Damaged and the Beast(15)

“Best behavior.”

Leaving Cooper to watch the crappy cable, I hid in the bathroom, locked the door, wished I could barricade it, and peeled off my work uniform. The hot water eased away a long day. After emerging from the shower looking like a drowned rat, I was ready for bed. The idea of pizza and whatever Cooper wanted didn’t sound appealing, but I couldn’t think of how to get him to leave.

After brushing my teeth, I stared in the mirror. Now looking like a sleepy drowned rat, I hoped he wouldn’t stay long. In the living room, Cooper messed with his phone, but looked up when I entered. While I considered sitting as far from him as possible, I couldn’t help admiring his full lips pursed in thought and how his dark eyes watched me. I also noticed how his muscles flexed while he shoved the phone into his pocket. Yet, he was a scary jerk who only wanted to add me to his list of hang and bang girls.

Even knowing all of that, I thought he was so beautiful. He actually looked warm and safe. Even my sleepy mind knew I was lying to myself, but I sat on the couch a few spots over from him.

“Thanks for the ride home.”

Cooper leaned back a little then reached out and tugged at my size too large pink Minnie Mouse sweatshirt.

“You really wanted to put an exclamation mark on the no sex thing, huh?”

Balking, I smacked his hand. “Screw you. This is my sexiest outfit. It’s frigging Minnie Mouse, Cooper. The chick exudes sex.”

Grinning wider now, he played with my hair. “You can’t know what I think about you.”

“What does that mean? You’re so mysterious that a mere mortal like me can’t fathom your giant brain?”

“Sums it up pretty well,” he said, twirling my hair around his fingers. “You get feisty after a shower. I’ll have to remember that.”

Crossing my arms over my chest, I was very aware of Bailey’s comment about Cooper being a boob guy.

“So what are you studying at school?” I asked, watching the TV and not Cooper as he still played gently with a lock of my damp hair.

“Pre-law.”

Glancing at him, I frowned then forced myself to stop. “You want to be a lawyer?”

“Nope. Hate lawyers. Hate laws. Hate it all, but I’m the only one of my siblings with an IQ over shitfaced so the burden is on me to be the lawyer.”

“I don’t get it. Tell your giant brain to dumb it down a little.”

Grinning, Cooper leaned over and kissed the top of my head. “I like your shampoo.”

“You’re being weird.”

“I’m just horny as hell. You were naked in the next room and I wanted you naked in here.”

“I’m not having sex with you.”

“Tonight,” he said with an exasperated sigh. “You keep forgetting to end your declarations with the word ‘tonight.’”

“Why do you need to be a lawyer?”

Shrugging, Cooper returned to messing with my hair. “Occasionally, people screw with my family. Why should we shell out money to shyster lawyers when we can keep the money in the family?”

While I considered asking why people would screw with his family, I decided against this line of questioning.

“How many years do you have left?”

“Huh, you haven’t asked around about me at all?”

“No, why would I?”

“Really?” he asked, frowning darkly now. “I asked around about you. That’s how I knew where you lived.”#p#分页标题#e#

“I don’t stalk every attractive guy I meet. Besides, I’ve been busy.”

“What about your boyfriend from the party?” Cooper asked, his angry gaze scaring the hell out of me. “Did you stalk him?”

“He and I have a few classes together. I didn’t know his name until tonight.”

“You seemed pretty cozy. Maybe he’s your guy and that’s why you keep playing cold with me?”

“Why wouldn’t I just say he was my guy?”

Cooper twisted his lips into nearly a snarl. “Maybe you like my tips too much and worry I’d ask for the bitch to be my waitress.”

“You shouldn’t call girls bitches.”

“That chick is a bitch. I don’t need to know her to know that much. The way she was looking at you the first night was like she wanted to kill you because you took her table. Who gets that pissed off about a fucking table?”

“She probably needs the tips.”

“So you like everyone, huh? Is your nickname doormat?”

Crossing my arms again, I stared at the television and planned to ignore him. Except he was in my home, on my couch, and playing with my hair.

“Screw you,” I said, smacking his hand away. “You’re rich and people kiss your ass. Great for you, but I’m not rich and I have to get along with people. I have to take shit from people to keep my job and make enough money to go to school. So screw you for thinking I’m a doormat because I didn’t punch Piper for giving me dirty looks.”