They reached her car, and she stepped away from him, unhooking a key ring from her belt loop. “My sister says the same thing.”
He’d seen mention of her sister on her Facebook page. “What do you tell her?”
“That I’d rather work through it on my own.”
Since he’d felt the same, he understood that, too. “And are you?” He took the keys from her.
“Working through it? I think so.”
As he unlocked the door, he asked, “By working hard?”
“In part.”
The interior car light showed her tidy tendencies. “Where are the glasses?”
“Center console.” She crossed her arms and leaned against the wet side door. “You have such a...presence about you, like the alpha dog or something.”
That made him straighten, and he smacked his head on the ceiling of her small Ford. Damn. Trying to sound only mildly interested, he asked, “Alpha dog?”
“Leader of the pack. The guy who steps up and takes charge.”
Those sounded like compliments, but after what she’d been through, he couldn’t imagine her being a fan of bossy men. He found the glasses and backed out of the car. “I think you’re imagining things.”
“Adults feel it,” she claimed, “and they react to it. But the kids didn’t seem to notice.”
He opened the glasses and carefully set them on the bridge of her nose, taking the time to move her hair back so he could slide the arms into place on her ears.
For her part, Phoenix didn’t move, not to help—and not to stop him.
His hand lingered, toying with her thick, silky hair. He liked that she didn’t fuss with it much. Usually it was in a ponytail, but sometimes, like now, she left it loose.
Being so much bigger, his body cast her in shadow. He could still see her eyes, big behind the lenses of her glasses. The frames were bigger than her usual pair, a little dated but still cute.
“What about you?” he asked softly.
“I’m no alpha.”
Smiling, he took a step closer. “I mean, do you feel it? Whatever this presence is you’re talking about.”
She nodded slowly. “I do.” Her gaze dropped to his mouth. “Big-time.”
He was a goner, his guilt evaporating as if it had never been. He forgot all the reasons that he shouldn’t come on to her. He forgot that he still missed his wife. All of his attention was on Phoenix.
“Does it bother you?” The last thing he ever wanted to do was intimidate her or make her nervous.
“Maybe it did at first, but I’m getting used to the effect.” The tip of her tongue slipped out over her bottom lip. “Now, I might even like it.”
That was his last clear thought as his instincts took over. Coop tunneled his fingers into her hair close to her scalp and leaned down to take her mouth.
Tentative at first, he kissed her lightly, slowly. If she showed any reserve at all, he’d stop.
Hard as that would be.
With a small gasp, she slipped her hands up his chest to his shoulders.
Heat. Softness. Kissing her was somehow more than he’d imagined, and then she parted her lips, an invitation he couldn’t resist.
As he drew her closer, he tilted his head to the side for a better fit. No longer tentative, he delved into the sweetness of her mouth.
Inching nearer, Phoenix made a quiet sound of surprise and acceptance. Her fingertips slid along his nape, making his skin burn. He felt her lush breasts against his chest, and his cock stirred.
Need exploded, red-hot, primitive. He forgot that he should use care, that she might get spooked. Going strictly on instinct, he lifted his hand to her breast—
Like a dousing of ice water, headlights suddenly hit them. Squinting, Coop raised a hand to shield his eyes and moved protectively in front of Phoenix. The sleek BMW didn’t immediately move to a parking space. He waited, his irritation growing as the lights stayed in his face, then finally the car swung into the nearest opening.
“What the hell?” He tried to press Phoenix farther behind him.
She looked slightly dazed...and very ready.
Damn it.
A woman, taller and slimmer than Phoenix, stepped out of the car, bathed in smiles. “Phoenix, you’re cured!” She opened her arms.
He heard a gasp, followed by grumbling. “I’m sorry,” Phoenix huffed as she strode out from behind him. “That’s my sister.”
“Your sister?”
In a louder voice, she accused, “You have rotten timing, Ridley!”
Ridley laughed. “Are you kidding? Seeing you get it on with Big Sexy—that is him, right?”
“Shut up before I kill you.”
“It’s him.” Smug, Ridley sent Coop two thumbs-up. “Seeing that made my day, sweetie. No, week. Hell, maybe my entire month.” She gathered Phoenix in close and squeezed. “I’m glad I didn’t miss it.”
Coop felt like he’d stepped into a comic play without knowing his lines. “Your sister?” he said again. “Here?” Now?
Phoenix turned, her smile tight. “Cooper Cochran, this is my sister, Ridley Rose.”
He remembered the name as one of her Facebook friends, but he didn’t think he’d seen any photos. She looked a lot like Phoenix, just as chesty up top but not as curvy below. Same nose and a similar shape to her chin. Beneath the security lights, he saw that her hair was more of a reddish brown, long but styled.
She didn’t share Phoenix’s fashion sense, which leaned toward casual and comfortable. Instead, Ridley wore a shirt that draped off one shoulder, skintight jeans and open-toed lace-up ankle boots. It was a sexy outfit. She was sexy. He made the casual observation without any personal interest.
Not surprising, since he burned for Phoenix.
Ready to take charge of the bizarre situation, he stepped forward, hand extended. “Ms. Rose, it’s nice to meet you.”
Ridley tsked, stepping past his hand to embrace him in a tight hug. “Any guy who’s had his tongue in my sister’s mouth has to call me Ridley.”
“Ridley,” Phoenix gasped, clearly horrified.
Coop laughed. Hell, he wasn’t sure what else to do. “I agree with Phoenix—you have lousy timing, Ridley.” He patted her back then set her away from him. “Here for a visit?”
“Indeed. Extended.” She headed for her pricey car. “Since you’re here, Big Sexy, maybe you can help me with my bags.”
“Bags?” Phoenix repeated. “Plural?”
Coop was more interested in hearing how he’d gotten such a ridiculous nickname. Had Phoenix helped in choosing it?
If so, he wouldn’t mind it so much.
“You wouldn’t come see me, so I had to come to you.” Ridley shrugged. “Don’t tell me you’re surprised or I’ll think you don’t know me anymore.”
Phoenix stomped over to her.
It was somewhat satisfying, seeing her so put out over being interrupted. Didn’t help blunt the sharp edge of his lust, but at least it showed him another aspect of Phoenix’s personality, namely her temper.
Phoenix jerked around to face him, her demeanor all businesslike. “You can go on, Cooper. I’ll help Ridley with her bags.”
That sounded distinctly like an order...which he ignored.
Hadn’t she just told him he was an alpha?
“Guess you don’t know me either, huh?” He reached past her and accepted the overstuffed case Ridley struggled to hand him. Damn, had she packed for a month?
He watched in surprise as she got out an enormous purse, a smaller overnight case and another, smaller suitcase.
The last she shoved at Phoenix.
After hiking the straps of her purse and the case over her shoulder, Ridley asked, “Where are we staying?”
Phoenix seemed to take evil delight in saying, “I told you my place is tiny. Very tiny. You’ll have to sleep on the couch.”
Vindictive. Another trait he hadn’t seen before. Enjoying himself, Coop stepped back and watched the sisters interact.
Ridley laughed. “You act like I haven’t roughed it before.”
“Sleeping on a short, narrow couch is not roughing it.”
“Then why are you acting like it is?”
“Because for you, it will be pure torture.” Phoenix dropped the small suitcase in an act of defiance. “I told you I would visit, Ridley. You knew I wanted time alone.”
Ridley’s gaze swung to Coop. “Had I known you weren’t really alone, I might have heeded your wishes.”
Throwing her arms wide, Phoenix said, “This is where I work!”