It’s obvious that you’re new to this sort of thing…
Hard as it was to accept, she knew that must have been the reason he’d stopped. Because, really, why else? Considering the way he’d been sexing it up all these years, it was clear that Owen Bishop had no problem getting it on with any female who was willing. She imagined he’d left a trail of broken hearts in his wake, so why the sudden bout of morality?
God, why hadn’t she been bolder, more confident? She’d fantasized about being with Owen a million times in her head, but when the fantasy had become reality, she’d blown it. When she’d touched him, she’d kept overthinking it, unsure about what would make him feel good. And her stupid hands had refused to quit trembling. By the time he had her up on the desk, though, she’d felt herself loosening up, and when she’d begged him to get inside her, she hadn’t been reciting some cheesy line she’d heard in a porno. She’d been wet and needy and desperate for him.
But apparently the confidence had come too late.
“Maddie?”
Her head lifted at the sound of her name and she saw Cooper Grady hopping out of a black pickup and crossing the gravel parking lot in her direction. A lit cigarette dangled from the corner of his mouth, but at the sight of her, he quickly tossed the butt on the ground and put it out with his boot. For some reason, she felt like bursting into tears at the gesture.
“What are you doing here?” she asked hoarsely, blinking through the sudden moisture in her eyes.
“Came to have a drink.” His black eyes clouded over when he noticed the sign on the door. Closed for Private Party. “Aw, you’ve got to be shitting me,” he muttered.
“Charlotte’s having her bachelorette,” Maddie explained. “Drunken karaoke.”
He offered a curse, followed by a shrug. “Guess I’ll head over to Bishop’s Corner.” He cocked his head. “Wait, if the party’s inside, then why are you out here?”
“I needed air.” She let out a sigh. “Actually, I needed to sulk.”
Cooper laughed. “What, they booed you off the stage or something?”
“No, I’m just having a bad day. Or maybe a bad week.”
“Well, at least you look hot.”
His teasing voice brought a smile to her lips. She glanced down at the knee-length black dress she wore, with its low-cut neckline and flouncy skirt. Newly purchased, of course, and she’d accessorized with a pair of black flats and a silver pendant that nestled in her cleavage. As much as she hated to admit it, she was actually enjoying her new look. She’d never bothered before because it took too much effort, but the makeover had succeeded in making her feel really good about herself. She liked looking pretty. Even if Owen Bishop didn’t appreciate it.
At the thought of him, her heart twisted in her chest, and a rush of embarrassment filled her belly. She couldn’t stop wondering whether she’d blown her chance with Owen because she hadn’t been sex-capable enough.
“Potential, remember?” Cooper went on, shoving his hands into the pockets of his faded blue jeans. “Told ya you had it in you. You look like a total temptress tonight.”
Her shoulders sagged. “Well, apparently dressing like a temptress and being a temptress are two separate things.”
He wrinkled his brow, and she took his moment of confusion as an opportunity to study his face. He really was an attractive man, with those chiseled features and long, muscular body, but it wasn’t his good looks she was thinking about when she studied him. It was his reputation. Ladies man. Sex god. Cooper would have no trouble in the sex department. He’d probably known from birth exactly what to do when in the company of the opposite sex.
It was too bad he couldn’t teach her a few tricks.
Maddie bit her lip suddenly.
Well, why couldn’t he?
“We’re friends, right, Coop?” she said slowly, searching his dark eyes.
His forehead creased. “Yeah, of course.”
“You’d help me out if I was in a jam?”
The crease deepened, his expression growing even more bewildered. “You know I would.” He suddenly swore. “Are you in a jam? What the hell did you do?”
She bristled. “I didn’t do anything. Actually—” she huffed out a breath, “—that’s the problem.”
“Would you quit talking in riddles and tell me what’s going on?”
“Nothing. I just wanted to make sure that if I needed help, you’d give it to me.”
“You know I would,” he said gruffly.
“Okay.” She drew in a courageous breath. “I need your help.”
His eyes narrowed. “What do you need me to do?”
She exhaled in a big rush. “Show me how to turn you on.”
Chapter Six
Coughing wildly, Cooper stared at her in shock. “What?”
It wasn’t often that she was able to catch Cooper Grady off guard. Maddie glanced at him in amusement, wondering if she should point out that there was an honest-to-God blush on his cheeks. Probably not. Cooper was incredibly proud of his manliness.