Making a Comeback (7 page)

“I don’t need the magazines.” He reached a trembling hand to touch her knee, almost as if he was making sure she was real. “Your face is burned into my soul.”

“Oh.”

“Do you know how many times I’ve slept with a woman and pretended she was you?”

“I don’t think I want to know.”

“You’re right. You don’t.” He closed his eyes and leaned back against the couch, letting out a frustrated groan.

“I should get to bed.” She pushed herself off the couch, but swayed with a rush of dizziness.

“Let me help you.” Cooper stood, taking her arm and steadying her. “I’m here to help you heal. That’s all. I can’t be anything more.”

She nodded, somehow knowing he was lying to both of them.

* * * *

Too bad he’d never been a Boy Scout, then he’d know how to help a woman up the stairs without wanting something for himself. He tried to think of the last time he’d done something, anything, without expecting something in return. Even his long-standing work with the Harrison Foundation had been more about furthering his career than helping kids. He did the pitching clinics to endear himself to the community and the organization, not because he thought a week spent with him and his teammates would give some poor kid a shot at making it as a ballplayer.

When he donated large sums of money to various charities, he considered it part of his job. The team and the league had their pet causes and he’d wanted to be seen as a team player. A Goliath on and off the field. The tax write-offs helped, too.

So, it was hard to convince himself he was helping Annabelle just to be neighborly. He wanted something from her. Wanted it real bad. So it was perfectly fitting to find himself guiding her to her bed, knowing full well he couldn’t join her.

Penance. That had to be what this was, payback for all the selfish shit he’d pulled in his life. He’d never been a particularly religious man, but he couldn’t help but wonder if there was some higher plan in delivering the one woman he’d always wanted to the house next door. There was a catch, of course. The pretty packaging came with a warning.
Fragile
. But wait, there’s more! Two vulnerable little girls, innocent children who’d already been subject to the breakup of their parents’ marriage, a move, and the scare of finding their mother in a hospital bed with tubes in her arms and bandages on her head.

Annabelle Jones was most certainly payback for all the things in his life that Cooper had gotten so easily. Pretty much everything he’d ever wanted, and a whole lot he didn’t. He’d been given more than his fair share.

And now, as he tucked Annabelle into her bed, he realized the irony.

“Can I get you anything?” He was going to give if it killed him.

“No.” She shook her head, wincing at the effort.

“Okay, then.” He stood, ready to go to the guest room and stare at the ceiling all night.

“Wait.” She sat up. “Could you bring me a glass of water?”

“Sure. No problem.” He inched toward the door.

“And could you…” Her cheeks tinged pink, making her look almost angelic. “Could you sing to me? Like you did for the girls?”

“Sure.” Angelic. Devilish. Either way, she was torture. “Water and a song.”

He went downstairs for his guitar and a glass of water.

When he got back to Annabelle’s room, she was already asleep. He set the water glass on the bedside table and watched her for a little longer than was healthy. Kissing her had been a mistake. She’d been hotter and sweeter than any of his fantasies. He’d never get the taste of her out of his system.

A cry from down the hall startled him. He crept quickly and quietly to the room the twins shared.

“Mommy! Mommy! Don’t die.” One of the girls cried out in her sleep. He could just make out the image of Olivia tossing and turning in her pink bed.

“Shhh. It’s okay.” Cooper knelt next to her bed. “Mommy’s sleeping. She’s fine, she’s going to be just fine.”

Olivia sat up, blinked a few times, and then threw her arms around his neck. “Mommy’s car was on fire.”

She buried her sobs in his neck.

“It was just a dream.” He patted her back and spoke gently. “Just a dream, sweetheart.”

Slowly, her sobs subsided. She sniffled and wiped her nose on his T-shirt. But he didn’t mind. Not one bit.

“Will you sing me a song?” Olivia asked. She was wide awake and bright eyed now. “Please?”

“I don’t want to wake your sister.” But he knew he’d give in.

“It’s okay.” Sophie stirred in her light blue and yellow bed. “I had bad dreams, too.”

“I know a song you might like.” Cooper positioned himself on the floor between the two beds. He sat cross-legged with his guitar in his lap. He sang softly, in the words of Bob Marley, entreating them not to worry about a thing.

He sang as many uplifting, hope-affirming songs as he could think of off the top of his head. Mostly classic rock ballads he was sure the six-year-olds had never heard of, but they seemed to enjoy the music. Then, after the girls had fallen asleep, he plucked at a melody that had been playing around in his head. A song that sounded like longing for something just out of reach. He had no lyrics yet, but knew the song would be titled “Annabelle.”

Was that bacon she smelled? Annabelle woke feeling stiff and sore, but a little more clear-headed than yesterday. And she was definitely hungry. She pulled her hair into a quick ponytail, brushed her teeth, and headed downstairs.

Cooper was helping Olivia and Sophie make breakfast. Both girls were covered in flour and standing on a chair at the stove making pancakes. Cooper even had a spot of flour in his hair. Who would have thought a pink and white polka dot apron could make a man look so sexy?

“Good morning.” He offered a sleepy smile as he turned off the gas burner. “I hope you’re hungry.”

“I am.” Annabelle made her way toward her daughters and kissed each of them on the top of their heads. “Did you girls help make breakfast?”

“We made pancakes,” Olivia said proudly.

“And bacon and chocolate milk.” Sophie also beamed with pride.

“I made coffee, too.” Cooper went over to the coffee maker and grabbed the pot. “Would you like some?”

“Yes please.” She got the half and half out of the fridge. She’d given up the sugar, but not the cream. A dash of cinnamon helped.

“Did you sleep well?” he asked.

“Mostly.” When she wasn’t reliving the kiss and the way he’d pulled away so quickly afterward.

“Did you take anything for pain?”

“No. I’m afraid of feeling even more fuzzy-headed. And the over-the-counter stuff doesn’t really help.” She took a sip of her coffee, sighing at the rich flavor and aroma. “Besides, it’s mostly just muscle aches. I’ll feel better in a few days.”

“I have this lotion I’ve used for sore muscles. It’s all-natural, safe, and legal.” Cooper’s lips curled slightly at the last word. “It’s got lavender, eucalyptus, rosemary, and a few other essential oils. I can run next door if you’re interested.”

“That would be great.” Annabelle smiled at his never-ending thoughtfulness. “But eat first.”

He helped the twins plate the pancakes and arranged the bacon on a paper towel-covered platter. The syrup was already warmed and placed on the table with the butter. After pouring himself another cup of coffee and waiting for Annabelle and the girls to sit down, he took the chair across from her.

“This is delicious.” Annabelle savored her first bite. “Oh my goodness, you didn’t make them from scratch did you?”

“Yeah.” Cooper shrugged, as if it was no big deal. “I try to avoid processed foods as much as possible. I used whole wheat flour, organic buttermilk, and cage-free eggs.”

“You’ll have to give me the recipe. Or else come by every morning and cook for us.”

“I do need a job.” Cooper winked at her. “But I don’t think you could afford me.”

Something crackled between them. Attraction, sure, but there was something more. He had a secret. And it wasn’t about the stack of magazines he kept by his bed.

“So how much do you charge?” She took another bite of the delicious whole-wheat pancakes.

“I recently turned down an offer for three million.” He said it in such a way that she didn’t think he was kidding.

“That’s a little pricey for pancakes.” Maybe he was a celebrity chef, and that was why he was so comfortable in her kitchen.

“Well, I’ll start on the cleanup.” Cooper rose, taking his empty plate and cup to the sink. He loaded the dishwasher and set the skillet in the sink to soak.

She watched him, fascinated by this man and his mysterious background. Judging by his build, he could be an athlete, but why would he keep that hidden from her? Most of the athletes she knew were only too happy to brag about themselves.

Olivia, who was happily licking syrup off her fork, would suggest that he was a prince, in hiding from being forced to marry a girl he didn’t love. Oh dear, she really needed to wean that girl off her princess fantasies. They were becoming contagious.

“Mommy, can we go to the beach today?” Sophie asked. She was finishing off her third piece of bacon.

“Maybe this afternoon.” If she felt up to it. But she didn’t want to keep the girls inside all day, watching TV.

“Can Mr. Cooper come, too?” Sophie asked.

“I have some things I need to take care of.” He turned from the sink. “Maybe some other time.”

“Oh, okay.” Annabelle hated to hear the disappointment in her daughter’s voice. She hated her own disappointment even more. She was getting far too used to having him around.

“But I’ll be at the bus stop when you girls get home from school tomorrow.” Cooper offered a sincere smile. “I’m sure your mom will need to take it easy for the next few days. I’ll be here as backup, okay?”

“Okay.” Sophie’s smiled widened.

Olivia stood and carried her plate to the sink. She handed it to Cooper with such admiration in her eyes, Annabelle was starting to think the princess obsession would quickly turn into a Cooper obsession. Or maybe that was her own fear. She could get attached to this man far too easily.

“I’ll run and grab that lotion for you.” Cooper wiped his hands on a dishcloth once the last of the dishes were loaded into the dishwasher. “You can use it after your shower.”

“Yeah. Thanks. Are you going to stay and make sure I don’t drop the bottle?” Annabelle swallowed, tempted by the thought of him rubbing the lotion on her sore muscles.

“I think you can manage.” He folded his arms across his chest. “You did make it through the night just fine.”

“Yeah. Just fine.” Except for the longing that had kept her from getting enough sleep. He hadn’t come into her room during the night. Was he also afraid of the sizzling attraction between them? That kiss. If it wasn’t for her injuries, it could have easily burned out of control.

* * * *

Cooper went back to his place, took a long shower and tried not to think about Annabelle doing the same next door. He had to get the woman out of his head. Maybe he should have taken that offer from Toronto. Canada would be a lot better than somewhere like Japan and it would get him away from the lovely Annabelle Jones.

But if he wasn’t here for her, she’d have no one. Or her ex-husband would have to take care of her. He couldn’t let that happen. He hadn’t spent too much time around Clayton Barry, but he didn’t trust the man. The last time he’d seen his former owner had been shortly before his suspension. He’d made a compliment to Barry about his wife and the look on the other man’s face was almost enough to make Cooper believe he’d been behind his surprise drug test. But that would be counterproductive, since Cooper’s downfall had resulted in FITNatural’s downfall, and the loss of large sums of money for Mr. Barry.

Maybe he felt a little guilty about his crush on Annabelle. He wanted to blame her husband for a mere coincidence. Because if she was his wife, he’d have a hard time with any man who even looked at her.

It was time to get back to work. He should hit the gym, find a mound to throw off. But he couldn’t leave Annabelle and the girls alone. Those kids were something else. They’d chatted all morning while they were making breakfast—about their teacher, their favorite movies, and even how they got to see their Uncle Marco win the World Series, even though he wasn’t really their uncle.

They talked a little bit about their dad, but it was clear they were much closer with their mother. They did mention he’d met them in Dallas for Christmas and had promised to take them to Disneyland when he finished his “hearing test” and sold his “vitamin company.” He could only assume they meant the hearing for FITNatural and its involvement in the steroid scandal that had started with his own suspension. He wasn’t about to correct them.

What would Annabelle think when she found out he was the one who’d brought her husband’s side business to the attention of the league? And how much was the dissolving of the company going to hurt her and her children financially?

Had he truly believed his agent’s assertion that turning in evidence against FITNatural would convince the league to reduce his suspension? Not when the new commissioner had taken office with the vow to clean up baseball “once and for all.”

At least the union had prevented the hundred-game suspension for first-time offenders from passing before last season, but he was certain increases were coming. Not that it would have mattered. He’d missed that many games after all, with the fifty-game suspension and then the surgery that ended his season three days after the trade.

Cooper took his frustration with the whole mess out on his weight bench. He turned up the music and started lifting. More than he’d been lifting, but he had added frustrations to work out, especially with Annabelle so close. So close, yet so far out of his league.

The iPod shuffled to a quieter song and he thought he heard the doorbell.

Shit. Annabelle or the girls needed him. He dropped his weights and nearly sprinted to the door.

“Hi.” Annabelle stood on his doorstep with a smile and the bottle of healing lotion. “I tried this stuff on my shoulder and it works. It really works.”