Not Actually Engaged (Otherwise Engaged #1)

by Jan Hinds

Cooper’s hand slipped from her back. “You were gone till the wee hours of the morning every night after my surgery. I thought you were with Ted.”

  Paige’s cheeks overheated. “I spent the other evenings either working out at the gym or I hung out at Tina’s apartment.”

  “Why?” he asked.

  Brent made a scoffing sound. “Are you really that dense? She did it because she loves you.”

  Paige glared at her brother. “I never said that.”

  Her father raised his eyebrows and she cast him a look that pleaded for him not to contradict her. “Can you all please go back to the living room and let me talk to Dan alone?”

  Cooper leaned toward her. “Paige, I—”

  “Not now Cooper. Please.”

  When she and Dan were alone, he pulled her into his arms and she nestled her head on his shoulder. “I used to be so in love with you,” she said.

  Dan chuckled. “When I was sixteen you were thirteen. When I was eighteen, you were fifteen. By the time you were eighteen...”

  “You were already in college. I guess we never stood much of a chance,” she said. “I don’t know if I ever properly thanked you for shielding me from Walter Crawford after the prom. Everyone thought you and I were dating and it gave my image a real boost after that. Not to mention that whatever you said to Walter kept him from making any future advances on me.”

  “I’m glad,” he said. He looked at her thoughtfully. “I believe they need interior decorators in the DC area. I’d sure love a shot at winning your heart now that you’re all grown up.”

  She stepped out of his embrace and sat back down on her stool. “That’s sweet, Dan. There’s only one problem with that.”

  “You are in love with this Cooper fellow?” He hitched his thumb toward the hallway.

  She jabbed her index finger in his direction. “Bingo.”

  “Is this guy good enough for you?”

  She smiled. “We have a lot to work on, but yes, he is.”

  “Then why go out with another guy?”

  Paige shrugged. “Pride? Stupidity? Anger? I guess I wanted to assert my independence and let Cooper know he couldn’t get away with trying to manipulate my relationships.”

  He took his card out of his wallet and wrote a number on it. “This is my personal cell phone. If you need me, night or day, call me.” He closed his hand over hers when he placed it in her palm. “And if it doesn’t work out with Cooper, I want to be the first to know.”

  “But if I call you, Ted will know I’m talking to the FBI, won’t he?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I’m pretty sure I did something stupid when I went out with Ted again. Cooper bought me a new phone for business. Ted said he’d heard about the model but hadn’t seen one. He played around with the phone, fiddled with it, taking it apart and putting it back together. When he finished he looked very pleased with himself. Earlier this evening he showed up at Cooper’s parents’ house. I wondered if he’d done something to it to track me.”

  Dan raised his eyebrows. “Where’s your phone now?”

  “Brent still has it.”

  “I’ll check it in a minute.” He pushed his tablet aside and took Paige’s hand. “Brent said Ted threatened you. Do you feel safe? Do you think this guy might harm you?”

  “Ted wouldn’t resort to physical violence. His style is more like cyber violence.”

  “What kind of cyber violence?”

  “I shudder to think what he’ll do to my identity. He might drain my bank accounts, hack my business contacts, or even hack someone, and make it look like I did it.”

  “He’s that good?” Dan asked.

  Paige splayed out her fingers, palms up and shrugged. “According to Ted, he is. I have no way of knowing. It took me five years to figure out how to change my phone’s ringtones to identify different callers.”

  Dan patted her shoulder. “Don’t worry, Paige. I’m going to make sure you’re safe. I’ll check your phone and any computer or other network devices you use.”

  “Thank you, Dan. I’m sorry we interrupted your holiday, but I can’t tell you what it means to me that you’re helping me.”

  Dan hugged Paige again. His hands roved over her back. “Sweetheart, I’m serious. If it doesn’t work out with this Cooper fellow, I’d love a chance with you.”

  Paige went up on her tiptoes and stretched to kiss him on the cheek. “I promise you’ll be the first one I call.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Cooper’s leg throbbed and he knew he should get off his feet, but there was no way he was leaving Paige’s side again. Together they shadowed Dan as he searched all their electronics, finding the same hidden spyware on all the devices. Dan explained, in technical jargon that neither of them understood, that he was isolating the program and would remove it after he copied it for evidence.

  Dan’s brow furrowed as he studied the computer screen. “This code looks familiar...”

  His eyebrows shot up suddenly and he punched a number on his phone. When the call connected, he barked orders. “Get up. I need a federal warrant for the arrest of—” he searched his tablet, “Theodore James Flannigan. I think he’s the hacker responsible for the corporate espionage case we’ve been working on. You know the one I’m talking about? The hacker that compromised the government contractor in Fort Wayne, Indiana. I’m looking at a near identical program.”

  Dan gave his location and Ted’s address. “Hurry. We don’t want someone with his skills running. This guy’s done enough damage on our soil. We don’t need him taking his show on the road.”

  When he ended the call, Dan looked like a kid on Christmas morning finding everything on his wish list under the tree. “I’m going to have to leave, but I’ll be back as soon as we get Ted into custody. Paige, thanks to your terrible taste in men, I could get a huge promotion after all this.” He aimed his thumb at Cooper. “If this guy turns out to be another loser, my offer is always open.”

  He held her face in his large hands and gave her a not so brotherly kiss on the lips. “Don’t touch anything. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

  Cooper knew punching an FBI agent wasn’t a good idea so he kept his arms folded over his broad chest. After Dan ran out the front door, Cooper asked, “What offer?”

  Paige had a wistful look on her face as she still gazed at the open doorway. “Huh? Offer? Oh, you mean Dan. He suggested I look for a job in the DC area.”

  Cooper dropped his arms and narrowed his eyes. “But you already have a job.”

  “Yeah, well, I don’t plan to be a personal assistant after I graduate.”

  “I never expected you—we agreed—I always wanted to use your design talents—I…” He was mucking this up, still making it sound like everything was for him. About him. He was selfish. What he should be asking was what she wanted? What did he have to offer her? “Paige—”

  She held up her hand to stop him. “Look, it’s been a long day. I’m tired. You’re tired. Let’s agree to not say anything tonight that we might regret tomorrow.”

  Cooper nodded and walked her to the stairs. She stopped on the second step from the bottom, holding the railing and looking down.

  Cooper joined her and put his hands on her waist. “Paige.”

  She turned and fell into his arms, sobbing on his shoulder. “I can’t believe I was so wrong about Ted. Cooper, I’m so sorry I brought this all down on you and your family. I should just go home with Mom and Dad tomorrow and forget about graduating. If Ted follows through with his threat, my identity will be trashed. I might as well give up my dreams, and resign myself to working in the hardware store for the rest of my life.”

  Cooper held her tight with one arm and gently rubbed her back with his other hand. “Shh. You’ll do no such thing. This is your home. I won’t let Ted or anyone hurt you and he can’t do anything to you that we can’t undo. He certainly can’t take your talent. He can’t take away all of us who love you. We’ll get through this. I promis
e we will. This Dan character seems like a competent fellow, aside from his annoying penchant for kissing you.”

  She pulled back enough to look at him and her mouth almost ticked up in a smile before worry creased her brow. “What if Ted targets you? I can’t bear that I’ve brought this on you. You’d be better off if you’d never met me.”

  He tipped her chin up and forced her to look at him. “Never. I’d rather lose everything else in my life, than lose you. Besides, this isn’t your fault. I started the ball rolling when I sent that breakup text.”

  Paige sniffed and bobbed her head. Wiping the tears from her face, she said, “You’re right. This is all your fault. Thank you. I feel so much better.” She looped one arm around his waist and together they climbed the stairs side-by-side.

  Cooper draped his arm around her shoulder. “Hang on. You don’t have to agree so quickly.”

  “No, no. I believe in giving credit where credit is due. You’re right this is all your fault.” She flashed him an impish grin.

  He held her close, loving the feel of her by his side, grateful for the hint of her humor returning. “Sure you don’t want to share the blame?”

  “No. You’ve earned it fair and square.” Her half-grin tugged at his heart.

  Cooper trudged up the steps with her. “Why do I feel like I’m going to be hearing about this for years?”

  “I’d like to say you won’t, but I can’t honestly make that promise.”

  When they topped the stairs, Cooper listened to the silent house. “Where is everyone?”

  Paige motioned in the directions of the rooms as she whispered, “My parents are sacked out on the sofa bed in the living room. Aunt Marty is in the guest room. Amy and Brent are camping out on the third floor with the kids, and Joni and Josh are in your room.”

  Cooper caressed the side of her face. In the dim light of the landing, he looked down into the eyes of the woman he loved. “I guess you’re stuck with me again tonight.”

  “I don’t think that’s such a good idea.”

  “Paige, there is no way I’ll let you out of my sight tonight. I have to know you’re safe.”

  She shuddered and Cooper hugged her snug against him as they walked toward her room. “I promise everything will be okay. There is one thing I’d like you to do for me tonight, though.”

  Paige stilled in his arms and he couldn’t help smiling. “What?” she asked.

  “I’m going to have to insist that you take a shower and scrub off all the Cavanaugh contamination before we kiss goodnight.”

  Paige stifled her laughter against his chest. When her shoulders stopped shaking she tipped her head up and whispered. “You’re assuming you’ll get a kiss tonight? How do you know Dan hasn’t ruined me for other men?”

  Cooper lowered his lips so close to her mouth that he felt her shallow breaths on his face. “Has he?”

  She grinned and whispered, “No. I still prefer Cooper cooties.”

  “I don’t have cooties.”

  As Cooper entered the room behind her, he turned to shut the bedroom door and saw Stuart Vaughn standing in the hallway watching him with a warning flash in his eye. Cooper nodded his head and hoped that Stuart understood he had no intention of taking advantage of Paige.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Marcus Shore quickly became like a protective older brother to Paige. He chauffeured Paige and Cooper to classes and business meetings. When Paige had shopping to do or errands to run, he escorted her and kept a vigilant watch for any threats.

  Angie approached them at the meat counter at Pio Market when they were out buying groceries. “Paige, I’m so glad you told me about this place. They have the best sausage and the leanest ground beef I’ve found.”

  Paige hugged her friend. “I agree. What are you making? Any chance I can talk you into cooking at our house and sharing the recipe?”

  Angie looked at Marcus and blushed.

  “I’m sorry,” Paige said. “Angie, this is Marcus Shore. He’s been keeping me safe, though I think he’s getting pretty bored with following me around after the excitement of Sawyer Pierce’s life. Marcus, I’d like you to meet my good friend, Angie Robeson.”

  Marcus shook Angie’s hand and held it a little longer than a casual handshake. “Pleased to meet you, Miss Angie. And for the record, Miss Paige, I much prefer the company of pretty ladies to jocks any day of the week.”

  They finished their purchases and walked out of the front of the store instead of the rear door where they’d entered. As Marcus rounded the corner, he stopped abruptly. “This is the third time I’ve seen that van today. You ladies go back in the store, please, until I know it is safe.”

  Paige refused to leave and watched as Marcus ran toward the van. The driver saw him coming and almost hit Marcus as he backed out of the diagonal parking space and sped out of the parking lot.”

  “Petunias,” Angie said. “I had no idea you were in this much danger. I’m coming home and fix that man the best meal he’s ever had for taking care of you.”

  ♥♥♥

  Aunt Marty refused to leave until Ted was caught. She stayed in the guest bedroom and spent much of her time in the third floor turret room writing her next mystery novel. She and Sylvia had formed a fast friendship, much to Evie’s dismay and Paige’s delight. Sylvia appointed herself as Aunt Marty’s personal Fort Wayne tour guide.

  Aunt Marty and Sylvia were visiting the Allen County Courthouse when Dan Cavanaugh called Paige three weeks after Christmas. “We haven’t found Ted yet, but we no longer think he’s in the country. One of his credit cards has shown activity in Central and South America. The trail was cold by the time we got someone there to check it out, but all indications are that he’s fled the United States and we’re pulling the protection detail from watching you. I don’t see where he’s ever made any attempt to attack your computers either.”

  While Paige wasn’t about to question the ability of the FBI, NSA, CIA, and whoever else was after Ted, but she doubted he’d be so stupid as to leave such an obvious trail. “I’m not going to argue for the detail to stay, because the more I think about it, the more I’m convinced that Ted was making empty threats. I still don’t think he’s ever posed a real danger to me. He’s too nice a guy to hurt me.”

  When Paige finished talking to Dan, she found Marcus Shore in the kitchen with Angie helping her cut up vegetables for a salad for lunch. Angie plated a chicken dish that made Paige’s mouth water. “It looks like you’re off the hook for hanging around here, Marcus. The FBI is convinced that Ted fled the country so you can go back to guarding Sawyer.”

  Marcus frowned and sagged his massive shoulders. “Are you sure you don’t want me to stick around longer?” he glanced at Angie.

  “I thought you’d be happy to be rid of me,” Paige said.

  “Awe, no, Miss Paige. I love being around you. You and Miss Angie make the best food, even better than my mom. Pierce keeps trying to make me lose weight. All he stocks in the fridge are raw vegetables and tofu. That stuff gives me terrible gas.” His scarred face turned red. “Besides, you’re both much prettier to look at than Pierce.”

  “Marcus, that’s sweet of you to say. You must stay for lunch, but as a friend, not a bodyguard. Thank you for watching out for me.” She went up on her tip toes and kissed the big man on his cheek.

  Cooper chose that moment to walk into the kitchen. He cleared his throat and frowned at Marcus.

  Marcus winked at Paige. “I guess you’ve got enough protection here.” He took a card from his wallet and jotted down a phone number. “Here’s my phone number. If you see anything at all that makes you feel unsafe, you call right away and I’ll be here as soon as I can.”

  Marcus hurried to take a serving dish from Angie. He placed it on the table and then held the chair for her as she sat down.

  Cooper followed his lead and held the chair for Paige. “Angie, I’m grateful for you helping out with meals around here. I hope your grades aren’t suffering f
or the time you’ve spent with us. I have to admit, knowing you were here to chaperone the bodyguard has been a relief for me.”

  Paige’s mouth dropped open. “Cooper Jennings, tell me you didn’t use my friend to manipulate my relationships again.”

  Marcus cleared his throat. His rugged face turned ten shades of crimson with the brightest shade coloring the scar along his jaw. “Please don’t be angry with Cooper. It was my idea. I suggested it the first time I met Miss Angie.

  Angie kicked Paige under the table. “Paige isn’t angry, are you?” she said with a forced smile.

  Paige’s eyebrows popped up. She’d never seen her friend show an interest in a guy before. “No, I’m not angry. Not at all.”

  Cooper chuckled. “Thanks for guarding my lady. Tell Pierce we’re both grateful.”

  Marcus nodded and cast a shy smile at Angie, who immediately became fascinated with her plate.

  After lunch, Marcus gathered his things and offered to walk Angie to her car. Cooper tilted his head to the side and listened for the front door to close. “Do you hear that?”

  Paige listened. “I don’t hear anything.”

  “Exactly. This is the first time we’ve been alone since before Christmas.” He swept her into his arms and danced slowly in a circle. “I’ve been wanting to talk to you for a long time. Do you want to go out tonight? The doctor cleared me to drive again so we can take my car.” He lowered his lips to brush hers.

  The side door opened and Tina hollered into the house. “I’m here. I snagged Angie before she left.” Tina charged into the kitchen with Angie close on her heels. Both girls carried grocery bags in each hand that they piled onto the kitchen island.

  When Angie saw Paige and Cooper, her face turned red. “Petunias, I’m sorry. We can leave.”

  “No, don’t go, Angie, please stay,” Paige said. She backed away from Cooper a step to calm her racing heart. “Angie and Tina offered to help me prepare a little snack buffet for our presentation to Sawyer tomorrow. We wanted to give him some examples of foods he can serve at the snack bar in his Fit Spa.”