Chapter 13
Cooper pulled her into the bedroom, closed the door and locked it. He pulled her into his arms and captured her mouth in a heated kiss, their tongues tangling together as their passion built quickly. He broke the kiss and cupped her face in his hands, his eyes locked on hers, he said, “I love you.”
She smiled up at him and said, “Those are the sweetest words I’ve ever heard. I love you, too, Cooper.”
“Be prepared to hear them a lot, since I’m going to tell you as often as I can.” Cooper said, threading his fingers though her hair.
She couldn’t resist letting her head relax back into his hands as he massaged her scalp, purring in her throat as every muscle in her body began to relax, reaching for Cooper to steady herself. He slid his hands out of her hair and down to the collar of the robe, which she’d cinched tightly around her waist because it was so big, then down to the knot she’d made.
Paige’s breath was coming in short gasps, Cooper’s blue eyes locked on hers, as he pulled the knot free and spread her robe open. He slid his hands inside the robe to her hips, then up her rib cage, making her shiver, then gasp when his thumbs grazed the sides of her breasts. Passion in his eyes, he slid his hands under her breasts, lifting them slightly he bent his head down and captured one nipple in his mouth.
Paige grabbed his muscular shoulders with her hands to brace herself as a torrent of pleasure raced through her body. She was immediately hot and throbbing between her legs, her body crying out for more, but Cooper released her breast and pulled her up against him. The feel of his naked chest against her sensitive breasts made her gasp with pleasure, his throbbing erection was pressed up against her stomach only intensifying her desire.
Cooper’s mouth came down on hers with such force that she practically melted in his arms as he poured all his love and passion into that one kiss. Feeling her complete submission, Cooper backed her up to the door and pinned her there with his body, kissing her until she had to break the kiss or faint.
Paige stood immobilized by desire and watched while he stripped off his boxers, then stepped back up to her. He slid his hands back to her hips then down between her legs, his mouth taking hers again, as a cry of pleasure came out of her mouth. Muffling her pleasure with his mouth, he stroked her until she was trembling in his arms, then brought his hands back to her hips and pulled back.
“I want you now. Put your hands on my shoulders and hold on.” He said, lifting her into his arms.
She wrapped her legs around him as he drove himself into her waiting heat and wetness. This time it was Paige’s mouth that muffled his pleasure as her body clasped tightly around him, her breasts rubbing against his chest. Cooper ground his hips into hers, his hard length reaching some deep spot that he’d never reached before. Paige threw her arms around him, her fingernails digging into his back as the pleasure began to build so deep inside her she knew that it would soon become all she was.
With each powerful thrust, Paige felt herself coming nearer and nearer to the crest, each wave of pleasure greater than the last until she was panting, “Please, please, please.”
“It’s up to you sweetheart. Come for me, I love the way your body feels when you do.” Cooper purred in her ear, grinding his hips into hers, sending her flying over the crest.
Cooper carried her over to the bed, her body still clenched tightly around his and sat down with her still straddling him. Then he laid down on his back and flipped her onto hers. When he pulled out of her, she whimpered, but he spread her legs and lowered his head between them.
When his tongue flicked over her clit, her hips came up off the bed, but he reached up and pushed her hips back down, then ran his tongue over her again. The fire that leapt to life in her belly was instantaneous and all consuming, but Cooper continued to fan the flames. Using his tongue, he drove her to the brink of orgasm, then gently held her there hovering, the waves of pleasure rolling over her until he slid his finger inside her.
Cooper gently slid his finger in and out of Paige’s dripping core, his tongue lapping at her until she stiffed and tumbled over the edge, unable to stop herself from crying out his name when she came. Cooper’s mouth was immediately on hers, capturing his name with his mouth, then when the worst of her trembling was over, he thrust into her as deeply as he could, no longer able to resist her waiting warmth.
Paige was breathless with pleasure, but she knew that Cooper had never possessed her as he had that night. As he continued to thrust into her, bringing that familiar heat to her middle, she threaded her hands into his hair and pulled him down for a kiss. Then whispered, “I love you Cooper, when you’re inside me I feel complete.”
At her words, Cooper lost all control and with one final thrust, let himself go completely, the force of his orgasm beyond anything he’d ever experienced. The last rational thought he had, was how much he loved this woman underneath him, then he collapsed on top of Paige the world fading to only the feeling of her underneath him. Finally, he managed to roll them over, and Paige snuggled up next to him, her body suffused with a sense of wellbeing.
The next morning, Paige was in the kitchen making pancakes for breakfast when Amy pulled up outside. Cooper had already left for the day, excited to begin the instillation of solar panels that would supply power to the canyon. She smiled thinking of how excited he’d been last week when the panels had arrived, like a kid on Christmas morning, he’d opened every box before he was satisfied.
One of the things she loved most about Cooper was the way he always seemed to throw himself into whatever project he was working on. In the time she’d known him, he’d learned about the hydraulics of the dam and water flow patterns, he’d help excavate at the dig, not to mention all the other small projects he’d tackled in between. Now he was happily learning all he could about solar power and its potential.
It was good that he had something to distract him from Amy’s appearance yesterday; it had shaken him up pretty badly, but they’d talked long into the night, then made love until early morning. Neither had gotten much sleep, but Cooper had opened up to her about his marriage to Amy. She’d been horrified when he’d told her about the night of their anniversary, Amy had chosen the most painful way she could have to destroy his world.
But now the woman was getting out of her car and Paige suddenly realized that she was standing in the kitchen in Cooper’s robe and a panicked feeling like she’d done something wrong overtook her. Then she realized that she had every right to be here and squared her shoulders for the confrontation that she was sure was about to come. Brandon and Justin were looking out the window to see who had just driven up and when Brandon saw his mother get out of the car, he quickly looked back at Paige.
“Why don’t you boys go get ready for school? I’ll call you when it’s time to go.” Paige said, nodding her head toward the back of the house.
She stepped up to the door, but waited until Amy knocked to answer it, then took a deep breath and opened the door. Amy’s eyes widened at the sight of Paige standing in the doorway, clearly wearing his robe. She seemed to consider her options, then asked, “Is Cooper here?”
“No, he’s gone seeing to some work in the park.” Paige said, not planning to invite Amy in.
Amy studied her for a second, weighing her options, “Is Brandon here?”
“He’s getting ready for school.” Paige said, not planning on making this any easier than she had to. Justin’s father may not have anything to do with him, but this was a woman who sold the rights to her son like they were stocks and bonds.
“Can I see him?”
Paige wished she’d discussed this possibility with Cooper, but didn’t see how she could refuse her. “Come in then, I’ll go get him.” Paige said, holding the door open wider.
She couldn’t fail to miss the look that crossed Amy’s face when she saw the house; it was a mixture of horror and disgust that she quickly tried to hide. “You can wait in the kitchen.” Paige said, pointing through the door. “Help yourself to coffee if you like.”
Paige didn’t even wait for a response from Amy, simply turned and went back into the bedroom and got dressed. When she was ready, she got Brandon and Justin and together they went to the kitchen where Amy was waiting impatiently. She’d been pacing the floor, but when she saw Brandon she flew across the room and threw her arms around him.
Brandon cringed, then untangled himself from his mother’s arms, which Amy pretended not to notice. “I thought maybe you and I could hang out together today.” She said, giving Brandon a big smile.
“I have to go to school today.” He said, with relief in his voice.
“Oh, I think you can skip school for one day.” She said with confidence.
“No, I have to give my report on the creek today, I’ve been waiting all week. I’m not missing school.” He said, stubbornly, showing a side of Brandon Paige had never seen.
“Look...” Amy started to say, but Paige cut her off.
“Brandon is going to school today. I can guarantee you that Cooper would not be happy if he skipped school.” Paige said firmly.
“I don’t know who....” Amy started to say, but his time Brandon interrupted her.
“Paige, I’m ready to go to school.” He said, and was out the door.
Amy followed them out the door, wanting to stamp her foot in frustration, again her well laid plans had been destroyed by this woman. She was supposed to show up here this morning before Cooper could leave the house. Once alone, it wouldn’t have been long before she’d have had him, but instead she showed up to find another woman in Cooper’s house, wearing his robe no less.
She should have been more upset that Paige had replaced her in Brandon’s life, but the truth was she didn’t really care, he’d only been a way to keep Cooper happy until she’d gained what she wanted and was ready to move on. But it wasn’t a good thing for her plans that she’d have to fight for both Cooper’s cooperation and Brandon’s. One thing was certain, she couldn’t leave here without the information she was looking for. The rest of her life depended on it.
Then new inspiration hit her, “Can I go with you to drop the boys off, I’d love to see the school.” She said, heading for the car she thought was Paige’s.
“Well, you’re welcome to ride along, but I hope you brought a coat.” Paige said, heading for a barn behind the house.
Amy followed her confused, then watched horrified as Paige opened the door to reveal a golf cart. Having no choice but to go along with riding in such a vile vehicle, she climbed in next to Paige, brushing the seat off before she got in. Once seated, she held herself rigidly as Paige headed down the road.
“Don’t you drive cars around here?” She asked, looking longingly behind her at her car when the wind cut through the sweater she was wearing.
“Only on the roads. There isn’t a road into Cedar Ridge, only a trail, and it’s like that in a lot of places around the park.” Paige explained, wanting to laugh when she saw the shocked look on Amy’s face.
Then she looked at Paige with contempt and asked, “Well, why don’t you build some roads? It seems pretty obvious to me.”
Paige took a deep breath and said, “The whole point of the park is to try and keep it as close to how it was in the 1930s, give people a chance to immerse themselves in the decade.”
Amy thought about that, shivering in her seat, until they pulled into Cedar Ridge and stopped in front of the school. She got out of the cart, her eyes huge, then understood that what she was seeing was real. A bit stunned, she followed Paige into the school house feeling like she’d stepped back in time, although that impression ended as soon as she stepped through the door.
When she stepped out of the doors of the school, she was suitably impressed and sure that there must be some truth to the rumors that had been going around. This place seemed to be charmed in some way she couldn’t name; it was like it had been left back in time, even with the modern touches she’d seen. For the first time since she’d stepped out of the car yesterday, she found that she was a little bit jealous and sorry that she wasn’t part of this, but then she tripped over a rock and almost fell.
Cursing the outdoors, she followed Paige back to the cart. “So what’s next? Will you give me a tour of the park?” Amy asked, trying to sound chummy, when in reality she wanted to pull Paige’s hair out.
“The park covers almost 350 thousand acres and most of it is nothing more than wilderness. No one has lived up here for decades. I couldn’t possibly show you the whole park, besides I have to get to work.” Paige said, pulling up in front of Marissa and Scott’s house where she always parked her when she was working with the artifacts.
Amy looked around her taking in the property which was much nicer than anything else in the park, so nice in fact that she decided that she could live there. “Well, I uhhh…” Amy was trying to decide if she could just up and ask if she could see the house when Marissa came out on the porch with the baby on her hip.
“I can take you back to your car.” Paige offered as Marissa came down the step toward them.
Paige introduced the two women then let Marissa take over; she’d grown very tired of hosting Cooper ex-wife. It was a true testament to her love of him that she’d let it go on so long. Marissa, who had been filled in on the full story by Scott the night before, was curious about the woman who had so ruthlessly thrown away her son. She’d seen the covetous look on Amy’s face when she looked at the house, and one look at Paige told her that she needed a break.
“Would you like to come in for coffee? I’m sure Paige is dying to get to work.” Marissa turned to Amy and gave her a big smile.
Amy looked back up at the house then at Paige knowing that she’d probably already pushed it far enough with her, she’d get another chance with Paige later. Right now she saw an opportunity with Marissa that might not present itself again, so she accepted Marissa’s invitation and followed her into the house.
Once they were seated in front of the fire in the breakfast room, Amy saw her opportunity and said, “I hear there’s been a lot of commotion around here.”
“Oh, yes. It’s been so exciting seeing the water change the land.” Marissa said, pretty sure that wasn’t what Amy was talking about.
“Oh, well there’s that. But I heard a rumor that there’s an Indian burial ground somewhere around here.” Amy said, with an obviously fake shutter.
Marissa looked at her for a second trying to evaluate what it was that Amy was looking for, then she said, “Yes, Paige and her Indian burial ground, it’s an important find that’s for sure.”
“I heard that there were some very valuable artifacts in the cave.” Amy said, the word artifact so carefully that Marissa was sure that she’d been coached.
“Well, I don’t know about valuable as far as money goes, but valuable to science.”
“I’d love to see the burial ground and the cave where everything was found.” Amy said, again sounding as if she’d been coached.
“I’m afraid that’s impossible. The cave is very unstable from the earthquake that exposed it in the first place and there’s really nothing to see at the burial ground but an empty field. There’s not work going on there right now.” Marissa said, knowing for sure now that Amy was digging for information.
“Oh.” Amy said, suddenly quiet. “Well, maybe I could have a tour of your property.”
“I’m afraid that’s not possible either; we just flooded the pasture for winter, it is three inches deep and much too muddy out there.” Marissa explained, lying through her teeth but not caring.
“Oh, well maybe if we stayed on the sidewalk.” Amy pressed, “Or took one of those carts.”
Now Marissa knew that Amy was digging for information about what they’d found in the cave, but what her angle was she wasn’t sure. She had no claim to anything that had been found, it all belonged to the park — they’d seen to that before Paige had started the dig. It seemed unlikely that she’d come looking for the coins, but they’d been turning people away by the dozens at the front gate, so it was possible.
But one thing was clear to her — Amy wasn’t working alone. She’d been fed information by someone else, then sent in here to snoop. She hadn’t shown up here wanting to visit her son, she was on a fact-gathering mission and Marissa wanted her off the property at once, but that wasn’t her choice. Making an excuse to leave the room, she went back to her office and closed the door and called Scott who would know where Cooper was.
When she got back to the sunroom, Amy was nowhere to be found. Going to the window she saw Amy disappear into the trees headed straight for Paige’s lab and the storage facility they’d created out of an old barn. The building had been a perfect choice because it couldn’t be seen from the house because of a grove of trees, they’d been thinking about removing them but they made good cover for the building.
Even Amy, who didn’t seem to be the brightest of people, couldn’t miss the huge solar panels and climate control equipment that was perched on the roof of the barn. Wishing she hadn’t left the room to call Scott, but knowing that she’d had to, she paced the living room hoping he’d get home soon.
Paige heard the intercom buzz on her desk and looked up from what she was doing to see Amy heading straight for the doors of the barn. Cursing, she hit the button and said, “Yes, I see her. Let her through, I’ll handle her, just go back to work as if nothing’s happening.”
Rising to her feet, she went to the heavy door that separated the climate control area from the entryway where people were expected to take off their shoes and put on protective gear. She waited for Amy to try the door, smiling when Amy pulled and the door didn’t budge. Amy tried the door a couple of more times before banging on it, Paige stood on the other side of the door letting Amy’s frustration build.
Finally, when she was sure that Amy must be exhausted from all the banging, she opened the door a crack and peeked her head out. “Amy what are you doing here?” She asked, feigning surprise. “You shouldn’t be back here.”
“I just wanted a little peak at the artifacts you found in the cave.” Amy said, then added as if she just thought of it. “It would be so cool to tell my friends that I got to see real Muno artifacts.”
Even if she hadn’t sudden been suspicious of Amy, she was only letting a few people in. “I’m sorry but this is a clean environment and you don’t have the training to come in. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have work to do.”
But Amy was becoming desperate, if she didn’t get some kind of information soon, it would not be a good thing for her. “Oh come on, it can’t be that big of a deal for me to just take a quick peek, unless there’s some reason you don’t want anyone to see what you have.”
Paige’s eyes narrowed at Amy and she realized that she’d taken a misstep. “Amy, these are fragile artifacts that need special care. Not everyone has the knowledge needed to see that we don’t damage them in some way. Now I really need to get back to work.” She said and slammed the door in Amy’s face.