Read Online Erica Lucke Dean - To Katie with Love by Erica Lucke Dean - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Erica Lucke Dean
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see it, it’s not by conventional means… if you know what I mean.”
“What are you talking about?” I snapped.
“Seriously, have you ever once heard him talk about a job?” She stared at me for a second, waiting for whatever weak comeback I might have attempted.
I had nothing.
“I didn’t think so. At least Dean has a verifiable income.” She left quite satisfied with herself, if her expression was any indication.
I spent the next couple of hours in a state of worry and panic. Worried about Vicky. Worried about Cooper. That was no way to live. I’d made it all the way to my birthday without a drop of anxiety. I could have been blissfully unaware of Cooper’s skill at kissing if I’d just stayed home with a glass of wine and a book.
Knowing Cooper had an upcoming appointment, I was too nervous to function. By the time he finally showed up, I was utterly and completely uncomfortable in his presence—a predicament that in and of itself was new. I couldn’t keep my mind from drifting back to our last kiss while he sat in front of me.
Cooper leaned back in the chair with his fingers entwined behind his head, making his white pullover tight across his hard chest. “You’re staring at my lips again. Should I just come over there and kiss you or—” He turned and took a quick peek at the group of people outside my office pretending not to watch us. “—do you think it might cause a stir?”
I laughed, but it sounded sort of panicky. “I think it might cause more than just a stir. You seem to attract attention like a rock star.”
Cooper rolled his shoulders back, angling his body to the opposite side of his chair. “That’s ridiculous.”
“What?” I asked, still trying to recover from his threat of coming over here and kissing me.
“The whole ‘rock star’ thing? I don’t remember causing this much commotion in all the time I’ve been coming here.”
“You haven’t been paying close enough attention.” I glanced at the faces outside my office. “And now they see the potential for some action worthy of watching.”
He unlaced his hands from behind his head. “What exactly do they think is going to happen in your office?” He tried to hold his lips in a straight line, but his lopsided grin threatened to shatter his serious face.
I leaned in to mirror his stance. “I think they’re waiting for us to do it right here on my desk.” My stomach fluttered at the mere mention of such a thing, and my boldness in saying it. I held my breath.
That undid his resolve and the grin was back—bigger than ever. “I’m game if you are.”
After he left, I felt a little empty. I’d made a point of keeping the rest of the meeting professional, sitting up straight in my chair with my eyes glued to the computer screen. I spent the rest of the day retracing my steps over the past year. I tried to recall all the times I had been asked out. It was a short list—only two names. Not counting Cooper.
The first one didn’t really count, or rather I didn’t want it to count because it was so embarrassing. He was the bagger at the grocery store I shopped at. We flirted back and forth. He was cute; what could I say?
After several months of pushing my cart to the car, he leaned against my trunk and asked for my number. For some crazy reason, I gave it to him, probably either out of boredom or hormones. Whatever the cause, I was glad it hadn’t gotten out to anyone at the bank. They would have absolutely loved hearing about how I almost ended up at the local high school prom.
High school boys looked older all the time. I had to switch grocery stores and change my cell phone number. Once, I dreamed I ended up on an online list of neighborhood predators and got pelted with tomatoes every time I left my townhouse. The saddest part was I really liked that grocery store.
The second date wasn’t even worth mentioning. He was just a guy in my neighborhood. The only real importance my dating history had
“What are you talking about?” I snapped.
“Seriously, have you ever once heard him talk about a job?” She stared at me for a second, waiting for whatever weak comeback I might have attempted.
I had nothing.
“I didn’t think so. At least Dean has a verifiable income.” She left quite satisfied with herself, if her expression was any indication.
I spent the next couple of hours in a state of worry and panic. Worried about Vicky. Worried about Cooper. That was no way to live. I’d made it all the way to my birthday without a drop of anxiety. I could have been blissfully unaware of Cooper’s skill at kissing if I’d just stayed home with a glass of wine and a book.
Knowing Cooper had an upcoming appointment, I was too nervous to function. By the time he finally showed up, I was utterly and completely uncomfortable in his presence—a predicament that in and of itself was new. I couldn’t keep my mind from drifting back to our last kiss while he sat in front of me.
Cooper leaned back in the chair with his fingers entwined behind his head, making his white pullover tight across his hard chest. “You’re staring at my lips again. Should I just come over there and kiss you or—” He turned and took a quick peek at the group of people outside my office pretending not to watch us. “—do you think it might cause a stir?”
I laughed, but it sounded sort of panicky. “I think it might cause more than just a stir. You seem to attract attention like a rock star.”
Cooper rolled his shoulders back, angling his body to the opposite side of his chair. “That’s ridiculous.”
“What?” I asked, still trying to recover from his threat of coming over here and kissing me.
“The whole ‘rock star’ thing? I don’t remember causing this much commotion in all the time I’ve been coming here.”
“You haven’t been paying close enough attention.” I glanced at the faces outside my office. “And now they see the potential for some action worthy of watching.”
He unlaced his hands from behind his head. “What exactly do they think is going to happen in your office?” He tried to hold his lips in a straight line, but his lopsided grin threatened to shatter his serious face.
I leaned in to mirror his stance. “I think they’re waiting for us to do it right here on my desk.” My stomach fluttered at the mere mention of such a thing, and my boldness in saying it. I held my breath.
That undid his resolve and the grin was back—bigger than ever. “I’m game if you are.”
After he left, I felt a little empty. I’d made a point of keeping the rest of the meeting professional, sitting up straight in my chair with my eyes glued to the computer screen. I spent the rest of the day retracing my steps over the past year. I tried to recall all the times I had been asked out. It was a short list—only two names. Not counting Cooper.
The first one didn’t really count, or rather I didn’t want it to count because it was so embarrassing. He was the bagger at the grocery store I shopped at. We flirted back and forth. He was cute; what could I say?
After several months of pushing my cart to the car, he leaned against my trunk and asked for my number. For some crazy reason, I gave it to him, probably either out of boredom or hormones. Whatever the cause, I was glad it hadn’t gotten out to anyone at the bank. They would have absolutely loved hearing about how I almost ended up at the local high school prom.
High school boys looked older all the time. I had to switch grocery stores and change my cell phone number. Once, I dreamed I ended up on an online list of neighborhood predators and got pelted with tomatoes every time I left my townhouse. The saddest part was I really liked that grocery store.
The second date wasn’t even worth mentioning. He was just a guy in my neighborhood. The only real importance my dating history had
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