Did she owe it to them both to at least consider it?
She could draw a line in the sand and tell Cooper she wanted to just be friends, or she could give him—give them both—this opportunity to see if there was something more there.
What did she have to lose?
She’d lost Daniel already and couldn’t deny Cooper made her feel like she was number one. Heck, she’d been looking for that her entire life.
Harper stood in the shower and ran her hands over her body. The memory of Daniel’s touch was still raw. She couldn’t imagine anyone making her body burn like Daniel Dufort and the fact he was now a story from her past made tears fall down her face again.
How on earth was she going to get over him?
––––––––
HARPER DRESSED IN A midi-length white sundress for their date. She had no idea where they were going so she added her small white crossbody handbag, and last minute plonked her beige sunhat on her head.
The closer it got to Cooper picking her up, the more unsure Harper felt about this, but she’d agreed to go, and she’d just be honest with him about how she was feeling.
Plus, she couldn’t deny there was a little something between them. She hadn’t lied when she said if she’d met him before Daniel, she would have been completely charmed by Cooper.
But she hadn’t.
Turning her love for Daniel off wasn’t going to happen overnight.
Change of plans. Meet me downstairs. Cooper text.
Harper grabbed her room card and left.
When the lift pinged open, she stepped out into the large foyer and glanced around. The reception was busy with people checking in, and the sad-looking people standing outside with their suitcases were those leaving the island. Soon it would be her.
She slowly made her across the lobby and took a seat.
“Harper!” Cooper called, walking in the front doors.
“Oh, hey,” she said, jumping up. “I’m sorry. Were we meeting out there?”
He shook his head and grinned.
Suddenly, Harper noticed he looked different. Gone were his casual t-shirts, replaced by a light blue short-sleeved shirt, and long white resort style shorts. He looked fresh, tanned and, well, very good looking.
“Wow,” he said. “You really know how to follow instruction.” She frowned in confusion, and he laughed. “You look pretty, Harper. Come on, let’s go.”
She blushed at his compliment and was starkly aware of Daniel’s staff seeing her with another man. Then she mentally kicked herself for being an idiot.
He no longer cared. She had to get on with her life.
Cooper led her outside to a black Audi A5 convertible. He opened the door, and she climbed in, giving him a questioning look. He winked and moved to the driver’s seat.
“Are you trying to impress me?” she asked, smiling.
“Absolutely,” Cooper replied as he slid on his sunglasses, started the car, and drove them out of the hotel driveway. “Is it working?”
It was a bit.
“Maybe,” was all she said, and they both grinned as he drove them out of Waikiki.
Twenty minutes later, she asked where they were going. She knew Oahu enough to know they were heading east, which was an affluent part of the island.
“We can go anywhere we want, but I’m taking you for a picnic at a favorite beach of mine.”