Beauty and the Billionaire (Billionaire Boys Club #2)(53)

“I swear this could be something out of a movie,” he said with a grin. “Don’t tell me. The owner’s some Phantom of the Opera–style guy intent on sucking the blood of virgins.”

Gretchen spit out her coffee, coughing.

Cooper immediately got up, slapping her on the back. “You okay?”

“Just . . . breathed . . . wrong,” she said, coughing between words. It was kind of weird how close—and yet far away—Cooper had been with his guess.

After all, she was the one intent on the virgins around here.

With a weak smile, she opened the box Audrey had sent. Pink lace and black satin caught her eye and she immediately flipped it shut. Feigning ease, she pushed the box aside. “What did Audrey say she was sending me again?”

“Stress relievers, I think she said. Something to help things along.” He shrugged and sipped his coffee again. “She said you’d know what to do with it.”

It was clear he hadn’t looked in the box. “I have a pretty good idea, yeah.” At his inquisitive look, she lied, “Bath salts.”

“Ah. Girl stuff.”

“Definitely girl stuff.” And before she could giggle and ruin things, she pulled the other box out and pretended to sniff it. “I think I smell cookies.”

He grinned.

She flipped open the lid and sighed with pleasure. “Two dozen? You shouldn’t have.”

“And some toffee dream bars underneath, just in case you want a little variety.”

She pulled out the bags of cookies and smelled the bag of coffee beans that had been included. “You’re awesome, Cooper. I’m sure these cookies aren’t as good as mine, though.”

“They should be. It’s your recipe.” He was watching her with a soft, adoring look on his face. “I’ve missed seeing you, Gretchen. The Cuppa isn’t the same without your smiling face.”

And he reached across the counter to place his hand over hers.

Damn. It seemed they couldn’t even go a half hour anymore without things getting awkward. “Cooper . . .”

“I can’t stop thinking about you, Gretchen.”

“Cooper—”

“No, please, let me say this.” His eyes were pleading. “It’s time I said this.”

The door to the kitchen opened. Hunter stalked in, a dashing figure in his neatly pressed, too-formal-for-around-the-house-but-he-wore-it-anyhow dark suit. He glowered at Cooper and his hand on Gretchen’s, then moved to Gretchen’s side and kissed her cheek, his arm sliding around her waist.

A very possessive, obvious gesture.

White-hot shock drained the blood from Cooper’s face. He turned white, then went blood red with embarrassment, staring at Hunter. “I—”

“Introduce us, Gretchen,” Hunter demanded, his gaze on Cooper even as he hovered possessively over her.

She ground her teeth. Well, hell. This had just gotten ugly fast. She slid her hand out from under Cooper’s and gave him a soft, apologetic smile. “Cooper, this is . . . Hunter. He owns Buchanan Manor.”

“Yes. The phantom intent on sucking the blood of virgins, I believe you said,” Hunter stated coldly.

Cooper’s face turned an alarming shade of purple. “Uh . . .”

“Thanks for bringing the box, Cooper.” She shut it to give her hands something to do and so she could quit staring at the many shades of awkward that Cooper’s face was turning. “This is going to be really helpful for my deadline.”

“Of course. Anything you need, I’m here for you.”

Hunter seemed to glower even more. “You don’t need to be here for her. I’m here for her.”

Gretchen inhaled sharply. This was going from bad to worse. “Since you’re here, Cooper—”

“Actually, I was just about to leave.” He got up hastily, the stool nearly falling over with his jerky movements.

“Oh, but I was wondering if you could take a check to my landlord—”

“He said he has to go,” Hunter said darkly. “I’ll take care of whatever you need, Gretchen.” His gaze moved over Cooper again. “He knows that.”

“I really should go,” Cooper said. He gestured at the door.

“Eldon will show you out.”

And the annoying butler was there a moment later, holding the door to the kitchen open. Cooper headed for it, but not before giving Gretchen a wounded look as he headed out the door.

“Thanks again, Cooper. You’re a good friend,” she called as he was escorted out. When the door swung shut again, she buried her face in her hands. “Oh, God, that went really badly.”

“Who was that?” Hunter asked, his voice stiff with fury.

“He’s a friend of mine.”

“He was trying to hit on you,” Hunter bit out. “His hand was on yours.”

“Not through any of my doing,” she admitted. “I’ve been trying to figure out a way to let him down easy.” She glanced at the kitchen door and felt a twinge of remorse. “Guess I don’t have to worry about that anymore.”

“You didn’t tell him we were together?”

She tilted her head, giving Hunter an odd look. “Are we together, Hunter? You’ve never said and I didn’t want to presume.”