Damaged and the Beast (Damaged #1)

Nodding, Cooper glanced back at the hills nearby. “See over there,” he asked, pointing to dense woods. When I nodded, he continued, “One day, I’m building my dream house out there. It might seem creepy living that close to my parents, but I figure they can babysit while me and my girl have fun.”


“I’m glad you have your family.”

“You have them too. My mom…” Cooper leaned back and scratched at his stubbled cheek. “I told her about last night. About how you reacted and how I thought you might hate me today. Mom gets how you’re mine and she doesn’t blow it off. You’re mine and that means you’re theirs too.”

Smiling, I nuzzled my lips against the cross on his chest. “It’s not the money,” I said, without looking at him. “You know that, right?”

“I know, baby. You never ask for anything.”

Fortunately, my stomach made a weird noise and drew his attention away from the awkward silence.

“I’ll be back,” Cooper said, standing up in all of his naked glory.

Dumbfounded, I stared wide-eyed. When Cooper noticed my approval, he gave me a wink while walking his fine ass past the pool and into the house.

With him gone, I suddenly felt very naked. Glancing around, I got it into my head that someone could be watching and taking pictures. What if they spread those photos around school and everyone called me a whore? I was nearly ready to panic until I remembered what Skye said about the Johanssons. Would anyone be stupid enough to take pictures of Cooper and me on the Johansson property? Not even stupid. Who would be that suicidal?

I was wondering if Cooper ever killed anyone when he reappeared with a towel wrapped around his waist and a shirt hanging over his arm as he carried out a tray of food and beer.

“Get modest on me?” I asked.

“I figured you might have trouble eating if you were busy drooling.”

“Good point,” I said, stepping out of the hot tub and feeling really really naked.

“You can wear this.”

I slipped Cooper’s tee over my head and it came down far enough to hide my butt. Smiling, I joined him at the patio table where we spread out the food.

“We’ll snack for now. I have the steaks thawing. Is that okay?”

“Perfect,” I said, diving into the plate of pasta salad. “Everything today has been perfect.”

Noticing Cooper watching me, I paused mid-chew.

“You really are happy, aren’t you, baby?”

“Yes,” I said, stroking his shirt and feeling giddy. I’d never imagined I would share anything like this day with anyone, let alone someone as beautiful as Cooper. “Are you happy?”

“If you’re happy, I’m happy. That’s how men are. They like when their women are content.”

“Did your dad tell you that?”

“Oh, yeah. Pop hasn’t stayed married all these years by being a fool.”

Wrapping my arms around my body, I thought back to a girl in high school who wore her boyfriend’s jersey. Seeing her look so proud, Tawny and I never understood what the big deal was, but now I knew. I understood the power of wearing my guy’s shirt and smelling him on me.

“Why do you look sad?” Cooper asked, sitting across from me with a chicken leg in his hand.

“I was thinking about Tawny,” I said, giving him an awkward smile. “I can’t wait to tell her about all this.”

“Wanna call her now?”

“It’s long distance and my phone is at home.”

Cooper gave me a weird frown then glanced around. “Who gives a shit about long distance?”

“I do.”

“Last I checked, you don’t pay my phone bill. Here,” he said, handing over his phone.

“Later. I need to get my thoughts straight first.”

“Must be a girl thing.”

“It is,” I said, setting the phone on the table. “Can we go swimming after we eat?”

“Only if we don’t wait thirty minutes first.”

“Because the thirty minute rule is the man keeping a boot on the back of your neck?”

Cooper grinned. “You can never be too safe.”

Sharing his smile, I finished eating then leaned back and let the food settle.

“Not thirty minutes, but how about like twenty nine?”

“How about ten minutes while I finish off this chicken and admire you in my shirt. It fits you really well.”

When Cooper’s gaze locked on my breasts, I fought the urge to cross my arms and hide them from his hot stare.

“Where were you born?” he asked, still eyeing the part of me now responding to his gaze.

“Near Charlotte. How about you?”

“In the local hospital. Do you have an ideal place you want to live once you’re done with school?”

Grinning at the thought of Cooper ever being a tiny baby, I barely heard his question. “Somewhere quiet would be nice.”

“By quiet, do you mean safe?” When I nodded, Cooper grinned. “For a college town, Ellsberg is very safe. For a Johansson, it’s nearly crime free.”

Smiling, I stood and walked towards the pool. “Is the water cold?”

“Shouldn’t be. Pool’s heated and it’s hot as hell out.”

“Not as hot as earlier in the week. Autumn might finally show up.

Cooper walked up behind me and wrapped me in his arms. “It’s really fucking beautiful around here in the autumn.”