Temporarily Yours (Shillings Agency #1)(15)
Author: Diane Alberts

Judging from the fine-ass naked man in bed next to her…she’d have to go with a yes to that question. And she didn’t regret a second of it, either. He’d been incredible and kind and mind-blowing in the sack. What was there to regret?

Nothing.

But in the light of day, it was still a bit…shocking. And she needed to plan an exit strategy.

Chatting it up with the guy she screwed in the parking lot didn’t seem appealing.

It was time to slink away and smile through days of wedding planning and fights, knowing she’d gotten hers before slipping into the role of the big sister.

When her iPhone rang again, Kayla stiffened and carefully lifted Cooper’s arm from her waist. The tattoos on his chest flexed and rippled, drawing her eye. Wait. Tattoos? How had she missed them before? They were hot. Inch by inch, she slid off the mattress and tiptoed across the room. Maybe she could answer it, call a cab, and make her escape before he woke up and caught her.

As she rounded the bottom of the bed, her steps feather light and excruciatingly slow, Cooper rolled over in bed without opening his eyes and grabbed her phone…which was right next to his on the nightstand. “It’s yours.”

She froze. “Uh, yeah. Thanks.” She reached out and snatched her phone from his fingers, making sure not to touch him. She didn’t want to start something new with him this morning—something that led to talking and getting to know each other more intimately.

They’d already been plenty intimate.

“Hello?”

“Where are you? It’s ten o’clock!” Her mother’s voice boomed through the speaker and she momentarily pulled the phone away from her ear.

“Uh…at the hotel.” She looked at Cooper’s bare back. No tattoos there, but a hell of a lot of muscles that made her mouth water. Hot damn. He hadn’t moved. Had he fallen back asleep? “I’m still in bed. My flight was late, and I slept in.”

“That’s very unlike you.”

Kayla sighed. It wasn’t. But it was unlike the “perfect daughter” she tried to be in front of them. She was so independent when she wasn’t dealing with her family, but something about interacting with them tore her up. As pathetic as it sounded, it was just easier not to put up too much of a fuss with them. Then they all could happily part ways and she could return to her life in Maine until the next family visit. “I know. I’m sorry. I’ll wash up and then I’ll call you when I’m ready to be picked—”

“I can give you a ride.” Cooper lifted his head and blinked at her. “They don’t need to come out. I don’t mind—”

Kayla held a finger over her mouth and gave him a hard look, so he cut off mid-sentence. She pointed to the phone, then held her breath and prayed her mom hadn’t heard him. He’d spoken quietly. Really, really quietly.

But Kayla’s mom had superhero hearing, and this time proved to be no exception. “Was that a man I just heard?”

“What? A man?” Kayla paced and forced a laugh. “No, of course it wasn’t a man. It was the TV. That’s all you heard.”

“It didn’t sound like the TV.” Kayla heard a car door shut through the earpiece. “I’m coming over now.”

“No, don’t come yet. I’m not ready.” Kayla stopped in front of Cooper and nudged him, glowering at him. “I’m alone.”

Cooper sat up and rubbed his eyes. He looked confused as to why Kayla might be shooting daggers at him with her scowl. She gave him an even dirtier look.

“I don’t believe you.”

Kayla sighed. “Mom, if someone was here, why would I lie about it?”

“Well…” Her mom hesitated. “Did you and your boyfriend break up? What’s his name, anyway?”

“Cooper. His name is Cooper,” she said. Cooper’s head snapped up, and he looked at her. “And no, we didn’t break up. I’m alone, and you heard the TV.”

“All right,” her mom said.

“So I’ll call you when I’m ready. Okay?”

Her mom fell silent. It seemed like she finally believed her. And then…

Another phone rang. Cooper’s phone. And it was loud. Cooper scrambled to silence it, but it was too late. Her mother heard it. “I knew it. You’re not alone.”

Kayla sank onto the bed, looking at Cooper with panic coursing through her veins. “Mom…”

“Did you bring him? Is Cooper with you?”

He must have heard the question, because he grabbed Kayla’s arm and nodded rapidly. Then he mouthed, “Say yes. Tell her I’m here.”

“Um…” Kayla blinked at him and shook her head. He nodded more enthusiastically. “Well…”

She took a deep breath. Did she dare? Was he suggesting she say her boyfriend was here? With her? But then what? Was he ready and willing to play the part? That seemed insane. He sighed and reached for the phone, but Kayla slapped his hand away. “You’re right! It’s Cooper! We wanted to…to…” Kayla looked at him.

He whispered, “Surprise you. Say it.”

“We wanted to surprise you all,” Kayla finished, watching him the whole time. “So don’t come get me. We’ll come together.”

Cooper nodded.

“Oh, this is the best surprise ever.” Her mom clapped and let out a whoop. “We’re finally meeting him. I can’t believe it! I’m going to tell everyone.”

Kayla winced. “You don’t have to—” The line clicked off. Her mom had hung up on her. “—tell everyone,” Kayla finished to the dead line, lowering her phone to her lap.

Cooper grinned at her. He looked way too cheerful considering the circumstances. “So, I’m coming to the wedding?”

“Are you insane?” Kayla lurched to her feet. “Why in God’s name would you offer to go to my sister’s wedding with me?”

He shrugged, then his gaze dipped over her body. “I was the one who ruined your cover story. It felt right. You needed help, so I offered it.”

“It felt right?” She threw her arms out to the side. “The knight in shining armor act was cute last night, and it was well-rewarded, I’d say.” She gestured to the rumpled bed. “But now, even with the booze out of your system…how can you be this…this…sweet? Seriously?”

He cocked a brow. “I’m not f**king sweet. Puppies are f**king sweet. Not me.”