Tall, Dark, and Bad Read online

  An unwelcome blush crept up her neck and spread across her cheeks. She pulled her hair free and stepped back. “That’s exactly why I want out of this situation,” she said. “Instead of helping me, you’re making things worse.”

  “Worse? How?”

  “You make me … uncomfortable.”

  “Uncomfortable in a good way or a bad way?”

  “I don’t like it.”

  His eyes met hers disparagingly. “Then I suggest you follow your instincts and tell your grandmother the truth. You got commode-hugging drunk and woke up next to a man you’d known less than twelve hours. What she walked in on this morning will appear tame after that.” He shrugged. “I gotta go.”

  Summer nibbled her bottom lip as she remembered how her grandmother had reacted when she’d walked through the door earlier. How could she confess the truth to her grandmother when there was a chance she could make the woman’s heart condition worse? How would she live with herself?”

  “Cooper, wait,” she said. “I can’t tell her. As much as I hate lying to her, I can’t risk telling the truth.”

  “Just how sick is she?” he asked.

  The play of emotions on his face made Summer wonder if he was having second thoughts. “I haven’t been able to reach her doctor. I’m afraid he’s avoiding me because it’s bad news.”

  “Or maybe he’s following the old doctor-patient confidentiality rule.”

  “Avery’s an old friend. He knows how close my grandmother and I are. I can’t imagine him keeping anything from me unless my grandmother specifically asked him to. And I can’t see her hiding information from me unless it’s serious, and she can’t bring herself to tell me.” Summer felt the first pangs of guilt. “I hope what she saw a few minutes ago doesn’t affect her condition.”

  Cooper noted the deep concern in her eyes. He wanted to put a hand on her shoulder, comfort her, but he was afraid she’d pull away. “Look, I’ll go another round with you if that’s what you want. We’ll meet your grandmother for lunch and pretend we’re crazy mad in love with each other. In the meantime, you try to talk to her doctor. Maybe it’s not as bad as you think. If that’s the case, we’ll pretend to have a serious fight and break up. I doubt Henrietta will mourn for long once Warren takes over. I’m sure Golden Boy will meet all the qualifications.”

  The dryer buzzed in the next room, and he hurried inside for his clothes. His jeans were still damp, but he didn’t care. He stepped into them and zipped them up. He shrugged out of the bathrobe and tossed it to Summer, who was doing her level best not to stare. But what woman wouldn’t find her gaze riveted to that powerful, well-muscled chest and flat stomach or the coarse blue-black hair?

  She noted the scar right away, a jagged four- or five-inch welt that marred the flesh near his navel where the hair whirled captivatingly. There was also scarring at the top of one shoulder, where it looked as though someone had bitten him, and a perfectly round indentation not far from that spot that made her wonder if someone had burned him with a cigar.

  “Summer?”

  She snatched her head up. He’d caught her staring. Gawking, actually. “Yes?”

  His voice was slightly husky when he spoke. “I’m not going to leave if you keep looking at me that way.”

  Her face flamed. She crossed her arms and glanced the other way. Darn her roving eyes! No wonder the man was so full of himself.

  He pulled the T-shirt over his head and tucked it in. He couldn’t hide his amusement. She was doing her level best not to look at him, but it was too late. She’d caught an eyeful, and it did his heart good to know she liked what she’d seen, although she would have noticed the scars as well. “I need to grab my cell phone and call a cab,” he said. “I left it upstairs. While I’m at it, I’d better put the one in the living room back on the hook.”

  Summer waited until he left the room before slipping on the bathrobe and pulling off the towel. She tied the robe securely about her waist. His scent still clung to the fabric. She had the crazy notion to bury her face in the material. What was wrong with her?

  Cooper returned. He’d searched the nearest cab company on his phone and was still talking as he came downstairs. He covered the mouthpiece. “The robe definitely looks better on you.” he said, then added, “What’s your address?” he asked.

  Summer gave it to him. “Just tell them Rainbow Row Condominiums, and they’ll know.”

  “That long, huh? Okay.” He hung up. “It’s going to be an hour or so before they can get to me.”

  She opened her mouth to respond, but he hurried from the room. She heard him on the stairs and wondered what he was up to. He returned a moment later, carrying his boots.

  “That means you have plenty of time for coffee,” she said.

  “I take mine black.”

  Summer filled a cup and set it before him, then prepared one for herself.

  Sitting in the chair once more, Cooper pulled on his socks and boots, and reached for the dainty white coffee cup edged in gold.

  Summer joined him at the table. “Cooper, I know this whole thing has been quite an ordeal for you.”

  He liked the way she said his name, liked the sound of her voice in general. In fact, he was finding it awfully damn hard to find something he didn’t like about her. He imagined her whispering his name in his ear as they made love, or crying out as she reached orgasm. It didn’t matter how blue her blood was; if he ever got her in the sack, she’d forget all about being a lady.

  “I can’t imagine what possessed Warren to do something so irrational,” Summer went on.

  Cooper realized he’d drifted away from the conversation. “Maybe he hit his head in the accident,” he replied. “Don’t worry about it.” He drained his coffee cup in a matter of minutes.

  Summer insisted on pouring him another. “I think I have a date with someone I danced with last night,” she said. “I think his name is Tex.”

  “Please tell me you did not give him your phone number or home address. Or worse, your last name.”

  “No. Even though I was plastered I knew better. We’re supposed to meet for lunch at the bowling alley. He’s playing in a tournament.”

  “Sounds like the two of you were made for each other,” Cooper said, grinning, but I don’t think he’ll be overly surprised when you don’t show.” He gave a huge sigh. “I should have my head examined for taking you there in the first place.”

  “As I recall, I asked to go.”

  “Why?”

  “I haven’t gotten out much lately. I’ve been working on an important assignment.”

  “So you chose to go with me because you were desperate. Why didn’t you call Warren?”

  “He already had plans for the evening.”

  “And he was unwilling to break them?”

  Summer was in no mood to discuss Warren at the moment. While he may have had good intentions, she was annoyed that he had put her and Cooper on the spot. It was to their credit that the whole thing hadn’t fallen apart and embarrassed her grandmother in front of her friends. If Summer had wanted to get snarky about it, she could have reminded Warren how many times she had saved his butt professionally. He did not share the work load, but he was always eager to split the commission. She could have, for once, insisted he rearrange his plans to accommodate her when her grandmother’s health was at stake. Of course, it was a moot point now.

  “Hello?” Cooper said.

  Summer blinked, realizing Cooper was waiting for a reply. “My, um, relationship with Warren is complicated,” she said.

  “Sounds like it,” Cooper said dryly. He did not want to think about Warren and Summer together. Warren, with his impeccable manners, tailored business suits, trendy address and beloved BMW. Warren, who instinctively knew what a woman wanted to hear and paid her lip service. The thought that Summer appreciated those things in a man set Cooper’s teeth on edge.

  In fact, he needed to back off, put some distance between Summer and himself, if only for a
little while.

  Cooper checked his wristwatch. “The cab should be here any minute,” he said. He was anxious to get back on his bike. The cool air might clear his head. “I’m going to wait out front.”

  “You don’t have to do that,” Summer said. “I have a doorbell.”

  “You probably have a lot to do before we meet your grandmother for lunch. By the way, what time are we expected?”

  “We should be there by noon.”

  “That doesn’t give us long,” he said. “After I get my bike, I need to run home and grab a shower. I’ll pick you up at eleven-thirty.”

  She nodded. “Maybe afterward we can visit Warren.”

  “Right. We certainly don’t want the poor guy to think we’ve forgotten about him.” Cooper stood, grabbed his jacket from the back of his chair, and let himself out the door without another word.

  Summer frowned. Cooper was angry. Not that she blamed him. He had agreed to show up for her grandmother’s dinner party, but he had not signed on for future dates. It was up to her to end the charade.

  #

  Cooper decided to walk to the guard gate and meet the cab there since he had to be back at Summer’s shortly. He did not want her to know that he’d already developed strong feelings for her despite having met only twelve or so hours ago. He’d never met a woman quite like her; one that drove him mad with desire one minute and made him want to protect her the next.

  He had been afraid to leave her the night before when she was obviously ill and still intoxicated. He had not wanted to leave her in the same clothes that bore the stains of her throwing up. Still, he had not done himself any favors when he’d striped her down to her bra and panties because it was impossible not to remember how she had looked. She was not only pretty, she was sexy as hell, and he would have given anything to have her in his bed. Not that it was likely. She couldn’t seem to get Warren off her mind.

  She was driving him nuts. He needed to somehow extricate himself from the drama concerning her grandmother because he wasn’t certain Summer would be able to come clean with the woman.

  #

  Summer found herself still wondering about Cooper’s sudden change in mood as she looked up the number for the hospital where Warren had been admitted. Sure, she was annoyed with him, but that did not stop her from being worried. She could hear the grogginess in his voice when he answered the phone in his room.

  “How are you?” she asked brightly.

  He sighed. “Well, considering the fact I have a broken leg, a sprained wrist, and several cracked ribs, I’m just great.”

  Summer did not miss the sarcasm in his voice. “Are you in a lot of pain?”

  “They’ve been pretty good about giving me something,” he told her, “but the medication must be wearing off, because I’m starting to feel every bump and bruise. So how’d it go last night with my cousin?”

  “I don’t like to kick a man when he’s down,” Summer said, “but I can’t believe you sent someone like Cooper.”

  Warren chuckled, and then groaned from the pain in his side. “I couldn’t find anybody else,” he said. “Besides, Cooper’s not such a bad guy, once you get to know him. Most folks don’t even bother because of his reputation as a badass.” Warren paused, mumbled something to somebody on his end, then spoke. “The doctor just showed up,” he said. “I’ll have to call you back.”

  “Don’t bother,” she said quickly. “I’ll be by later to visit.”

  #

  “You’re awfully quiet back there, Mrs. Pettigrew,” her chauffeur said, eyeing his employer in the rearview mirror. “Are you feeling any better?”

  Henrietta realized they were almost home. She had asked Axel to drive around for a while so she could gather her wits about her before arriving back at the house. Emma Bradshaw would notice right away that something was amiss, and Henrietta would have to dodge an onslaught of questions. “I’m confused, Axel,” she said. “I only learned a few days ago that Summer had a new man in her life so I was not prepared for what I saw this morning. What do you make of it?” she said.

  “Aw, they’re just a couple of kids having fun. You’ll have to admit your granddaughter tends to take life too seriously sometimes.”

  “I’m still concerned,” Henrietta confessed. “I’d like to know more about this Cooper Garett fellow since my niece seems smitten by the man.”

  “I don’t know how far you’re willing to take it,” Axel said, “but I know a PI who is quite good.”

  Henrietta was thoughtful. Hiring a private investigator had never crossed her mind. Delving into a person’s life behind his or her back felt wrong. But this concerned her granddaughter, the person she loved more than anything or anyone else in the world. She did not want Summer to make a mistake that she might live to regret.

  “Is there a chance that Mr. Garrett will find out I’m responsible for hiring the PI?” she asked, knowing Summer would be furious if she learned her grandmother had done such a thing.

  Axel shook his head. “It’s highly unlikely that your granddaughter’s beau will even know he is being watched, but the answer to your question is no. Your name will not surface.”

  “Let me think about it,” Henrietta said as Axel pulled into the driveway. “I know I don’t have to ask you to keep quiet about what you saw this morning,” Henrietta said.

  Axel looked at her through the rearview mirror. “I saw nothing, Miss Henrietta,” he said. “In fact, I never got out of the car.” He winked.

  Henrietta chuckled.

  #

  A freshly showered Cooper was back at eleven-fifteen. His jeans looked new, and he’d traded his tee-shirt for a navy polo. He wore the same leather bomber jacket and boots, but he had not gone anywhere near a razor. Truth to tell, Summer was not only getting used to it, she thought it a bit sexy.

  She was casually dressed in black denim slacks, a white blouse, and a black and white tweed jacket. She had exchanged her high heels for flats, and her blond shoulder-length hair hung free.

  “You look nice,” Cooper said.

  Summer smiled. “So do you.”

  “How are you feeling?”

  “Better. I ate an egg and a slice of toast, then took a long hot shower. In the future, I think I will avoid drinking Lace Panties and stick to my occasional glass of wine.

  She looked at the clock on the wall. “You’re early,” she said. “My grandmother only lives twenty minutes away.”

  Cooper checked his wristwatch. “It must be running fast,” he said. He wasn’t about to confess that he’d accomplished all he’d had to do, including pick up his bike at Harry’s, at breakneck speed because he was in a hurry to get back to Summer as soon as possible.

  “Would you like a soft drink?”

  “Sure,” he said. “If it’s not too much trouble.”

  Summer was surprised by his polite tone. “I hope diet is okay,” she said, going to the refrigerator.

  He shrugged. He cared more about her company than the drink. “That’s fine.”

  “Have a seat.”

  He took a seat at the table and watched her fill two glasses with ice cubes, his eyes riveted to her jean-clad bottom. He remembered how she’d looked wearing skimpy panties and bra and wondered what she had on beneath her outfit. Her hips were indeed one of her best assets. On second thought, it was her long shapely legs.

  Oh, hell, maybe it was her breasts.

  He had tried his level best to remain detached the night before as he had stripped off her stained outfit, but it was impossible not to notice her lush breasts that looked as though they might spill from the lacy cups of her bra. He had envisioned himself taking her nipples between his teeth and nipping them lightly, of rubbing baby oil into the soft mounds until they glistened. He would massage her entire body with the oil, concentrating his efforts on her thighs, where she would be most sensitive. He imagined how she would look against the sheets. Shiny. Slick. And then he would dip his fingers inside her, and she’d be just as
wet, just as slippery.

  Summer turned and caught him staring at her, and his gaze seemed to burn right through her clothes. Tiny pinpricks shimmied up her spine. It was a purely sensual experience, amazing because he hadn’t even touched her.

  She had never felt so self-conscious. She wished she could disappear, race up the stairs and lock herself in the bathroom, but she would feel cowardly. Instead, she carried the glass to the table and set it down, taking great care not to touch him.

  “I’m sorry I make you uncomfortable,” he said, stating the obvious.

  Summer did not appreciate being so blatantly ogled, nor did she want Cooper to think he was the only man in the entire universe to look twice in her direction.

  “You are not the first man to stare at me or flirt,” she said matter-of-factly.

  “Which is why I can’t believe you aren’t married with a family.”

  “I’m in no hurry,” she said. “I have a job that I enjoy, and I’m good at it. Damn good, I might add.” That was the problem, she had discovered some time ago when her relationships fizzled and died before they had time to flourish. Even now, in this day and time, some men were still intimidated by a successful, career-oriented woman. She had learned to say very little about her job, and her impressive six-figure income was off limits. Sooner or later, though, her picture was splashed on the society pages, right next to her grandmother’s, on those occasions when Summer tried to help raise money for a cause she felt passionate about. It did not help when the governor showed up in the photos as well.

  In other words, Summer had better luck in advertising than romance.

  “Aren’t you going to join me?” Cooper asked and held up his drink.

  Summer grabbed a bottle of water from the refrigerator and took a chair next to him. They were quiet for a minute. “So your bike was okay when you retrieved it?” she asked, trying to fill the silence.

  He nodded as he sipped his drink.

  “Most people would be afraid to leave an expensive motorcycle parked in that area of town,” she said. “You’re lucky it was still in one piece.”