The Windfall (25 page)

“I’m glad I am going to get a do-over,” Cooper joked as he kissed my neck softly, his breath harsh in my ear. “I wasn’t at my top performance there.”

“Oh, you aren’t going to get any complaints out of me,” I said, rubbing my hand over his muscular back. “But I’m not gonna stop you from your do-over if you must.”

Cooper chuckled and rolled beside me, before pulling the covers we had managed to push to the edge of the bed over the both of us. “Maybe after a nap.”

I choked out a laugh and pressed my lips to the hollow part of his neck above his collarbone, drawing in the scent of him. His mouth sought my bare skin, and I shuddered under his touch. This was what I loved most . . . the comfortableness between us.

“A nap sounds great,” I said with a yawn as he gathered me against him. Closing my eyes, I allowed the sleep to overtake me — my body, mind, and heart sated for the first time.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Emma

I offered Cooper a smile and took in a deep breath, my thoughts going back to the last few days. We had spent the majority of those days either surfing, curled up together on my couch, or in the bed. We had explored each other’s bodies and simply reveled in the fact that we were making love, not just having sex. Not many people could say the same, and I was happy I could with him. But I knew I wasn’t going to like the day when he went back to his house, and I was left in my bed alone. Idly, I wondered how he was going to feel about it because he seemed pretty darn happy to be in my bed. In some ways, it felt like we were trying to make up for time that had been lost between us, only we’d really just lost a little over twenty-four hours. I suppose it just felt like longer because of all that had happened in that short time.

But, three days after all hell had broken loose, I was certain that having a gun pointed at me wasn’t the most stressful situation I could be in. The prospect of meeting Cooper’s mother, however, was.

“Are you sure this is fine to meet your mom in?” I tugged at the hem of my dress nervously as we pulled into the driveway of a magnificent house situated on a hill in what I knew was a fairly expensive neighborhood in Malibu. To add to my anxiety, we parked behind some expensive-looking cars. Cars that definitely were worth more money than I had made in the past three years combined.

Cooper cut the engine and reached for my hand, bringing it to his lips and kissing the back of it lightly. “Emma, you could wear a paper bag and still be the most beautiful woman in the world. And even if you did wear a paper bag, my mother still wouldn’t care. She is going to love you, just like I do, so quit worrying.”

I unfastened my seatbelt and smoothed over the hem of my dress in my lap again.

“Ready?” he asked.

Realizing Cooper was looking at me, I nodded and he climbed out of the car. I sat and waited, finally trained and perfectly content to let my Southern gentleman open my car door for me. Cooper intertwined his fingers with mine as we walked up to the house. It was truly gorgeous, the views of the ocean and the city down below were unbelievable. When Cooper had suggested that I meet his family, I had agreed, of course. After all, he had met my dad and William, the only family I had, so it was only fair. But as we walked up the cobblestone path to the front porch, I could think of a hundred reasons why I should run back to the car and insist we go back to our cocoon in my bed.

Meeting the family was a huge step for the both of us. I knew how close they all were and how Cooper felt about his mom. If she didn’t like me, then I wasn’t going to last long. There was no way I would allow myself to come between them. Not many children have that kind of relationship with their parents. The last thing I would ever want was to see him alienated from her just because she and I didn’t get along. It was a lot of pressure.

Cooper opened the door and I stepped into the cool interior, marveling at the simplicity of such an elegant house.

“Cooper!” a friendly voice with a familiar Southern drawl rang through the home.

Turning, I saw this petite woman with brown hair come toward us, her face wreathed with a smile. “It’s about time you two got here. The food is getting cold.”

“Mom, this is Emma,” Cooper announced immediately, wrapping his arm around my waist. “Emma, this is my mother, Gillian.”

His mom took one look at me and covered her mouth with both hands before she threw her arms around me, putting me immediately on alert.

“Oh, Emma, sweetheart, it is so good to finally get to meet you. I’m so sorry we caused all of that trouble about the check,” she all but sobbed. “Cooper here was just so worried about you. I know it wasn’t the best plan, but we just thought it would be good to help out.” She pulled away from me and took a step back.

I reached out and squeezed her hand, touched that she would be so torn up over what had happened. “It’s quite alright. I know you both only meant well and simply wanted to help out and, truthfully, I am moved that you would even consider trying to help me.”

His mom sniffed and dabbed at her eyes as though she were pushing back tears. She patted my hand. “Oh, you are so sweet. Now I can see why my Cooper is so smitten with you!”

I glanced over at Cooper, giving him a wink. “I’m pretty smitten with him as well.”

He winked back and his mom ushered us into the living room, where I was blown away by an expansive view of the ocean below.

A couple sat together on a couch, both smiling as we entered the room. The lady, who resembled Cooper’s mother to a point that they could almost be mistaken for twins, stood and approached me. “I’m Cooper’s aunt, Sophie,” the woman said, reaching over to grasp my hand. “And this is my husband, Bill. We are so pleased to finally meet you, Emma. We’ve heard so much about you.”

“I am pleased to meet you both, as well,” I said genuinely. It was obvious there was a lot of love in this house for the man next to me and I felt privileged to be a part of it. I could see where Cooper got his good-natured demeanor.

“Come, come. Dinner is waiting for us on the terrace.” Gillian ushered us all out to a table on the terrace that overlooked the ocean. We all ate and then sat and chatted for a while. They asked question after question, though I noticed that no one asked where he had been for the last three days. They were adults, so I guess it was pretty obvious to them. I admit, though, I was rather glad no one brought it up.

“So, what’s next, Coop?” his Uncle Bill asked, leaning back in his chair. “Are you going back to work at that bar now that the secret is out? When are you going to get your own place?”

“When he’s good and ready,” his Aunt Sophie interrupted, slapping her husband lightly on the arm. “We are enjoying having him stay here and my sister, too.”

Cooper laughed. “While I have enjoyed your hospitality, Uncle Bill is right,” he said, squeezing my hand. “I fully intend to start looking for a place tomorrow. I think it’s a safe bet that we will be staying in California permanently.”

I gave him a smile, my heart stirring at the declaration that he wasn’t going anywhere. Even though he had told me already, it still warmed my soul every time I heard it. It was a reminder that we had our entire lives ahead of us with nothing stopping us from planning a future together.

We chatted for a few minutes longer before Cooper stood up and reached for me, pulling me alongside of him. I didn’t think I would ever fully get used to the fact that we could do that now, that we were a couple. It was still all surreal. “Well, I guess we better get going,” he said.

“Aww, don’t they make just the cutest couple?” his mom announced, clasping her hands together.

I blushed and ducked my head, thinking that we actually did make a really cute couple but it was different to hear it from her.

I had found my other half and, though it had been a bit of a rocky road, we had made it through what I hoped was the tough part. I had no doubt having Cooper by my side meant there was never going to be a dull moment. Money or not, being with this man was going to be more fun than I had ever imagined I could have with someone. He could be as poor as a church mouse and I would still love him with all I had.

We said our goodbyes and walked out of the house hand in hand. “So,” I said as we reached the passenger side door of Cooper’s car. “What now?” I didn’t have to be at work until the next day, and I wasn’t so sure that Cooper was ever going to go back now that his secret was out in the open. It didn’t make any sense to do so but Cooper wasn’t a normal billionaire either.

“Well, I don’t know,” he replied, tapping his finger against his chin. “But I could use some wings.”

I grinned as he opened the door. “You just ate.”

He shrugged and one corner of his mouth turned up. “I’m a growing boy.”

I shook my head. “Well, you know where to go then.”

Chapter Twenty-Six

Cooper

I lay there, listening to Emma breathe as I held her, watching her sleep so peacefully. Even after weeks of waking up next to Emma, I was afraid to let go, scared that I might wake up from the dream. Scared that maybe her forgiving me wasn’t real. With everything I me, I knew waking up would only mean I was living a nightmare if it meant I didn’t have her. But I did. And she had not only forgiven me, but given me her heart. I was the luckiest bastard in the world.

I tightened my hold and stayed as still as possible, not wanting to wake her up just yet. I was enjoying the simple fact that we were together with no secrets between us. I could be myself —both the Cooper I wanted to be and the Cooper life had given me no choice but to be. And I could do that without worrying whether or not she was going to judge me one way or the other.

I still couldn’t believe I had been such an idiot, thinking that Emma would have judged me because of the money in the first place. I winced to think how differently it all could have gone. Had I just trusted in the fact that she was not like the others, I could have avoided causing both of us the hurt of thinking it might be over. I could have avoided the doubt and the uncertainty.

Granted, I doubted anything I had done differently would have avoided Felix’s role in this convoluted play. I’m not so sure anything could have been done to rewrite that act. I still felt sorry for Felix. I still wished he had just been the friend I remembered growing up, but he’d made his choice. And it was a choice that meant he was no longer going to be part of my life going forward. I wasn’t so sure I could forgive him for what he had done to Emma and her father. I sure as hell knew I couldn’t forget it. Nor could I forget the fact that he had turned on our friendship all because of money. I wondered if he knew that, as a friend, I would have gladly given him whatever money he needed had he gone about it a different way.

The woman in my arms stirred and pulled me from my thoughts, forcing me to think of brighter, happier things. Things like the future, and my life with Emma. There wasn’t anything I wanted more than a life with her. It was time I started planning that life. Started living it. First things first, I needed my own house and a strategy, and I wanted Emma’s input every step of the way. I wanted her to be more than just by my side, I wanted her to be my future.

* * * * *

Two weeks later, I looked around the empty bar that hadn’t officially opened for the day.

“Are you sure you want to buy this place? I have a few more properties that actually rake in the money. This place, well, it does alright but nothing like a couple of places over near the cliffs.”

I nodded. “Yeah, I’m sure.”

My real estate broker, Paul, went back to reading the agreement, his keen eyes poring over every word. I had learned from Uncle Bill that Paul was actually a lawyer by trade. He’d only begun to dabble in the real estate restaurant business just a few years before. As soon as Uncle Bill told me he trusted the man, I hired him. Thus far, it had been a good decision.

When I had first considered the idea to buy Keefer’s, I had wrestled with some of the concerns I had left over from my other bar purchase back in Atlanta. I wondered whether or not the staff would be receptive to the bar and grille changing hands. The last thing I wanted was to lose good workers because they might not want to work for someone they used to work with. But ultimately, being selfish won out. The place had given me the greatest thing that had happened in my life to date. Keefer’s had given me Emma.

I didn’t jump blindly into buying the bar. I had asked Emma’s opinion first, explaining my thought process and, after a marathon session on the pros and cons, she had assured me it would be a good thing. Of course, there was some discussion and teasing about me being her boss. Then she asked how I planned to be my own boss, as well, but I had another plan for that, one that I hope worked out.

“Well, it all looks alright to me,” Paul finally said, picking up the pen and signing his name to it. “I still don’t know why you want to do this. But, hell, it’s your money to spend. I’m just glad you spent it with me.”

I signed my name to the agreement as well and looked around, the large boulder weighing heavily on my chest slowly lifting. I had bought Keefer’s.

“So, what does a billionaire do with the money this place actually turns over?”

I turned my attention back to Paul, stretching my arms over my head. “Well, I intend to make sure a good bit of it gets put into a fund, sort of like an educational fund. If an employee wants to go to school, I should be able to accommodate it.”

“I think that’s very admirable of you, Cooper,” Paul said, a hint of respect in his eyes. “Most people would just want to make more money.”

“I think I’ve got enough money to last me ten lifetimes over,” I laughed, folding the papers and tucking them into my suit jacket for later. “I really appreciate this, Paul.”

“My pleasure, Mr. Randall.”

“Cooper, please.”

Paul nodded. “Well, Cooper, it’s your problem now,” he said, reaching across the table to shake my hand. “Good luck to you, Cooper. Not that you’re going to need luck. I have a feeling you are going to be something different.”

We chatted for a few more minutes as Paul went over a few details with me regarding the paperwork before he took his leave, leaving me alone in my bar. It was surreal to think that just a matter of weeks earlier I had walked in there, asking for a job. Not only so that I could be near Emma, but so that I would have something to occupy my time as well. I laughed, wondering if I would have hired me that day.