion. “Bull shit? What are you talking about?”
“You know exactly what I’m talking about. The hero bullshit you do. This thing where you swoop in,” I made a swooping motion with my hand, “and try to rescue people.”
“I do not do that.”
I can feel my eyes widen. “Oh, you totally do that. You are genetically incapable of seeing injustice in the world without trying to fix it. I get it. You’re an engineer. You’re a fixer by nature. Normally, I love that about you. It’s great you want to save the world and engineer a better tomorrow and all that stuff. But I’m not one of your projects to be fixed.”
“I’m not trying to fix you,” he said, this time his voice soft.
I softened my tone, losing my anger and focusing on trying to make him understand why he can’t fix this for me. “Um … yeah. You are. This is just like in the eighth grade when you designed that wheelchair for the crippled dog at the animal shelter.”