He’d admitted that with a calculated risk. He knew full well that her father might be angry hearing such a thing. But that one little sentence would pave the way when he did leave. She could use that as an excuse for the break-up. It was genius.
So why did he feel as if he wanted to throw up after saying it?
“I think you underestimate Kayla. She can handle it.” He finally looked away from his daughter and turned those blue eyes that were so like Kayla’s on Cooper. “If she loves you, she’ll be fine. I was a cop while she was growing up, and always in danger. She’s used to it. As far as partners go, she might be your best bet. She knows what she’s getting herself into.”
Cooper swallowed hard. He was almost tempted to agree with the man. To say f**k it, and ask Kayla to wait for him. But that wouldn’t be best for her—it would be best for him. He refused to be selfish when it came to Kayla. She deserved so much more than an internet boyfriend.
“I’m sure she’s perfectly capable of handling the stress, sir,” Cooper managed to say. “But still, I worry about her. I can’t help it.”
Her father nodded. Mr. Moriarity seemed to like this side of Cooper, which was ironic since it was the first time he’d been completely honest with the man. “I know the feeling. I’ve been worrying about her since the moment I first laid eyes on her. She thinks we’re old-fashioned because we want to see her settled down. But that’s not it. I just want to know that if something happened to me, she’d be okay, you know? That someone would take care of her.”
Cooper finished his drink. He knew what her father wanted from him—a promise that he would watch out for his little girl. The problem was, he couldn’t give it.
He’d made up his mind. He was leaving on Tuesday and he’d never see Kayla again. A fake relationship was one thing. A real one… Too complicated.
“I get that, sir.” He stood up and lifted his empty glass. “But for now, I need another drink. I’ll talk to you soon.”
“Son?”
Cooper stiffened. “Yes, sir?”
“Just be good to her. That’s all I ask.”
Cooper nodded and walked away. Damn it all to hell, this was getting too serious and too damn real. Her father was asking him to take care of her, and he wanted to.
He really f**king wanted to.
Chapter Seventeen
Kayla leaned back against the car seat and watched the hotel grow closer and closer. They were almost back, and all she wanted to do was rip off Cooper’s clothes the second they walked into their room. The time was ticking away over their heads, and she knew he felt it, too.
He’d been quiet. Really quiet.
They parked in the lot, but Cooper didn’t move. She eyed him, trying to decide how best to proceed. “Did my dad break you? I knew I shouldn’t have let you talk to him alone.”
He looked at her, as if surprised by her question, then smiled. It looked forced. “No, he was on his best behavior. We just talked about deploying and expectations.”
“I see.” She opened the car door. “You ready to go up and have some real sex in our fake relationship?”
He unbuckled. “Is that really a question?” he teased, but it sounded hollow.
“You tell me, quarterback.”
He opened his door, climbed out, and closed it behind him. By the time she had one foot on the asphalt, he was there. He wrapped an arm around her waist and then closed her door for her. “When it comes to you, I’m pretty much always ready.”
“Sounds promising.” She curled her arms around him, resting her hand right above his hip. “I feel the same way, just so you know.”
“Good to know.”
They pushed through the front entrance, and then made their way to the elevator in silence. By the time they reached their floor, Kayla knew Cooper’s distant behavior wasn’t all in her head. He was tense and silent. The only question was…why?
There was a fifty-fifty chance he was upset because their time was almost up. She knew she was—and she also knew she was willing to turn this fake relationship into a real one. It was scary and exhilarating all at once. The odds were stacked against them.
But she was willing to try, if he was.
He closed the room door behind him and leaned against it. After releasing a deep breath, he met her eyes. “Kayla…” His shoulder muscles bunched and flexed as he dragged his hands down his face. “We need to talk.”
He’d been completely relaxed all those times he’d said he didn’t want a relationship. So if he was this nervous about talking to her it must mean…
Oh God. This was it. He was going to ask to see her again after the wedding.
This was the first time she didn’t want to run in the opposite direction at the thought of a guy uttering those words, and it was thrilling. She’d let him speak first. Maybe he even had some big romantic speech planned, like in the movies—Cooper was good with the big gestures like that. She tried to calm her racing heart and sound casual. “Sure. What’s up?”
“This whole thing between us…it moved really fast.” He pushed off the door and crossed the room until he stood directly in front of her. “We met in an airport, and before the plane landed, I already knew the little sounds you make when you come. Ever since, it’s been a whirlwind of craziness. I think we need to take a step back and reevaluate our plan. I think we need to talk—as much as I hate talking about this shit.”
“I think I know what you’re trying to say, and I agree wholeheartedly.” She grabbed his hands and squeezed them reassuringly. “I’m not going to lie. It’s been on my mind a lot, too.”
He blinked at her. “It has?”
“Yep.” She smiled at him. “I never thought I’d say this in a million years, but here I go. I…I…”
She couldn’t finish. She could feel herself chickening out.
“You can say it.” His voice was hollow, but he didn’t seem upset, by any means. He seemed…relieved. “I’ve been thinking it, too, so it’s a huge relief. You want me to leave, and I think that’s for the best.”
And just like that, the world crashed around her.
“Wait. What?” She dropped his hands, shock ricocheting through her body. “That’s not what I was going to say. You want to leave? Why?”
“What do you mean why? I thought that’s what you were going to say. You said you were thinking the same thing as me…” Then his eyes went wide. “But you obviously weren’t. What were you thinking?”