My One and Only (Ardent Springs Book 3) (21 page)

Cooper didn’t blame her, but the unquestioning acceptance of her fate bothered him.

“How much are we talking in student loans?”

Brown eyes stared up to the ceiling as she said, “I think I’m down to one hundred forty-five thousand.”

“
Down
to that?” Not going to college hadn’t been such a loss after all. “Haleigh, that’s a mortgage.”

“Oh no, my naive friend. A mortgage would have a better interest rate.”

Quick calculations ran through Cooper’s brain. If he sold the truck and the ’55 Fairlane, he’d still only have a third of what she needed. But if he did the ’57 Corvette up right, he could sell it for a hefty chunk of the balance. Unfortunately, that project was still months from completion.

“I have two cars up for sale in the rally. If they sell, we can put some of the profits toward the loans.”

Staring as if he’d suggested they use Mabel as a basketball, she said, “You’re serious, aren’t you?”

“Dead serious.” Haleigh’s life-sucking mother was a problem Cooper couldn’t do anything about. But he’d be damned if Haleigh would live in poverty on the generosity of others while he had the means to help. “I can’t guarantee we’ll get top dollar, but they should each pull a significant amount. And if they don’t go this month, I’ll put them in the next rally in June.”

Stepping forward, Haleigh slid her arms around Cooper’s neck. “You’re an incredibly generous man, Cooper Daniel Ridgeway. Completely and thoroughly out of your mind, but generous nonetheless.”

“Let me do this for you,” he said, pulling her close. “Take the offer.”

Haleigh slowly shook her head. “There’s only one offer I’d take right now,” she said, dropping a kiss on the dimple in his chin before rising onto her toes to nip his bottom lip between her teeth. “Do you know what that might be?”

Ideas were coming to him, but the blood rushed from his brain too fast for him to catch them. In lieu of answering, Cooper shook his head.

Rubbing her thigh between his, she pulled his head lower to whisper in his ear. “Offer to show me your bedroom, Cooper. I promise, I won’t turn you down.”

Chapter 22

When Cooper froze, Haleigh feared she’d crossed the line too early. This
was
their first date after all. Not that they hadn’t been dancing around this for more than two weeks. And according to Cooper, he’d wanted her a lot longer than that.

“Or not,” she said, trying to hide her embarrassment. “Forget I said that.”

Lifting her chin, he asked, “Are you serious?”

“Well,” she hedged. “I was, but since you aren’t dragging me to the house, I’m guessing I’ve read this all wrong.”

“Do you think I brought you here because I intended to get you into bed?”

“No,” she answered. “Coming here was my idea, remember? Look,” she said, stepping away, “I’ve ruined a really good night, so let’s pretend the last couple minutes didn’t happen and you can take me home.”

“The last thing I want to do is take you home,” he said, running a hand through his hair. “You just took me by surprise is all.”

“Like I said, I screwed up.” Mortification threatened to choke her. “You aren’t there yet. That’s fine. Really. We have plenty of time.” Unable to look Cooper in the eye, Haleigh bolted for the driveway.

She’d nearly reached the entrance to the garage when he caught up to her.

“Hal, I’m there,” he said, stepping in front of her. “I’m all the way there. Hell, I’ve imagined
there
for longer than I’m willing to admit.” Taking her hand, he grinned like a guy who’d just been offered his dream machine. “And if you’d like to come up to my bedroom, we can make a good night even better.”

The look on his face banished her insecurities, while the warmth of his hand reignited the spark she thought she’d smothered. Feeling oddly bashful, she nodded. “I’d like that very much.”

They crossed the yard in silence, exchanging heated glances filled with longing and anticipation. By the time they stepped through the back door into the kitchen, Haleigh felt like a teenager sneaking off to have sex for the first time.

Though this felt nothing like the first time had. No doubt or fear. No feeling pressured or guilty. Tonight was about enjoying a man who believed her to be truly beautiful, inside and out. And maybe by morning, she might believe a little bit, too.

By the glow of the stove light, they crossed the kitchen still hand in hand and Cooper led Haleigh up a creaking wooden staircase to a spacious room at the top. The bedroom ran the length of the house and featured a window at each end, one presumably looking over the front porch, and the large one to her right providing a view of the back of the property. From her vantage point, she could see the garage they’d just visited, as well as the scene of their first kiss illuminated by the light of the moon.

“When I bought the place, this second floor wasn’t finished,” Cooper said, walking her to the window. “I turned it into a master bedroom and had the large windows installed so I could see out over the property.”

“You did the work?” she asked, wondering if there was anything the man couldn’t do. The space was simple, but well-furnished in a sleek, masculine style, with hints of country charm.

“I hired out stuff like plumbing and electrical, but with help from Spencer and Ian, we knocked this out over a few weeks’ time.” With a gleam in his eyes, he tugged her toward the monstrosity in the center of the room. “The bed is really comfortable.”

“Is it now?” she asked with a smirk. “I should try it myself to be sure.”

“Yes,” he said, dropping onto the mattress. “Yes, you should.”

Strong hands dug into her hips as Haleigh grasped powerful shoulders and closed the space between them. Her clothes felt restrictive as she straddled his lap, impatient to feel him against her. Cooper’s eyes darkened as he stared into hers, and nothing in the world mattered in that moment but the man beneath her and what they were about to do.

Sliding a hand behind her neck, Cooper took her mouth in a kiss filled with fire and possession, longing and raw desire. Her hands tangled in his hair, and with every lick and suck Haleigh lost a little more control.

When they came up for air, her hands dropped to the buttons on his shirt. “This needs to come off,” she panted. “I need to touch you.”

“Whatever you want, baby,” he said, holding her in place while she opened his shirt. “I’m all yours.”

God, that sounded good. Haleigh would take Cooper over a pile of money any day. As soon as the last button surrendered, she slid her hands along his broad shoulders, dragging the shirt over perfectly defined biceps to trap his arms against his sides. “You’re so gorgeous,” she breathed, unable to keep the awe from her voice.

This was what a body was meant to be. Every muscle primed and sculpted. Every inch of skin taut and firm, made for a woman’s touch. She explored each dip and curve, aroused by his heat and the way his body responded beneath her touch. A quick flinch or jolt that said he liked what she was doing.

“I need to touch you, too,” he said, the words rough with need.

“Not yet,” she replied, trailing her tongue down his throat—the taste of salt and man a heady combination. “I’ve had dreams about this body.” Her teeth grazed his collarbone. “Vivid dreams. Lucky for me, the real thing is even better.”

Straining against the shirt, he rasped, “You’re driving me crazy.”

“That is the idea,” she said, tracing the outline of his lips. “I want to make you cry out my name.”

Reaching behind him, Cooper ripped the shirt off the rest of the way and drove his hands into her hair.

“Is that a challenge?” he asked, nipping her earlobe. “Because I definitely want to make you scream.”

Dropping her jacket to the floor, Haleigh offered a seductive glare. “I’m looking forward to it.”

Her shirt joined the jacket on the floor with little effort, revealing the strips of pink lace he’d only glimpsed earlier in the evening. Cooper fought the urge to rush. The fear that he was dreaming added an urgency to taste and touch as much as possible before he woke alone and dazed.

But this wasn’t a dream. And he definitely wasn’t alone.

With reverence, Cooper ran his unworthy hands up slender arms, over pale shoulders, and into moonlit waves of gold. “So soft,” he mumbled, leaning forward to drop a kiss at the base of her neck. Before he could taste her lips again, Haleigh reached down between them to undo the button on his jeans.

“I need more,” she said, backing off his lap to stand before him. “I need it all off.”

Happy to oblige, Cooper untied his boots in record time and kicked them off to the side. He would have stood to drop the jeans, but Haleigh had other ideas. With one finger on his chest, she shoved him down to the bed.

“Allow me,” she said, and Cooper lifted enough for her to drag the denim over his hips. Skipping the extra steps, she removed his boxer briefs and socks along with the pants. “I am one lucky girl,” she said, admiring him with her eyes. He grew harder under her gaze. “Very lucky.”

Cooper would have returned the compliment, but the ability to speak fled when her hands trailed up his thighs. When she blew across the tip of his dick, his brain ceased functioning altogether.

“Time to taste,” she whispered, leaning over him. His body became a six-foot-four-inch tension rod as anticipation rocketed through him. The second her lips closed around him, he nearly imploded from the impact.

Haleigh sucked and teased, stopping a second before explosion to trail her tongue down his shaft. While working her way back up, she gripped him tight, massaging with her thumb, and licked his cum from the tip. Cooper’s lungs burned for air as he gasped and bucked, near death and ready for the final release.

Seemingly finished with the warm-up, Haleigh took him deep, cupping his balls as the pace increased. A growl escaped as he struggled to hold on, the pressure building higher with each lick and suck. Within seconds, Cooper lost control, yelling her name as his hands shoved into her hair, his body bucking wildly as sensations shot through his extremities. Body burning, his muscles twitched, and his brain floated somewhere in the clouds.

As if he’d run a marathon with an engine block chained to his waist, Cooper panted, riding the adrenaline high sluicing through his blood. He’d never imagined he could feel this good.

“You’re awesome,” he said when he could once again form words.

Dropping hot, wet kisses across his abs, Haleigh worked her way up his body. “And you’re a mouthful,” she said, straddling his torso. With a lick of her lips, she added, “Not that I’m complaining.”

“Does that mean I pass inspection?” he asked, toying with one pink bra strap.

Rubbing against him, she flashed the smile of a woman with plans. “I should really take a full ride before passing judgment.”

“Then by all means, darling,” he said, tipping the strap off her shoulder, “let me show you what I can do.”

Haleigh gasped when he kissed her nipple through the lace of her bra. As her body focused on that one hardening peak, a moan echoed from deep in her chest. When his tongue dipped behind the material, she arched against him.

“So hot,” he murmured against her sensitive flesh. “So beautiful.”

Cooper unclasped her bra with one hand as he rose to a sitting position, never breaking contact with her breast. Haleigh wrapped her arms around his neck, reeling in sensations. Heat pooled between her legs and her movements grew frantic.

“Slow down, darling,” he drawled, taking her face in his hands. “We’ve got all night.”

Her mind rebelled as he pushed her feet to the floor and she dug her nails into his shoulders.

Undoing the button on her pants, he said, “It’s my turn to look at you.”

Modesty temporarily smothered desire as Haleigh feared what Cooper would think of her. She’d been running on coffee and little else for so long, her body had devolved into a series of hard angles and sharp edges, lacking the curves that most men preferred.

“Maybe we should close the curtains,” she said, crossing her arms over her chest. The moonlight looked beautiful on Cooper, but would have a lesser effect on her pale skin.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, he held her eyes captive as he pulled her arms gently to her sides. “You’re beautiful in every way, Haleigh Rae. Sexy and delicate,” he said, running a finger down her cleavage. “Elegant and graceful.” Callused hands cupped her breasts as his thumbs grazed her nipples, making her shiver with need. “Let me show you.” Sliding his fingers behind her waistband, he kept his eyes locked on hers. “Let me see you.”

With a nod, Haleigh braced her hands on his shoulders as he slid the cotton down her legs and over each foot. When the garment had been tossed to the side, he placed a kiss inches below her navel, along the elastic band of her pink lace panties.

Glancing up with a seductive smile, he said, “This is by far the best present I’ve ever unwrapped.”

“It’s all for you,” she said, words she’d never spoken to any man before. “I’m all yours, Cooper.”

“I’ve waited a lifetime to hear that.”

Passion flared between them like gasoline thrown on a fire. Cooper pulled Haleigh onto the bed to cover her body with his. She’d known skin to skin would be a heady rush, but the power of the connection threatened to overload her system. His mouth worshiped her breasts as his knee pressed hard between her legs.

She ground against him as the pressure built, moaning breathlessly for more. When his talented tongue traced down her stomach, Haleigh grasped the dark blankets in a death grip as her body arched up of its own volition.

Cooper kissed her clit through the narrow strip of satin, and Haleigh sighed, “Oh God, do that again.”

Answering the plea, he kissed her harder as his hands grasped the sides of the panties. When Haleigh lifted herself again, the underwear went flying, and so did she.

Her knees drew up as Cooper settled between her legs. Firm hands latched onto her cheeks and lifted her for better access. When his tongue dove inside, she pulled hard on the blankets as her head thrashed from side to side. The tremors started at her core and vibrated through her body. Haleigh feared she couldn’t take any more when first one finger and then another pressed deep as his mouth closed over her clit, his tongue drawing circles that sent her racing over the finish line.