Padding down the stairs wearing the button-down shirt Nate had discarded on the floor last night, she found him in the small study tucked off from the living room. “Morning,” she said softly.
He glanced up from the laptop and shot her a smile that curled her toes. “Morning. Want to get some breakfast at Betty’s?”
“Sure. But I was thinking of going for a run first. Can I rummage around in your drawers for something that fits?”
“Sure.” His head was already turning back to the screen. “Stay on the path though. Wild animals are always roaming this area.”
“Yes, sir.”
With a smile, she headed back upstairs where she slipped into a worn gray T-shirt with the Paradise Panthers football logo on the front then found a pair of basketball shorts with a drawstring that she managed to get tight enough that the shorts stayed on her hips.
It was a surprisingly cool morning for July, and when she stepped outside, goose bumps rose on her bare arms. She took off on the path Nate had indicated and soon sweat coated the front of her shirt. Charlotte’s ponytail swished back and forth, and she was so focused on running the guilt right out of her body that she shouted out in surprise when a black-clad figure stepped out from behind a patch of trees.
“Didn’t mean to scare you,” came a rough voice.
She collected her breath and looked into a pair of eyes so dark they were nearly pure black. The man who’d blindsided her was a few years younger, probably mid to late twenties, and the sex appeal rolling off his lean body actually caused a response in her own. Her nipples peaked against her bra, and she awkwardly crossed her arms as she demanded, “Do you make it a habit of scaring total strangers?”
“Sometimes, but you’re not a stranger, are you?” His voice was deep, insolent even, and those black eyes swept up and down her body, making her feel self-conscious in the oversized clothes she’d borrowed from Nate. “You’re Charlotte Hill.”
“And you are?” she asked coolly.
“Cooper Grady. I live about half a mile from here.”
“Oh.”
She wasn’t sure what to say after that—small talk wasn’t her forte—and he seemed amused by her silence. One large hand reached into the back pocket of his black jeans and pulled out a pack of Camels. He tapped the pack against his palm, extracted a cigarette and used a silver Zippo to light up.
“So you’re Nate’s neighbor,” she finally said.
“And his best customer,” a dry voice came from behind.
Charlotte spun around to see Nate emerge from the path behind her. His shirt was still unbuttoned and his shoelaces weren’t tied, as if he’d simply thrust his feet into his sneakers and rushed out here.
“I heard you scream,” he said in explanation, coming up beside her. “I figured you might have encountered one of the animals that like to roam the property.” Nate gave a rueful smile. “And I see you did run into a wolf.”
“That’s not a very nice thing to say,” Cooper drawled before lifting his cigarette to his sensual lips and taking a deep drag. “I’m just a regular old pussycat.”
Charlotte eyed Cooper dubiously. Yeah right. There was definitely something feral about this man. She wondered when he’d moved to town—he definitely hadn’t been living here when she was.
“He wasn’t rude to you, was he, Charlie?” Nate asked, his posture suggesting that if Cooper had indeed been discourteous, Nate wouldn’t hesitate to clock him.
“No, but he did scare me,” she answered, scowling at the sexy man by the trees.
Cooper blew out a plume of smoke and gave a mocking smile. “I do have that effect on women.”
She found herself grinning. “I’ll bet.”
Nate’s hand was suddenly on her arm. “Why don’t we leave Coop to his morning stroll,” he suggested. “We should go get that breakfast.”
It was funny—although Cooper Grady was practically radiating heat and masculinity, her temperature didn’t spike until the moment Nate touched her bare skin. Would he always get that response from her? Was he the only one who could? So far, she hadn’t found a man who could evoke such primal desire inside of her, and she wasn’t sure she wanted to go looking.
Nate was the only man she wanted.
“Let’s go,” she said, slipping her hand into his. She glanced at Cooper and added, “It was nice meeting you.”
“Pleasure was all mine.”
She and Nate turned and retreated down the path. She noticed his grip on her hand had tightened possessively. “Coop is an incorrigible flirt,” he grumbled.
Charlotte gave him a sidelong look. “Is that jealousy I hear in your voice?”
“No.”
“Liar.” She laughed. “You don’t like him, do you?”
“I don’t mind him.” Nate shrugged. “I just mind when he hits on my woman.”
“Who’s your woman?” she asked innocently.
Before she could blink, he’d thrust her against him, the hard ridge of his arousal pressing into her belly. “Who do you think?” he muttered.
And then he kissed her, leaving no doubt as to whom he meant.