Damaged and the Beast (Damaged #1)

Aaron smiled. “Coop’s a great guy. Loyal to a fault. He’ll bail you out when you’re in trouble. Do whatever necessary to help a friend in need. He’s loyal with girls too. Not that I’ve seen him in a relationship that lasted more than a week, but he didn’t mess around for that week.”


Nodding again, I wasn’t sure what to say so Aaron continued as we neared my apartment, “So Coop’s great, but he’s also an entitled ass. He was born thinking the world owed him shit. Things have always been so easy for him too. He’s got money, a good family, looks, brains. Everything is just handed to him so he has no patience. He wants what he wants that very second or the world has screwed him.”

Remaining quiet, I thought everything Aaron said was dead on.

“I know Cooper can be too much. He can be loud and rude. He can dominate those around him and see nothing wrong with it. I’ve been ready to tell him to fuck off plenty of times over the years. He just takes what he wants and only after people complain does he ever think about consequences. Yet, if you like him even a little bit and think you can endure the stupid shit that comes out of his mouth sometimes, I’d suggest you hold onto Cooper. He’s pretty crazy about you and that doesn’t happen with him. Who knows, maybe you can train his rude mouth so it doesn’t spit out whatever insane shit he’s thinking?”

“I don’t know if I’m that good.”

Aaron pulled to the curb and turned off the car. “Don’t get offended by him sharing this with me, but I know you two haven’t slept together yet. Cooper has a rule about waiting a week for a girl to put out. It’s been longer than a week since he started talking about you. You haven’t put out in that time, but he’s still waiting. You have more power than you think so don’t let his big mouth make you think otherwise.”

“I really like Cooper, but he’s a bit…” I said, unable to finish.

“Rough? A huge asshole? I know, but he’s gotten away with that all of his life. If he needs to behave, he can though. I hope you’ll give him a chance. He’s my friend and I want him to be happy, but you’re not what I thought you’d be. I prefer what you are because it makes me think he has good taste.”

When I smiled, Aaron sighed. “I want to make it clear that I’m not kissing your ass or coming onto you. I should just point out how if Coop ends up with some loudmouth ballsy chick that he’d never shut the fuck up. He needs someone to keep him from turning into a fulltime asshole.”

“Do you think he’s okay? I don’t really know what he’s doing and his leaving happened so fast.”

“He’ll be fine. Coop gets what he wants, remember?”

Nodding, I still felt lonely with Cooper so far away. He was the person in Ellsberg I trusted the most. I knew it was foolish to become so attached, but he was mine and I needed to know he still wanted me. I’d have to wait two more days to find out.





Chapter Thirteen


One of the evening regulars was an older woman named Nancy. She came in nearly every night for dinner and every morning for breakfast. For her evening meals, she began requesting me. Piper hated me a little for this, only because I think Piper was homesick and was happiest when hating someone.

Nancy and I were talking about the weather when her gaze focused on the person waiting to be seated. Looking towards the front of the restaurant, I nearly giggled with relief at seeing Cooper. For whatever reason, I had started worrying he would never come back.

Excusing myself with Nancy, I tried to casually walk to Cooper, but nearly ran instead. Then, he gave me a cocky smile, knocking the wind out of me. As if I was the latest stupid girl to think she mattered.

“What now?” he asked, losing his smile. “You were happy then somehow the walk over here made you unhappy. I have a talent apparently.”

“I missed you.”

Cooper’s smile returned, but this one was softer. His dark eyes studied me then he pulled me to the front door where there was more privacy.

“Hell yeah, you did,” he whispered, kissing me as his arms wrapped me against him.

My fingers gripped his white tee and I wished everything I thought about him was true. Could he be mine forever? Forget his money and influence, Cooper’s affections made me feel special. I had never felt that way before and it was addictive.

Pulling his lips away, Cooper kept me snuggled in his arms. “Never have I missed a girl like I missed my girl the last few days. You can’t know how crazy bad I wanted to get to town.”

“I missed you,” I said again, unable to explain how much better I felt with him back.

Cooper studied me in a gentle way like maybe he did understand. His strong fingers twirled my ponytail. “Baby, let me hang out until you get off. Then, I’ll drive you home and we’ll stop missing each other.”

Nodding, I thought of sex. Cooper used his ability to read my every facial expression to figure out what I was thinking.

“You look tired,” he whispered in my ear. “I drove half the day and my ass is asleep. I’m not having our first time happen with a tired butt.”