The Barefoot Groom: Bachelor Billionaire Romance (A Last Play Companion) (6 page)

He gently took her hand into his. “I’m not a creepy phone stalker.”

Her heart raced, and her mouth went dry. She wasn’t sure why she let him hold her hand, but she did. “There. That’s better, don’t you think?”

Lazily, his eyes met hers. They were close. So close. His eyes were green with a burst of yellow light in the middle. They were the kind of eyes that felt like they could capture a person and never let them go.

Then Cooper was leaning forward, and she leaned forward too. And, much like the previous night in the hot tub, when their lips met, it was heaven.

His hand went gently behind her neck, pulling her up closer to him.

Without thinking about it, she wrapped her arms around his shoulders, pulling him to her. He smelled so good.

His lips were soft and moved in synch with hers. Like they’d been kissing partners forever.

He pulled away and grinned. “Wowza.”

She felt her face redden, smiled back, and laughed. “Stop copying my words.”

But his lips were on hers, again and he tangled his fingers through her hair.

She let herself enjoy the kiss, loving the feel of him against her. She pulled him closer, then instantly pulled away, feeling guilty. “I shouldn’t kiss you.”

“Why?” He pressed his lips to hers again.

She laughed through the kiss, feeling his joy.

Pulling her hand back, she ran it down his face, feeling his facial hair tickle her. She loved the rough edge feel of it.

London broke off, laughing and standing. She moved quickly back up to the top of the hill. “I can’t do this.” She wiped at her face. “I can’t.”

Cooper sat there with a stupid grin on his face. “Oh, I think you can. You just did. Twice.” He put up two fingers. His smile widened. “Or technically three kisses. And yesterday's kisses add up too.” He nodded. “I think we are doing this.”

Sucking in a breath, she shook her head and flexed and relaxed her fingers. What was happening? Definitely not this. This could not be happening. She was here for work. For an article. This wasn’t real. She was here to expose him, not kiss him.

Cooper stood and slowly moved next to her. His fingers lightly brushed up against hers, and she felt a shiver. “What do you say, London, should we get to know each other this week?” He laced his fingers with hers.

Yes! There was no doubt she wanted to get to know him, but she pulled her hand back, knowing deep down she couldn’t do it. “No, I’m sorry. I can’t.” Was she really saying no?

“Why? And don’t even think about giving me the ‘It’s not you; it’s me’ speech.”

She laughed. “Yes, because I’m sure Cooper Harrison gets that speech often.”

It made her smile at how ridiculous the whole situation was.

“Why?” he demanded like a sulky teenager who’d just been refused a date.

London thought of her mother and father. How they’d taught her since birth to be honest, trustworthy, and hardworking.

She was here for work. Sure she was undercover, but she couldn’t lead him on. Could she? She thought about Marcia saying “you’re his type.” Had Marcia known Cooper Harrison would like her?

What about her integrity? For her article and for her dating life.

Plus, it would never work out with her and Cooper Harrison. She scoffed and turned away. “I’m sorry.”

“Why?” He insisted, moving around to face her. “You’re here. You’re single. I’m here. I’m single.”

“I have a boyfriend.” The words rushed out of her mouth before she could stop them.

“What?” He shook his head and dropped her hand. “I thought he left you at the altar.”

She searched his eyes, feeling horrible immediately. She knew her cheeks would be turning red. “I feel terrible. I never should have let those kisses happen. It’s a new thing.” Every part of her trembled, and she pulled away, turning to face the view. “He’s … in the military.” She was the worst liar and had nothing to go on but her brother. “Met him last week, had this crazy connection thingy and fell in love.” She shrugged. “He’s really upset I’m here right now. I feel terrible I even kissed you last night and now. I … I’ll have to tell him.” She was going to hell for sure.

He squinted, studying her eyes. “I don’t believe you.”

She scoffed, trying to cover. Wasn’t it better she told a small lie to prevent him from getting hurt when he found out the real truth? “Yeah, cause it’s so hard to believe I’m dating. I know.” Playing the pity card wasn’t her thing, but she had to get out of this.

Running a hand through his hair, he scrunched his face then blew out a breath. “Guess that’s my luck lately.”

Now
he
was playing the pity card? Her mind was on rapid fire. She couldn’t let him think she could date him. She covered her uncertainty by giving him a fake pout. “Aw, does the guru need a pep talk?”

Jerking back a laugh, he shook his head. “Man, you’re brutal.” He moved toward the car. “Guess I’m glad I didn’t waste precious time.”

She followed to the car and put up a finger at him. “Chapter eight: ‘Precious Time.’”

Winking at her, he held her door open. “Well, I’m glad to see you’re an excellent student.”

She walked by him to get in. He put up his hand in front of her.

She paused, her heart racing, staring into his eyes. “I don’t know why you’re lying to me, but you are lying.”

“What are you talking about?”

The way he looked at her made her wonder if he could really see into her soul. He leaned in, and a rush of butterflies filled her stomach. “Sparks like this don’t happen that often.”

For a second she wanted to confess the truth, but her rational side took over. “We can still be friends.”

“Ouch, straight to friend zone.” Grinning, he stepped out of her way.

She buckled her seat belt, and he shut her door, then walked around and got in.

Did a handsome billionaire really want to date her? Awkward silence filled the car.

Buckling his own seatbelt, he started the engine and shrugged. “I didn’t see friend zone coming so quickly.’”

The way he said it made her smile, the awkwardness dissipating. “Friend zone isn’t that bad.”

He backed up, smiling at her. “It’s the worst.”

She laughed.

The car picked up speed, going past the beautiful tree line.

Inwardly, she flinched. She thought of how he’d helped his wife battle cancer. A brutal story. Turning to glance at him, she found herself liking him more and more.

“I’m fine with the friend zone.” He blurted.

Jarred out of her thoughts, she turned to him. “You are?”

He grinned. “Hey, I’m happy for you.”

If he only knew how unhappy she really was. “I thought you said I was lying.”

He sighed. “Maybe it’s just wishful thinking.”

Lifting a finger, she pointed into the air. “The final chapter: ‘Wishful Thinking.’”

Roaring out a laugh, he turned and their eyes connected. The edge of sadness in them made her want nothing more than to unlock all his secrets.

Not for the article.

For herself.

F
riend zone
. Talk about a slap in the face. Cooper Harrison stood outside of Sterling’s gallery, a bit put off his game. It annoyed him, though he hadn’t let it show, to be ousted for some newfound boyfriend.

He didn’t want to go in, but Hunter would be making an appearance, and that was reason enough. Still, he couldn’t force himself to move. What kind of boyfriend let his girlfriend come to a singles retreat? Even if the focus was on personal development, there was major dating and flirting at these things.

The sound of soft music and people chatting wafted out to the street. Cooper took a breath and searched Jackson Hole Main Street. It was a conglomeration of tourists, and summer was prime tourist time. It’d been an easy decision to move here. He’d fallen in love with the outdoors. Not to mention the rugged locals and the excited tourists. He loved it all.

Writing books on relationships had come out of seeing others around him struggle and having plenty of his own struggles. After his father died, he watched his mother on the dating train to nowhere. Then he watched his two older sisters go through their own relationship failures. It’d make him want to decode successful relationships early on.

Even in high school, he was always that guy people would come to for relationship help. Well, strike that. He was the nerd in high school always reading books on psychology and spouting off the answers he knew. The interesting part was that women were always looking for answers. Before he knew it, he found he was working as a part-time counselor.

Unfortunately, he didn’t realize this role always put him in the friend zone until he got older and wiser.

Of course, after high school, he’d figured out a system to keep himself out of the friend zone. Honestly, it’d been a blast. He’d had relationship after relationship and thoroughly enjoyed it. Each one gave him a chance to hone in on the right system. He’d struck gold by getting to intern with Tony Robbins.

Every book he wrote was a move in the right direction, but he still hadn’t nailed exactly what he was looking for—the perfect way to attract and keep a relationship. Women, he found, were the ones who really wanted this information.

His first book was such a hit he’d run with it and written multiple books on how to attract friendships, love, and business partners. The principles were really the same. That’s if other factors were met. There was a ton of data on the importance of background similarities, tastes, and values—values being the biggest thing that would determine if a relationship would last.

People teased him about being “high value” or professing one must be a high value person. It didn’t bother him because it was true. To attract and stay in any relationship, both people must feel they are high value. If not, the relationship tanked.

At the moment, all he could think about was London Bridge. Her name made the side of his lip quirk up.

Hilarious.

He thought of her spunky short blonde curls and her pale blue eyes. He thought of her long, lithe frame and the way she was thoughtful and analytical.

From the start, he’d sensed she was attracted to him. When she’d confessed she had a boyfriend, his gut told him she was lying.

He had no proof of it, but he was good at reading people. She didn’t seem like the type who would have kissed him. No. She seemed too uptight for that. Which made him smile.

It was sort of refreshing not to have a woman want him. He checked himself emotionally, asking if this was the only reason he wanted to be around this woman. Then he thought of the way they’d connected. It’d been easy and natural. He could tell most of the women around him wanted something. If anything, all she wanted was to keep her distance from him.

Laughing softly under his breath, he climbed out of his car and braced himself for this party.

He liked art. He did. Not in the way Sterling liked art and could talk about lines and forms and blah blah blah for hours.

But what could Cooper say? Sterling endured a lot of relationship talk. A lot of personal development advice. It was only fair Cooper go to some art events too.

A couple of women moved to the gallery door, and Cooper held it back, waiting for them to depart.

“Thank you.” A brunette woman with bright pink lipstick and a tight mini skirt did a double take and stopped. “Excuse me, are you Cooper Harrison?”

Nodding politely, he kept the door propped. “Yes.”

The other two well dressed women she was with looked confused, but the brunette moved to his side and put a pink painted hand on his arm. Heavily scented perfume wafted up at him. “I can’t believe it.” Her smile stretched wider. “I am such a fan. A huge fan. Could …” she hesitated, her eyes flashing to the other women then back to him. “Would you like to come to dinner with us?”

He always found it ironic that when he was poor people never asked to buy him dinner. Now he had all the money in the world and people wanted to buy him everything. He shook his head graciously. “Oh, I can’t. Thank you though.”

Undeterred, the brunette leaned closer, shoving her chest into him. “I could make it worth your while.”

Slightly repulsed by her desperation, he took a step back, broke eye contact and nodded to her friends. “You ladies have a nice time.” Then he turned into the gallery, dropping the door.

Cooper sauntered in, grateful to be out of the woman’s clutches. Truly, he thought, she needed his seminar.

Looking around, he knew Sterling wouldn’t approve of the relaxed way he dressed. He snorted to himself. Sterling should be glad he wore shoes at all.

Men and women were attired in tuxes and sparkly dresses. He reached for a glass of wine from the waiter and searched for Sterling. He could make an appearance and get back to his house and get in a soak in the hot tub before bed.

Of course, once he thought of the hot tub, he thought of her. Thought of her red swimming suit and the way she’d laughed hard when he said the book was just okay. He thought of the passionate look on her face when she talked about her nonprofit.

Weaving his way through the well-dressed people, he recognized a few of the local Jackson art supporters and waved or nodded. Truthfully, he was talked out for the evening and only wanted to say hi and then bye.

The sound of a slap on his back made him stop short.

“Well how the heck are ya?”

Hunter James in the flesh. He was sporting a flashy belt buckle and a grin that said he was the happiest man on earth. It filled Cooper with happiness too.

“Had to interrupt the honeymoon?” Cooper looked past him at Summer. She was standing next to one of her pieces of art, talking with some people.

Hunter followed his gaze. “We’ll take the jet back to Rome tonight, but Summer insisted we come back for this.” Nodding proudly, he gestured to the wall behind Summer. “She painted all of those. In fact, all of them are already sold.”

Cooper grinned. “Hmm, let me think about who bought them.”

Chugging out a laugh, Hunter shook his head. “The woman still won’t let me buy her art.”

Cooper laughed. It never failed to put a stick in Hunter’s craw when he walked into Cooper’s facility and saw his wife’s picture hanging in the foyer.

Giving him a glare, Hunter put a hand on Cooper’s shoulder. “Don’t think I’ve forgotten you have that first painting. I’ll get it one day. You’ll see.”

“If it ever gets stolen, I know the first place to look for it.”

Settling next to Cooper, Hunter looped his thumbs through his belt. “Thanks for coming out to show your support.”

Cooper took another sip of wine. “Wouldn’t miss it. I really just wanted to see your stupid grin and make fun of you.”

Hunter grunted. “Speaking of stupid grins, how’s the new crop of fresh minds for you to mold?”

Cooper nodded then paused, thinking of London. “Interesting.”

Immediately pointing at him, Hunter narrowed his eyes. “Ah, is there a woman catching your eye?”

Not wanting to give away too much, but wanting to talk with someone, Cooper grinned. “No.”

“Liar.”

Cooper sighed. “She has a boyfriend.”

Hunter scoffed. “And she’s at a singles retreat?”

The question was really beginning to bug him.

Hunter laughed even deeper. “Hey, if her boyfriend let her go, it doesn’t count. Nope, if she went, then she’s fair game, my brother.”

Cooper rolled his eyes. “It’s that simple, huh?”

Hunter leaned back, blowing out a puff of air. “I’ve seen you work your magic when you want to. How bad do you like her?”

Cooper raised a shoulder nonchalantly. “I just met her.”

Hunter snorted. “Man, you
like
her.”

Cooper knew he was blushing. Sure, he’d gotten to know some of the women who had come to these retreats. It really hadn’t been much of an issue because he hadn’t been ready yet. Everything with Nadia …

“No.” Hunter scolded. “Don’t do the whole pathetic look and all that.”

Cooper would punch anyone else except Hunter for telling him that. “Shut up.”

Hunter sighed. “Look, dude, I know you lost her. I know it’s been hard for you. We’ve all lost sleep worrying about you.”

It was news to Cooper. “You stayed up nights worrying?”

Hunter gave him a sharp look. “Hey, just ’cause we’re not chicks doesn’t mean we don’t worry.”

Cooper shook his head, not wanting to talk about Nadia.

“Listen, if you want this woman, go get this woman. Right? I mean, maybe you should look at it as research for your next book—
Trap That Woman
.” He said it as if he were announcing it on an infomercial, and Cooper laughed.

“Trap what woman?” Sterling’s cool voice surprised Cooper.

He twisted around. “Man, I didn’t even see you coming.”

Sterling smiled, dressed in his tux. His movie star smile stayed fixed in place as he nodded at people walking past.

“Good turn out.” Hunter nodded.

“Your wife’s paintings are already sold, and that’s after I doubled the price on them.”

Hunter grunted. “Of course they are.” He glanced between Cooper and Hunter. “She’s that good.”

Cooper smiled at his friend’s obvious love for his wife. It’d been an amazing transformation to see Hunter fall in love.

Sterling nudged Cooper. “How’s the new group?”

Cooper smiled and then nodded, thinking it was mildly funny and kind of pathetic his billionaire friends always kept tabs on the single women coming and going out of Jackson. “Good.”

Hunter nudged Sterling. “He likes one of them, but she has a boyfriend.”

Sterling lifted his eyebrows. “Really?”

Cooper rolled his eyes, not wanting to get into it again.

But Hunter didn’t let up. “Boyfriends don’t mean much.”

Sterling put an arm around Cooper and winked. “I agree. Boyfriend’s not here.”

Cooper nodded. “Maybe.”

Sterling laughed and pulled his arm back. “Plus, if you don’t act fast and I like her, I move quickly.”

Hunter’s fist clenched, and his eyes flashed with annoyance. “Yeah, watch your back.”

Sterling’s laughter rippled through the air.

Cooper laughed too, thinking of how angry Hunter had gotten when Sterling kept asking Summer out. Honestly, Cooper didn’t know if Sterling asked her out to tick Hunter off or because he liked her, but either way, it got a reaction out of Hunter every time.

Hunter cocked an eyebrow and took a swig of wine. “Watch out Cooper. He’s not lying. He’ll try to take your woman when you’re not looking.”