Family
Quinn dabbed concealer under her eyes and examined her reflection in the bathroom mirror. Between a hot shower and fresh makeup, she should at least somewhat be able to hide the remnants of last night’s fiasco. Yeah, because she was so great at keeping things to herself. Right.
Her shoulders caved. What was she thinking, breaking down and spilling her guts in front of Cooper? Of course Mr. Fix It would kiss her after she told him she felt less than a whole woman, and sure, it had more than worked. But what now? How were they supposed to keep things from being completely awkward after crossing that line?
Then again, it probably wouldn’t even faze him. Who knew how many girls he’d shared casual kisses with. She was the one who’d end up acting like a schoolgirl around him now if she didn’t find a way to muster up a fraction of his laid-back smoothness.
She tightened the towel across her torso, flipped her hair over, and dried it with a second towel. When she straightened, a rush of feelings from that kiss flooded over her again as it’d done for most of the night.
Yep, definitely a schoolgirl. But who could blame her? Cooper’s movement was saturated with charisma and confidence—the kind she could give herself to, get lost in. His touch had been even more captivating than she’d imagined it would be. And when he’d kissed her the second time with a tenderness that surpassed the first, she might as well have seeped through the floorboards.
If she could’ve talked, she would’ve replied. If she could’ve moved, she’d have followed him through that door. Paralyzed on both accounts, she’d simply stood there with her breath and heart tangled in her ribs.
The alarm on her cell roared from the bathroom counter. Flinching, Quinn knocked her makeup bag onto the floor and almost lost her towel in a scramble to grab the phone. Way to be smooth. She silenced the alarm but couldn’t ignore the reminder that she had to finish her feature no later than tomorrow, or everything she’d fought for could be over.
The moment she set her cell down, the doorbell rang. Quinn held her breath. It’d taken her almost an hour to get Brayden down for a nap this morning. If that bell woke him up, she’d make whoever it was deal with his cranky tantrum.
She poked her head through the bathroom door. “Cooper,” she called.
No answer.
The doorbell echoed through the house a second time. She darted a glance to Brayden’s closed door. “Cooper,” she called again.
Still answerless, she traded her towel for the oversized bathrobe hooked behind the door, practically skidded down the hall, and whirled open the front door before the stupid bell could sound yet a third time.
A guy resembling Cooper stood on the porch with an arm raised, about to knock. Beside him, another model lookalike in a fringe-edged dress and trilby hat removed her sunglasses.
Panic rumbled in the bottom of Quinn’s stomach. This had to be Drew and Ti. Running out of the shower, in Cooper’s bathrobe no less, wasn’t exactly how she’d envisioned meeting his brother and sister-in-law.
She clutched the top of the robe together at her neck. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t realize you were coming this morning. I would’ve . . .” What? Hightailed it out of here on Cooper’s WaveRunner? She looked behind her, giving it serious consideration.
Drew ran a hand through his hair like Cooper often did. “Don’t worry. We’re used to it.”
Ti whacked him in the chest with the back of her hand. While he shot her a what-was-that-for stare, she smiled a look of apology at Quinn. “What my husband meant to say is, it’s good to meet you.”
Right. A dime a dozen. That’s what they must’ve thought she was. Just another girl on the list of casual relationships Cooper was so well-known for, even his family expected it. A flush of competing emotions climbed her face.
The couple exchanged an uncertain glance like they weren’t sure whether to invite themselves in or keep standing there, waiting for her to gain her wits about her.
“Is Coop around?” Drew finally asked.
“Um, actually, I’m not sure where—”
“You guys are early.” Cooper’s voice sailed around the corner of the house right before he did.
The door to the Jeep in the driveway opened, and a pre-teen girl hopped out. “Uncle Coop!”
He knelt in time to catch an incoming hug, swooped her off the ground, and spun her around. “Man, I’ve missed you, Freckles.”
It only took a single look at the two of them caught up in each other’s arms for the walls Quinn had just resurrected around her heart to crumble to dust.
When Maddie’s feet touched the grass again, her face glowed. “I brought my paddle board.”
“I see that.” He peered from the Jeep’s roof rack to the open windows. “No Jasper?”
She frowned. “I wanted to bring him, but someone had to stay and mediate between Grandma Jo and Mr. Fiazza.”
Cooper laughed while rustling the top of her hair. “No doubt about that. It’s probably a good thing. Apparently, we have a stray cat wandering around here.”
Her eyes widened. “Really?”
“Don’t get too excited.”
“You know better than that,” Drew said from the porch. “She probably already has it named.”
“Dad.”
Cooper tossed an arm around his niece and strolled up to the porch to greet the rest of them. “What happened to no surprises?”
Ti gave him a hug. “Sorry, that was my fault. I might’ve gotten a little foot heavy with the gas pedal.”
“New Yorker,” Drew mouthed to Quinn.
Her shoulders relaxed until she met an open and curious expression from Maddie. A breeze of self-consciousness rippled across her face. She pointed into the house. “Excuse me.”
Once around the corner to the hall, Quinn scurried to her bedroom and leaned against the back of the door. Great first impression.
Confined to her room, the polo scent from Cooper’s robe engulfed her like a comforting embrace. For a minute, she nestled into it, absorbing the feeling of being wrapped in his arms.
Her eyes blasted open. Oh my word. She had serious problems. She chucked the silly robe in her hamper and hustled to put actual clothes on. Once presentable, she wandered out to the living room where everyone had gathered while she’d taken longer than necessary to get herself ready.
Livy must’ve been out earlier, on a jog from the looks of it. Joined with the rest of the Anderson clan now, she looked like one of the family.
Cooper sat propped against the couch on the hardwoods next to a basket of party favors Quinn had just barely started making for Ginny’s party.
Beside him, Brayden stood on wobbly legs while latching on to Maddie’s two pointer fingers. Either he was still in the not-quite-awake stage, or he was a bit overwhelmed at the number of unfamiliar people in his living room. Quinn resisted the urge to scoop him up. At least he wasn’t fussing.
Maddie giggled when he almost toppled over. “You think he’s gonna be a surfer like you, Uncle Coop?”
He gave one of Brayden’s chunky legs a squeeze. “Maybe with time. You’d be surprised what you can accomplish with a little practice.” He flaunted a wink at Quinn. His and Brayden’s dimples quirked at the same time, and she had to smile at their inside joke about needing to practice flirting.
A lot of good all their practicing was doing either of them. About the only thing it’d accomplished was getting her heart further into trouble.
Her smile faded. Something about having Drew and his family there wrenched reality back into the gear it never should’ve stalled out of. They’d come to say goodbye. Because the truth of the matter was, Cooper was leaving in four days, Quinn had a story to submit, and they’d both be walking out of Brayden’s life for good.
Her heart cinched.
“You’ve got a gorgeous view, Coop,” Ti said from the windowed wall overlooking the lake. “Seriously amazing. You mind if I go down to the dock in a bit? You know I brought my easel.”
“Of course you did.” Cooper laughed. “I just replaced the boards. Feel free to set up your paint stuff anytime. It’s all yours.”
“Sweet.” She wrapped her arms around Drew’s waist and smiled contentedly.
“And where’s this painting going to go?” he asked.
She shrugged. “I’ll find a spot for it.”
Shaking his head, he leaned in to kiss her. “You always do.”
The obvious love between them was so tangible it almost ached.
Livy sidled up beside Quinn. “You all right?”
“Hmm?” She blinked toward her, embarrassed she’d dazed off. “Oh, sorry, fine. Must need some coffee.” Quinn strode for the kitchen toward the chance to escape the family bonds taking over the living room.
At the counter, she opened the coffee Cooper had coerced her into falling for—like everything else. She gave herself a pat on the cheek before another thought like that could weasel its way to the surface. Enough with the sappy already.
“QT!” Cooper’s voice boomed from the other room. “Get in here. Now.”
She dropped the coffee scoop on the counter and barreled around the doorframe and into the living room. “What’s wron—?”
Brayden stood on his own in the center of the floor with his face beaming at her.
Her hand moved to her chest. “Is he . . .?”
“Just wait,” Cooper said with so much enthusiasm it almost drew her focus toward him instead.
One shaky step followed another until Brayden had tottered halfway across the room. Quinn met him the rest of the way, just before he fell, and scooped him up.
Cooper joined her, cupping one hand to her lower back and the other over Brayden’s. It didn’t matter if a room full of eyes were on them, she wanted to kiss Cooper right there. Let him embrace them both like a real family would.
The unsolicited desire speared into her chest.
Cooper held her gaze, and she almost couldn’t breathe. Did he know what she was thinking? What she wanted?
Tears burned in her throat. Her arms tightened around Brayden for fear she’d crumble if she let go. She kissed him right on the dimple. With an inhale of courage, she gave him to Cooper so she could retreat to the seclusion of the kitchen before he saw even deeper into her heart than he already had.
Quinn flexed both palms over the counter and grappled for composure, but questions kept winding together without beginning or end. How much would she miss in Brayden’s life after this weekend? How much would she miss in Cooper’s?
The ache of what she’d always longed for sank into her gut with a realization she’d been too blind or stubborn to fully admit until right now. She didn’t just want a family with anyone. She wanted it with Cooper.
She swung the basket on the coffeemaker and gripped the counter. Here, he was just looking for a little fun before moving on to the next adventure, and she was falling in love with him. No, this wasn’t happening. This couldn’t—
“Hey.” Livy strolled into the kitchen. “I can make a pretty good cup of coffee. Thought I’d check if you need any help in here.”
Only if that help involved knocking some sense into her head with a two-by-four. “I’ve already got a pot going.”
Livy nodded and pointed to the cabinet with a sticky note labeled MUGS. “You got Coop organized. I’m impressed.”
“I didn’t exactly ask.”
She laughed. “I knew I liked you.” She set two mugs on the counter and reached for the next set. “For real, getting him to bend is a big deal. He tends to be a little on the take charge side.”
“You don’t say.” Quinn pressed the On button on the coffeemaker for the third time in hopes that would speed it up.
“It’d take an equally strong girl to balance him out.” Livy collected the four mugs by their handles. “You two are brilliant together.”
Quinn almost dropped the sugar bowl she was taking out of the cabinet. “Oh, we’re, um, we’re not together.” She glared at the blasted coffeemaker. If it had any sense of how uncomfortable she was right now, surely, it’d cut her some slack and hurry it up already.
The group of mugs clinked together as Livy slid them beside the coffeepot. “Listen, I know how Cooper can get with the whole carpe diem thing. But trust me, it’s more of a show than anything.”
She risked peering in Livy’s direction. From the look on her face, there was no question. This was definitely some kind of pep talk. For the love of Pete, why did this coffeemaker hate her right now?
The doorbell rang, and Quinn exhaled. Hallelujah, someone loved her.
“Would you excuse me for a minute?” She rushed out of the room. The last thing she needed was dating advice from Cooper’s model ex-girlfriend, of all people.
Or maybe not. As soon as she opened the door, her arm slid down the trim to her side. Leave it to today to prove her wrong. The real last thing she needed was seeing one of Cooper’s bimbo dates at his door right now.
Malibu Barbie sized her up. “Sorry, I’m looking for Cooper.”
It took a minute for Quinn to force her jaw to work. Why she was fighting it, she’d never know. She slapped on a smile. “Carpe diem.”
The blonde tilted her head. “Carpe, what?”
“Never mind.” She held the door open and swung her arm down the hall. Trailing behind her, Quinn bypassed the kitchen and maneuvered to the back door, but not before catching the awkward look passing Cooper’s face.
She opened the sliding door. “I’ll be back in a bit,” she said in response to the silent question Ti shot her.
Outside, she trekked down the deck steps toward the dock where she could finally breathe again. Well, sort of. The mixed feelings surging through her pressed in where the thick wall of humidity left off.
She kicked the tip of her Converse against the bottom of the bench. Stupid. So incredibly stupid to get sucked into a fantasy.
Her phone rang. Cruella, great. She hovered a thumb over the answer button.
“QT?” The back door closed, and Cooper jogged across the yard.
She stuffed her cell in her pocket.
His strides slowed over the wooden planks separating them. “You okay?”
Facing the lake instead of him, she ran a finger under her nose. “Fine. Just stressed about wrapping things up for the party. I have all those favors left to finish and—”
“Quinn.” When Cooper turned her around, his gaze cut right through her rambling.
Tires peeling away squealed from up front.
“Barbie didn’t want to stay?”
He squeezed the back of his neck. “I have no idea why Tanya showed up here like that. We went on a couple of dates weeks ago. I haven’t called her since.”
She turned toward the water again—away from his hazel eyes. “You don’t owe me an explanation.”
“Yeah, I do.”
“No, you really don’t.” She started to pace, jumbled thoughts zapping through her head a mile a minute. “I’m not that kind of girl, Cooper.”
He ran a knuckle over his jaw. “And what kind is that exactly?”
“The kind who melts when you look at her. Who sinks into your bathrobe because it smells like you and makes her feel safe.” Stop talking. “The kind who pretends she’s smooth enough to be okay with casual kisses, but who’d show up at your doorstep if you never called her again. I can’t be one of those girls, Cooper. I—”
If his swaggering stride didn’t show he was amused at her blabbering, his lopsided grin made up for it.
Quinn laced her arms across her chest. “What?”
“I make you melt?”
“Not the point.”
He crossed another board. “You sure?”
“Yes. Maybe.” She shook her head. “The point is, I’m not the no-strings-attached girl you usually date. I’m not a model or some country club trophy you can carry on your arm at business functions. I wear Fruit of the Loom underwear, for Pete’s sake.”
The corner of his mouth quirked.
Fabulous. As if letting the other confessions spew from her mouth wasn’t mortifying enough, she had to go and blurt that out in front of him, while he was only a foot away. Make that less than a foot. Three inches.
She sucked in a breath.
“Fruit of the Loom, huh?”
“Shut up.” She smacked his arm. “And seriously? I just spilled my guts, and that’s all you have to say.”
Still smiling, he weaved his fingers through her hair. “You didn’t let me finish.”
His lips met hers, and his presence overtook the air. Everything that’d just transpired vanished. Slow, tender, and irrevocable, his touch beckoned her deeper into the yearning to explore him, know him. To cut through the lock on her heart and give him the residence he already had.
When he leaned back, she had to curl her fingers around his collar to keep standing. “You can’t keep doing that,” she whispered.
“You don’t make it very easy on me.”
A knot overran her throat. “I . . . we . . .” Unable to speak, she turned away, but he held on to her hand and drew her back around.
“What if I don’t want that kind of girl, Quinn? What if I only want the one right in front of me?”
The knot expanded. “For four more days?”
His brow pinched. But when he met her gaze again, the earnestness in his eyes almost drained every bit of resistance out of her. “Come with me.”
“To Indonesia? You can’t be serious.”
“Why not?” He brought her closer.
“Cooper.” She set a palm to his chest. “I have a life in Hatteras to get back to. And you don’t want to be tied down, remember?”
Head lowered, he released a slow breath. “I shouldn’t be asking you. I know what you think of me, and you’re probably right about most of it.” He closed his eyes and rested his forehead to hers. “But you’re wrong about how I feel about you.” He pressed the lightest of kisses to the top of her head before breaking away.
Shuffling backward, he fixed torn eyes on her. “And you’re wrong about the kind of wife and mom you’ll make one day.”
He turned as Livy, Ti, and Maddie were coming down the steps.
Quinn didn’t move. She roped her arms around her sides to hold the pieces together while watching him walk away. Of all the things she was wrong about, why couldn’t falling in love with Cooper Anderson be one of them?