Not Actually Engaged (Otherwise Engaged #1)

by Jan Hinds

  “Paige, no. I’ve been wanting to talk with you since Christmas. Please don’t go with Sawyer. I don’t know why he decided to come to me to design his health club, but we’ll do fine without his business. I don’t have a good feeling about this. I don’t trust him.”

  She gave Cooper a reassuring pat on his hand and asked him again. “Do you trust me?”

  “Yes, of course. That doesn’t mean it’s safe for you to go with him.”

  “Don’t worry about me. I can take care of myself. After all, this is strictly business, right?” She gathered up her laptop and the portfolio containing the design swatches and shoved them into her computer bag. “We need this job.”

  She plastered on her most reassuring smile. From the look on his face, she failed to imbue the confidence she intended.

  Cooper took hold of her upper arms and held her close without drawing her against him. His voice was low and tender when he spoke to her. “Listen, you’ve gone through a lot of changes this past year and I know you’re still vulnerable.”

  Every muscle in her body tensed as she pulled away from his grip. “I’m not weak. And I’m not stupid, or gullible.” She put her coat on and picked up her bag and purse. “What do you think I’m going to do, believe all his baloney? I didn’t just fall off the turnip truck you know.”

  Cooper’s lips pressed into a thin line. “Do you have your phone with you?”

  “Of course I have my phone with me.” She patted her empty coat pockets, rifled through her purse and started shuffling through the papers on her desk before finding it under the paint color pallet. She snatched up the pallet. “Oh, I should take this in case he wants to change any of the colors.”

  She stuffed the color pallet into the outer pocket of her bag. “There. I think I’m ready.”

  Cooper picked up her phone and held it in front of her.

  “Oh, yeah. I forgot to pick it up.”

  He shook his head and opened her coat, stuffing the phone into the pocket of her slacks. His hands gripped her waist and he tugged her close. “Honey, there’s so much I want to say. I screwed up last night. I should have escorted Whitley to the door as soon as she showed up. Please forgive me.”

  Paige’s heart thundered. “I do forgive you.”

  Cooper no longer smelled like Whitley’s perfume. He smelled like—she didn’t have a word for what he smelled like. He was woodsy and musky and spicy—that glorious Cooper scent that made her insides quiver. He slid his hands to her hips and leaned so close his warm breath tickled her ear when he whispered, “Please keep your phone with you at all times today. If you feel in any way uncomfortable, call and I’ll come get you immediately.” He stepped back and ran his fingers through his dark, brown hair, leaving it in sexy disarray.

  She fisted her fingers to keep them from brushing back the lock that curled onto his forehead. “I will. Don’t worry about me. I can handle Sawyer Pierce.” A couple loud knocks rattled her door. She jumped into Cooper’s arms.

  He chuckled and whispered into her ear, “Are you sure about that?”

  She breathed in his scent again. “I’m not the least bit worried about Sawyer.” Not when she was having so much trouble controlling her Cooper desires.

  Cooper turned her toward him and held her arms below her elbows. “Be careful around him. He wants something and you’re not the usual type of girl he’s attracted to.”

  She felt the blood drain from her face and wrenched her arms free from his grasp. “Oh? Do tell. Just how far below his standards am I? You know, it’s a good thing I like myself. Otherwise you’d sure do a number on my self-esteem.”

  Cooper took a step back. “Paige that’s not what I meant. I—”

  He plunged his hands through his hair again and scratched the back of his head. “How can I put this? You’re not very experienced and I’m afraid Sawyer will see you as a conquest. As much as I can’t stand the guy, he seems to be quite charming with the ladies.”

  “And just how would he know of my inexperience? Perhaps it would do me good to succumb to the wiles of Sawyer Pierce. At least then I’d no longer be the freak you see me as. If Whitley is the kind of woman you want, maybe Sawyer can tutor me.”

  She didn’t realize she was shouting until she heard Tina’s dropped mug shatter on the floor. Through the glass windows of her office she saw Tina and Zach staring at her with the same open-mouthed, stunned expression.

  Sawyer Pierce grinned in amusement.

  Cooper took a step toward her, stopping when she moved away from him. His hands fell to his sides. “Paige—”

  Her face flamed. “I don’t have time for this. Our client is waiting.” She gathered her things together, slid the door open, and made an elegant exit. At least she would have if she hadn’t tripped on her own feet and launched herself into Sawyer Pierce’s strong arms.

  Reports of his quick reflexes and great hands were not exaggerated.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Aunt Marty headed back to Ohio that morning, determined to get home before the snowstorm which hit Fort Wayne shortly after noon.

  Zach was hyped up for snow removal with his phone ringing constantly with requests to clear driveways and sidewalks as soon as the snow ended.

  Tina stood at the front door, watching the street turn white. “Can I leave early?” she asked when Cooper wandered out of his office. “I thought if Zach takes me now, we can hit the grocery store for some essentials before the shelves get bought out.”

  Not wanting witnesses to his sour mood, Cooper said, “Sure. Do you think Paige needs anything from the store? Maybe you could call her and suggest she come home before the roads get too slick?”

  Tina paused as she wrapped her knit scarf around her neck. “Why don’t you call her?”

  Cooper shoved his hands in his pockets and looked down at the floor. “I tried. She’s ignoring my calls.”

  “Why don’t you just tell her you love her and ask her to marry you? It’s clear to everyone else that’s what you want.”

  Zach folded his arms and frowned at Tina. “Sometimes what seems clear to everyone else isn’t clear to the one person who matters. I get Cooper’s reluctance to propose if he isn’t sure of her answer. We men might be tough, but when it comes to something as big as getting engaged, we’d kind of like to have confidence in the answer before we pop the question.”

  Tina’s mouth dropped open. “Zachary Lancaster, are you in love with someone? How have you been hiding that from me? I’m your best friend. Who are you in love with?”

  Zach rolled his eyes to the ceiling and turned her toward the kitchen. “Come on, clueless. Let me get you home before you bust a blood vessel trying to figure out the obvious.” He waved to Cooper as he herded Tina toward the exit through the kitchen.

  “Seriously, who’s the lucky girl? I didn’t know you were dating anyone. Do I know her?” Her barrage of questions faded out the door, leaving Cooper alone in the quiet house.

  He sent another text: Paige, if you won’t come home, please let me know you’re all right or I’m going to call the police. For all I know Ted has taken you.

  Her reply was short and to the point: Don’t. I’m with Sawyer and Marcus is here. No worries.

  Cooper barked out a pathetic laugh that no one heard. He tried to work on the plans for a doctor’s new home in Aboite, only to find himself staring out the window at the falling snow. He gave up working and wandered the Victorian house he’d restored and made into a home for him and Paige. He realized this was not going to be a suitable neighborhood for children. As emotionally attached as he was to his grandmother’s home, it wasn’t where he wanted to raise his children. The children he and Paige would have.

  Returning to his office, he opened up his design program and began a new plan for the home he wanted to build for Paige. He’d leave the interior details up to her, while the structure would be his design. She loved the turret so of course their home had to have one. Starting with the master bedroom, he added a crib
to the circular room.

  When Suzanne left him for Sawyer, he’d been more upset with the vindictive telegram from his ex-friend than with his ex-fiancée. All he felt was weary of being dumped once again for the bad boy Sawyer Pierce and he had no desire to ever love anyone again.

  Until Paige.

  Her teasing humor, and kindness gradually softened his heart. From the moment he met her, her blue eyes and playful smile captivated him. He had to admit, the fact that she wasn’t stick thin and runway worthy at first made him feel comfortable with her. There was no way Sawyer Pierce would steal her from him.

  His heart ached when he thought of the hurt in Paige’s face when he suggested she wasn’t Sawyer’s type. Her insecurity quickly turned to anger and she downright sparked with rage. Her fire kindled his own desires and he wanted to redirect that fire into passion.

  Only she took her fire and left with Sawyer. All Cooper’s own insecurities about Sawyer returned with a vengeance. Had his thoughtless comments driven her right into Sawyer’s arms? He didn’t want Sawyer or any other man near Paige.

  Restless, he got up to walk around to stretch his muscles. Every creak of the old house twisted the nerve in the back of his neck. After countless trips to the foyer with the hope it was instead Paige returning, he checked his silent phone again. He sent Paige another text before he hunkered down in his office to work on the house blueprints.

  Every bad thing in his life seemed linked to Sawyer Pierce. Why did he even consider working with the snake? Cooper didn’t care about his lost football career. He didn’t care about the petty rivalry he and Sawyer constantly engaged in. Nor did he care that Sawyer took Suzanne from him. If push came to shove, he didn’t care if his business failed, as long as Paige was at his side.

  If Pierce harmed her in anyway...

  Making another trip to the foyer, he stopped short when his phone started playing You Are So Beautiful by Joe Crocker, the distinctive ringtone he’d set for Paige. “Paige, honey, where are you? Do you want me to come get you?”

  “Cooper, I’ll be home late. Stop worrying,” she said between labored breaths.

  “Why are you breathing heavy? What’s going on?”

  “Oh, man. I’ve never experienced anything like this. My whole body feels invigorated. I never knew it could be like this. I feel both relaxed and energized. I feel like I can do anything. Like I can accomplish anything. I feel so incredibly good.” Her moan of ecstasy filled Cooper with dread. Her last words mixed pleasure with excitement. She breathed out a moan. “Why didn’t anyone ever tell me? This is better than chocolate.”

  Cooper crumpled onto the wooden stairs. “Paige...”

  “Cooper, I have to go. I’ll see you later. Don’t wait up.”

  Cooper stared at the phone for a long time. At length he dropped it on the floor and remained slouched on the stairs with no will to move. His sweet Paige had succumbed to Sawyer Pierce’s charms.

  There was only one thing to do. As soon as he regained the will to live, he was going to thrash Sawyer Pierce.

  ♥♥♥

  Night fell leaving the house completely dark when Sawyer walked Paige to the front door. Cooper watched from the shadowy stairwell as Sawyer kissed Paige’s cheek and said something that made her mouth curve in a forced smile. When she pushed open the front door the streetlight glow illuminated her face. Her raw, hurt expression twisted his gut.

  Cooper felt like a tire with a slow leak that finally lost the last of its air. He reached up and flicked on the switch for the overhead light. “Why Paige?”

  She dropped her packages and screamed. “Cooper?” She punched him in the shoulder when she realized it was him. “What are you doing sitting on the stairs in the dark? You scared me half to death.” She bent to pick up the packages she dropped.

  “Why him? How could you—with him?” Cooper’s throat closed. He couldn’t look at her. The betrayal felt worse than when Suzanne left him. Worse than any other moment in his life. He fisted his hands tight, as though doing so kept his life force from seeping out through his fingertips.

  She dropped the packages back to the floor as she froze at the sound of anguish in Cooper’s voice. “Just what do you think happened today?”

  “Come on Paige, don’t treat me like an idiot. You called me while you were in the throes of passion. I heard it in your voice. How could you call me when you were—when he was—don’t you have any self-respect? Don’t you have any respect for me? For pity sake, you said it was better than chocolate.”

  Paige listened to Cooper’s outburst with her mouth gaping open. When he finished, she closed her mouth and gave him a crooked smile. She dropped her coat on the floor and kicked off her shoes. Leaning over him, she whispered in his ear. “I’m going to tell you everything that happened. I’m going to tell you everything that Sawyer and I did today. I won’t leave anything out. I want you to appreciate each moment as if you were right there with me.”

  Cooper gripped her arms. “Paige don’t.”

  “This is important to me.” She breathed into his ear and his mouth felt as dry as the ashes in the fireplace.

  “After Sawyer and I left, he took me to lunch at a fancy restaurant downtown where he gave me another lesson on picking the healthiest items on the menu. The lunch was delectable.” She nibbled on Cooper’s ear and his hands shifted from her arms to her waist.

  Her lips brushed his ear when she spoke. “We talked for two hours at the restaurant. Then he took me shopping and bought me three pairs of shoes.” She threaded her fingers in his hair and trailed light kisses along his jaw.

  Cooper’s self-control shredded to a single thread.

  She shifted her purring voice to his other ear. “Walking shoes, running shoes, and cross trainers. Next he took me to a fitness boutique that is the first store to carry his new line of exercise clothing and he bought me an entire exercise wardrobe.”

  Cooper was certain he didn’t want to hear the rest and tried to push her away, but she clung to him, pinning him to the stairs in exquisite agony.

  “The rest of the day was spent at his temporary Fit Spa. He gave me a personal training exercise session followed by visits to each of the spa stations. I called you when I was getting the first massage I’d ever had. It was wonderful. Maxine has magic fingers.”

  “Maxine?” His voice came out in a squeak.

  She trailed kisses along his neck. “Next Sawyer took me to his condominium and fixed me and Marcus a light dinner, signed the contract, and made me a business proposition. We talked and watched the snow until the storm ended. When the streets were plowed, he brought me home.”

  She stood up and put space between them. “That’s all that happened.”

  Cooper stood as well. His legs were stiff from sitting still so long. He reached out and cupped her face in his hands. “You mean he didn’t even try anything?”

  Paige shrugged and blinked rapidly as she tried to wedge free of Cooper’s hold. “Like you said, I’m not his type.”

  Physical relief drained from Cooper as he crushed Paige to his chest. “Oh thank God. I’ve been worried sick.” He fought his primal urge to ravage her right there on the stairs and kissed her on the top of the head.

  After a moment’s hesitation, Paige hugged him back. He felt her tremble in his arms and relaxed his hold enough to look into her eyes. “Something did happen. Please tell me. I promise when I kill him I’ll make it slow and painful.”

  She let go of him and picked up her things, all the while averting her eyes. Climbing the stairs without looking at him, she asked, “Did you really think my voice sounded like I was in the throes of passion?” Her voice quivered slightly.

  Anyone else would miss it, but Cooper knew her too well. She was trying to change the subject. “If you ever treat my ears and neck to another mock seduction, you’d better be prepared for an advanced course in the throes of passion.”

  Her gasp made him grin that he caught her off-guard. “What upset you?” he as
ked in a gentle tone.

  She stopped and leaned on the railing. With her back to him she said, “Sawyer wants me to be featured in the ads for his spas as someone who used his methods to overcome morbid obesity.”

  Cooper climbed the stairs and when he reached her he covered her hand that rested on the railing with his. He drew in a breath to say something and Paige interrupted him. “You are not going to kill him or do him bodily harm.”

  From the step below her, his mouth was level with her ear. He nuzzled her neck and nibbled on her ear. When a soft sigh escaped her lips, he said, “Perhaps not, but there’s no way I’ll do business with anyone who insults you or makes you feel uncomfortable.”

  She fixed him with a steely glare, “Unlike Whitley?”

  “How many times do I have to apologize? Are you ever going to forgive me?”

  She dropped her head. “You’re right. I’m being petty and jealous when I have no right to be. I forgive you.”

  Cooper took the bags from her and carried them up to her room. She sank down into the loveseat in her room, leaned her head back, and closed her eyes.

  “So what did you tell him about his offer?” he asked.

  She patted the cushion next to her. He sat down and slipped his arm around her shoulders and she cuddled into his side, resting her head on his shoulder. “I told him that as much as I enjoyed the day at his spa and was sure he’d be successful, my weight loss had nothing to do with him, and to say that it did would be false advertising.”

  Cooper kissed her temple. “You alone deserve the credit for how fit you’ve become. I’m proud of you.”

  She scoffed. “Why are you proud? I didn’t lose weight for you.”

  Cooper frowned. “You didn’t?”

  Paige sat up and looked at him. “No. Originally I did it to see if losing weight might kindle a deeper attraction with Ted. Once I got started, I felt so much better that I kept losing because I wanted to. Sawyer did offer me a free membership and full use of the spa and fitness services to lose the last twenty-five pounds.”