“Well?” Tucker prompted. “Please tell me you aren’t just gonna let her take him.”
“No.” Cooper’s gaze came to hers. “I’m going to do what’s best for Liam. I’m having Jessa and him move to the ranch and live with me.”
Chapter Fourteen
Jessa paced outside Cooper’s office while she waited for him to finish the family meeting with his father and brothers. There wasn’t much else she could do—especially since Cooper hadn’t invited her to join in on the discussion.
Liam had been bathed, fed and was down for the night. Her mother had said good-night, too. The ranch house was quiet, well guarded, and Jessa should be trying to settle herself so she could get some rest.
Fat chance of that, though.
She wasn’t resting until she had a chance to confront Cooper about his idiotic insistence that she move to the ranch. He certainly hadn’t made it sound like an invitation. More like one of his orders. And yes, their relationship had gotten a little friendlier.
All right, a lot friendlier.
However, that didn’t mean it was a good idea for them to be under the same roof for an extended period of time. It would only make things harder for her to distance herself from him. And distance him from Liam.
As if she could.
No, Cooper wouldn’t just let Liam go, but she had to find a way to minimize the damage and guard her heart in the process.
The sound of voices snagged her attention again. Jessa could hear parts of the conversation from the four McKinnon men. Some parts were easier to hear than others because the meeting involved some raised voices. Apparently, she wasn’t the only one who thought the moving-in order was a bad idea. Tucker was especially against it.
No surprise there.
Like Cooper, Tucker had been especially critical of her pressing for Jewell’s arrest. And like Cooper, his criticism hadn’t been because he wanted to defend Jewell but because he saw the investigation as a threat to the rest of his family. Especially his father.
However, his father didn’t agree with Tucker on the matter of Cooper’s order. Roy was all for the idea of Liam and her moving to the ranch. Permanently.
She heard a phone ring. A moment later, the door flew open and Tucker stormed out. Not before giving her a glare that could have withered every blade of grass in Texas. Jessa fared somewhat better from Roy. He whispered an apology—for what, he didn’t say—and walked away.
Colt was on the phone and didn’t even make eye contact with her when he came out. Still, she was pretty certain they blamed her for this. They probably thought she’d managed to talk Cooper into this stupid moving-in-with-them idea.
She didn’t wait for an invitation from Cooper. Jessa went inside the office and immediately spotted the baby monitor on his desk. It was on, and she could see her son sleeping peacefully in the crib. She was pleased about that but not pleased that Cooper was already acting like a parent.
Jessa mentally groaned. Of course he would think that he had a right to act that way. And he did. But she hated that there was nothing she could do to stop him from chipping away at her claim on the child she’d raised.
There was more proof of that on the desk.
The DNA results that proved Liam was Cooper’s son. Not some handwritten note, but the actual lab report. She’d used reports just like that to prove a case in court.
Cooper would no doubt use it for the same reason.
“Doc Howland sent it over,” Cooper explained. “He’s keeping it under wraps for now. And since he didn’t want anything on file, that’s the only copy.”
Cooper’s eyes met hers. For an instant she saw the bone-weary fatigue there. However, he must have seen the fight in hers, because he frowned and mumbled some profanity under his breath.
“Why ask me to move in with you?” she demanded, and didn’t wait for his answer. “Did you think it was the fastest way to get custody of Liam?”
“No. I thought it was what I should do for Liam. And for you.” Cooper scrubbed his hand over his face, walked closer.
That threw her for a moment. Jessa had braced herself for the kind of stubborn, riled attitude she’d gotten from Tucker. But Cooper just seemed as exhausted as she was.
“I love Liam,” Cooper went on. “And it wouldn’t do anyone any good to push you out of his life. It sure wouldn’t be in his best interest.”
“It wouldn’t do anyone any good except for you,” Jessa corrected.
“Yeah. I’d have my boy to myself, but it’d come at a high cost.” He paused, glanced at the photo of his wife on his desk next to the baby monitor. “Liam doesn’t remember Molly, but he sure as heck knows you. It wouldn’t be fair to cut you out of his life.”
Jessa hadn’t braced herself for a lot of things, including fairness. It softened her anger a lot more than she wanted it to.
“But moving in here at the ranch?” she questioned. “You can’t think that’s a good idea.”
He lifted his shoulder. “We could make it work.”
“Really? For one thing, your family wouldn’t like that.” Then she pointed to Molly’s photo. “And you’re still in love with your late wife.”
Cooper didn’t deny either accusation, but he did take the photo, and after a long look, he eased it into his desk drawer and shut it.
Jessa sighed. “I didn’t say that to make you put the photo away. I’d hoped it would make you see that we’re not suited for living with each other.”
His eyebrow lifted. “Really?” he repeated.
She felt the heat rise on her cheeks. And elsewhere. With just one word Cooper could remind her of that mistake of a kissing session. Except it hadn’t felt like a mistake at the time.
Sadly, it still didn’t.
And that was why it was indeed a mistake.
“We’re attracted to each other,” he pointed out.
“Attraction’s not enough,” she insisted. Though there were times, like now, when it certainly felt as if it could help them overcome a lot of things.
“We’re both committed to Liam,” he said, coming toward her. Cooper stopped just inches from her. The weariness vanished from his eyes, and he pointed his finger at her. “And if you repeat that part about attraction not being enough, I’ll remind you otherwise.”
Jessa swallowed hard. She was all too familiar with Cooper’s reminders. The kisses. The smoldering looks. Her body being in a continuous state of arousal just by being around him.
“Being committed to Liam and this attraction aren’t enough,” she reminded him.
“It’s a start,” he reminded her right back.
Okay. She was clearly losing this argument, and it was one she couldn’t afford to lose.
Could she?
Would it really be that bad if she gave in to his order?
For just a moment Jessa allowed herself to think about living with Cooper. Not just for the immediate future until the danger had passed. But, well, forever. It would have some advantages. Like no messy custody dispute over Liam.
And maybe even sharing a bed with Cooper.
She couldn’t stop that from creeping into her mind. However, she still shook her head. She didn’t say a word, but her answer to the ridiculous living arrangements must have been all over her face, because Cooper hooked his arm around to snap her to him.
And he kissed her.
Jessa put her hands against his chest to push him away. At least some small part of her wanted to do that, but the other parts won out, and she found herself falling deeper into his arms.
All in all, not a bad place to be.
With her body pressed against his, and his mouth moving over hers as if he knew exactly how to set her on fire.
Jessa tried to hang on, tried to voice some kind of reminder that this wasn’t going to help their situation. It would only muddy already muddy waters. But did she say that?
No.
She just stayed put in his arms and returned the kiss. Boy, did she. Jessa was the one who
deepened it, and she was the one who tugged Cooper closer and closer until they were plastered against each other.
Until she was burning for him.
Soon, very soon, all thoughts of Cooper’s order for her to move to the ranch slipped from her mind. Common sense did, too. She wanted to blame it all on the fact that it’d been so long since she’d been kissed like this. So long since she’d been held and wanted. But this wasn’t about time.
This was all Cooper’s doing. And she was terrified that even if this continued, it wouldn’t leave her satisfied for long, that she would only end up wanting him more.
Cooper reached behind him and locked the door. She realized then what he had in mind. To take this much further than a scalding-hot kissing session.
That still didn’t stop her.
Since this was going to be a massive mistake, Jessa figured she might as well enjoy it.
And pay the price for it later.
* * *
COOPER DIDN’T QUESTION what he was doing. He just went with it. He pushed aside the investigation, the looming custody fight. Even his insistence that Jessa move in with him.
And he just let himself get lost in her.
It wasn’t hard to do. She tasted like Christmas and all the other good things rolled into one. Felt that way, too. With her breasts against his chest. Cooper did something to make the pressure even better—and worse—by catching the back of her leg and lifting it so that her sex met his.
Damn good.
And once he got his eyes uncrossed he did something about ridding her of some of the blasted clothes between them.
Jessa was doing some clothes removal of her own. Not easily. She stayed with the kissing until she was out of breath and gasping. She broke away only long enough to pull some air into her lungs and then continued unbuttoning his shirt. She finally managed to get it off him.
Her touch was instant. Her fingers against his bare skin created some instant heat inside him. Not that he needed more. He was already crazy enough, but it sped things up for Cooper, and he rid Jessa of her top. Then her bra. She was small, firm. Perfect.
Tasted perfect, too, he discovered when he lowered his head and kissed her there.
Jessa reacted. Man, did she. She made a little sound of pleasure and pulled him closer for even more. That sent him fumbling to get them to the sofa. He darn sure didn’t want to wait to take her upstairs. Everything inside him was yelling for him to take her now.
But something else yelled through his brain.
“I don’t have a condom,” he let her know. Not easily. He damn sure didn’t want this to end.
With her breath still gusting and her fingers on his zipper, Jessa froze. Met his gaze. She seemed to have a split-second debate with herself and yanked him back to her for another kiss.
“I’m on the pill,” she said through the frantic flurry of kisses she showered on his face.
That was the best news he’d heard in a long time. Cooper knew he should still back off, but he would have had a better chance of telling his heart to stop beating. This was going to happen even if it didn’t make sense.
Jessa obviously felt the same way.
She went after his zipper again. He went after hers.
They weren’t exactly graceful when they landed on the sofa. That gracefulness went down another significant notch when she worked her hand into his boxers and took hold of him.
Oh, man. He was in big trouble here.
Her touch made everything seem more urgent, and Cooper rid her of her jeans. Panties, too. And even though he was burning, he still took the time to look at her.
And taste her.
Yeah, she was perfect everywhere.
Jessa made more of those sounds of pleasure. Slow, silky moans that purred from her throat. But there was nothing slow about her touch. She was frantic when she pushed off his boots and jeans, and by the time she made it to his boxers, she was well past the frantic stage.
Cooper was right there with her.
As soon as he was free of his boxers, he caught her and sank deep and hard into her. The pleasure shot through him, robbing him of his breath. He wanted to savor this, too, as he’d done with the sight of her. But Jessa lifted her hips, and savoring was a lost cause.
Cooper moved inside her and Jessa moved with him, keeping up the already desperate pace. That pace would end all of this too soon, but there was nothing he could do to make their bodies slow down. That fierce need pushed them hard to complete this and find mind-numbing release.
Too bad that release wouldn’t last long. But Cooper refused to deal with that now. He only dealt with Jessa, and the frenzied rhythm of the strokes inside her.
“Finish this,” she whispered. “Finish me.”
That was the plan. Cooper pushed into her, felt her body give way to the maddening strokes. He felt her finish. But she didn’t go alone. Nope. Jessa hooked her arm around his back and pulled him down for a kiss.
That was the last straw for him.
Cooper buried his face against her neck and let Jessa finish him off.
Yeah, he’d been right about the mind-numbing part. Right about a lot of other things, too.
Now all that was left was dealing with the aftermath of the mistake he’d just made.
Chapter Fifteen
Jessa felt the instant change in Cooper. The muscles in his back tightened, and while he couldn’t exactly roll off her without landing on the floor, he did move to his side.
He didn’t say a word. Didn’t need to. She could also feel the fierce debate going on inside him.
Because she was having the same debate with herself.
For days they’d been skirting around this heated attraction, and her body welcomed the satisfaction. The release. But she figured it would come at a high price, and she didn’t want Cooper—or herself—making assumptions that this meant anything. Anything other than great sex, that was.
It’d been so long since she’d been with a man. And never like this. Why the heck had he been just as good as he looked?
Jessa mentally sighed. It would have been so much easier if she just felt indifferent toward Cooper. Or if she’d just left him alone. After all, this was the man who could destroy her life, and here she’d landed in bed with him.
Well, on the sofa, anyway.
“This doesn’t mean I’ll move in with you,” she let him know.
He lifted one eyelid, and it looked as if he tried to glare at her. Hard to do that, though, while butt naked and squished on a sofa together. “Didn’t figure it did.”
Her feelings were all over the place, and while his words were right, they didn’t make her feel so right. Because if he hadn’t used sex to sway her into moving in with him, then that meant this attraction had just gotten the better of both of them. It also meant the attraction would only get worse.
Until it burned itself out.
Then what?
They’d be at odds under the same roof. Maybe Cooper couldn’t see the problem with that now, but he would certainly see it later. And being at odds with her might prompt him to get her off the ranch.
Without Liam, of course.
There was no way Cooper would let her leave with Liam now that he knew the little boy was his son.
“Don’t know if you know this, but your nostrils flare when you’re getting upset,” he drawled. “So other than the obvious, what’s upsetting you?”
She wanted to bring up the argument that she’d just mentally had with herself, but one look at him and Jessa knew he was well aware of what she’d been thinking.
“Just the obvious,” she settled for saying.
Cooper made a sound of agreement and glanced at the baby monitor, prompting her to do the same. Thankfully, Liam was sleeping just as he should be. And it was a reminder she should be upstairs with him.
Jessa moved, forcing herself to get up, and she wished the room was suddenly pitch-black so that Cooper couldn’t see her naked. He seemed to have no such concer
ns. He stood right in front of her.
Mercy.
The man had a great body.
Perfect. All those toned muscles earned from hard work on the ranch. The rugged face. It didn’t help that she still had the taste of him on her lips.
And just like that, she felt herself go all warm again. A warmth that Jessa tried to push away so she could gather up her clothes and get dressed.
“How bad are you regretting this?” he asked just as he zipped up his jeans.
“Not bad enough.” Especially considering that she was still fantasizing about getting him back on the sofa with her at the same time that she was worrying about his claim on Liam.
Cooper chuckled. Leaned over and kissed her. Not a postsex kind of peck, either. It was a full kiss that reminded her that one round of sex wasn’t going to rid her of this sudden need she had for Cooper.
“How bad are you regretting this?” she asked, throwing the question back at him.
He pushed her hair from her face. Dropped another kiss on her forehead. Then met her eye to eye. Jessa was instantly sorry that she’d opened herself up for this conversation, because the last thing she wanted to hear was Cooper say he would do whatever it took to get custody of Liam.
Even though that was exactly what he would do.
And she would fight him equally hard.
“Let’s table that for now,” he said just as his phone buzzed.
Jessa thought maybe she’d like to table that particular discussion for a lifetime and have things go on as they had been.
Well, minus the danger, of course.
And when she saw Colt’s name on Cooper’s phone screen, it was a stark reminder of not just the investigation but the danger that had set all this in motion.
“I found something,” Colt said the moment Cooper answered the call and put it on speaker. “I’m pretty sure I found the woman who talked to Rosalie’s criminal informant. Sonya Eakins.”
Cooper shook his head. “I don’t know her.” And he looked back at Jessa, who had to shake her head, too. She quickly started dressing in case they had to go to the sheriff’s office to question this woman.
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