Read Online Kiss Me If You Can by Carly Phillips - Free Book Online Page B

every step.
    She rang his bell and waited.
    No one answered, so she rang again. And again. Then she knocked loudly a couple of times for goodmeasure. Just as she was about to give up and call his cell phone, as she probably should have done to begin with, the door next to Coop’s opened.
    An attractive woman dressed in a police uniform, stuck her head outside. “Looking for someone?”
    Despite her petite stature, she had an air of authority Lexie couldn’t deny. “Sam Cooper.” Lexie pointed to his apartment.
    The other woman looked Lexie over from head to toe, obviously assessing her before deciding to answer. “He stepped out early this morning and I’m not sure if he’s back. Maybe he’s in the shower.” She yawned. “I worked the night shift and I was just about to try to get some sleep.”
    â€œSorry.” Lexie took two steps back. “I’ll just call him later.”
    The neighbor leaned against her doorframe, arms folded across her chest, in no rush to get back inside, despite her claim. “Give me your name and I’ll tell him you were here.”
    Before Lexie could answer, Coop’s door opened wide. “Can I join the party?” he asked.
    â€œYou’ve got company,” his neighbor said, over another yawn. She covered her mouth with her hand. “I’m going to bed. Let’s get together later. It looks like we have a lot to talk about.” Her too-perceptive gaze settled on Lexie once more before she inclined her head and closed the door on them both.
    Confounded by the other woman, Lexie turned to Coop, intending to ask some questions, but one look at him and all rational thought fled. Wearing nothing but faded jeans, zipped but unbuttoned, she had a full-on view of his washboard abs, tanned chest and unshaven face. She forgot that she was curious about his neighbor, forgot why she’d come. Heck, she’d even forgotten her own name.
    â€œWould you like to come in?” he asked.
    Lexie nodded. She could handle a nod.
    â€œGood. Better than talking in the hall.”
    â€œOr disturbing your neighbor,” Lexie added.
    â€œThat’s Sara. She’s an NYPD cop and, as she said, she worked the night shift. She’ll be less cranky in a couple of hours,” he said, obvious fondness in his voice.
    A frisson of jealousy crept through Lexie, an unusual and unwanted emotion when it came to any man. She liked casual attachments. Not ones that elicited feelings of any kind.
    Coop led her into his apartment and turned an obviously new lock, bolting the door shut.
    He must have been up late into the night dealing with the police and the locksmith, she realized.
    â€œSo what are you doing here?” he asked. “Not that I mind, but I sort of expected you to wait a day or so to call.”
    She’d been panicked after reading about theburglary and rushed over here without thinking. Meeting his neighbor, who obviously knew he’d been up and out early, reminded Lexie that he had a life and she felt like an idiot for running over here uninvited.
    And now here she was with a half-dressed man she’d just met yesterday. Who probably didn’t want or need her concern. Lexie always operated on pure instinct and emotion, rarely stopping to think first, always asking questions later, but even for her, this turn of events was too much.
    She cleared her throat. “I read about the robbery last night and I was worried. But since you’re clearly okay, I should go. But before I do, can you at least tell me if the ring was stolen?”
    He shook his head. “The robbery happened while we were out. I came home to this.” He swept his hand through the air, encompassing the entire apartment, which had obviously been trashed.
    â€œI’m sorry. And I’m glad you’re okay. Since I caught you at a bad time, coming out of the shower and all, I should go. And call first next time.” She