Tease (5 page)

“It’s not funny,” she blushed. “I’ve probably woken everyone up now.”

“If those kids come out, you’re putting them back to bed,” I joked, still laughing.

Mia made a face. “I wanted to go into pediatric nursing and then I realized I’m hopeless with kids.” She grinned at me. “No joke. I had a clinical at the children’s hospital last year, and I made about ten kids cry. And that was before the end of the first day.”

“So what area of nursing are you in?” I asked curiously. I could see her as a nurse. She had that caring, patient side to her down pat. Even as a kid, she’d been the girl who would find injured animals and take them home to nurse them back to health.

“General surgery. So basically I will be caring for people post-surgery.”

“Wow,” I raised my eyebrows and let out a whistle. “You’d need a pretty strong stomach for that.” I just about fainted at the sight of blood. Not to mention the fact that I was a sympathy vomiter.

“You need a strong stomach for any kind of nursing,” she remarked. “But the feeling you get when you know you’ve helped someone? There’s nothing else like it.” Her smile reached her eyes as they sparkled back at me.

My mouth went dry. She spoke with so much emotion when she was passionate about something: a trait I found very attractive.

“Did Nic tell you about Mom?” I asked, changing the subject. Anything to distract myself from how much I wanted to kiss those lips right now. Would she kiss me back? Would I see desire in those eyes? My gaze ran over her low-cut green top, and those tight sexy jeans. What did that body look like underneath those clothes? Was it as sexy as I imagined it to be?

Coop
,
get a grip
. It’s so not going to happen.

“Yeah, she did. I’m sorry to hear that.” Mia’s voice jolted me out of my own head. “Alzheimer’s is a horrible disease. And to have the onset so young is even more tragic. How is she? Nic mentioned you got her into a trial? That’s good,” she said, impressed. “Those things usually aren’t cheap,” she added, raising an eyebrow. “Or easy to get into.”

“It’s not cheap, but how can you put a price on quality of life?” I shrugged. I’d fought hard to get her into that trial.

Mia smiled. “See, that’s why you’re a good guy. You take care of your family, no matter what.”

I shrugged, not seeing the big deal. Anyone in my position would do the same. It was no different from donating a kidney if you were a match. If the trial got Mom a few more years without any further regression, then even for all the money in the world, it would be worth it.

“And on that note, I think it’s bedtime for me too,” I said, finishing the last of my drink. I was tired as hell, and if we stayed up any longer I couldn’t guarantee I wouldn’t make a move on her.

“It’s great to see you again, Liam,” she said softly, tilting her head to the side as she smiled at me.

“Coop.
Everyone
calls me Coop.”

“Okay.” She smiled, biting her lip. “’Night, Coop.”

“Uncle Coop!”

I mumbled something incoherent and rolled over.

“Uncle Coop!”

This time I opened my eyes, and slowly the two blurred faces inches from mine came into focus.

“What time is it?” I muttered.

“We’re going out and Mommy said you have to get up,” announced Tully excitedly as she bounced up and down.

Typical. Trust Nic to send in the heavy forces to get me out of bed. “Get up!”
Marlie
cheered, bouncing on the bed beside me.

“Fine,” I growled, shifting the covers and hoisting my legs over the edge of the bed. “I’m up.” They both cheered and sprinted from the room.

While rubbing my eyes, I reached for my
phone,
sure it was some ridiculous hour like six in the morning. Eleven a.m. blared back at me. Okay, so I wasn’t a morning person. Sue me.

I dug my work phone out of my bag and I clicked on my message icon, noticing there was a new one from Bethany.

I’m glad you don’t go away often, Coop. I’ve had to resort to doing naughty things to myself.

I chuckled, and replied.

Well now I’m intrigued. Pic?

A few moments later, my phone buzzed again. I picked it up, and clicked on the image file she had sent me. Taken from the neck down, she was completely naked, her legs spread with an impressively sized vibrator teasing her pussy.

Well now I’m definitely looking forward to Tuesday. Excuse me while I go jack off…

I hit delete. I could only imagine the explaining I would have to do if this fell into the wrong hands. Standing up and dressed in only my boxers, I made my way down to the bathroom. I pushed open the door to find Mia standing there.

“Shit, sorry, I should’ve knocked,” I apologized. At least she was dressed, though the thought of walking in on her half-naked made my cock twitch.

“No, it’s my fault. I should’ve locked the door.” She smiled at me, her eyes darting down to my bare chest, then down to my…
.oh
, fuck. I had a morning hard-on. He eyes grew wide as she quickly glanced away, but not before I saw the smile on her face.

I stood there waiting, my arms crossed over my chest. “If you’re finished,” I said, amused. I laughed as she went bright red.

“Yeah, all yours,” she mumbled, racing out of the bathroom.

Shutting the door after her, I made sure to lock it, chuckling to myself at making a pretty girl blush. I took a longer than usual shower, mostly because I couldn’t quite bring myself to part with the scorching water as it rained down over me.

“Liam!”
Nic’s
muffled voice carried through the door. “Hurry up!”

I sighed and shut the water off. Stepping out, I grabbed a clean towel off the shelf and began to dry myself. I breathed in, the scent of Mia’s perfume suddenly intoxicating me, invading my senses. I wondered if I could get through an hour without thinking about her.

Right then, I struggled to get through five minutes. I’d even dreamed about her the night before. Nothing sexual—in fact, she’d been a large talking rabbit who had created an underground tunnel underneath my childhood home, which ended up in China. Hey, I never said my dreams made any sense.

Wrapping the towel around my waist, I opened the door and walked down the hall to my bedroom. I passed Mia’s room, nearly colliding with her as she came running out. I grabbed hold of her as she steadied herself.

“Sorry, I should’ve been watching where I as going,” she mumbled, her face going red as she stared at my chest. I placed my index finger under her chin, tilting her head up. She looked at me in surprise.

“I’m up here,” I said dryly, trying not to laugh.

She went even redder before squeezing past me and taking off down the hall. I laughed as I entered my room and closed the door behind me.

“So, what’s the plan for today?” I asked, slumping into one of the chairs surrounding the table.

Mia smirked at me. I winked back at her and she quickly looked away. I swallowed a laugh.

“I thought we’d take a hike up to Hurley’s Point for lunch, and then come back here for a rest. Can you handle that,
knobhead
?” Nic teased.

“Yeah, I can handle that. Can you, chicken legs?”

“You guys are just the same. I’d have thought you would’ve grown out of the insults, but no, apparently not,” chuckled Mia.

Nic glanced down, kicking her skinny legs out in front of her. “Chicken legs? Are you serious? Look at these babies!” She stuck her leg out for me to see.

“I’d rather not,” I retorted smugly. I stood up and grabbed my empty bowl, dumping it in the sink.

“Are you going to wash that?” Nic asked.

“No,” I replied. As I walked past her, I touched the tip of her nose. She rolled her eyes at me, mumbling something under her breath.

Hurley’s was a good ten-mile hike from the cabin. We set off, Tully on Jake’s shoulders and
Marlie
happily in her stroller. We had walked about half a mile when Mia cursed under her breath.

“What is it?” I asked as she stopped.

She blushed. “My asthma puffer. I left it at the cabin.”

My heart raced as I caught the slight wheeze in her breathing. “I’ll go back,” I offered.

“I’ll come with you.” She blushed again. “It’s in my luggage wrapped up in my, uh, underwear,” she said, her cheeks coloring.

“Oh,” I said, smirking. “I don’t mind sifting through them to find it.”

“Well, I don’t use it that often—only when I go on long walks,” she said defensively. “And thank you, but you’re not going anywhere near my underwear.”

“Of course, I can understand how you forgot it, then,” I teased.

She shoved me, laughing.

“Nic!” I called out. “Mia left her puffer at the cabin. I’ll walk her back to get it and we’ll meet you up there.”

Nic snuck a glance at Jake. Fuck, typical Nic, reading something into everything.

“Okay. See you later,” she said sweetly.

We turned around and headed back, walking side by side along the wide dirt track. It was perfect walking weather—the sun was out in the clear blue sky, a cool breeze blowing at the thick rows of trees that lined either side of the track.

We reached the cabin, and I waited outside while Mia ran inside. I checked my phone for messages. Nothing. I didn’t even have coverage. How did that work? I had perfect coverage inside the cabin, but nothing outside?

“You get it?” I called out as Mia reappeared.

She held up her puffer like it was a trophy.

“Good work,” I said, feeling the need to congratulate her.

She laughed. “Yeah. I’m awesome.”

We headed back up the track. She walked closely beside me; every now and then her arm would brush past mine, sending tingles through my body. I snuck a glace at her. She looked gorgeous in her fitted jeans and pink shirt that she’d paired with a thick gray woolen jacket.

“Do you do a lot of walking?” I asked.
Wow, I’m full of riveting conversation today.

She shrugged. “Not as much as I should. I’ll say
its
hard to find the time, but we all know that just translates to lazy. What about you, do you work out much?”

“Yeah, I love to run, but that’s about it,” I replied.
Besides all the sex,
I added silently.

We walked in silence, passing the sign that pointed us in the direction of Hurley’s Point. We’d been walking for close to ten minutes when Mia let out a shriek.

“What is it?” I asked anxiously, as she grabbed hold of my arm. My heart raced as she touched me. I wasn’t sure if it was my adrenaline pumping, or the fact that her hand was resting on my arm, her nails digging into my skin.

She pointed just off the track, where a small lizard was working his way across.

I began to laugh. “It’s a fucking lizard. It’s not going to hurt you,” I said, amused.

“Well, how was I supposed to know? I mean
,
what if it was poisonous and it bit me? Huh? Then what?” she retorted, her voice smug.

I shrugged. “You’re the nurse, not me,” I shot back. “And here I was, thinking you weren’t a girly girl.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” she cried, hitting me on the arm. Again, heat rushed through my body as my mind tried to process her touch.

“I thought you were tough,” I teased, trying to ignore the effect her touch was having on me. “And what was that? You hit like a girl.”

“I
am
a freaking girl,” she grumbled, kicking a stone off the track.

I kept making fun of her until we reached the others, and then proceeded to make fun of her again in front of the others. By the time we got back to the cabin, she looked like she was ready to punch me. Nic dragged Mia into the kitchen to start dinner, and demanded that Jake and I start on the grill.

“Have you found a place to live yet?” Nic asked Mia as they sliced lettuce.

Mia rolled her eyes. “No,” she grumbled. “Every place I’ve looked at is either a complete dump or too far from work.”

“Where are you staying now?” I asked.

“With my parents. Which means from next week I have an hour commute. Yay.” She smiled and pushed a loose curl back behind her ear, displaying her beautiful long neck. I quickly glanced away, realizing that I was staring.

“Hey, you should stay at Liam’s.” Nic came over to the table carrying a tray of dips and crackers. I stared at her in
shock,
sure I’d misheard what she’d just suggested.

Her
at my apartment?
I couldn’t think of anything worse.

“What?” she asked. My look of horror obviously meant nothing to my sister. “You wouldn’t mind, would you? You’re right around the corner from the hospital.”

“Uh, sure,” I managed, glaring at my sister.

I liked my space, especially with my job. I liked hanging around the house in my boxers, and letting the dishes pile up. Having a woman there would ruin that. Then there was the other issue: if I could barely stop myself from making a move after spending one night with her, how the fuck was I going to cope if she was
living
with me?

“No, that’s too much.” Mia shook her head. “I don’t want to intrude—”

“You wouldn’t be, would she, Liam?” Nic turned to me but didn’t wait for an answer. “His apartment is fucking huge! It’s perfect. And it’s only until you find a place.”

I wanted to kill my fucking sister. It was one thing to lie to people about my job, but how the fuck was I going to explain my odd hours to Mia?

Sure,
all
insurance consultants don’t start till noon then work until three in the morning.

“Um, well, I guess if you really don’t mind…” She looked at me as if waiting for me to come up with an excuse.

I shrugged, knowing there was no way for me to get out of this now. “Sure. No problem,” I said, forcing a smile.

Mia smiled back, hers equally as stiff. My sister might be blind, but Mia wasn’t, and my expression said it all. She was less than welcome at my apartment and she knew it.

The rest of dinner moved along awkwardly—at least it did for me. Nic chatted
away,
completely ignorant of the situation she’d created. I ate quickly, trying to come up with an excuse as to why I had to go to bed early.

“Did you see Mom this week?” Nic asked.

I nodded. “Thursday. She was pretty good, though she didn’t remember about Dad.”

Nic nodded, eyeing me hesitantly.

“What is it, Nic?”

She shrugged. “I went in on Friday and she…she didn’t know who I was again…and she accused me of stealing her chocolates.”

“And were you?” I asked dryly, knowing that no chocolate was safe with Nic around.

“I had one! She was in the bathroom. I was waiting, and they were sitting there. Then she came out and chased me out of the room and down the hallway, yelling that I was a thief.” Nic shook her head. “I get it, it’s funny and all that, but when she doesn’t remember me…I hate it.”

“I worked for a few years in a dementia facility. It can be the hardest thing in the world when they don’t remember you. Try visiting her earlier in the day. Most people suffering from Alzheimer’s or dementia seem to be more with it in the mornings. They seem to regress as the day goes on.” I glanced at Mia. Nic nodded slowly.

“Okay. I’ll try that next week.” She smiled gratefully at Mia.

“Your full of surprises,” I mumbled to Mia, who was sitting next to me. She grinned.

“Not really, there’s just a lot you don’t know about me now.” She shifted in her seat, her knee knocking against mine. My body jolted. Was I going to act this way every time she touched me? “Sorry,” she mumbled, blushing.

“No, it’s okay. You can touch me whenever you like,” I muttered. I cringed a little on the inside.
Did I really just say that?
She smirked at me.
Yep. I did
.

“So tell me more about your nursing,” I said, trying to steer the conversation away from my stupid statements. It worked,