Kiss Me If You Can (Bachelor Blogs 1)

“They didn’t print many copies. The book was hard to find,” he finally replied.

Her amusement faded. “Not very brotherly of you.” She reached into her oversize bag and pulled out the copy she’d taken from Coop’s apartment. “Here. Read it.” She shoved the book into his hand. She’d just have to get herself another one.

To her surprise, he burst out laughing. “I can see why my brother likes you. Beautiful, smart and loyal.”

“You make me sound like a puppy dog!”

“Not at all. Just a step—make that an entire staircase—up from Coop’s ex-wife. And not just because you’re here in the flesh.”

Lexie didn’t want to get into a discussion of Coop’s airline stewardess wife’s traveling. “I’ll take that as a compliment.” She hoped Matt would leave it at that.

Coop walked over, joining them in what Lexie thought was just the nick of time. “Am I interrupting?” he asked, his gaze wandering from Lexie and landing squarely on Matt.

The flash of annoyance in his eyes told her he wasn’t immune to the jealousy she’d experienced minutes earlier.

“I was just keeping the lady company. And now I need to get home to my wife.” Matt took his time rising from his seat. He slapped his brother on the back, winked at Lexie and strode away laughing.

“Pain in the ass,” Coop muttered. “I ordered burgers, fries and drinks. I hope that’s okay.”

Her stomach suddenly rumbled and she grinned. “Perfect, actually.”

For the next few minutes, while they waited for the food to be served, Lexie and Coop discussed the tone he was looking for his Web site to convey. He took a brief look at the color combinations she’d come up with, but the bar lighting wasn’t good enough for him to make an informed choice, so they tabled the discussion for another time.

Then they enjoyed dinner while talking about things in general, nothing about the ring or her grandmother or anything threatening. They confirmed they shared similar taste in music and movies, since Lexie preferred action thrillers to chick flicks and they each loved a good comedy.

Being with Coop was easier than being with any man she could remember and the sexual tension was ever present. She might still be annoyed with him, but she couldn’t deny how much she wanted him.

He pushed his plate away and leaned back in his seat. “I’m stuffed.”

She laughed. “Me, too. Your father makes a delicious burger.”

“Make sure you tell him that.” Suddenly he reached down for his phone, which had obviously been vibrating. He checked the incoming number and took the call. “Coop here.” He listened, his relaxed demeanor changing in an instant. “Be there soon,” he said and hung up.

“Work?” she guessed.

He nodded. “Assignment. Big fire uptown. I need to go.” He didn’t try to escape his responsibility and she’d never think to ask him to.

“I can get myself home. I have plenty of reading to do to keep myself busy,” she said, then caught herself. “Actually…”

“What?”

“I gave your brother my copy of your book.”

“You what?” Coop asked, shocked by Lexie’s words. “Why the hell would you do that?” And why the hell would Matt take it?

He’d never shown any interest in Coop’s writing before. And since Coop’s first effort was hardly a smashing success, he hadn’t exactly made a big announcement about it, either. But his family knew. His father had a signed copy at home that Coop had given him, but he doubted the old man had ever read it. And Matt had never shown any interest in his brother’s hobby, so why bother setting himself up for ridicule?

And why was he even having this conversation with Lexie now when he had a story to cover? “Here.” He pulled out the keys to his apartment. “Why don’t you go back to my place? There’s a box of my book in the hall closet. You can read one of those and wait for me while I’m gone. I’ll talk to my father about access to the cold case files later or first thing tomorrow.”

She hesitated, so he took her hand and placed the keys in her palm, curling her fingers around them. “You’re not going to avoid what’s a damn good thing between us because you’re still upset with me.”

She glanced down at her hand. “I’m not, huh?” A smile curved her lips, telling him he’d won this round.

“Nope. We’ll discuss that—and the fact that you gave my brother my book—later. At my place.” He brushed a kiss over her lips and ran out to cover the story.

LEXIE ENJOYED NOTHING MORE than munching cookie-dough-flavored ice cream while she read or worked, so she stopped at the store for a pint on her way back to Coop’s apartment. As she reached the entrance, Sara, dressed in uniform, was on her way out.

“Hey there.” The other woman waved. “Coop’s not home.”

Lexie hesitated, then revealed the keys.

Sara’s eyes opened wide. “Well, well, well.” A genuine smiled crossed her face. “He must really care about you.”

“You sound as if you approve.”

Sara laughed. “Yeah, I guess I do.”

Only because Sara couldn’t see what was going on inside Lexie. Between the worry over her grandmother’s blood pressure, the possibility that she was somehow involved in a years-old theft and Coop’s intent to write a tell-all story, she felt as if the walls were closing in on her. Add Sara’s wide smile of approval and the mounting pressure only increased.

A few more minutes of chitchat and Sara left for work. Lexie let herself into Coop’s apartment, found the box of books and pulled one out.

Before she settled in to read, she took out her laptop and began browsing some of the places in the world she’d yet to visit.

Viewing potential destinations calmed her down somewhat. It helped that she now had places in mind for when this entire jewel-heist situation came to an end. By then, the Hot Zone relaunch would be done and Lexie would have a good chunk of cash to split between savings and travel. Hopefully, her grandmother’s blood pressure would be under control, too, her computer knowledge solid enough for them to exchange e-mails, and Lexie could go in peace, even if she didn’t stay away as long as usual. As her grandmother aged, Lexie had cut her trips shorter, coming back more often to see her.

And what about Coop?

Given his determination to write this story, she shouldn’t care. But she was here despite that because he was right. Writer’s wrote. She didn’t have to like it, but she couldn’t stop him, either. And she couldn’t deny herself the pleasure of his company while they researched together. But she had no doubts that once she took off on her first excursion, he wouldn’t be waiting for her when she came home.