The KISS Principle (Erotic Romance) (9 page)

When he heard Allie’s voice, his entire body when on
alert.

“What are you doing here?” she asked in a cold tremble.

He rushed to the door and his stomach dropped when he
saw Ian in a rain slicker and jeans, his salt-and-pepper hair looking wet. He
was holding a white paper bakery bag and two to-go cups. The tension in Allie’s
body was palpable. Cooper’s shoulders tightened in agreement.

Ian let out a self-satisfied chuckle and his gray eyes
flashed with admiration for Allie. “I’m sorry. I would have brought coffee for
three if I’d known you had, uh…” he eyed Cooper and cocked his eyebrow, “a
friend over.”

“This is Cooper,” she said bluntly.

“Uh, hey,” Cooper said.
What is he doing here?

“What do you want?” Allie asked, crossing her arms at
the waist.

“I was hoping we could talk. May I come in and set down
these coffees? They’re burning my hands.”

Burning.
An acrid smell trailed to
Cooper’s nose and he whipped around, realizing he’d left the eggs. He hurried
and turned off the flame, but it was too late. Their breakfast sat stuck to the
bottom of the pan.

Ian followed Allie into the kitchen and set down the
coffee cups. He looked much taller than Cooper had remembered him, and Cooper reflexively
straightened his frame.

“I brought some pastries and coffee. Just like old
times, right, Al?” He winked at Allie and Cooper had to make a conscious
decision not to grab him by the collar of his Oxford shirt and kick his sorry
ass out of her apartment.

“I was hoping we could talk about the offer I made the
other day,” Ian continued as he unfolded the paper bag. “Do you have a serving
platter? I went by that little bakery that makes the coffee cake you like so
much, with the streusel topping.” Now he grinned warmly at Allie and that made
Cooper want to deck him.

“Thank you, but I didn’t ask you to go to the bakery
for me, nor did I even invite you over,” Allie said. “I gave you my answer the
other day and it hasn’t changed. I’m not interested.”

Ian shook his head. “Can we at least be civilized? The
platter?” He didn’t wait for Allie to answer but turned and opened one of the
other upper cabinets. He pulled out an oversized white ceramic plate and
brought it back to the island.

Ian’s willingness to display his familiarity with
Allie’s kitchen sent Cooper’s anger into overdrive.
He’s so fucking
arrogant.
He couldn’t even allow himself to think of the other ways in
which those two were familiar. The mental image of smug Ian and his hands all
over Allie was enough to make his blood boil. He calmed himself by remembering
that Allie had insisted Ian never really did it for her in bed.

“Cooper, can you get me a cup of coffee?” Allie asked,
her steely eyes fixed on Ian.

“Allie, come on, is that how we’re going to play
this?” Ian asked. “I brought you a coffee. Sorry I didn’t bring one for your
little friend.”

Allie’s eyes slammed shut.
Did he really just say
that?
She opened her eyes and Cooper’s jaw visibly stiffened as he stared
down Ian. “I’m not playing this any way. We were about to have breakfast and
you’ve very rudely interrupted our Sunday morning.”

Cooper took a mug from the cabinet. “Excuse me,” he
said, as Ian was standing between him and the cream.

“My apologies,” Ian said as he stepped aside. He
peered into her eyes, making her feel exposed. “I only hoped that you and I
could discuss our disagreement like adults. We’ve known each other too long to
act like this.”

Cooper made Allie’s coffee exactly the way she liked
it and handed it to her. “Here you go, Al.” His hand cupped her shoulder as he
put his arm around her possessively.

“I don’t need to discuss anything. I have no interest
in you buying my company and firing my staff.” Allie struggled to make sense of
her feelings as Cooper held her close. A part of her liked feeling protected,
liked knowing that Cooper’s response was strong and swift. Part of her worried
it made her appear weak in Ian’s eyes.

Ian removed the lid from his coffee cup and blew on it
before taking a sip. “You know that’s the way these things work. There would be
redundancies between the two companies. You would still retain your title as
founder and we would give you your own little domain to control. We’re talking
good money too. If you’d just set aside your ego for a minute, you could see
that I’m making you an amazing offer.”

Cooper’s grip tightened on her. He cleared his throat
and Allie feared he was getting ready to butt in when she wanted the
conversation to end. Considering her history with Ian, the most satisfying
brush-off would come from her own mouth.

“I’m not interested, Ian. I’m going to have to ask you
to leave,” Allie said, gesturing for the door.

“Suit yourself, Allie. But rest assured, this isn’t
the last of this.”

Chapter Nine

Allie trudged up the stairs to her apartment feeling
as if a lead weight sat in her stomach.
I am so fucked. I am beyond fucked.
I am as fucked as fucked can be.

She stopped in front of her door and glared at her
phone as if it were somehow responsible for her misery. No returned call from
Cooper and it had been an hour. The silence was maddening.

It was in complete contradiction to her independent
streak, but at that moment, she needed him. He was so levelheaded in moments of
crisis, especially when it came to her job. He always understood what she was
going through. She hoped like hell he’d understand the curveball she’d been
thrown that afternoon, seeing as the pitcher was Ian and it was her fault for having
provoked it out of him.

Inside her apartment, she kicked off her shoes and made
a beeline for the bottle of merlot that she and Cooper hadn’t finished the
night before. They’d been spending every night at her place lately, dinner was always
a given. Things were comfortable and effortless with Cooper, which was perfect—the
last thing she could handle was another complication.

When she’d been served with the papers that afternoon,
it felt as though she could glimpse the future of her company crumbling before
her. Unfortunately, the future of her company was also her future. There was no
separating the two. Such was the danger of not having a partner in the company.
Her butt on the line—no one else to take the heat, no one else to share
the glory.

She changed into yoga pants and a tank before pouring
herself a second glass of wine. The sound of Cooper’s shave-and-a-haircut knock
at the door sent a wave of relief over her and she flung open the door within
seconds. “Thank God you’re here. I left you a message nearly two hours ago.”

“I’m sorry.” He strolled in and gripped her shoulders,
planting a soft kiss on her lips. “Mmm. Now, that’s merlot.”

“I’ve been going crazy. Where were you?” She cringed
at the possessive sound of her question, but she was teetering on the brink.
All kinds of bad things were likely to come out of her mouth at this point.

“I left my phone at a restaurant after lunch. By the
time I got it back, it was completely dead. I’m charging it right now.” Cooper
poured himself a glass of wine and opened a bag of potato chips on the center
island. “What’s got you so worked up?”

“Ian’s company is suing me. They’re saying that I
violated the noncompete clause in my contract.”

He scrunched his forehead and leaned against the
kitchen counter. “I don’t get it. You said you never signed it.”

“I didn’t, but there was one in my original contract. They’re
saying that I negotiated in bad faith and they’re trying to hold me to the
contract I had when I was first hired.”

“How are they going to prove any of that?”

“Ian. He’s going to give testimony that he knew I was
planning to start a new company. He’s going to tell them that I coerced him
into negotiating to get out of my noncompete clause.”

 “What do they want?”

“Me. My company. Everything.”

Concern washed over his face. “What did your attorney
say?”

Allie almost felt like laughing. Almost. “What
attorney? I have the guy who drew up the articles of incorporation, but that’s
it.” Her stomach bubbled and soured.

“You can’t be serious. Why wouldn’t you have a lawyer?
Seems a little reckless.” He took another handful of chips from the bag.

Reckless? What the hell does that mean?
“I don’t have the resources to keep a lawyer on retainer.”

“So we find you a lawyer. A few letters back and forth
and it should go away.” He rolled up the top of the chip bag and wiped salt
from his lips with the back of his hand.

She bent down to rest her elbows on the kitchen
island, her forehead cold and clammy as she kneaded it. “I don’t have the
money. We are stretched as thin as can be after adding another person to the
art department. I’m already not drawing a salary. It would mean letting someone
go.”

“Let me help.” Cooper stepped behind her and began
rubbing her shoulders. “I’ll talk to Brian. He went to law school for a year,
but dropped out when I started the company. Maybe he knows somebody who’ll take
you on for cheap.”

“My old agency has an army of lawyers. I don’t know
how much good one cheap attorney will do.” She straightened and dropped her
chin to her chest as Cooper worked into the tension she held in her shoulders.
A soft gasp escaped her lips. “That feels so good. You give the best back
rubs.”

Cooper’s breath warmed the nape of her neck. “I’m
known for giving pretty good front rubs too.”

Allie allowed herself a smile. “How do you do that?”

“Well, see, first I take off your clothes…”

“No.” She giggled. “I know how you do that. How do you
manage to make everything better?”

* * * * *

Cooper hung up the phone after speaking with one of
Brian’s lawyer friends. He scrawled a few notes on a legal pad just as his
brother knocked on his open office door.

“Yeah, Bri, come in,” Cooper said.

Brian plopped down in one of the black leather
armchairs opposite Cooper’s desk. “I’m heading home in a minute. Need anything
before I go?”

Cooper tapped his pen against the pad of paper. “I’m
good. I talked to all your lawyer buddies. I think Stuart could work. I’m going
to get Allie to call him.”

“How’s she holding up?”

Cooper pursed his lips. Allie had been upset for more
than a week. “She’s hanging in there. I’m trying to be as supportive as
possible. I wish she’d let me loan her the money for a lawyer, but she won’t do
it. We had a big argument about it. She’s so stubborn sometimes.”

Brian crossed his leg and bobbed his foot. “She’s a
smart woman and there’s no doubt she’s shrewd when it comes to business. I’m
sure she wants to be able to take care of it herself.”

“I know, but I want to be able to fix it and I can’t.
It’s making me crazy. And I freaking hate her ex-boyfriend so that just makes it
worse.” Hate was far too nice a word. Despise and loathe better described his
feelings for Ian.

“Let me tell you. One thing I’ve learned about women
is that they don’t want you to actually solve their problems. They just want
you to listen.”

“I don’t know. Allie’s not like that. She doesn’t
bitch for the sake of complaining. If I hear about a problem, that means it’s
really bothering her.” Cooper glanced at his watch. Allie would be home soon.
He tossed the legal pad into his laptop bag. “I hate seeing her unhappy.”

Brian smirked. “I take it everything else is good
between you two?”

Cooper shut down his computer. He didn’t want to be a
girl about it and gush, but maybe it was okay to let down his guard with his
brother. “Better than good. Things are amazing.”

“Are we talking sex or are we talking about
everything?”

“Everything. Honestly, I’ve never felt like this about
a woman before. Not even close.” His cheeks flushed with heat. “Please don’t
tell anybody I said that.”

“Bro, you can drop the macho act with me. It’s okay. I
like seeing you happy. It means you’re way less of a tool at work.”

Cooper zipped his laptop bag. “How did you know you
were in love with Laura?” He winced at the question. It sounded much more
serious when he said it aloud.

“I knew that I didn’t want to be with anybody else.
She was all I could think about.”

“Hmm. Okay.” Cooper rapped his knuckles against the
desk.
That answers it for me.

Brian stood. “Look. Allie’s a catch. If you have feelings
for her, you should tell her. Otherwise, you’ll just fuck it up.” He patted
Cooper on the shoulder before walking for the door. “Have a good night. See you
tomorrow.”

On his way home, Cooper stopped at the florist a block
from their apartment building and picked up a dozen red roses. He sneaked past
Allie’s unit, changed into a clean shirt, put on cologne and headed back
downstairs. His heart pounded as he raised his hand to knock on the door. When
he’d awoken that morning, he had no idea that it would be the day he told Allie
he loved her.

Accustomed to the glum look Allie had been wearing for
the past week, he was shocked to see the broad smile across her face when she
opened the door.

“Roses? For me?” she asked as he handed them to her.
She took a long sniff with her eyes closed, breathtaking and angelic. “Thank
you.”

“Of course, for you.” He suddenly found a lump in his
throat as he leaned down to kiss her.

She broke off the kiss. “I better get these in water
right away.”

Cooper trailed her into the kitchen. “You seem like
you’re doing better.” Unable to keep his hands to himself, he came up behind
her as she stood at the sink. Wrapping his arms around her waist, he pressed
his lips against her hair.
Tell her.
“I talked to some of Brian’s lawyer
friends today, by the way. I think I found somebody for you.”

The vase of water thudded when Allie placed it on the
counter. She began trimming the roses. “You talked to them? I thought you were
just going to give me the list and let me call them.”

“I was, but I thought I’d help and weed out the bad
ones first.”

“Oh,” she said, nodding. “Well, it may not be
necessary anyway.” She stripped the leaves from one of the stems. “Shit. Ow.”
Allie shook her hand and popped her finger into her mouth.

“Let me see that.” He turned on the faucet and took
her hand. The cool water washed away a trickle of blood.

“It stings.”

“Are you okay?” All he could hear was his own erratic
heartbeat as she gazed up at him with her beguiling blue-green eyes.
Tell
her.

“I’m a big girl. I think I’ll live.” She dried her
hand with a paper towel.

Tell her.
“It wasn’t part of my
plan to hurt you when I bought you the flowers.”

Allie’s focus narrowed. “Good to know. What was your
plan then?”

The words were parked on his lips. They rolled around in
his mind. He scoured his heart for the courage to say them.
What if she
doesn’t say it back?
Again, he wrapped his arms around her. Having her that
close was enough. “My plan was to tell you that I love you.”

Her entire body seemed to freeze except for her eyes,
which swept back and forth across his face. It didn’t even sound as if she was
still breathing. Time moved at a snail’s pace. Silence hung in the air. Eventually
Allie blinked and her mouth opened slightly, but then her jaw clamped shut.

“I love you, Allie. I’ve never felt about any other
woman the way I feel about you.”

Love. He loves me.
Allie had known
for weeks she was falling in love with Cooper, but she’d pushed away the
thought every time.
He’s twelve years younger than me.
But being in love
with Cooper felt right, even when she’d denied it. Cooper being in love with
her defied all logic.

 He gazed at her with his unforgettable brown
eyes. There was no question that he was looking for a response, but there were
no visible traces of panic either. “It’s okay if you aren’t ready to say it
yet, Allie. I don’t want to rush you.” He traced his hand up and down her
spine.

 His sweet words, his soft touch—it all flooded
her mind. “I knew that I was falling in love with you, but I told myself you
would never feel the same way about me.”

His lips pulled into a thin line. “I don’t know why
you would think that. There’s no doubt in my mind that I love you. The question
is how do you feel?”

I love you too.
“I’m afraid.” She
didn’t like leaving him so exceptionally vulnerable, but she felt as though
Cooper needed all sides of the truth.

“Tell me what you’re thinking,” he whispered.

Allie swallowed hard, feeling lightheaded. When she and
Ian had said those three little words to each other, it seemed as if the future
was boundless. When he walked out the door a year later, it was as if she’d
been hollowed out and left for dead.

“If I say those words to you, I can’t take them back.
I won’t take them back. They mean too much. I just don’t know what the future
holds and that’s scary.”

“Then just think about us. How do you feel about you
and me?”

“I’m twelve years older than you. What kind of future
are we going to have?”

“I love you, Allie. The future will take care of
itself.”

The future will take care of itself.
Allie had never been much of a fatalist, and when she did as he’d asked and
thought about only her feelings, casting aside things like circumstance and
practicality, she was left with one response. “I love you too.”

“Make sure you mean it.”

“I told you if I said those words, I’d never take them
back. I love you too. I really do.”