Damaged and the Beast (16 page)

Sawyer screamed, “Mom” until a curly haired blonde woman appeared from the house wearing shorts and a Harley tank top. Her bare skin displayed an assortment of tattoos from skulls to butterflies. Her blue eyes were bright as she looked up at her son then down at her still screaming daughter.

“Tucker is teaching her crap,” Cooper said.

“You’re the oldest. It’s your job to kick his ass for me.”

Cooper laughed. “Mom, this is her.”

“Ah, her,” his mom said, grinning. “The girl who’s got my son wrapped around her finger.”

Standing there awkwardly, I gave my best non-awkward smile as Cooper’s mom gave me the once over.

“I’m Jodi and you must be a special girl for my boy to want you so bad.”

Ignoring the special girl part, I forced my smile to grow. “Hello, Jodi.”

“You hungry? We’re getting ready to grill.”

“I ate earlier. Thank you.”

Cooper snorted. “She’s lying. I felt her stomach growling on the way over.”

Glaring at him, I felt my face flush in embarrassment. Jodi just laughed and took Sawyer by the hand.

“Come on in and get something to eat before you go swimming. Need to keep up your energy in this heat.”

Still irritated, I glanced at Cooper. Instead of giving a shit about my anger, he grinned at me like his pants were still too snug.

“Yes,” he said, nudging me towards the house, “we must keep up our energy. I have plans for today.”

“Okay,” I said, nervous about a lot of things now.

His mom was nice, but I’d never met a guy’s parents. Also, Sawyer was a little like Bailey and I feared being embarrassed. Then, there was Cooper’s horniness. I had woken up with the plan to have sex with him. When he said it wouldn’t happen, I relaxed. Now, I didn’t know what to think. His moods were all over the place. Sweet one minute. Terrifying the next.

Cooper kissed my neck before corralling me into the air conditioned house. I turned to look at him and his smile faded.

“What?” he whispered.

“Nothing.”

Cooper stood behind me and wrapped his arms around my chest, pulling me to him. “You work at that job. You never miss school. You deserve a little fun and we’re going to have fun. Soon, my pop will grill and you’ll pig out and I’ll lick barbeque sauce off your lips. Then, I’ll take you home, safe and sound. Do you understand?” I nodded again, but Cooper sighed. “Why do you look ready to cry?”

“I’m nervous.”

“Don’t be. My family’s a mess. We’re sloppy. We eat too much. Talk too loud. Fart constantly. Next to us, you’re a princess.”

Grinning, I nuzzled my cheek against his bicep. This time when Cooper sighed, there was longing behind the sound. “Today, I’m kissing you like you’ve never been kissed before. Prepare to be ruined for all other men.”

“Is that a threat?” I asked, squinting hard at him.

“Gorgeous.”

“Sexy jerk.”

“Let’s get something to eat.”

The inside of the house was even nicer than the outside. It wasn’t chandelier fancy, but warm and countrified. Even with the animal heads on the walls, the place felt grand because of the two-story windows facing the river and woods.

Cooper wanted alone time with me, but Sawyer was busy monopolizing his time. I didn’t mind the distraction as I worried about wearing a swimsuit around him and Bailey. This fear was soon realized when Bailey appeared and smiled in a fake way. Cooper glared at her until she punched his arm. Then, he chased his screaming sister out of the room.
It could have gone better.

By the time I was alone with Bailey in her massive princess room, my empty stomach twisted with anxiety.

“I’m nervous about wearing a swimsuit in front of your brother,” I told Bailey who was searching for the right one.

She glanced at me full of irritation then her brain caught up with what I said. The annoyance washed away and she smiled. “He’s been with a lot of really hot girls. He’s bound to compare you.”

While I succeeded in making Bailey feel better, I’d managed to screw myself with her helpful honesty.

“He really wants to fuck you though,” Bailey added when I just stared at her. “He’s determined to fuck you, so it won’t matter how bad you look.”

“Okay.”

Bailey settled on a faded blue, nearly shapeless one piece that wasn’t nearly as cute as hers. Yet, at that point, I wanted to get the whole reveal and Cooper’s reaction over.

Following Bailey back to the family room, I remembered what Tawny told me. Enjoy Cooper and his money. Don’t take anything personal. Relax and make the best out of college life.
Just chill.

Chilling as I returned to the kitchen, I immediately felt overheated. Cooper wore black swim trunks that hung loosely from his hips.
His incredibly sexy hips.
Staring at his chest, all of the hard muscles and golden skin, I could ignore the tattoos reminding me of things I didn’t want to remember. As Cooper stared out of the back windows, I watched him for a full minute before he noticed me. Then, we were both drooling.
It was pretty awkward.

Cooper walked to me and whispered, “She picked the ugliest suit she could find and you still look so hot that I need…”

Unable to finish, he just leaned down and cradled his head against my shoulder. Once he felt under control, he sighed and stood again.

“You’re killing me. I’ll likely die and it’ll be all your fault.”

“If it makes you feel any better,” I whispered, staring at him with big frightened eyes, “I think my pants are snug now too.”

With that comment, I placed my hand on his chest and Cooper lost all brain function for maybe a minute. He just stared like he might actually die. Finally, his gaze narrowed and he glared at me.

“You’re mean.”

Laughing at the sincerely behind his words, I let my fingers slide down his powerful chest and hard stomach. His skin felt warm and soft under my fingertips. I hadn’t expected the soft part and I stroked him gently wanting more.

Horniness under control, Cooper watched me in a passive way. I wanted to touch him and he was letting me. Nothing else would happen especially not with the three Johansson ladies nearby. Soon, he touched my chin and lifted my lips to his.

The kiss was gentle and without heat. Just his soft lips against mine before he pulled back and smiled. “I see another wall falling for me,” he whispered tenderly.

“You look really hot,” I said, trying to distract him.

“Let’s eat then we’ll go down to the river and swim. It’s too nice a day to stay at the pool.”

“I’ve never swam in a river before.”

“College is all about new experiences,” he said, wiggling his eyebrows.

Ignoring his teasing, I asked, “What’s for lunch?”

“Meat. Mom made a really great macaroni salad too. She’s a hell of a cook. You should try her extra cheesy mac and cheese.”

The way Cooper spoke of his mother made me smile. Not a fake nervous smile, but a genuine one. He was so sweet about his mom and I was happy he had such a good relationship with her. Jodi must have sensed she was being spoken about because she appeared and waved for us to head outside.

At the grill, a tall muscular man stood while Tucker sat nearby with Maddy on his lap. Cooper took my hand and led me towards his dad.

“Pop, this is Farah,” Cooper said in a tone that nearly sent me into giggles.

He sounded excited like a little boy and I couldn’t believe he was so happy to show me off. Never feeling as important, I realized my self-esteem now depended on Cooper’s feelings for me.

The Kirk from Whiskey Kirk’s was like an older rougher version of his son. None of the boyish charm. None of the softness in the dark eyes. Only grizzled badass. Without knowing what the Johansson family business involved, I couldn’t imagine Kirk controlling anything legal. He had a scary violent edge to him even as he gave my hand a quick shake.

“She’s a sweet one,” Kirk said.

Cooper tightened his grip on my other hand and narrowed his gaze. Glaring at each other, dad and son had a little showdown until Kirk grinned.

“Go away while I cook,” he muttered, grinning as he returned to grilling.

Cooper didn’t walk away until his dad opened a beer. Finally, he pulled me along with him.

Nervous again, I stared up at Cooper. “Did I do something wrong?”

Cooper glanced at me. “Naw, we just have to play whose dick is bigger so he can feel like leaving the business to me is a safe move. He does that shit all the time. Sorry about the sweet thing comment. He’s not sensitive like me.”

Laughing at him, I reached up and pushed a lock of blond hair out of his eyes. Cooper immediately reverted to horny guy. There was a moment where our eyes met and I thought he might fuck me in front of everyone. I knew my eyes widened, but I didn’t know about my mouth until Cooper glanced down at my lips and burst into laughter.

“A perfect ‘O’ every time. It’s like a cartoon character,” he said then added with too much intensity. “A really fucking sexy cartoon character.”

“You make me happy,” I said and his cocky grin faded into the softness I preferred. “Do I make you happy?”

“When you give me exactly what I want and don’t piss me off, you make life perfect.”

Glaring at him, I shook my head. “So never then, huh?”

Cooper leaned down and whispered so quietly I almost couldn’t hear him. “I want you naked right now in my bed and I’d make your life perfect. I’m that good, baby.”

“Sure, let’s go.”

Cooper sighed. “I want you to want it so bad that I’ll have to pry you off me. We’re just not there yet.”

“I really can’t see that ever happening. I’m not a girl who glues myself to people.”

“You will with me. How can you not?”

“No comment.”

Cooper gave me a very serious expression. “I’m going to do something. Do not freak out. Be casual. Can you do that?”

“No,” I said in a panic.

Cooper reached behind me and I felt his fingers on my ass. Forcing myself to stay very still, I felt him fiddling around then he pulled his hand away.

“That suit is old and it’s riding up,” he explained, taking a beer from his brother who walked by. “I didn’t want anyone seeing my girl’s ass cheeks.”

“I didn’t notice,” I said, reaching behind me awkwardly.

“It’s too hot out to notice. You’re fine now.”

“You could have just told me,” I said then rolled my eyes. “But why would you when you could touch my ass instead?”

“My girl is pretty fucking smart,” he said, giving me a big bright smile.

“Did you have braces?” I asked, basking the imperfection of his teeth.

“Yeah.”

“I have pictures!” Bailey screamed, suddenly in front of us.

As she ran into the house, Cooper sighed and frowned down at me.

“I’m dating this guy right here,” I said, touching his chest and ending his brain power for a moment. “I don’t care about the old dorky Cooper.”

“Can I see pictures of you as a kid?” he asked with a genuine smile.

“No. Never. I’ll burn them first.”

A laughing Cooper sighed again when Bailey returned with a picture in her hand.

“Here’s the loser with his braces.”

“You had braces too, shit for brains.”

Bailey ignored him and thrusted a picture at me. Looking it over, I frowned. Basically, the picture was of a slightly shorter, slightly less muscular, still as tanned and gorgeous Cooper. Oh, and he had braces.
Clear fucking braces.
He didn’t even look like a dork. I couldn’t catch a break.

“Disappointed?” Cooper asked, grinning.

“He was so ugly back then,” Bailey said. “Like a mutant.” When Cooper squinted at his sister, she backed away. “He wet his bed too.”

Bailey ran away screaming even though Cooper merely walked slowly behind her, taking his time to exact revenge. I stared at the picture of a teenage Cooper with his tattooless chest. I wished that chest still existed. The tattoos were his only physical flaw. Otherwise, he looked like absolute perfection to me. Even as he threw a tater tot at his sister, he was gorgeous. So busy staring at him in wonder, I didn’t notice Sawyer grab the picture from me.

“Don’t mock him!” she screamed then ran into the house.

Startled, I froze and remained very still as everything sped up around me. Cooper stopped hounding Bailey so he could wrestle with Tucker who must have whispered something to his brother. Now, they were shoving each other around on the deck while Maddy watched on. Bailey walked to the grill and whined to her father about something, but Kirk just shrugged.

With all of the fighting, the dogs got riled up below the deck. Sawyer ran back outside and pushed Bailey away from their father. Quickly, the sisters were screaming at each other while the brothers continued their sweaty battle.

Standing on the deck overlooking the amazing view, I ignored the chaos around me. Cooper and Tucker were beating on each other while Sawyer threw a pickle at Bailey who then made a lewd comment about pickles and dicks. Kirk laughed at her comment as he turned over the meat. Oh, and maybe a hundred dogs were attacking each other below the deck as if reenacting the siege at Helm's Deep in the
Two
Towers
.