Slow Ride (27 page)

Sarah moved closer as the last participant left the stage. Well, next to last. “You’re
up, Ky. Get those fingers on the ivories.” Kyla grinned, that familiar thrill of performing
flowing through her body. She had never dreamed of being a rock star or song writer.
She was content playing, performing, and teaching others.

The only hitch in her usually steel nerves was the fact that it had been a while since
she’d done this. Kyla had been practicing all week—it was time to see if she was ready.
She made her way to the stage and settled on the bench in front of the piano, adjusting
the microphone before taking a breath. She started the introduction and one of her
students joined in soon after on guitar. As she sang the lyrics to Rascal Flatts’
Bless the Broken Road,
Kyla looked over the crowd again and found Cooper watching her. She held his gaze
the entire time, knowing in her heart and deep in her soul that she was in love with
him.

• • •

When the song ended, the place erupted with claps and cheers. Kyla was beaming as
she stood up and spoke briefly to her students. The kids looked thrilled and in awe
of Kyla, and Cooper didn’t blame them. The woman had talent, that was for sure.

He met Kyla at the edge of the stage, pulling her into his arms and twirling her around.
Music was already flowing through the speaker system as people mingled. Out of the
corner of his eye, he saw some of the kids dancing in the parking lot. A few couples
even started dancing in the store itself while others were checking out with their
purchases. Hell, maybe this place would make a real profit by the end of the year.
He also couldn’t help but notice a few of their guests made their way toward Steve’s
bookstore while others left Music & Motors to stroll into a small art gallery that
had opened across the street. Maybe Kyla was right. This sort of thing might just
liven up Main Street and bring the community together more.

“How’d I do?” She was grinning from ear to ear.

“Perfect. Most beautiful and talented woman I know.” He buried his face in her neck.
“You’re amazing.”

Kyla sighed and melted into him. “I love you, Cooper.”

Cooper’s heart beat hard in his chest as her words caressed every inch of him. “Love
you, too.” And then she was gone again, floating off to help out at the register with
Sarah and Maggie, leaving him to absorb what she’d just said. His heart felt light
and it was like a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. Before finding Kyla,
he’d come to believe that he’d never find the one for him. Especially after his last
relationship which ended in betrayal, and having to put up with Marla and her clinginess.
Funny how the universe worked, bringing him the love of his life when he’d finally
given up on love. He grinned as he watched her with her friends and customers, her
smile lighting up the room. She was happy and he loved seeing her like that. He made
a vow to himself to keep her that way, always. She deserved that and more.

From nowhere, Sam slapped his hand on Cooper’s shoulder. “This is why I don’t get
involved with women, man. She’s got you looking like a puppy dog, ready to follow
her around wherever she leads you.”

Cooper grunted but he didn’t bother to hide the hint of a smile on his face. “Fuck
you, Sam. She’s not leading me around by my dick. She’s not that kind of girl. And
honestly, I can’t wait until this happens to you. Do you think I expected to find
my better half on the side of the road? Not in a million years, man. But I’m damn
glad her car broke down where it did and I was there to help out. So you just wait.
It’ll happen and I’ll be there to say ‘I told you so.’”

Sam crossed his arms over his chest. “Yeah, you would do some shit like that, but
it’s not going to happen, so save your breath. I’m not letting a woman get me tied
up in knots. But listen, in all seriousness, no matter how much I bust ‘em on you,
I am happy for you guys. I think she’s way too good for you, but. . .”

Cooper pushed Sam toward the door and grumbled, “Get the hell outta here unless you’re
buying something.” Sam’s laughter could be heard as he left, and despite the ribbing
Cooper took over Kyla, he didn’t give a fuck.

Cooper talked to some more folks who had stopped by the store but soon his thoughts
turned to Kyla. Finally, as the last person left, he looked around to join her and
his heart stopped when he saw Maggie and Sarah getting their coats—alone. “Where’s
Kyla?” he asked as he stalked toward them.

Sarah’s head snapped up and she furrowed her brow. “In the office. We put the couches
back and she wanted to put the cash in the safe.”

Cooper let out a breath of relief. “Thank god. All right. Thanks, guys, for everything.”
He locked the door behind them and went in search of the love of his life.

• • •

Kyla had her back to the door. She was bending over the desk to grab her jacket when
large hands grabbed her by the hips.

“Not leaving without me, I hope.”

Kyla stilled at his words, her body tingling where his fingers touched the exposed
skin of her stomach. She tried to turn her body, but he held her there, pressing himself
against her.

Cooper pushed her shirt up higher, leaning his chest over her back. He sucked in a
breath as his fingers drifted over her breasts.

“Now why would I do that? You’re my bodyguard tonight, aren’t you?”

“I’m always your bodyguard, doll.” His voice had a teasing tone to it, making her
shiver and melt against his hard body.

She groaned as he nipped at her earlobe, her jaw, and then down her neck. Just his
touch was bringing her dangerously close to losing control. As it was, she couldn’t
think straight, her eyes closed. Cooper’s fingers grazed over her panties, already
wet with anticipation for what was to come.

Kyla twisted in his hands, this time successful in turning toward him. She watched
him for a beat before moving her mouth over his, the heat between them unmistakable.
She scooched up on the desk and yanked him toward her, pushing his own shirt up over
his abdomen. Her fingers trailed over his skin, sending shivers throughout his body.
His hands shook as he pushed her skirt up higher and then he lifted her slightly before
reaching for her panties and ripping them away from her body. She glanced down as
he stuffed the shredded fabric into his pocket but was soon distracted by his tongue
licking down her neck and to the swell of her breasts.

Cooper rubbed her nipple between his fingers, his mouth taking the other, until he
elicited a moan.

He glanced up as she unbuttoned his jeans and pushed them down. She was ready for
him, had been since they’d left their bed this morning.

“I can’t get enough of you,” Cooper murmured against her mouth.

Her eyes were heavy-lidded and she reached her hands around his neck and pulled his
head down to her mouth. When her teeth grazed his ear he slammed into her and she
responded with a cry as he thrust into her over and over, one hand on her back pressing
her against him and the other tangled in her hair.

“God, you’re beautiful.”

Cooper’s whispered compliments pushed her closer and closer to letting go of that
control she was holding so tightly.. She whimpered. She’d never felt this cared for,
this special.

“Cooper . . .”

“That’s it, love. I’m going to bring you over. You want that, baby?”

“Yes!” she cried, her head dropping back. He moved his mouth to her neck, licking
and sucking every bit of her skin.

“Good, now open your eyes. Look at me, Kyla.” Cooper’s hand fisted in her hair, and
she focused on his dark blue gaze. He stroked one more time, grinding his hips as
he did and her body shuddered with her release. She buried her face in his neck as
they both tried to catch their breaths, sweat coating their skin.

After several minutes he pulled out, grinning at her mewled protest of their lost
connection. “What do you say we go home for round two?”

“Best idea you’ve had all day. Well, second best.” She laughed softly and straightened
her clothes before putting on her jacket.

Cooper’s rumbled laugh wrapped around her, and for the first time in a long time she
didn’t feel broken. She was home, in the place she was supposed to be.

• • •

Her cell phone was ringing off the hook, but she was laying on her back on the couch,
with Cooper in front of her, kissing the hell out of her.

“Cooper, I need to get that. It’s the third call. . .”

“Nuu uhh. You stay right here.” He reached behind him and swiped the phone off the
table before putting it to his ear. “Hello?”

“Cooper!” she hissed. Now the man was answering her cell phone? She was going to kill
him. But hopefully that wouldn’t happen until after he took her against the wall.

“Who the hell is this?” Cooper growled as he hit the speaker button. .

“It’s Mike. Listen, I know you probably don’t want to deal with this, but they found
Frank in Ohio. Apparently he was going to head out after you when he got wind of the
investigation. He realized shit was about to hit the fan and he hit rock bottom. When
the cops nabbed him, they checked his phone—he made the first few calls, but then
stopped when his captain came down on him about flagging you. He was never in Maine
though and has an airtight alibi for the attacks. He was being interviewed by Internal
Affairs.”

Kyla could only sit staring at the phone as if it had eight legs and sharp, poisonous
fangs. “What did you just say?” But she didn’t give him time to repeat it. “He has
an alibi, but are they sure?” She glanced over at Cooper to gauge his reaction. His
body was solid as a rock and he looked beyond pissed off.

“I know, Kyla. If Frank has been locked down, he couldn’t have been the one who got
to you on the beach.” Silence reigned. Finally Cooper took the phone, leaving it on
speaker.

“Mike, it’s Cooper. You said he only made the first few? What about the others?”

“They found nothing and he is adamant he wants nothing to do with Kyla. But even if
it was him, the cops have him now. He’s been in custody since the day before yesterday
and will be until he is sent to face charges here in the next month. The court denied
him bail.”

“Fuck, if it’s not Frank, then…,” Cooper trailed off and sighed. “Thanks, Mike.”

“I know this sucks, not knowing who is coming after me, but I have to admit I’m just
glad Frank’s ass is in jail. Hopefully he gets a hairy cellmate named Bubba who likes
pretty boys,” Kyla couldn’t resist saying.

Cooper shook his head. “Remind me never to get on your bad side, doll.”

He disconnected the call without out so much as a goodbye, and Kyla saw that as her
signal to tug Cooper back to her, her fingers sliding inside his still unbuttoned
jeans. “So where were we? Cause the news we just got, well that’s worth celebrating.”

Cooper groaned “Sorry, babe, but we’re going to have to hold off on that party for
a bit. It’s great that fucker is locked up, but that doesn’t solve the mystery of
who did this to you.” His finger traced her pouting lower lip “But I’m still up for
a wild night in bed.”

Kyla rummaged through her beach bag. “Anyone have any sunscreen I can borrow? I can’t
find mine.”

“I have some you can use,” Sarah spoke from the porch railing she was leaning against.
“Are we heading to the beach, or what?”

“Yeah, I’m ready now. Let’s go.” Kyla grabbed her bag and slung it over her shoulder.
“All I want to do is fall asleep in the sun and forget about the drama for a few hours.
Do you think we can manage that?”

Sarah laughed. “I hope so. We all need a break. Or a vacation. Maybe one to an island
somewhere in the tropics.”

“I’m all for taking Cooper to a tropical island, but I don’t know if he’d go if he
didn’t have a car to fix.”

“You make Coop happy, Kyla. I am really glad your car broke down three months ago.”

“Me too, Sarah.”

Sarah threw an arm over each of Kyla’s shoulder in a hug. “I’m going to mix some more
margaritas to take to the beach. Be right back.”

No sooner had her friend disappeared than Kyla’s phone rang and she answered on the
second ring.

“This Kyla?”

“Yeah. Can I help you?”

“Watch your back. Someone’s coming for you. Soon.”

“What? Who is this?”

The phone disconnected and Kyla looked down at her cell phone. Her body felt numb
and she knew just what an antelope felt like when hunted by a lion. “What the fuck
was that about?” she muttered.

“Kyla?” Sarah was at her side in two steps.

“Whoever that was just told me to watch my back. I didn’t recognize the voice. And
they didn’t tell me who was coming or who they were. Great. I had a few days of peace
and now Cooper can go back to freaking out. Fuck.”

“So much for a relaxing day at the beach. Come on, let’s go find the guys.” She was
already picking up towels and bags.

“Sorry, Sarah.”

Sarah stilled and reached over to pat Kyla’s hand. “Hey, don’t apologize. This is
not you. It’s the fucker who is doing this. We will nail his ass. But let’s go tell
Cooper so he can have his shit fit and the guys can get a plan. Then we can eat some
cookies. I need food at times like these.”

“Me, too.” Kyla agreed.

The women linked their arms and headed for the stone steps leading up to Cooper’s
porch, ready to take on whatever the world would throw at them.

• • •

“Cooper, whoever made the call clearly wanted me to know whatever was happening so
now we know to expect something. I even texted Jackson already. So relax.”

He ran his hands over his face and looked up as Sam walked through the front door
and into the kitchen.

“Hey, Sam. Can you tell Cooper to stop freaking out please? Everyone is on this. We’ve
just received a warning that something is about to go down. It’s all good,” said Kyla.

Maybe she was trying to convince herself. Maybe she was trying to convince Sam and
Cooper and everyone else who was on edge. Maybe it was both. She just knew for sure
that she wanted to avoid another sleepless night for Cooper.