Cooper snatched her hand away. “Sorry. I know, that was the worst, even if it is accurate. Come on, let’s share a shower, and maybe you’ll forgive me when I’ve pressed you against the wall while the water’s crashing over us.”
Felicity swallowed, picturing that visual. Speaking of displays of strength. “Oh,” she said faintly.
The look in Cooper’s eye told Felicity she’d worked out exactly what did it for her. Well, good. Cooper might be persuaded to show off how strong she was more often. Repeatedly, even.
* * *
They were eating breakfast forty minutes later: Cooper, a mound of toast and scrambled eggs; Felicity, a coffee and a low-carb bar. She could barely stop squirming after what had happened in the shower. Even the thought of it made her wet. Again.
Cooper seemed to know it, too, based on the amusement in her eye. “Care to share?” she asked politely. “Was it the bit where I tongued you while you were pinned above me against the wall?”
Felicity’s cheeks burned. “I have no idea why you assume I’m thinking of that.”
“What about on top of the counter when we got out? Soap, toothpaste, and towels flying everywhere?”
That, too. Felicity’s nipples stiffened.
“My favorite part was when you got down on your knees in the shower, pushed my thighs apart, and ate me out. I don’t know how you didn’t drown.”
Felicity wasn’t entirely sure either. “I think we should change the subject back to sick animals,” Felicity said, eyes sharp, “to help you have some focus.”
Cooper’s eyes sparkled. “Probably for the best.”
“Mm.” Felicity drew in a breath and tried to ignore the fact that she could smell Cooper’s apple-scented shampoo. She’d probably forever more associate it with phenomenal sex. “I’m going to ask Harvey about the vet-tech scheme today.”
“Since it’s my program, he might be more forthcoming if I’m there, too. So I’ll gate-crash your meeting.” Cooper rose, taking her plate to the sink and washing it. As she bent over, her tight jeans accentuated her ass in ways Felicity was helpless to tear her eyes from.
“You’re staring, Felicity.”
“Hardly my fault,” she protested. “It’s your ass calling me like a siren. Think of me like a helpless sailor dashing herself into the rocks of Scylla to get to it.”
Cooper turned, smiling. “I love how you say fancy stuff like that.”
“It’s not that fancy. Actually, I’m not fancy in the least.”
“You are to me. I’m in a Billy Joel song next to you. ‘Uptown Girl.’”
Felicity snorted. “More like Midwest Girl.”
“You know, that’s the first time you’ve willingly described yourself like that. Without looking like you’re pulling out teeth.”
Well. That was true. For some reason, around Cooper, she didn’t feel as much at war with her roots. She wondered why. “Don’t get used to it,” was all she said.
Cooper laughed.
“I don’t suppose you have any details of your vet-tech scheme here.” Felicity said. “I’d like to read up on it before I see Harvey. It’s good to go into a meeting knowing all the details.”
“Sure. In my office.” She pointed to a door beyond the kitchen that Felicity hadn’t noticed before. “I’ll just finish up these dishes—won’t be half a minute—and I’ll help you find it. I mean…if I can remember where I put it.” Her expression became sheepish.
What was that about? Felicity headed to the room in question, opened the door, and gasped. Paperwork piles were stacked from floor to ceiling. There was hardly any surface not crammed with document boxes and books. Oh. My. God.
“Cooper?” Felicity called out. “Did you know you’ve been attacked by hoarders?”
A minute passed, then Cooper joined her, regarding the room as her cheeks bloomed with redness. “Yeah. About that? I seem to be missing the office-sorting gene.”
Felicity stared, her fingers twitching to reorganize all of it. It’d take, what, half a day? “I could…um…assist, if you wanted.” Really, how hard could it be? “One thing I’m really good at is O&M—organization and methods. I mean… God, how can you stand it?” She spun around to look at Cooper.
“Well, I guess I’m not perfect at everything.” Cooper pulled a face. “I’ve been overwhelmed by this for ages.”
“Deedra warned me you’re a little scatterbrained at organizing things. But I mean…this is complete chaos!” Felicity straightened, reaching a decision. “Not to worry. I will sort this out for you. You go in to work, and I’ll have it ordered and filed and alphabetized before you know it. Then I’ll be in to talk to Harvey with you.”
Uncertainty filled Cooper’s face. “Um…seriously?”
“You think I’m prepared to leave an office space looking like this when I could just…make it right?” Felicity shook her head. “Please let me. I mean, unless you have something top secret or embarrassing you’d rather I don’t know about in here.”
“All my stuff that’s tax-related or private or that I’m afraid of losing, like my passport, I keep locked in there.” She nudged the bottom drawer of her desk with her toe. “Everything else is just…wherever, whatever. Where it lands, it stays. I don’t care if you see it. But why would you want to face it? It just… It’s a lot. And you really don’t have to. We can just close the door and forget you were ever in here.”
“If we’re to be a thing, however short, I’m not letting chaos reside in even one room within my radius,” she said firmly. “It’s done. Go.” She shooed her from the room. “Leave me to perform my magic. You go to work. I’ll see you there when I’m done.”
Cooper chuckled and shook her head. “You really are something else.”
“I’m aware.” Felicity tried to sound indifferent, but she felt too delighted and warm for that. “And really, it’s no trouble. I’d find it harder not to do it.”
“I can see why your boss thinks so highly of you,” Cooper said.
“Well…” Felicity wasn’t sure what to say to that. Elena had promoted her. She’d also sent her on this assignment because she had doubts that Felicity was capable of thinking outside the box. So really, Felicity wasn’t entirely sure what Elena truly thought of her. She pushed that depressing thought away and repeated, “Go. I’ll text you if I have any questions about what needs to go where.”
Cooper grinned. “Okay. You win.”
