Operation Prom Date (Tactics in Flirting #1)(34)

“You’re going to be the death of me, Hamilton,” he said, and I hugged him harder and added a smacking kiss on his cheek.

Even though it’d been an over-the-top cheesy gesture, I froze, worried awkwardness would creep in and he’d run screaming. Instead he laughed and put his hand on my back, and I got that fresh from the rollercoaster feeling.

Which I took as an omen that tonight was going to go well, and nothing more. Because I couldn’t start having conflicted feelings about my secret mission partner right as I was about to land the guy I’d spent literally years crushing on.

That’d make things way too complicated, and the more complicated, the higher risk that I’d trip and fall on my face or butt. Then I’d end up lonely and alone, just like I was before Cooper and I made our deal.

…

“Are you sure you won’t come in?” I asked Cooper when he pulled up in front of Mick’s house.

“Remember how you said that would give Pecker the wrong idea?”

“But we could stagger our arrivals. It’d be so spy-like. We could make up badass call signs and secret signals…”

“You snagged his attention, Kate.” Cooper’s eyes flicked to me for the briefest moment. “And in that outfit, trust me, you’ll keep it.”

I swallowed, but my throat still felt too tight. And it’s not like there was any fabric close to it, so it was definitely all nerves. Not that my clothing usually came up in the turtleneck range, but the slinky red tank with the tiny ribbon straps dipped lower than I was used to. “Are you sure the bright lipstick doesn’t look silly?”

Cooper turned to me, the streetlight illuminating his eyes. “I’m sure.”

“Okay.” Expelling a long breath, I reached for the door handle.

“Kate?”

I spun back to face Cooper. He reached out, like he was going to put his hand on my cheek, but then he dropped it before it made contact. “If things go south, or you need a ride home, just call me.”

Mick told me he’d give me a ride home when I talked to him at lunch earlier, but it was good to know I had such reliable backup. I nearly repeated my earlier move and kissed Cooper’s cheek, but I didn’t think I’d leave it at a smacking peck this time.

What’s wrong with you? Do not think about kissing Cooper, innocent cheek kiss or not.

Still, I owed him, and I didn’t think all the hours of rowing in the world could repay him. “Thank you. For everything.” I almost licked my lips before stopping myself short of smearing my lipstick or ending up with some of it on my teeth. “You’re a really good friend.”

That earned me half a smile, one adorable dimple flashing in the cheek I’d almost kissed.

“And I’m not just saying that because you’re my only friend,” I added with a grin.

The other side of his mouth got in on the smile, both dimples nearly too much to handle. He reached out and squeezed my hand. “Right back at you. About the friend thing. I mean, I have other friends, but I can honestly say none of them are like you.”

His gaze drifted behind me. “Someone’s looking out the window. Better get in there.”

“Yes, Coach.”

I jumped out of the truck, and when I reached the step, I looked back and watched Cooper’s truck drive away. It felt like a string in my chest was slowly unraveling, and I worried it’d snap once he got too far for me to see him.

But then I told myself to stop being a wimp and knocked on the door.





Chapter Twenty


Cooper


“Where’ve you been all week?” Dad asked the second I stepped in the door.

Every answer that popped into my mind would come out sarcastic, from “The lake,” to “School,” to “Here, where’ve you been?” Of course, that last one wasn’t as innocent as the rest. “How’s the case going?”

He pinched the bridge of his nose. “It’s a mess, and a lot of damn paperwork, but it’s going. Soon I’ll have you to help sort through it, thank goodness. You could start the internship now, you know.”

My skin tightened uncomfortably. This evening had already been hard enough, watching Kate head toward another guy in that sexy red top that was burned into my mind, right along with her lips.

Soft lips that’d pressed against my cheek earlier today.

No surprise, helping her choose an outfit was another exercise in torture. Since I had another crappy situation unfolding before me, I focused on it. “With school and everything, it’d be better to wait until after graduation.”

“You don’t need to spend every second on the lake,” Dad said, tossing a thick file on top of another one. “Growing up means taking on responsibilities.”

“I know. I appreciate everything you and Mom have done for me. I just need another couple of months.”

Mom wandered in. “Give him a break, Paul.”

“And I should listen to you because you work hard to pay all the bills around here?”

Mom went ramrod straight, offense clear on her features.

Dad held up a hand. “I’m sorry. That was out of line. I know you work hard maintaining the house and with your organizations. I’m just stressed about this case.”

He was never not stressed about a case, be it this one, or the hundreds of others he’d had through the years, or even ones that might come up. And that was the life he wanted for me, the path he couldn’t even reasonably discuss without giving ultimatums and whipping out our entire family history going back three generations. He spoke sharply all the time, and I wondered if that’d be me someday, rude to the point of mean, only to blame stressful cases.