For some reason Cooper wasn’t feeling all that assured.
“I don’t want any sob stories at the end of this about how Mom’s place isn’t ready. If it’s not, then one of my siblings can take over having a house pet—I mean guest,” Cooper told him.
“Dang, Cooper, you’re in a bear of a mood tonight,” Sherman said.
“Yes, I am. I’ve had delays all day, and I need to blow off some steam,” Cooper said.
“Then I won’t hold you up any longer. Take it easy, kid. It’s okay to have some time off, especially when you own the company.”
“Would you sit back in an office with your feet on solid ground if you could fly?” Cooper challenged.
“No, of course not,” Sherman conceded.
“Well, I can’t quit flying either. I do this because I love it, not because I have to,” Cooper said for what felt like the hundredth time.
“I know, kiddo. But you could cut back,” Sherman said.
“Yeah. I might agree to do that,” he said with a chuckle. He could always fly his private jet. She was a beauty.
The two hung up, and even though Cooper knew the chances of seeing Stormy again were pretty low, he still rushed from the building and looked around outside. Hadn’t he just told himself it was pointless?
Surprisingly, he did spot her, but it was too late. She was getting on a bus, leaving the airport. The entire walk back to his car, he couldn’t shake his disappointment at missing her. He hadn’t actually gone on a date yet with Wolf’s cousin so he wasn’t committed or anything.
Maybe he would just ask Stormy out on a date, take her to bed, and then get over his odd obsession. Maybe this was all because she felt like someone he knew, or should know.
His fingers rubbed once more against the locket in his pocket before digging out his car keys.
One thing Cooper knew about himself was when to fight his feelings and when not to. If the obsession was still running through his brain in a couple of days, he was certainly going to do something about it.
That settled, he sat down, turned his key, and pressed his foot against the gas and smiled as the motor purred.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Leaning her head against the window, Stormy decided there were much better things to do in a day than apartment and job hunt. She was exhausted, hungry, and trying desperately to be positive and not feel that her life was going downhill fast with the brakes severed.
The bus stopped a block from her apartment and she slowly stepped off and then threw her bag over her shoulder and began moving toward home. She passed the park, and though it was late, she automatically looked toward the bench Sherman often sat at when he left the café.
When he wasn’t there, she felt the smallest bit of disappointment. She was exhausted and really should want nothing more than to get to her apartment, hopefully by elevator, and then go straight to bed. But she was also sad and would love to talk to Sherman, knowing she’d surely feel better. It was late, though, and the chances of him being at the café were low.
“Are you going to just pass on by without a hello?”
Sherman’s voice startled her out of her reverie, and she looked over at the corner table, seeing him sitting there in the darkest spot, a cigar in his hand, and a smile on his lips.
“I didn’t expect you to be out this late,” she told him, moving to the warmth of the outside heater.
“You know I can’t go home too early. Then I’d fall asleep and miss my late-night show,” he told her. “Come on over here and keep me company while I smoke this cigar my buddy Joseph gave me.”
Though Stormy was exhausted, she was more than happy to do what he asked. “I’ve always loved the smell of a good cigar,” she told him.
“Yes, it’s one of my last few vices,” he said. “And the waitresses leave me alone to smoke them out here as long as no other customers complain. Now, take a load off and let me run inside and get you a soothing cup of tea.”
“You don’t need to do that,” she said, but he had already put down his cigar and was moving toward the front door.
Stormy waited a few minutes, and then Sherman was back with a tray holding a teapot, a cup, and some cream, honey, and sugar. She quickly fixed herself a cup.
“Thank you,” she said as she held the warmth between her fingers while taking calming sips of the sweet brew.
“I love the company,” he assured her. “How was your day out on the town? It seemed to be a long one,” he said.
Stormy sighed. “It hasn’t been the best couple of days. I have to be out of my apartment in two more days, still with no prospects, and I was fired from my job yesterday because of a horrible customer. I spent all day searching for a place and a new job and came up with zilch.”