Turbulent Intentions(53)

Like clockwork, the two women slowly made their way across the bar.

“Hi, I’m Julie,” the blonde said. “And this is my friend, Debbie.”

“Nice to meet you two ladies. Care to join us?” Nick quickly said, standing up, ever the gentleman.

Cooper stood up as well, though almost reluctantly as he held out a chair for the blonde. What had her name been again?

“What are you doing out tonight?” Nick asked as he sent a questioning look his brother’s way.

“We work over at the Realtor office across the street. Debbie and I just made a big sale and we’re out celebrating,” the blonde said.

“Yeah, Julie is a shark when it comes to sales,” Debbie told them.

Julie! That was it.

“We will have to help you celebrate, then,” Cooper said, finally finding his voice as he gazed into Julie’s eyes.

He had his swagger back. Yes!

After a few more rounds, Nick was standing up with Debbie and leading her to the dance floor, leaving Cooper behind with Julie.

“You haven’t been real talkative tonight,” she said with a sympathetic smile. “Rough day?”

“I don’t know,” he told her honestly.

She laughed. “How do you not know?”

She was pleasant to be around, not overly flirty or needy, not bitchy, a nice girl. Maybe he’d introduce her to Wolf.

That thought made him pause. What the hell was wrong with him? He’d never tried to pass a woman off who was stimulating, pretty, and obviously interested in him.

“It’s just been one of those days,” he said with a laugh. “Can I get you a refill?”

“No. I think I’ve had enough for the night. I have an early day tomorrow,” she told him.

Dammit. She was his kind of woman. Obviously not an overindulger.

“I was thinking the same,” he said as he signaled the waiter to pay the bill.

She stood up, and he quickly jumped to his feet. “Can I give you a lift home?”

She looked him over for a moment and then smiled. “Maybe next time, Cooper,” she finally said. “Here’s my number. Give me a call.”

She turned to see where her friend was, but Nick and Debbie were quickly approaching.

“We’re going to get out of here,” Nick said with a smile sent Cooper’s way.

“Yeah, me too,” Coop said as he grabbed his coat.

Nick raised a brow at his brother, and Coop gave a slight shake of his head. Nick gave him a taunting smile.

“All right, Captain, get some rest before you take up one of the big ones in the morning,” Nick said.

Coop sent a glare his brother’s way. He didn’t need Nick to tell the ladies he was a big, bad pilot so he could get some tail. It was a game they’d played for years. At least the ass knew better than to tell them he was the damn CEO. He’d had enough wallet chasers to last him a lifetime.

“A big one?” Julie asked, pausing in her exit.

“Yeah, my big brother here is a pilot,” Nick said as the four of them made their way toward the front of the bar.

“Ooh, that’s impressive,” Debbie said as she gave Cooper a look of interest.

“Not as impressive as Nick being a chopper pilot for the Coast Guard,” Coop quickly said, and Debbie’s eyes went right back to Nick.

His brother didn’t care all that much if she was interested or not. He’d either sleep with the woman or he wouldn’t. And then he would disappear in the morning. Nick was even more of a bachelor than Cooper, and that was saying a lot.

They made it out front, said their good-byes, and Cooper eagerly headed home. Maybe he’d see his elusive housemate. It was sad how much that thought perked him up.





CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Shooting straight up in bed, Stormy frantically wiped the sleep from her eyes as the pounding of her heart thumped in her chest. It took a moment, but finally she was able to brush the panic away and calm herself.

With surprise, she swiped her fingers against her cheek and found tears. Never before had she had such a vivid nightmare, one that woke her with terror.

Now that she was awake, there would be no use going back to sleep. She’d had a hard time falling asleep the night before, tossing and turning. When she’d heard Cooper walking in the hallway, then pausing at her door, it had made her heart race for an entirely different reason than this nightmare.

Living in this place for the past few weeks hadn’t been good for her health, unless she counted it as a cardio workout because her pulse was racing all the time. That could be great for her since she didn’t work out nearly as much as she needed to.

Taking her time in the shower, Stormy washed away her worries and fears, and then got ready for the day. She didn’t have to work this afternoon, which was great. If it was nice out, she’d take a stroll down by the water and then maybe go and play in Cooper’s garden.