CHAPTER 4
Cooper finished his shift without another unexplainable healing. After he and Nick parked the rig and took inventory, they hit the locker room for showers. Cooper washed his hair and scrubbed his hands, arms, and body as if he was going to be performing surgery any minute. They wore gloves when working on patients, but you never really knew what you were walking into, and he’d rather be thorough than discover he’d gotten MRSA or worse. He turned off the water and wrapped a towel around his waist before heading for the locker room.
Nick glanced over his shoulder. “So that girl, Lia… She was cute.”
“Yeah.” Cooper nodded, unsure where the conversation was headed. “She was in the theater fire. She came by to see me a couple times while I was at the hospital.”
Nick towel-dried his hair. “You gonna take your grandmother’s advice and ask her out?”
“My grandmother wanted us to meet.” Cooper pulled on a clean T-shirt. “Mission accomplished.”
“So you’re not going to ask her out?”
“I didn’t say that.” Cooper raised a brow. “Why?”
Nick shrugged and stepped into his blue jeans. “Just thought if you weren’t interested, you might pass me her number.”
Of all the guys in the unit, Nick was Cooper’s closest friend, so the hot wave of jealousy swelling in his chest surprised him. Just the thought of Nick putting his arm around Lia had Cooper’s muscles clenching tight. It made no rational sense. He barely knew Lia, and hell, now that she’d witnessed his crazy healing powers, she was probably too freaked out to consider going out with him again.
But none of that mattered. He wasn’t about to step aside without even trying. Something about her drew him in. It was as though the sun was finally shining on his face when she was near.
“Sorry, man,” Cooper said. “I’m calling her tonight.” He didn’t tell Nick he was actually counting on Lia to call him. He hadn’t had a chance to get her number.
Nick put up his hands in surrender. “It’s all good. Maybe she has a cute single friend.”
Cooper pulled on his pants with a crooked smile. “I’ll let you know.” And for the tenth time, he checked his phone. Still no missed calls or voice mails.
He stuffed his dirty uniform into a bag and closed his locker. “See you tomorrow.”
“Good to have you back, Coop.”
“Thanks, Nick.” He gave a quick nod and headed through the truck bay to the parking lot. As he approached his car, his phone buzzed. He pulled it out of his pocket and got behind the wheel. “This is Cooper.”
“Hey, Cooper, it’s Lia from the geriatric-poker dating service.”
He chuckled. “Hi, Lia.”
“Was that a laugh?”
God, he could hear her smile in her voice, and even through the phone, it was beautiful. She infected him with a yearning he’d never known before.
But at the same time…it wasn’t new. Being in her presence made him feel more like himself.
Maybe he was nuts.
“I was starting to think you weren’t going to call.” He turned on the car and leaned his head back against the seat. “I’m heading to The Luna Brewery for pizza. Can I interest you in a slice?”
“Sounds good,” she said. “I can be there in a half hour, if that works.”
“See you then.”
Once they hung up, he set his phone on the passenger seat, and another rare smile curved his lips. Maybe tonight he’d actually get that kiss.
“What do you think? Too slutty?” Lia draped a low-cut black top over her chest.
“No such thing.” Trin grinned. “But your cleavage might be a distraction.”
“Okay.” She held up another top with a boat neck. “What about this one? My boobs will be covered up, but a nice view of my shoulders?”
Trin nodded. “I like it.”
Lia tugged it off the hanger and headed for the bathroom. “I should’ve told him I’d be there in an hour. I didn’t realize I’d have such a quandary over what to wear.”
Trin followed, leaning against the doorframe. “You really do like this guy.”
“I don’t know him well enough to know if I like like him. But I damned sure want that kiss I missed last night.” She ran a brush through her hair and glanced over at Trin. “You should’ve seen him with his grandmother today. He’s got a good heart.”
“It also sounds like he’s got project written all over him.” Trin crossed her arms. “You can’t change people, you know. You said he’s serious, and we all know you’re not, so…”
Lia finished her lipstick and slipped it back into her makeup bag. “He’s not a project. He’s a mystery. There’s a big difference.” She walked past Trin to grab her purse and turned back to hold up a finger. “I had a cut on my knuckle today. He healed it.”
She came closer, inspecting Lia’s finger. “How?”
“I don’t know.” She lowered her hand. “He doesn’t, either.”
Trin’s eyes widened. “Better check for that Guardian birthmark.”
Lia chuckled. “I can’t exactly ask him to disrobe so I can inspect him for a crescent-shaped birthmark.” Suddenly picturing him naked in her head brought a grin to her lips. “On second thought, that’s not such a horrible idea.”
Trinity laughed, shaking her head. “Go eat some pizza with a cute guy. It can be that simple.”
Lia headed for the door. “I’ll text you later.”
She hopped in her car and made record time driving to The Luna Brewery. She was only five minutes late. Cooper already had a table far from the blaring widescreen televisions and a pitcher of soda with two glasses of ice.
He stood as she came over. “Thanks for coming.”
She smiled and took a seat across from him. “I never pass up pizza.”
“Note taken.” He raised a brow. “I’ll file that away for future reference.”
She clucked her tongue. “You might have a sense of humor somewhere in there after all.”
“Never said I didn’t. I just don’t put it out there for the world to see like you do.” He lifted the pitcher. “Wasn’t sure what you like to drink. Hope Dr. Pepper is okay.”
She held up her plastic tumbler. “You have good taste.”
He filled her glass and set the pitcher on the table. “I half expected you to bolt after what happened this afternoon.”
She took a sip of the soda, buying herself some time. Healing her finger had only been the tip of the insane iceberg she was about to dump on him. How could she ask about birthmarks and wax on about the Greek muses being reborn inside her and her sisters without him dragging her to the hospital for a psych evaluation?
Shifting in her seat, she swirled her straw around the glass. “Oh, I’m pretty sure we’re just brushing the surface of the crazy.”
His eyebrows rose. “What do you mean?”
She shrugged. “There’s a reason my geriatric-poker dating service has to find men for me.”
He shook his head, and light danced in the depths of his blue eyes. “You don’t need my grandmother and her friends to set you up on dates.” He took her hand, glancing at her healed finger as he spoke. “As I was leaving work, Nick asked for your number.” His gaze met hers, his lips hinting at a smile. “I didn’t give it to him.”
Her heart fluttered, but before she could scramble for something flirty to say, a waitress brought over a hot pizza. She set it up between them and glanced at Cooper. “Can I get you anything else?”
“Some napkins would be great,” Lia chimed in.
The woman plucked a stack from the pocket of her apron and placed them on the table. “Anything else?”
“I think we’re good,” Cooper said, and their impromptu company disappeared back into the kitchen.
Lia stared at the sausage-and-pepperoni pizza with extra cheese. Her favorite. “How did you…?”
“My grandmother told me this would make you happy.”
“Wow.” She chuckled. “She’s serious about this matchmaking thing. Has she done this to you before?”
“Never.” He pulled a slice of pizza free and put it on a plate for her, then grabbed one for himself. “She really likes you. I’m also supposed to get you a root beer float.”
“I’m going to kiss that woman next week.” She grinned and took a bite, humming with delight.
But Cooper wasn’t eating.
Her smile faded. “Are you okay?”
“No.” He lowered his voice. “And I think it has something to do with you.”
Here it comes…
She wasn’t ready. But seriously, would she ever be ready to tell an intelligent, heroic paramedic she might be his muse? Probably not.
She grabbed a napkin, wiping her hands. “How so?”
“I’ve been a paramedic for two years now while I’m working my way through med school, and I’ve never healed anyone with a touch before.” A flicker of fear flashed in his eyes. “Until you. How is that possible?”
She wasn’t exactly sure yet. “You also healed Reed. Heck, you brought him back from the dead.”
“And it nearly killed me,” he said.
Her jaw dropped. “You do remember.”
“What I remember can’t be real, Lia. None of this can be. I’ve been through every single medical test they could administer. I don’t have a brain tumor, and I’m not some magical healer, but we both know I never stitched up your forehead that day, and the cut on your finger today closed in a couple seconds.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “The only connection I can find is you.”
Lia blinked. His neck. He’d been rubbing it last night, too. He was probably stressed out.
But what if it was the birthmark of a Guardian? Nate, Hunter, and Reed all said their birthmarks burned when they found their muses. And when their muses were in danger…
“I’m not magical, either,” she said. Inspirational, yes, or at least she tried, but magic? Nope. She couldn’t even manage a card trick. She took a sip of her Dr. Pepper. “Tell me what you remember about working on Reed.”
Cooper ground his teeth but then forced himself to speak. “He was gone. I couldn’t stop the bleeding. Whatever tore through his chest nicked an artery. I was going to call it, but you asked me to try one more time. I stared in your eyes, and I saw the pain.” He shook his head. “Even though I knew he was dead, I tried one last time, and when I did…” He ran a hand down his face. “This sounds even crazier saying it out loud.”
“You’re not crazy.” She was serious, no hint of a smile.
He cocked a brow. “And how do you know that?”
“I cut hair for a living.” Her dark eyes glinted with playfulness, easing some of his jacked-up nerves. “I see crazy all the time. You’re not it.”
He wished he could be so certain. His gaze locked on hers. “When I touched him, something, some part of me, slipped away. There was light everywhere, and I guided it into the wound to stop the bleeding, and then there was this pull, like all my energy or my soul or something was being drained and sucked into his body. I heard his heartbeat, and then everything went dark.”
He waited for her to laugh or sprint out of the restaurant.
Instead, she reached across the table to take his hand. “You were part of a miracle.”
He swallowed the lump in his throat and squeezed her hand. “I don’t know what to do with this. Why did it happen? And what if it happens again? It almost killed me.”
She leaned back in her chair. “We should go swimming.”
He frowned, a surprise burst of laughter escaping his throat. “Swimming?”
Color flushed up her neck and into her cheeks. “Sorry. That was in my outside voice, huh?”
“Yeah.” He chuckled. “I’m not sure how my deepest fear is connected to swimming, but…”
“It’s not.” She ran her fingers back through her hair. “I don’t know how to explain this so it only seems sort of crazy and not padded-room crazy.”
“I just admitted my soul was drained to save your friend. Top that.”
She laughed and something warmed inside of him. Her dark eyes met his. “Have you ever had a secret that involved other people, and you couldn’t share it without exposing them? I have to be really careful.”
He rubbed his forehead. “And swimming is going to help?”
“It might.” She popped forward in her seat and covered his hand in both of hers. “Tell you what? Come swim with me, and I’ll give you a free haircut.”
He laughed again before he could stop himself. “You don’t have to bribe me for a chance to see you in a bathing suit.”
She flipped her hair back with a twinkle in her eyes. “Is that a yes?”
“Sure. When?”
“After pizza.”
“You have a pool?”
“Yeah. You have swim trunks?”
“Not on me.” He couldn’t help but laugh again. “But I’m wearing boxers, will that work?” She nodded, and he picked up his slice of pizza. “This is the weirdest date I’ve ever been on.”
She grinned. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”
And it was. He’d had plenty of dates and a handful of relationships in the past, but he hadn’t laughed this much since… Hell, he couldn’t even remember.
Lia made Trinity swear to stay in the condo. If she was going to nonchalantly search Cooper for a crescent-shaped birthmark, she didn’t want witnesses. Lia stepped into the shallow end of the swimming pool, grateful it was heated, not that Crystal City had much in the way of seasons. It was almost always sunny, but fall nights like tonight were chilly.
The back door opened, and Cooper walked toward the pool. Lord. She prayed her jaw wasn’t hanging open. His broad shoulders were muscled—heck, all of him was covered in muscles—and his skin was tanned. On his bicep, he had a single tattoo of the caduceus, which symbolized medicine and healers.
She forced her eyes up to his face. “Come on in. The water’s fine.”
Instead of walking into the shallow end from the steps, he took two running strides and dove into the deep end. He was like a sexy bullet shooting through the water, breaking the surface right in front of her. Without thinking, she placed her hand on his chest.
He covered her hand with his and bent closer. “Is anyone going to come out needing you to set an alarm?”
“I’ll break their arm,” she said, her pulse racing.
He smiled as he closed the distance between their lips. His kiss was warm, soft, and knee weakening. She ran her hands up his chest, lacing her fingers around the back of his neck as his hands caressed the small of her back. The second her bare belly pressed against him, heat smoldered low inside of her.
Gradually, his tongue teased her lips, coaxing her to open for him. She moaned as she explored his mouth. He bent his knees, his hands sliding lower to grip the back of her thighs. He straightened, lifting her as she wrapped her legs around his waist. A rumble vibrated through his chest, and he tipped his head to the side, deepening the kiss until every inch of her ached for his attention.
She brushed her lips against his, her teeth catching his lower lip for a second before she made herself pull back. Blinking her eyes open, she gasped for air. “Okay. That was totally worth the wait.”
He brought one hand out of the water to cup her cheek and caressed her skin with his thumb. “Definitely.” He walked her over to the steps and sat down. Lia unwound her legs to sit beside him, and he rested his hand on her thigh. “Are you going to tell me why the sudden urge to have a swim?”
The birthmark. She’d totally forgotten. The man made her lose her mind.
She shrugged. “Just thought you’d look amazing in trunks.”
His head fell back, and she was finally treated to that belly laugh she’d been yearning for. She got up from the step, weightless in the water, and turned to face him. She straddled his lap, and he wrapped his arms around her without hesitation. It felt so natural. Like breathing.
“That was the laugh I’ve been waiting to hear.” She grinned as he met her eyes.
Cooper shook his head. “You’re right, you are addicted.”
“To hearing people laugh?” She nodded. “True story.”
His smile faded. “Why are you avoiding telling me the reason for the sudden pool party?”
“Because if I’m wrong, I’d be betraying my sisters, and I’d rather look completely insane than put them at risk.”
He sobered, a crease forming on his brow. “Does this have something to do with the fire? I saw the footage on TV. Do you know who the guys were in the masks?”
She shook her head. “Not exactly, but this isn’t the first time they’ve come after us.”
“Does your family have money?”
She blinked. No one had ever mistaken her for being rich. “No. Why?”
He glanced at the condo and back to her face. “You and your sisters were restoring a theater. I just figured a big family with enemies must have money.”
“Oh.” She pointed toward the condo. “Trinity and the others aren’t my biological sisters. We’re just really close. The family you choose and all that.”
“I see.” He nodded, his thumbs stroking her lower back. His touch was distracting to say the least. She might never get off his lap. His blue eyes pinned her in place. “Did one of those guys in masks try to hurt you?”
His voice was deep and even, but there was a fire in his eyes. He had to be her Guardian.
Please, Zeus. Cut this girl a break.
She leaned back, taking in his chest, his abs, lower…
He caught her chin, lifting her attention back to his face. “If you’re in some kind of trouble, you can tell me. Maybe I can help.”
“You’ve already healed me twice and saved my sister’s fiancé. I’m not sure I can ask for more.”
He shook his head. “I’m telling you, you can.”
Gods, she wanted to spill everything to him, but what if he wasn’t her Guardian? What if she actually got him to believe they were vessels for the Greek muses with a mission to inspire mankind toward growth, and then her real Guardian showed up with some sort of crazy ability like the others had?
But Cooper healed her. That had to be his ability.
He had also healed Reed, who was decidedly not a muse.
She wet her lips, searching for words. “I wanted to swim tonight because I thought I could look to see if you had a birthmark. Pretty smooth, right?”
The corner of his mouth curved into a lopsided smile. “Why are you looking for a birthmark?”
“Um…” She shrugged. “Just curious.”
“You’re a horrible liar.” He chuckled.
Her cheeks flushed with heat. “I was hoping I’d find a crescent-shaped birthmark on you someplace.”
The color drained from his face. “What?”
Oh shit. She’d finally crossed his threshold for insanity. But he didn’t get out of the pool. She swallowed the lump in her throat. “I know it sounds nuts, but there’s supposed to be a man in this world for me, and he’s marked with a crescent-shaped birthmark. I was hoping he’s you.”
He pulled a hand out of the water, rubbing the back of his neck. “I think I need that haircut.”
“Huh?” She blinked, frowning.
“You said if I went for a swim, you’d give me a free haircut.”
“I did.” She nodded, completely confused. “You want it right now?”
“Yeah. Now.” He stood up, taking her with him.
She squeaked as he carried her up the steps and out of the pool. His face was unreadable.
He set her down beside the towels she’d stacked on the lounge chair. “You have your supplies here?”
She handed him a towel and wrapped herself in the other one. “Yeah. In the condo.”
“Good.” He toweled off and took her hand. His strong fingers threaded with hers, and butterflies exploded in her belly.
She stared from their joined hands up to his face. “What aren’t you telling me?”
“I could ask you the same question.”
“Touché.” She led him through the back door and into the kitchen. Trinity was nowhere to be seen. Maybe she was already sleeping. Lia pulled a chair out for him. “Have a seat. I’ll go grab my kit.”
She came back with her tote of sterilized scissors and combs, and the apron she took to her poker group on Wednesdays. His gaze followed her every move. It was making her equally self-conscious and turned on. Ugh.
After she covered his bare torso with the apron, she pulled out her comb. “Your hair isn’t long. How much do you want me to take off?”
“Just a trim so it’s off my collar.”
“All right. Tip your head down forward—” Her words died as she stared at his hairline. She brought the comb up, running it through his wet hair with tentative strokes, her fingers trembling. Each stroke exposed a red, angry patch of skin at the base of his hairline.
“That’s my birthmark,” he said.
She came around and knelt in front of him. “It’s a crescent.”
“And it started burning the first time I laid eyes on you at the fire.” His gaze searched her face. “Now tell me what the hell is going on.”