Page 12 of Forbidden Dreams
My brothers warned him away from me? Was there a need for them to do that? "Really?"
He nodded and stood up, reaching for the plates. "We probably shouldn't be having any more dinners together. Your brothers will wonder what's going on."
My brothers had warned him away from me. So there was no chance of lines being crossed. And if we didn't have any more nights like this, this silly crush would dissipate. Problem solved. "I'll head out."
He set the dishes in the sink and returned to the living room. "We know each other a little better, and we're on the same page now."
"I think so too." I still wasn't sure if everything was resolved. But maybe we could work together without fighting.
He walked me toward the door, and my heart rate picked up. Isn't this the point of the evening where a man might think about kissing a woman? But this wasn't a date.
He rested a hand on the doorframe, leaning toward me. "I think this was good."
I swallowed over the tightness in my throat. "Yes."
"Thanks for coming over."
"Thank you for dinner," I said, my heart rate picking up the longer we stood staring at each other.
He dropped his arm and opened the door. A gust of cold wind filled the room. I ducked under his arm and slipped outside without looking back. "I'll see you later."
"Drive safe." The low tenor of his voice settled deep in my bones.
It wasn't safe to spend time with him alone. From now on, it was all business. No more getting to know each other.
I got in my SUV and turned it on, letting it warm up for a few seconds before I backed out of the driveway.
Cooper stood in the doorway and watched me go. I never would have thought that I'd ever be alone with Cooper, much less that I'd want to.
Why had this ridiculous attraction sprung up now? Maybe it was the first time I was viewing him as a man and not my brothers' friend. For so long, I'd only seen him as one more brother figure who was annoying. But now, he was something else entirely.
He was all man, and he had depth. There had to be some repressed feelings about his home life, and he'd avoided his family for a reason. I wanted to know why, but at the same time, I had a feeling it would only make me want him more. It was best to maintain my distance from him.
The point of our dinner was to prove that we could be together in the same room and be civil. Mission accomplished. It also proved that the closer I got to him, the more I liked him. I needed to avoid him at all costs.
The barbs, the snarky comments, did their job. It kept distance and bad feelings between us. Without those, I had to be careful that I didn't get any closer to him.
He'd always be my brothers' best friend, and nothing could ever come from my feelings for him. Besides, Cooper had too many issues that he'd clearly repressed. He never talked about his family. Maybe he didn't want to, or he didn't know how to process the memories. But it wasn't my job to fix that for him.
I drove into town and parked behind the bakery. I turned off the engine and walked up the stairs, reveling in the new enclosed balcony that was inviting with the plants I'd added. This was mine, and no one could say that I hadn't earned it on my own. Now I needed to keep it.
I wouldn't let Cooper do anything to screw up this deal with Eve. I had to prove that I was capable of taking on her responsibilities and doing a good job. It certainly wouldn't be appropriate to be lusting after the town contractor.
I wanted her to respect me. For once, maybe my family would see that I wasn't a screwup. That I wasn't flighty and impulsive. I was capable and responsible.
This crush on Cooper was a result of our proximity. If I avoided being alone with him, I should be fine. They invented texts and emails for a reason. I wouldn't have to spend any more time with him.
My phone buzzed with an incoming text.
Eve: I forgot to tell you that there's the Winter Wonderland Ball in the ballroom. I need you take the lead on that.
We hosted weekly dances and rented the hall out for various community events but this was a party to celebrate winter and the holiday season.
Aspen: I can do that.
Eve: Can you work with Cooper to ensure that everything is up to code and can handle a larger event? And that bathrooms are renovated before the dance?
Aspen: You've had events before.
