Page 25 of Wrecked (McIntyre Security Bodyguard #16)

Later that same afternoon, Luciana shows up at Clancy’s again. The whole store can hear her screeching as a security guard grabs her arm.

“Get your filthy paws off me!” she screams.

“I’m sorry, ma’am,” the man says. “You can’t come in here.”

“Bullshit! This is a free country! I can damn well go where I please.”

Beth wades into the drama, hoping to calm things down so her customers don’t get freaked out. “Excuse me, is there a problem?”

“Call off your guard dogs, Beth!” the woman demands.

I step in front of Beth, to get between her and the skank. Mack joins me, insisting that Luciana leave because this is private property, and she’s not welcome here.

Luciana continues ranting and raving, calling Beth an idiot and telling her Shane will never marry her. “He’s just using you, Beth. When he’s had his fill of robbing the cradle, he’ll move on.”

“Take Beth upstairs,” Mack tells me. “I’ll deal with this.”

As I’m herding Beth up the stairs, I get a text from Shane, telling me he’s on his way. Mack must have informed him about what was going on.

I get Beth back into her office and hope that the drama will die down.

But no. That’s when the images start coming.

Someone from an unknown number—I can guess who—is spamming Beth’s phone with picture after picture.

I don’t see the images, but I can tell from the expression on Beth’s face that it’s not good.

Erin joins her and is shocked by what she sees.

Shane shows up soon. I can hear his enraged voice as he comes down the hallway. “Do not let that woman in this store again,” he says to someone, I assume the security guards.

Shane ends up taking Beth home himself, so that leaves me free for the rest of the evening. I decide to walk home, thinking maybe I’ll stop somewhere to get a bite to eat.

Poor Beth. She had a shitty day today. I didn’t see many of the photos that Luciana kept sending her, but based on her reaction and Erin’s, they must have been pretty bad.

My phone chimes with an incoming text.

Cooper: I heard about what happened. Where are you?

Me: Walking home. I might stop and get something to eat.

Cooper: Meet me at the tavern?

He’s referring to our favorite restaurant, a steakhouse by the name of Tavern on Rush .

Me: Sure! I’m not far. I’ll put our name in.

Cooper: See you there.

I’ll put our name in. That sounds like such a couple thing to say. Cooper, party of 2 . The thought makes me smile.

When I reach the restaurant, I walk inside and get in line at the hostess’s podium. This place is popular, so there’s always a bit of a wait. When I reach the hostess, she asks me how many are in my party.

“Two,” I say.

“Can I have a name, please?”

I hesitate, not sure what to tell her. I should say Harrison . But I don’t. Instead I impulsively blurt out, “Cooper.”

She writes the name down. “It’ll just be a few minutes. Have a seat.” She gestures to the black leather-padded benches in the waiting area.

While I’m waiting, I pull out my phone and call Shane. I don’t know if he knows about the photos Luciana sent Beth this evening. Based on how upset Beth was, I’m guessing they’re pretty revealing. He needs to know.

Shane answers my call, and I give him a rundown on Luciana’s second visit to the bookstore today. I tell him about all the nasty things that woman said to Beth. Naturally, he’s pissed.

“What else did she say?” Shane asks.

I repeat everything I can remember. Then I tell him about the images the skank kept sending Beth, and how upset she was after seeing them. Erin, too. “Did she show you the images?”

Shane’s pissed. “No, I haven’t seen them! She didn’t say a word about receiving any images this evening.” He’s quiet a moment, muttering under his breath about Luciana. “I swear to God, I could kill that woman.” He blows out a frustrated breath. “Thanks, Sam.”

Just as I end the call with Shane, Cooper walks into the restaurant. I have a moment to admire him before he spots me. He looks so handsome dressed in black trousers and a white button-down shirt. Seeing him, I feel seriously underdressed in jeans and a T-shirt.

I watch as he scans the waiting room, obviously looking for me. The moment he spots me, he smiles.

My pulse flutters as he heads my way. I slide over to make room for him on the bench.

“How long is the wait?” he asks as he sits beside me. He’s a bit breathless, as if he hurried. He’s so close, our thighs are touching. Our shoulders rub together.

“Not long. Maybe ten more minutes.”

“Looks like we beat the dinner crowd.” He glances at me. “How was your day?”

“Chaotic. That bitch Luciana showed up twice today at Clancy’s. She’s terrorizing Beth.”

Cooper frowns. “Shane’s going to have to do something about her.”

I study his handsome profile and strong jawline. I’d give anything to be able to lay my hand on his thigh or hold his hand. “How was your day?”

“It was fine. Uneventful.” He spares me another look. “I told Shane I’d be out all evening.”

“And what does that mean exactly?”

“It means I’m yours for the rest of the evening and night, if you want me.”

If I want him? I roll my eyes and lean closer, pressing against his shoulder. “You know I do.”

“Cooper, party of two,” the hostess announces as she gathers up two menus.

“Cooper?” he asks me, giving me a smug grin.

I shrug. So I gave her my boyfriend’s name. Sue me.

Cooper pats my thigh and then rises to his feet. “Let’s go, Mr. Cooper .”

My chest is flushed with heat as I follow Cooper through the restaurant.

The title Mr. Cooper is reverberating in my head.

I never even considered the possibility of marriage to Cooper.

Hell, he won’t even acknowledge me in public.

I don’t see him ever getting married. But now that the idea is in my head, I can’t shake it.

The hostess seats us at a table for two in the back corner of the restaurant. It’s perfect—quiet, off the beaten path, and private. It’s a table for lovers.

I can tell Cooper has come to the same conclusion himself, based on the slight scowl on his face as he skims the menu.

“What’s wrong?” I ask him.

Before he can answer, our server comes to fill our water glasses.

“Would you gentlemen like to order something to drink?” the young man asks.

“I’ll take a Goose Island IPA,” Cooper says tersely. He eyes me. “You want the same?”

He knows what I like.

Goose Island is a popular local brewery. Cooper’s the one who introduced me to it. I nod. “Thanks.”

“We’ll order now,” Cooper adds. He sounds impatient, like he can’t wait to get this meal over with so we can leave.

We both order steaks, baked potatoes, and side salads.

After our server walks away, I say, “What put you in a bad mood all of a sudden? You were smiling when you first got here.”

He shakes his head. “It’s nothing.”

“Well, clearly it’s something.”

“It’s not you, if that’s what you’re thinking.”

“Then what?”

“Never mind,” Cooper says. “So, what else did you do today?”

We chat for a while, and then our meals arrive. The food is cooked to perfection.

Just as we’re about to finish up, a stranger with dark hair and a trim dark beard, dressed in a three-piece suit that looks like it cost a fortune, walks up to our table.

He smiles as he lays a hand on Cooper’s shoulder. “I thought that was you, Cooper. How’s it going?” The man smiles at me. “I don’t believe I’ve had the pleasure.” He holds out his hand. “Troy Spencer. I’m Shane McIntyre’s attorney.”

Ahh. Cooper’s bad mood suddenly makes perfect sense. He saw someone he knows. Or, rather, someone he knows saw him with me .

“Nice to meet you, sir,” I say as I shake the man’s hand. He’s hardly much older than I am, but he has a commanding presence. “I’m Sam Harrison. I’m a bodyguard at McIntyre Security.”

“Not just any bodyguard,” Cooper says. “Sam is Beth’s full-time protection now.”

Mr. Spencer nods. “Ah, yes. I’d heard Lia was now assigned to Jonah Locke’s security detail. Well, Sam, it’s very nice to meet you. Shane’s more than a client to me. He’s a good friend. Beth, too. Welcome to the family.”

I find it interesting he said, Welcome to the family , and not Welcome to the team . “Thanks. I’m glad to be here.”

The attorney says goodbye then. “I’d better get back to my date.” He waves at a pretty blonde seated at a table for two. “Tell Shane and Beth I said hi.”

“Will do,” Cooper says.

And then the man’s gone.

Cooper looks everywhere but at me. He’s nervous at best because someone he knows saw us together. At worst, he’s embarrassed.

“Don’t get your undies in a twist,” I tell him, hoping to minimize his discomfort. “Guys go out for dinner together all the time. It doesn’t mean a thing. Hell, I go out for dinner with Liam or Miguel all the time. It doesn’t mean they want to bone me.”

“This isn’t the type of restaurant where you hang out with your buddies, Sam. It’s the kind of restaurant you take someone you’re trying to impress.”

Cooper’s trying to impress me?

Our server lays a black leather folder on the table. Before I can even reach for the check, Cooper lays a black credit card on top.

“Thank you, sir.” The server picks it up and walks away.

After the check is paid, Cooper throws his fancy linen napkin on the table. “Let’s go home.”

Home.

He referred to my place as home . I’m not even going to attempt to read anything into that. It was probably just a slip of the tongue.

But still, he said it.

Those three little words— let’s go home —speak volumes to my inner wishful thinker.

* * *

Sure enough, Cooper meant my apartment. He uses the key I gave him to let us in. Fortunately, we didn’t see anyone on our way up. His secret is safe.

Cooper grabs us each a beer from the fridge, and we end up on the sofa. I tell him all about the events of the day.

He puts his arm across my shoulders. “I hope Shane presses charges, and that woman goes to jail.”