Besides, Stormy would figure it out. She always did. Even if she had gotten knocked down more times than she cared to admit. The ending result wouldn’t be her dream situation, but it would eventually work out and she’d survive.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

His limbs practically twitching as he walked down the Jetway, Cooper had to stop himself from running as one of the flight attendants chatted away about her plans for the weekend.

He’d been in the plane for the past five hours after a ten-hour day. He was pushing the max time allowed and he was ready to blow off some steam. He sure as hell hoped his brother was up for a round at the gym. Last time they’d boxed, Maverick had gotten in a lucky shot, giving him a bloody nose.

It was payback time.

With flight bags in tow, Cooper walked toward the exit. As he turned a corner, he glanced up and noticed Stormy moving down the concourse ahead of him.

His weariness faded when he realized she was still in the building. Before he was able to try to chase her down, his phone rang for the third time in three minutes. Whoever was trying to get ahold of him was being obscenely insistent.

It must be important. If not the person was going to get chewed.

Stopping, he dug out his phone and answered. “What?”

He wasn’t going to try to pretend to be pleasant when the person on the other end was most certainly interrupting him.

“Is that any way to answer your phone, young man? We’ve talked about this before.”

“Sorry, Uncle. I’ve just had a long day. Can I call you back later?” Cooper asked, looking back down the terminal but having lost sight of Stormy already.

The phone call didn’t really matter then, did it? He’d never find her now. But why in the world would he even want to in the first place? It wasn’t as if it would be smart for him to try to get involved with her. Especially now, since he’d finally agreed to go out with Wolf’s cousin.

“I was just making sure you’re home day after tomorrow. We’re going to be bringing the family friend to your place,” Sherman reminded him.

“I thought we hadn’t finished this discussion,” Cooper said, instantly irritated.

“Yes, we did yesterday, and you agreed when I asked for the favor,” Sherman reminded his nephew.

“You know I don’t like strangers at my place,” Cooper told him.

“You’re hardly even there. It will be good to have a trustworthy person on your property to keep an eye on things,” Sherman scolded. “Besides, it’s a guesthouse. You won’t even know they’re around.”

“I’ve heard the speech before,” Cooper told his uncle.

“Well then, I won’t have to keep on with the lecture,” Sherman answered right back.

“This will only be a couple weeks, Sherman,” Cooper warned. “I mean it. No stretching it out.”

“It’s only until your mother finishes with her guesthouse remodeling, then the friend can go there,” Sherman assured him.

For some reason Cooper wasn’t feeling all that assured.

“I don’t want any sob stories at the end of this about how Mom’s place isn’t ready. If it’s not, then one of my siblings can take over having a house pet—I mean guest,” Cooper told him.

“Dang, Cooper, you’re in a bear of a mood tonight,” Sherman said.

“Yes, I am. I’ve had delays all day, and I need to blow off some steam,” Cooper said.

“Then I won’t hold you up any longer. Take it easy, kid. It’s okay to have some time off, especially when you own the company.”

“Would you sit back in an office with your feet on solid ground if you could fly?” Cooper challenged.

“No, of course not,” Sherman conceded.

“Well, I can’t quit flying either. I do this because I love it, not because I have to,” Cooper said for what felt like the hundredth time.

“I know, kiddo. But you could cut back,” Sherman said.

“Yeah. I might agree to do that,” he said with a chuckle. He could always fly his private jet. She was a beauty.

The two hung up, and even though Cooper knew the chances of seeing Stormy again were pretty low, he still rushed from the building and looked around outside. Hadn’t he just told himself it was pointless?

Surprisingly, he did spot her, but it was too late. She was getting on a bus, leaving the airport. The entire walk back to his car, he couldn’t shake his disappointment at missing her. He hadn’t actually gone on a date yet with Wolf’s cousin so he wasn’t committed or anything.

Maybe he would just ask Stormy out on a date, take her to bed, and then get over his odd obsession. Maybe this was all because she felt like someone he knew, or should know.

His fingers rubbed once more against the locket in his pocket before digging out his car keys.

One thing Cooper knew about himself was when to fight his feelings and when not to. If the obsession was still running through his brain in a couple of days, he was certainly going to do something about it.

That settled, he sat down, turned his key, and pressed his foot against the gas and smiled as the motor purred.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Leaning her head against the window, Stormy decided there were much better things to do in a day than apartment and job hunt. She was exhausted, hungry, and trying desperately to be positive and not feel that her life was going downhill fast with the brakes severed.

The bus stopped a block from her apartment and she slowly stepped off and then threw her bag over her shoulder and began moving toward home. She passed the park, and though it was late, she automatically looked toward the bench Sherman often sat at when he left the café.