“Whoa there, big boy,” Haleigh said, holding up both hands to stop him. “Keep your nasty fluids to yourself.”
Glancing down at his overalls, he said, “You deal with nastier fluids than this, remember?”
“We are not going to compare our dirty work. Maybe I should have called first.”
“No,” he assured her. “This is fine. Let me get out of these overalls and we can talk.” Haleigh resisted the urge to help him undress. The smells of gasoline and exhaust fumes were great libido suppressants. “Come on into the office and I’ll slip these off.”
She followed him to a glass door at the end of the garage, but as they approached the exit, the burly greeter called to Cooper. “The sheriff’s office is expecting that car fixed and ready by five today.”
Grabbing a bottle of motor oil off the counter beside them, Cooper hurled it through the air. “Then you should stop standing around and get to work.”
Haleigh couldn’t decipher the mumbled response, but had no doubt it wasn’t pleasant.
“Do all of your employees question you like that?” she asked.
“Don’t mind Frankie. He’s been here since Tanner owned the place. Cranky as a badger in a box, but he can fix a transmission with his eyes closed.” Cooper nodded to the girl behind the tiny checkout counter before pointing Haleigh toward a back room that turned out to be a slightly cluttered but very professional-looking office. “Have we gotten a confirmation on that tire order?” he asked from the doorway.
“Ten minutes ago,” the girl answered. “I put it on your desk.”
“Thanks, Kelly.”
Closing the door behind him, he unsnapped the grease-covered outfit and dragged it down his arms. The T-shirt he wore underneath clung to his abs like a second skin. Haleigh nearly swallowed her tongue. When he’d tugged the coveralls over both boots, he hung them on a hook on the back of the door without looking and walked her way.
“Now, let’s try that hello again.” In less than a second, Haleigh found herself pulled tight against Cooper’s chest, staring up into eyes darkening to the shade of emeralds. “Hey, doc,” he said. “I missed you.”
And there was the kind word she needed. Feeling like a schoolgirl with her first crush, she gave her best smile in return. “How much did you miss me?” she flirted, unable to help herself.
“Telling you wouldn’t really explain it,” he quipped. “I’d better show you.”
Cooper had turned kissing into an art form. He started slow and sweet, but didn’t stay that way for long. Between his hands and his tongue and his powerful body, Haleigh couldn’t decide which part of him she liked best. And then she remembered that there were parts she hadn’t even explored yet. That thought turned her brain to mush.
When the backs of her thighs connected with something hard and unmoving, common sense kicked back in. She had a reason to be here that didn’t involve getting naked on Cooper’s desk, and though she wasn’t eliminating that from the to-do list, they needed to conduct business first.
Breaking the kiss, she said, “We need to slow down here. I don’t think we’re at the sex-on-the-desktop phase yet.”
“You’re right,” Cooper agreed, more readily than she liked. He could have protested at least a little. “When we do make love, it isn’t going to be in this ratty old office.”
The word when created a shiver of anticipation. Man, was she a goner.
“I really am happy to see you,” he said.
“I noticed,” she laughed. “I was afraid you’d be upset that I didn’t call first.”
Dropping a kiss on her nose, he said, “You never have to call first.”
The gesture was beyond sappy, but Haleigh ate it up like a kitten with a bowl of warm milk. “That’s nice to know.” Not wanting to start out with Hey, can I use your connections, she said, “How has your day been?”
Cooper lost the playful expression. “I had another surprise visitor this morning.”
“I hope you didn’t give them the same greeting that I got,” she said, unnerved by his sudden change in mood. “An unhappy customer?”
“An unhappy sister,” he replied.
“Oh.” Haleigh would have liked to come up with a better response, but she was too busy worrying about what might come next.
“Actually,” he said, “it’s good that you’re here. This way we can clear the air right now.”
“Clear the air?” Haleigh asked. “I didn’t realize the air had gotten foggy.” She should have known this was too good to be true.