here…in the cabin. With you. And I want to help with the work.”
That wrinkle he’d always adored appeared between her black brows. “You want to pay me a fortune for a fixer-upper, and then you want to do the fixing up yourself?”
Not quite ready to admit that he wanted to spend more time with her, Cooper shrugged again. “Sounds like an interesting project. And who knows, maybe that’s what’s always been missing when I’ve bought a place to live before—maybe if I get my hands dirty and make it the way I want it to be, it’ll feel more like a real home.”
Her deep blue eyes softened, and Cooper knew he had her. “That makes sense. Although, in the interest of full disclosure…. it doesn’t always work that way. I did a ton of work on the Westchester house where I lived with Gerald, and it never really felt like home.”
A complicated blend of triumph and jealousy went through Cooper in a confusing rush. He chose to focus on the victory of getting his own way with Vivian. “Great. I’ll call my money guy and have him start the paperwork. In the meantime, what’s the first item on your punch list?”
Vivian held up a hand to stop him. “Wait. Before we shake on it, I have a condition of my own.”
“I’m not a business shark like Miles,” Cooper said, amused. “But even I have enough savvy to know you’re not really in a position to add conditions of your own to this deal.”
“Nevertheless.” Vivian set her jaw stubbornly, even as a light flush pinked her cheeks. “I have to say this, because we need to be clear. You’re buying this property, and the right to help fix it up. You’re not buying rights to anything else…including me.”
This time, it was Cooper who almost took a step back. He felt like she’d smacked him across the face. Voice low and dangerous, he said, “Is that what you think of me? That I’m trying to buy you?”
The blush across her cheekbones intensified, but she didn’t back down. “No, actually.”
“If you recall,” Cooper pointed out tensely, “No money changed hands before last night.”
“And I’m not saying I don’t want a repeat,” Vivian replied, tilting her head up challengingly. “But I’ve had enough of my body being used as a bargaining chip in a business negotiation. If I sleep with you again, it’ll be because we both want it. Not because I owe you anything, or because I’m obligated to in any way. I have to be crystal clear about that…not just for me, but for you. Because I know you’d never be comfortable with anything less.”
All Cooper’s indignation drained out of him, leaving behind nothing but a strange pride in the way Vivian was handling this. She’d been through a lot since he last saw her, but she’d come through the fire strengthened at the core. He held out a hand, and when she clasped it to shake, he pulled her in close.
“I agree to your terms,” he murmured into the soft tendrils of black hair fanning across her temple. She smelled like wood smoke and lavender. “Does that mean we can’t seal the deal with a kiss?”
A slow, sweet smile curled the corners of her mouth. Those lips were made for smiling, Cooper thought. And for kissing.
In answer to his question, Vivian stretched up to press their mouths together, the heat of the embrace shocking in the morning chill. Hunger roared through him, but Cooper could control it.
Now that he knew this wasn’t a one-time deal, and he’d have weeks or months…however long it took to fix up this crazy little cottage, to sate his need for Vivian Banks. And when they were through with the renovations, he’d finally be through with her.
Right?
Chapter 7
The next two weeks passed quickly. The days were full of learning things like how to patch a roof together, and evenings spent curled up on the second-hand couch that was the only living room furniture. Vivian hoped Cooper would let her stick around after the renovations were done, at least long enough to help
That wrinkle he’d always adored appeared between her black brows. “You want to pay me a fortune for a fixer-upper, and then you want to do the fixing up yourself?”
Not quite ready to admit that he wanted to spend more time with her, Cooper shrugged again. “Sounds like an interesting project. And who knows, maybe that’s what’s always been missing when I’ve bought a place to live before—maybe if I get my hands dirty and make it the way I want it to be, it’ll feel more like a real home.”
Her deep blue eyes softened, and Cooper knew he had her. “That makes sense. Although, in the interest of full disclosure…. it doesn’t always work that way. I did a ton of work on the Westchester house where I lived with Gerald, and it never really felt like home.”
A complicated blend of triumph and jealousy went through Cooper in a confusing rush. He chose to focus on the victory of getting his own way with Vivian. “Great. I’ll call my money guy and have him start the paperwork. In the meantime, what’s the first item on your punch list?”
Vivian held up a hand to stop him. “Wait. Before we shake on it, I have a condition of my own.”
“I’m not a business shark like Miles,” Cooper said, amused. “But even I have enough savvy to know you’re not really in a position to add conditions of your own to this deal.”
“Nevertheless.” Vivian set her jaw stubbornly, even as a light flush pinked her cheeks. “I have to say this, because we need to be clear. You’re buying this property, and the right to help fix it up. You’re not buying rights to anything else…including me.”
This time, it was Cooper who almost took a step back. He felt like she’d smacked him across the face. Voice low and dangerous, he said, “Is that what you think of me? That I’m trying to buy you?”
The blush across her cheekbones intensified, but she didn’t back down. “No, actually.”
“If you recall,” Cooper pointed out tensely, “No money changed hands before last night.”
“And I’m not saying I don’t want a repeat,” Vivian replied, tilting her head up challengingly. “But I’ve had enough of my body being used as a bargaining chip in a business negotiation. If I sleep with you again, it’ll be because we both want it. Not because I owe you anything, or because I’m obligated to in any way. I have to be crystal clear about that…not just for me, but for you. Because I know you’d never be comfortable with anything less.”
All Cooper’s indignation drained out of him, leaving behind nothing but a strange pride in the way Vivian was handling this. She’d been through a lot since he last saw her, but she’d come through the fire strengthened at the core. He held out a hand, and when she clasped it to shake, he pulled her in close.
“I agree to your terms,” he murmured into the soft tendrils of black hair fanning across her temple. She smelled like wood smoke and lavender. “Does that mean we can’t seal the deal with a kiss?”
A slow, sweet smile curled the corners of her mouth. Those lips were made for smiling, Cooper thought. And for kissing.
In answer to his question, Vivian stretched up to press their mouths together, the heat of the embrace shocking in the morning chill. Hunger roared through him, but Cooper could control it.
Now that he knew this wasn’t a one-time deal, and he’d have weeks or months…however long it took to fix up this crazy little cottage, to sate his need for Vivian Banks. And when they were through with the renovations, he’d finally be through with her.
Right?
Chapter 7
The next two weeks passed quickly. The days were full of learning things like how to patch a roof together, and evenings spent curled up on the second-hand couch that was the only living room furniture. Vivian hoped Cooper would let her stick around after the renovations were done, at least long enough to help
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