by Jan Hinds
He shifted in the bed and winced at the pain. “You said you wouldn’t talk to me while I’m on meds, so until you talk with me. I’m not taking any more drugs.”
Paige put the pill and water on the bedside table and stood with her arms folded over her chest. “What do you want to talk about?”
He frowned and grumbled, “First, you look beautiful. New dress?” He couldn’t hide his resentment that she’d dressed up to go out with another guy.
She forced a tight smile and answered him politely. “Thanks. Tina made it as a thank you for all the business she’s got lined up after the auction.”
Cooper blurted out, “Did you go out with Ted?”
Her hands flew to her hips and she tilted her head in warning. “That’s none of your business.”
“Please forgive me, Paige. I don’t want you to be angry with me. I’m so sorry that I hurt you. I only want you to be happy.”
Her hands dropped to her sides. “I’m not angry with you,” she said quietly.
He lifted an eyebrow and tilted his head.
“Okay, I’m a little angry. Mostly I’m disappointed and hurt.”
He opened his arms to her. “Friends?”
She sat on the edge of the bed and leaned her head against his chest. “What am I going to do with you, Cooper?”
He enveloped her in his arms and kissed the top of her head. “More to the point, what would I ever do without you?”
They held each other in silence. Cooper bit his tongue to keep from asking her where she went.
As if she’d read his mind she said, “I wasn’t with Ted. I spent the afternoon having a personal training session with Sawyer Pierce. This evening he took me to dinner and gave me tips on making healthy food choices.”
Cooper rubbed her back. After a long moment of silence, he asked, “Did he kiss you?”
She pulled away enough to look him in the eyes. “Yes.”
Every muscle in his body tensed. The pain radiating in his leg dimmed against the ache in his heart.
She touched her finger to her cheek. “He gave me a lingering kiss right here.”
He relaxed and swiped his fingertips gently over the indicated cheek. “You’d better wash that good before you go to bed. You wouldn’t want to transfer Sawyer germs to your pillow.”
She grinned. “Do you think Sawyer germs are worse than Cooper cooties?”
“I don’t have cooties,” he growled in a husky voice.
She pulled away and stood up before he could capture her lips in a kiss. “I’d better not take any chances.” She handed him his pill and the glass of water.
“At least you weren’t out with Ted.” He swallowed the pill and took another gulp of water.
“I told Ted I’m not spending any more dates watching him play video games. He’s taking me to dinner and a movie tomorrow night.”
Cooper spewed his mouthful of water all over his comforter.
Chapter Thirteen
Paige prayed for a huge snow and ice storm for Christmas to keep her family from making the trip to Fort Wayne. No such luck. She hadn’t found the courage to tell anyone except her dad the truth, and even he acted like she and Cooper were still engaged. Only they were never actually engaged and that fact should have taken the sting out of the broken engagement. Somehow it didn’t.
She had three invitations for Christmas. The only place she wanted to be was with Cooper. He’d been attentive and subdued ever since she started dating Ted again.
Ted Flannigan was like a changed man. He turned off his phone when they were together and never talked about his gaming world, or his superhuman computer skills. Almost never. As soon as Paige’s eyes glazed over, he changed the subject, usually asking her about her plans for the future.
His consideration endeared him to her, yet she had trouble reconciling the new Ted with the old Ted. She suspected if she had free reign to search his house and computer, she’d find books and articles on dating advice, filled with statistics on the best way to win a woman’s heart.
The problem was, she didn’t love him. No matter how kind and considerate he was, he wasn’t Cooper Jennings.
And then there was Sawyer Pierce. He’d flown his private jet to Fort Wayne to train her three times since her mother won the personal training for her at the auction. He called to check on her every evening, which was problematic when she was out with Ted, and at home, drove Cooper crazy with curiosity when she left the room to take his calls.
The NFL didn’t have any games scheduled for Christmas and Sawyer invited her to join him for Christmas dinner. She explained that she was committed to spend the holiday with her family and Cooper’s, but when she found out he didn’t have any family to spend the holiday with, she felt so sorry for him that she asked Sylvia if it would be awkward to invite him over. Sylvia insisted on extending the invitation to Sawyer herself.
Paige’s brother, Brent, and sister, Joni, and their families stayed with Cooper and Paige while Cooper’s sister Grace along with Paige’s parents and Aunt Marty, stayed with Matt and Sylvia.
Paige set up a Christmas tree on the main floor and another in the apartment living room, so that Santa could visit each family individually. A third tree twinkled with lights in the circular nook of her bedroom for her and Cooper.
Paige and Cooper agreed to give gifts to their families together. Even though he was already walking with just a cane instead of crutches, she was reluctant to let him brave the crowds and lines of holiday shoppers. Paige did all the local shopping, while Cooper shopped online.
Joni and Amy shipped their gifts to Paige, who set up gift wrapping rooms on the third floor with folding tables and chairs.
On Christmas Eve, Brent and Josh were up late putting together bicycles and tricycles, while Cooper put the finishing touches on three dollhouse models he made for the nieces. Joni and Amy wrapped while Paige baked cookies, watched movies, played games, and decorated Paige’s tree with the nieces and nephews.
Paige helped the children put out cookies for Santa by both trees and they insisted on leaving some by Paige’s tree as well. Once the children were tucked in, Paige fixed cinnamon rolls, sausage cheese balls, and a frittata, ready to be popped into the oven in the morning.
She turned around to find Cooper watching her from the doorway of the apartment kitchen. He held his hand behind his back and wore a mischievous look on his face. She grinned at him. “What are you up to?”
He crooked a finger at her. She took a step toward him. He took a matching step to her. They simultaneously took another step to bring them within inches of each other. “Do you know what time it is?” he asked.
She looked at the clock on the microwave. Five after midnight. “It’s Christmas.”
When her gaze returned to Cooper, he held a sprig of mistletoe above her head. “May I kiss you?”
She smiled at the mischievous gleam in his eye. “Yes, please.”
Cooper captured her lips in a soft kiss. When the kiss ended, he said, “Merry Christmas, Paige.”
Fire kindled and spread through her. Her right hand worked its way behind his neck and her lips met his in a hungry kiss.
Cooper wound his arms around her, crushing her to him, deepening the kiss with a desperate passion.
“Aunt Paige, can I have some water?” Joni’s four-year-old daughter Jenny stood beside them rubbing her eyes.
Paige untangled her fingers from Cooper’s hair and tried to get her breathing under control. “You bet, sweetie.”
She put water in a cup and handed it to Jenny, who took one sip and put the cup on the island. “Thank you, Aunt Paige.” She studied Cooper. “Are you going to marry Uncle Cooper?”
She looked at Cooper to see if he showed any sign of wanting to marry her. His expression remained neutral. “He hasn’t asked me to marry him.”
Jenny frowned at Cooper. “Don’t you like Aunt Paige?”
“I like Aunt Paige very much,” he said without looking away from Paige’s f
ace.
Jenny yawned. “Well, why don’t you ask her?”
He leaned down and whispered something in Jenny’s ear.
Jenny giggled. “Uncle Cooper that’s silly. She won’t say no.”
Joni came down the steps from the third floor. “There you are munchkin. If you don’t get to bed, Santa won’t be able to come. He only comes when children are asleep.”
Joni shooed Jenny back upstairs where the children were camped out. She rubbed the small of her back with one hand and rested the other on her baby belly. “This little one is sure wearing me down. I don’t know how I’m going to sleep on that sofa bed in the living room.”
“Why don’t you and Josh take my bed? I’ll sleep on the sofa,” Cooper offered.
Paige shook her head. “They can have my bed. I’ll sleep on the sofa.”
Joni held up her hand for them to stop. “Oh for crying out loud, you two are living together. Share Paige’s bed already. Everyone thinks you’re having sex anyway. Thanks for giving up your bed, Cooper. You’re a sweetheart.”
“Sure enough,” Cooper said. “I’ll just grab a few things out of my room and then it’s all yours.”
Paige was left alone in the kitchen with her mouth hanging open. Still flushed from the kiss, she busied herself washing every surface until it shined. She even mopped the floor. When she ran out of surfaces to clean, she made her way down the hall to her room.
Cooper lay on the floor by the tree feasting on Santa’s cookies and milk. The twinkling lights splashed color on his handsome face.
Paige grinned and clapped her hands in delight. “Oh, Santa, you really outdid yourself this year. You gave me a handsome man for Christmas.”
She noticed the number of boxes under the tree had doubled. “Wow. Where did all that come from?”
“Amazon, eBay. I got carried away with my online shopping.”
“I thought our gifts to our families were going to be from both of us.”
Cooper’s hand wrapped around her calf. He caressed her leg with his thumb. “We are. Those are all for you.”
She sank down onto the floor next to him. “I don’t understand. Is this an act for my family’s benefit? You’ve been so distant at times, I thought you were mad at me for seeing Ted and for becoming friends with Sawyer.”
Cooper sat up and stretched out his sore leg. He held out his hand, palm up.
She gave him her hand, grateful that he didn’t force himself on her. In fact, he hadn’t taken any liberties with her since he came home from the hospital. Even in their mind-boggling, mistletoe kiss, she’d initiated the passion. Her cheeks flamed.
He lifted her hand, turned it, and kissed her palm. “I’m not angry. I looked through the gifts. I saw you got something for Sawyer and Ted.”
She leaned her head on his shoulder. “I figure they will get me something and I felt it would be appropriate to give them a little something in return.”
He kissed her palm again then lowered her hand and held it with both of his. “What I feel for you has never been an act. I realize that I’ve been selfish. Actually, Charlie told me I was selfish. Tina had a few choice words on the subject too. They sure didn’t cut me any slack. That was the longest week of my life when he was here helping me. He forced me to take a hard, honest look at myself. I didn’t like what I saw.”
He lifted his eyes and gave her a wry smile. “I’m trying to be the kind of man you deserve.” He slowly traced her knuckles with his thumb. “Am I out of line to ask if you’re falling in love with Ted?”
“No.” Again, Paige’s immediate response surprised her. “No, I’m not. I don’t know why I’m still seeing him. I keep trying to think of a justification for ending things with him and I can’t think of anything. He’s so analytical, he won’t accept rejection without a valid reason. Lately he’s acted like the ideal boyfriend; attentive, considerate, showing interest in my opinions. I have nothing to complain about except I feel no spark with him.”
“Do you consider him your boyfriend?”
“Absolutely not.” She raised her eyebrows. “Oh, dear. Now you’re making me see myself in an unfavorable light. Why am I still dating him? It isn’t fair to him. He could be using these newfound relationship skills to find someone he has a chance at a future with. I’m a terrible person.”
“You are not a terrible person.” He hitched up his eyebrow. “I’d offer to help you compose a break-up text, but I don’t want to shoot myself in the foot again.”
She grinned. “Thanks for the offer. I’ll figure it out. I’ll end it with him before New Year’s Eve. I shouldn’t have strung him along this long.”
Cooper rubbed his thumbs over her knuckles in soft circles. “What about Sawyer?”
A soft smile played on her lips. “Sawyer is sweet and kind. He’s fun to be around. You’re right about him being charming, but he also has a sadness to him. I feel sorry for him. He doesn’t have any family anymore. I don’t think he has any real friends either.”
“His mom is still around, but she’s drunk most of the time. She’s had several stints in rehab, only to relapse after a few months. I imagine the holidays are hard for him.”
Paige worried what Cooper’s reaction would be when he found out Sawyer would be spending Christmas with them. “I need to tell you something, but I want you to promise you won’t get upset.”
Cooper stilled; she couldn’t tell if he was breathing. “Okay? What?”
“Your mom invited Sawyer for Christmas dinner.”
He exhaled in a whoosh. “That’s it? Anything else?”
“No. I didn’t want you to be blindsided. Actually, there is something else. He keeps asking me about it and I was waiting for you to feel better to talk about it. He wants you to design his new Fit Spas. He wants a building with a unique design that people will automatically associate with his business.”
“You think this is a good idea?”
She smiled. “He’s planning a dozen locations next year. This could put you in the black the first year.”
He squeezed her hand. “Put us in the black. One more question that is none of my business?”
“Okay.”
“Do you have any spark with Sawyer?”
She laughed. “Oh we are so not talking about my spark tonight.”
The corner of Cooper’s mouth ticked up in a crooked grin. “Why not? I happen to be fond of your spark.”
Paige stood up and held her hand out to help him stand. “You need to get to bed. It’s late and my spark is about to fizzle out.”
“Much as I hate to think of that happening, I have to warn you, there will be no hanky-panky tonight. I'm saving myself for my wife on our wedding night.” His eyes crinkled with teasing affection.
Paige wasn’t sure if he was hinting that she would be his future wife or if he was making fun of her. “Nice to know I’d be safe if I was sleeping with you.”
His hands on his hips, he tilted his head in warning. “I’m not taking your bed and letting you sleep on the living room sofa.”
She curled up on the loveseat in the sitting area of the room and pulled a throw over her. “I either sleep here or in the living room. You’re sleeping in my bed. I’m not letting my sister guilt you out of your bed and have you be so uncomfortable.”
♥♥♥
Paige woke snuggled against Cooper’s warm chest. She kept her eyes closed and tried to keep her breathing even, wanting to prolong the moment as long as possible, but couldn’t resist inhaling his subtle spicy cologne.
His rich deep voice rumbled in his chest. “You don’t fool me. I know you’re awake. Or do you always smile in your sleep?”
She stretched and smiled at him. “I hate to sound ungrateful, but why am I in bed with you?”
He lifted that blasted eyebrow and said, “Did you really think I’d let you sleep scrunched up on that postage stamp of a sofa while I sprawled in your king-sized bed?”
“I was protecting you from the discomfort to y
our leg. Plus, I wanted to protect both of us from temptation.”
He kissed the top of her head. “And yet your virtue is still intact?”
“I’m not sure if I should be relieved or disappointed.” Paige looked at the treen in the turret and the windows beyond. She threw the covers off and ran to the window. “It’s snowing! It’s a white Christmas. Merry Christmas, Cooper.”
He smiled wide, his dimples accenting his grin. “That’s a big deal for you?”
“Are you kidding? White Christmases are magical. I love a white Christmas. Especially when we get to make a Christmas snowman.”
He laughed and hugged her. “Before we start making snowmen, can we get dressed and open our gifts?”
Chapter Fourteen
Cooper couldn’t remember when he’d enjoyed Christmas more. He and Paige sat on pillows next to the tree and took turns opening presents. It wasn’t the gifts he’d gotten that made it special, though he had to admit he loved the way Paige gave gifts. It was sharing the experience with her. Her gifts to him spanned the spectrum from gag gifts to thoughtful. Her delight and gratitude for each of his gifts warmed his heart.
She gave him a pair of pajamas with the Santa Grinch on them, new driving gloves, a fedora hat—which must have looked good on him judging by her expression when he tried it on—two neckties, dubbed power ties by Tina, a dress shirt, and season tickets to the Mad Ants basketball games.
He gave her a gift card to Victoria Secret, a Kindle Fire, an Amazon gift card, a box of DeBrand’s chocolate truffles, season tickets to the Embassy Theatre, and a special gift that he held back for last. The box held a custom-made gold ornament in the shape of a Christmas tree hanging in a round frame. At the bottom it was engraved with Paige and Cooper, Our First Christmas. He’d tied his grandmother’s diamond ring onto the ornament with red ribbon. He was going to ask her to marry him. Not even for his first game playing with the NFL had he been so nervous.