For that reason, I knew I had to perpetuate the idea of continuing a working relationship with Justin.
That he’d approached me first, made it a hell of a lot easier on my part.
He studied me again, and I knew he was approaching the situation as he would puzzle. After a second, he said, “I really appreciate you being honest with me, Cooper. So, how about this… You said yourself that some of the ideas are more suitable for an agency of Leviathan and Dronig’s stature. Not all of them, though.”
“Justin, I didn’t mean any offence –“
He held up a hand. “I’m not offended,” he said simply. “I am just stating a fact. One I know to be true. Some of the products will be more desirous than others, that’s just life. So, shortly you have to return to New York. When you return, I think you should suggest to your boss the notion that I want to keep on working with you. That I have several more ideas I wish to work with you on, but that the contract hinges upon your having to relocate to Maine for the duration. They’ll agree, because of my surname, and because, let’s face it, the commission will be very high. However… once those projects are complete, then we can discuss the future. Specifically, your future on my staff.”
I shot him a look. He was a canny bastard, I’d give him that.
When it boiled down to it, I guess I had to ask myself what was more important. Once upon a time, I had chosen my job over Lauren. Whatever happened, I would not be making that same decision again.
I’d learned my lesson, and knew how lucky I was that Lauren was even speaking to me, never mind viewing me romantically.
Not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, I murmured, “You’ve got yourself a deal.”
Chapter 18
LAUREN
“I can’t believe you have to leave.”
Cooper reached for me, his fingers coming up to cup my chin. “I can’t believe it either,” he admitted. “Two weeks goes very fast.”
I blinked at him, feeling tears burn my eyes.
How had my hatred and hurt disappeared in the last fortnight?
How had I gone from ruing the day I’d met him and hating the way I pined for him, comparing every other guy I met to him, to this.
We were in his rental. I’d been here more than at my own place these past few days. When he’d been checked out of the hospital, he’d needed someone to keep an eye on him, and there had been no doubt in either of our minds that that would be me.
I stayed in one of the spare rooms, he slept in the master suite. But ever since he’d had the all clear, we’d been pretty much been glued to one another.
Driving to Justin’s on a morning and returning here on an evening. Spending time catching up, eating together, cooking meals. It was like being a couple again except we hadn’t kissed in all that time, and the truth was, I missed that but was grateful for the space.
One thing Cooper had always been good at was giving me time and space to breathe.
It was a sneaky move, even if it was generous too.
Sneaky because the lack of pressure was pressure in itself.
I knew he wanted me. It was in every look, every gentle touch. Every time he handed me a plate of food he’d cooked for me, or given me a gentle kiss on the cheek before bed… His want was a living, breathing entity.
Just as mine was for him.
There was no hiding the fact that I wanted him too, but his lack of pressure meant that there was no lying about my feelings.
I was very aware of my desire, and of his, and that we weren’t acting on it, meant I had no choice but to embrace what he did to me even as I rued his cunning.
Not that I thought his patience came from a negative place. Not at all. It was just a bitch when my own desire was being used against me.
“Hey, it won’t be for long,” he assured me.
I nodded, my eyes seeking and finding his, needing the reassurance I’d find in there.
Justin had been so impressed with Cooper these past weeks that he’d actually opened up about a few of his inventions and had asked Cooper if he would handle the publicity on them all.