Cooper

by Hazel Parker

  Cooper must have had the sharpest eyes, because he caught on to it right away. He gave me a disapproving look and removed his jacket without preamble, then placed it over my lap and turned on the seat warmer. I shot him a reluctant look, which he returned with a stubborn one.

  I sighed. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome,” he said. He asked for my address, then began to drive off when I gave it to him.

  I wrapped the jacket tighter around me. Five minutes later, I inwardly groaned when I smelled him on the jacket—a combination of aftershave and man that was absolutely addictive.

  “Was that an associate of your late husband?”

  I shook my head. “A new one. But with how he acted tonight, he’s crossed off the list.”

  “And the one in the restaurant?”

  “A business associate as well.”

  “So do you only go on dates with business associates?”

  There was no judgment in his tone, only curiosity—which was why I found myself opening up to him before I could control my mouth. “It was a new tactic I decided to try out. I needed some investors for my marketing company, and I thought a dinner or two would soften them up. The first one went fine, but this one…well, you saw what happened. He misinterpreted, even if I didn’t give him any signals.”

  “Hmm.”

  “I already had concerns about him,” I admitted. “But I didn’t follow my instincts, which I should have. It was a bad business deal that shouldn’t have even started.”

  “Well, it didn’t start,” he drawled. “And that’s the good thing.” I shot him a look, which he returned. “What?”

  “I just didn’t peg you for the optimistic type.” Which I should have, considering I’d never seen him as anything but laidback in our few encounters.

  Well, except earlier.

  The drive was unexpectedly short, and soon I was pointing out where my house was. He stared quietly as he navigated his car in front of my porch, which was made of Greek-like columns and trimmed greens.

  “So you were the one who threw that race drivers’ party last year?”

  “I have thrown it every year since I got into racing.” I tilted my head, remembering I didn’t see him around last year. “I invited those I knew and asked them to pass the message.”

  “I got the invite from Gray, but I went home to Texas for that weekend.” He shot me a grin, one that was positively mischievous. “Were you looking for me last year?”

  I lifted my chin. “I didn’t even know you existed until our last interaction.” That was a lie, of course. No one knew of the racing world and didn’t know of him.

  He placed a hand over his heart. “Ouch. That hurts, Sara.”

  I gave him an amused look, one he returned. After a few seconds, the amusement disappeared from his face, replaced by an intensity that had my heart starting up again.

  Okay. Time to leave.

  I lifted my hands to remove the jacket from my shoulders, but he stopped me by gently placing his hand over mine. I stiffened immediately at the warm touch, unprepared for it. Tingles shot up my arm. My head turned, and our eyes clashed all over again. This time, there was heat in his. But the gaze was broken as his eyes focused on his hand, which slowly slid the jacket back up around me.

  “Keep it,” he murmured. “I don’t want you to be cold.”

  Talking seemed impossible, and I had to swallow before speaking with my dry throat. “I’m fine.”

  “I know you are.” He looked at me again, then removed his hand. “Don’t be afraid of me, Sara. I won’t hurt you.”

  “I’m not…afraid of you.”

  But I was afraid of how I was acting around him—how my heart beat a little too fast, how I couldn’t seem to look away.

  I was afraid I’d do something I would regret.

  I shook off the thoughts. Then I embarrassingly croaked a goodbye and got out of the car, standing at the front entrance and watching as he drove down my drive. The jacket still held his scent.

  And it lingered in the air for a long, long time.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  COOPER

  Minor races were an inconvenience to others, but to be honest, it was one of my favorites. While I loved the adrenaline rush and the loud crowds of the major ones, I also loved the close-knit factor of the minor ones, as well as the fact that there was less pressure involved. It allowed me to stop thinking about winning too much and just enjoy the ride, which was the first and foremost reason I entered this world, anyway.

  Of course, winning was also a bonus, and I was grinning by the time I crossed the finish line first and heard the crowd’s appreciative cheer. When I got out of the car, the cheer only got bolder, and I waved towards the bleachers before watching the crew steer the car towards the garage.

  This event was a minor among the minors, which meant there were also lesser reporters around, too. I talked to some of them and answered their questions before heading to the garage myself, where I found Gray hanging around.

  “Congrats, Cooper.”

  “Likewise,” I said. Gray and I were the only big-league racers who participated, as I heard Scott was abroad. Actually, Scott hadn’t been participating much in races after getting busy with his family and two kids, though he still managed to snag a win last year. He’d been winning for a few years straight now, but I had a feeling Gray or I would be breaking that streak this year.

  Hopefully me.

  “Where’s Kate?” I asked.

  “She had some work to finish. Why are you always looking for her?”

  I batted my lashes. “Because she’s prettier to look at than you.”

  Gray shot me a look. I smirked. The question of where someone else was slid in mind, but I managed to bite my tongue before could ask it. That moment in my car had been almost two weeks ago, and I hadn’t seen her since—and to be quite honest, it was driving me out of my mind how she just kept popping in my thoughts every single day. She didn’t watch my practices, and she didn’t attend most of Gray’s, either. Not that she needed to, because most managers didn’t. But I wanted to see her, though I didn’t want to push myself on her like that asshole guy did.

  It still raged inside me, remembering how she’d been handled like that. But she was one tough cookie, handling it like a queen. I am not even sure she needed my help back there, though I was still glad that I was there to shorten that encounter. Of course, it was the perfect coincidence that I glimpsed her walking down the road in her bare feet, too. What were the chances?

  “Any plans after the race?” Gray asked.

  I raised a brow. “Are you asking me out, Denton?”

  Gray rolled his eyes. “You wish. Sara’s throwing her annual party for the drivers at her place tonight. You know, the one you missed last year.”

  Surprise filled me. I just mentioned it to her. I thought she was purposely leaving me out until Gray explained that Sara informed only him and asked him to spread the news, not wanting the media to get a hold of the information too early. That made sense, and I checked my watch, which indicated that it was still eleven and I still had plenty of time to rest. With Jane already gone, I had nothing much to do.

  “So to get this straight…are you asking me out to be your date to Sara’s party?”

  “You’re incorrigible, Oliver.”

  “Says the man who’s the king of scandals,” I shot back pleasantly. “And it’s Cooper.”

  Gray grinned. Then he waved at me and told me to show up later, spouting off an address that I already knew. I told him I’d think about it, but there was no thinking about it anymore because I already made up my mind.

  Just a glimpse of Sara, then I’d be gone.

  At least, that was what I told myself.

  *****

  The party started at seven, but I got there at eight with no date in hand. I still couldn’t believe how huge Sara’s place was, from the upscale front lawn that I saw when I took her home that night. Now, as I went inside, it was e
ven bigger than it seemed, with high ceilings and chandeliers shining so brightly in every room. Waiters were walking around with trays of champagne, and the grand foyer was decorated in a festive style that spoke of warmth and elegance. Unlike most grand places, the surprising polished simplicity and cozy setup of this one appealed to me, and I thought it reflected the owner perfectly.

  That interaction in the car showed me that Sara wasn’t as coolly unaffected as she was made out to be—and if anything, it only made me more curious about her.

  I didn’t see Gray or Kate yet, so I settled for wandering around until I found the area where the food was. It was located beside the open bar, which I bypassed as I took a plate and eyed the food selection. I smiled when I found pizza and burgers beside the caviar, delighted at every single thing I was discovering about her tastes. Once that was done, I stood at a corner and ate slowly, watching as the crowd tightened up and mingled.

  It was a pretty random group of guests, really—from race car drivers, to the crew, to managers, to pretty much everyone you could find in our world. We often interacted in charity events and press conferences and such, but it was rare to see almost everyone together at a casual setup like this.

  I started mingling after spotting some people I knew. I often had this habit of hanging out in the garage before or after races, mostly because people from all walks of life just interested me. I was especially close to the crew, and I found myself chatting with some newbies who came here out of curiosity.

  I eventually spotted Gray, who had no Kate beside him. He spotted me at the same time, and I raised my brow purposely as I strode over to him.

  “What?” he asked.

  “You left your wife alone so you could spend some time with me, didn’t you? I’m so touched.”

  Before Gray could react, a hand hit my arm, and a third voice piped up. “You know you can always be our third wheel, Cooper.”

  I grinned and turned to Kate, already ready to tease her about how that would be my pleasure. But the words died from my throat when I saw she wasn’t alone—and just like that, I was no longer focused on Kate as I found myself staring at someone else.

  Sara.

  She was a vision in blue—a vibrant dress that flowed seamlessly around her body and swirled around her ankles. While I thought powder blue brought out her eyes, this darker color blew that out of the water as her blue eyes practically popped out and made her look breathtaking. My breath may have stopped for a few seconds, and I had to consciously, subtly inhale after a while.

  Sara smiled at Gray first, one that was warm and welcoming. Then she turned her gaze towards me—and instead of lifting her chin like she usually did, she suddenly looked a tad bit shy. She recovered from it pretty quickly, but there was no missing it—at least, not to me, because I couldn’t take my eyes off her.

  Shyness wasn’t something I expected from her, and it made her look adorable.

  “Hey, guys,” she said, addressing all of us in general. Our eye contact gone, she thanked us for coming and told us to have some fun. While I was usually the chatty one, I found myself simply listening in as she and Kate talked, obviously getting along despite the age difference. She was more relaxed with them around, contrary to how she was when she was around me.

  Tense.

  I’m not afraid of you.

  But I heard the truth in her words, and it had me wondering.

  It had me wondering a lot.

  Sara didn’t meet my eye until the end when she excused herself from us to mingle with the others. She smiled at me, the hint of shyness back, then turned around and walked away to act as the perfect host to someone else. My eyes followed her back, then the line of her long legs as she walked with ease and grace in high heels that made her pleasantly taller.

  Enough to meet my gaze almost levelly at the perfect opportunity.

  “And what exactly are you looking at, Oliver?”

  I shot Gray a look at the last name dig, then glanced at Kate. But Kate was already distracted talking to someone else, so I turned back to my co-racer. “I was looking at our perfectly hospitable host. Is she dating someone at the moment?”

  Gray raised a brow. “She doesn’t really share her private life with me, and I’m not inclined to ask.”

  “I’m sure she doesn’t and I’m sure you aren’t, but I know you know some things. And I know you’ll share them with me,” I said with a grin.

  “Arrogant.”

  “Stingy.”

  “Fine. She does date, but nothing serious.”

  “Is it because of the late husband?” Was she not over him yet?

  “I don’t know her enough to conclude that. But honestly, I don’t think so. It was five years ago. She seems pretty fine. I think she’s just busy.”

  I stayed quiet while I absorbed the information. I must have been too quiet because I felt Gray’s stare suddenly get too intense.

  “Why are you asking this all of a sudden?”

  I shrugged. Then I smirked. “That’s for me to know.”

  He shook his head. “She’s not interested in younger men.”

  “Who said I was interested?” And why on earth wasn’t she interested in younger men?

  “I’m just saying. Sara’s pretty reserved. She’s half-British, and it comes in the blood, I guess. She can also be intimidating, which I know isn’t your type at all.”

  She wasn’t intimidating to me. She was fascinating, a contrast of personalities that just didn’t make sense yet appealed all the same. She was hard outside, but soft inside. She was cool and frosty, but with some stirrings of shyness and vulnerability.

  I had to wonder if that was the reason why I couldn’t stop thinking about her. Then I remembered the heat in my stomach every time she was near, dismissing my earlier thought immediately.

  “Hmm,” I finally responded.

  Gray didn’t press the issue, and I didn’t ask anymore. I knew Sara had two kids from her late husband, and I wondered where they were now. I tried to distract myself by talking to Gray, then mingling some more when he left early with Kate. I didn’t want to leave yet, and I ended up having a glass or two of champagne as I got myself acquainted with some new people.

  As I followed Sara with my eyes.

  She was smiling perfectly at everyone, and anyone could see that she was an experienced hostess. But something was off, and I could feel it in my gut more than my next breath. Now, instead of watching her and trying not to go to her, I found myself watching her and trying to figure out what was wrong, and if there was anything I could do to help.

  Our paths eventually crossed again after a while, though she was talking to someone a few inches away from me instead of me. I heard the man ask about her kids, and she replied that they weren’t around but would be back for the holidays.

  I watched as something flashed in her eyes this time, turning them sad for a second before she covered it up like she usually did every other emotion.

  I watched as she excused herself with a smile. Her gaze met mine for a split of a second, and her smile froze.

  Then she firmed it up, nodded her head once, and slipped out of the party area.

  I gulped down the remnants of my champagne glass.

  To hell with just watching.

  I followed her.

  CHAPTER NINE

  SARA

  I didn’t think it was possible to be lonely in the middle of one of the best parties of the year—at least, that was what the guests claimed it to be, something which pleased me. But the feeling of hollowness set in right when I least expected it, and before I knew it, I was slipping out of the party I threw and trying to find some space where I could breathe just a little bit easier.

  That was the balcony, where I found myself standing for who knew how long. There was a glass of champagne in my hand, still full and untouched, and all I could do was stare at the sky and the moon that shone brightly tonight.

  Perhaps it was the mention of the kids that triggered this, re
minding me of how I wouldn’t be spending Thanksgiving with them all over again. But I knew I was feeling down even before that, and after some thinking, it made me realize that it only boiled down to one thing: that I was only throwing this party to get people inside the mansion because it was feeling emptier and emptier as the years went by.

  God, I missed those kids. I also missed Gary—not as a husband per say, but just as a companion who I could talk to without reservation, he was truly my partner even if the intimacy had died. I didn’t have many close friends in my higher circle, because I found some of the women too shallow and untrustworthy for my tastes. As for the men…well, they were either all about the business or trying to find a way to get in my pants.

  I was kind of close to Kate, but that was a newfound friendship that was surprising altogether and I was still business. So obviously I didn’t tell her everything, because I was Gray’s manager and there were some things that needed to be kept professional. Most of my earlier friends were couples who were also friends with Gary, and when he died…well, I guess I just didn’t feel like I belonged in that circle anymore.

  God, I was feeling sorry for myself, and it was pitiful. I needed to stop.

  I stared down at the glass in my hand. Then I went ahead and gulped down the contents in one go, feeling it slide down my throat smoothly. I was just about to peek my head inside and hail a waiter for more when the glass was suddenly plucked out of my hand, and a familiar voice started speaking.

  “Are you drinking for fun or because you’re trying to brood out here?”

  Why was I not surprised that he was in front of me again?

  Cooper looked good. In fact, he looked so good in his black jeans and his black shirt that it shouldn’t have surprised me anymore. Usually, he wore light-colored clothes, but the dark ones…they suited him, highlighting that blond hair and his tan. Ugh, he’s hot.

  Which I tried not to notice.

  But that was very, very hard.