Damaged and the Beast (Damaged #1)

“No, buts.”


“Yes, buts. You scare me. You nearly punched me in the face.”

“I was never going to hit you.”

Eyeing Cooper, I refused to turn to mush just because I missed him so much. “How was punching a hole in the wall next to my face a good thing? You wanted to scare me.”

“I was angry. I want you so much and you hate being with me. You hate when I touch you and it was making me nuts, but hitting the wall was a mistake. I do that shit with Bailey and she laughs it off because she knows I’d never hit her. I thought you knew that too. I mean, I was pissed because you were forcing yourself to do things with me that you didn’t want to do. I was angry because I wasn’t a better man for you, so why would I turn around and hit you?”

“I don’t really know you and you don’t know me. You shouldn’t assume I’ll take things the way you mean them. I have no experience with having a boyfriend,” I said then added quietly, “I’d never even been on a date before you.”

Cooper rubbed at his head and sighed. “You love me though, right? I need you to love me because I’m drowning in how much I love you.”

“It’s too fast. We just met and I just moved here. It’s a lot to deal with and I feel cornered.”

Cooper’s expression darkened. “Damn, is there anything I’m doing right?”

“I said I liked your haircut.”

Fighting a grin, Cooper leaned back in the booth and flipped me off. “I got drunk and shaved it off as a form of protest.”

“Against what?”

“My fucking heart.”

“You’re an idiot.”

“Yeah, probably.”

“If we could be more casual, I think I could learn to be with you and not feel so cornered. Like maybe it’s not only you that’s to blame for our fights,” I said then watched him raise a cocky eyebrow. “Well, it’s mostly you, but I’ll take like ten percent of the blame.”

“Twenty five percent and we have a deal.”

“Whatever you need to tell yourself, but if we spend time together, we’d need to keep it more casual.”

“I have no idea what you’re fucking saying. Spend time together? Does that mean you’ll give me another chance and we’re together? And what is more casual? That usually involves fucking other people. I’m not fucking anyone else and I certainly don’t want you fucking anyone else.”

Squinting at him, I had to wonder if all of the booze had made him stupid. “After all the trouble I have being with you, do you really think I’d want another dick around me?”

Cooper grinned. “Is it wrong that my dick responded when you called its name?”

“Very wrong, perv,” I said, laughing. “So do we have a deal?”

“No because I don’t know what you’re asking for?”

“We date and have fun and don’t make it mean anything more.”

“I love you and I’m not pretending otherwise. Screw casual.”

“You’re too intense.”

“You need someone to take care of you.”

“I need my freedom and to find my own way.”

“Nope.”

Leaning back, I drank my soda. Cooper studied a fry then reached out and pushed it against my lips.

“Someone’s hungry.”

“Fuck off,” I nearly yelled then covered my mouth while Cooper laughed his ass off.

“Someone’s going to get fired and need her rich boyfriend to pay for shit.”

“I didn’t say we were back together.”

“You said you loved and missed me. Close enough.”

“I did miss you,” I muttered, ignoring the fry still caressing my lips. “I’m not eating that.”

“Need a ride home?”

“Maybe.”

“Yes, it is. Now, open up for the fry.”

Staring at him, I managed to launch Cooper into a staring match. “I’m going back to work.”

“Your break isn’t over,” he said, finally shoving the fry into his mouth. “You look tired. Did you sleep okay last night?”

“Yes.”

“Want me to sleep over and give you a foot massage?”

Rolling my eyes, I couldn’t fight my smile. “We’ll see.”

“Yes, it is. Man, you’re very agreeable tonight.”

Cooper looked full of life, just floating on a cloud as he devoured his burger with one hand and tapped to the overhead music with the other. I reached for the free hand and caressed his bruised knuckles.

“Get in any fights?”

Frowning, Cooper stopped mid-chew and sighed. Once he swallowed, he looked down at where my hand still held his.

“No one you know.”

“Your hands scare me,” I said, running my thin fingers over his strong ones. “When they touch me though, they seem so gentle. I guess that makes you complicated.” Lifting my gaze away from his hand and meeting his intense stare, I sighed. “What?”

Cooper wanted to say something that I suspected wasn’t light and casual. He finally shrugged. “The fair is this weekend. Go with me.”

“I can’t. I’m picking up extra shifts on the weekend.”