“Oh.” Cooper blinked. “Wait. A few days ago, you said we could be together only for as long as you were involved with Living Ruff. Sounds like you’ll be involved for a long, long time.”
Felicity hadn’t thought of that. But what an idea…
“So does this mean you might be open to extending things?” Cooper gave Felicity a teasing poke in the thigh. “Hell, I’ve heard of some sneaky ways to get a girl to date you, but this takes the cake.”
Felicity’s mouth fell open. “Wait. I didn’t acquire Rosalind’s foundation just so we could start dating.”
“I was kidding. But I mean…would you be interested in more?” Hope shot across Cooper’s face.
“You’d like that? Us as a regular thing?” Now that she was thinking about it, Felicity’s body gave a pleased little hum.
“I’d like us to not be a thing at all,” Cooper said adamantly. “I want us to be a couple.” Her expression became earnest. “I know I haven’t known you long, so I don’t know if you prefer casual relationships. But I don’t usually go for that. I like to take my time to really get to know a woman and then see if it’s a relationship with legs.”
“I don’t usually do relationships at all. No time. And my last one where I really thought maybe—” She pressed her lips together. “Phillip said I wasn’t worth it.” Felicity folded her arms. “It’s hard for me at the best of times and then to find out I’m just not… The worst part was, I thought we were so compatible. We had so much in common.”
“And then there’s us?” Cooper asked gently. “Is that what you mean? Look, I know we’re opposite in many ways, but the heart doesn’t care about that. I really missed you when I didn’t see you for a day. You say these ridiculous, over-the-top things that make me laugh.”
“I do mean most of those ridiculous things, you know.” Felicity’s lips twitched. “Or some of them. All right, it mainly depends on whether I want someone to go away and stop bothering me or not.”
Cooper burst into laughter. “See? You’re hilarious.”
“Truly, that usually isn’t my aim.” Felicity smiled. “But I’m glad you think so.”
“I do. Phillip was an idiot. See, you’re pretty impressive to me. I know my weaknesses. I can dither on things. I take forever to organize my stuff and work out what I want to do. I love how you just focus on your goals and go for it. I love how you casually loaded up a heat-seeking missile at the mayor and did it with ease. Because you were on a mission.”
Felicity smiled. “That was a good day, wasn’t it?”
“It really was. You know those bills are now on the mayor’s desk? They landed there yesterday morning.”
“Oh?” Felicity straightened. “What did the mayor do?”
“He didn’t veto, Felicity.” Cooper’s eyes were bright. “He didn’t veto, and you did that!” She leaned over and kissed her soundly. “So how about it? You and me, giving this relationship idea a shake?”
“I—” Felicity’s heart thudded. Her hands were sweaty and… Good lord, did she have a medical condition?
Cooper’s face fell. “Or not.”
“No! I was just not expecting this. I had other things to talk to you about and… Well, my hands are sweating. They never sweat!” She gave Cooper a startled look. “You did this to me! And”—she gave her a fake outraged look—“you keep making me miss you!”
Cooper laughed. “Poor you. What next? Wanting me in your bed all the time?”
Well, didn’t that sound delicious? Felicity smiled. “That has merits, you know. But my other concerns, the one I raised when we were out to dinner at that pizza place, aren’t frivolous. I’m about to have a highly visible job. I’ll be watched to see if I’m worthy of replacing Elena.”
“And may I repeat the gist of what I said that night: even highly visible, driven boss ladies need a safe space. Someone to talk to. Someone who makes life less stressful.”
A less stressful life sounded like a win. “That sounds good.”
With a grin, Cooper said, “So can we make a go of this? I promise I’ll bring Brittany over for cuddles if you say yes.”
“Really?” Enthusiasm infused Felicity’s voice before she could stop it. “Oh, I mean—”
“Save it. You’re such a faker.” Cooper laughed.
Felicity chuckled. “Fine. Yes. I’d love that. And I can safely say you will be like no one I’ve ever dated before.”
“Oh, I bet. Only fancy lovers for you, right? Classy types who know what all the forks are for at dinner parties?” She smirked.
“More like…” Felicity ran a finger down Cooper’s face, loving the broad planes of it, so strong and smooth. “I only date lawyers. Of a regular size and with regular hobbies. Not sun-blotting Amazons who look after homeless people’s animals.”
Her hand dropped to Cooper’s shoulder, and she ran it down the lapels of her leather jacket over the swell of her bust until it rested on her rounded stomach. “I appreciate so many things about you that are the polar opposite of everything I thought I liked. You rewrote my rules. You made me forget every slick, sharp-tongued lawyer I’ve ever laid a finger on. All I seem to want is to have you toss me into bed. Or hell, toss me anywhere.”
“I’ve noticed you like that.” Cooper grinned again. “Well, I do have the shoulders for it.”
“You really do.” Felicity lifted her hand to trace the broad expanse in question. “But before we get carried away, I have to tell you the rest of the news. Why Bartell Corp’s now permanently involved with your charity in the first place.”
“Oh right.” Cooper sat up. “Yes. God, I can’t believe I forgot to ask. Why’d Rosalind throw in the towel? Has she decided to retire?”
“No. She feels she has no choice but to distance herself. She’s had to fire Harvey. That missing money of Elena’s was scammed out of him by Charles in a fake merchandising deal.”
“Oh, my God.” Cooper’s eyes widened.
“To save the charity, Rosalind’s removing him, herself, and anyone else directly linked to her at Living Ruff in case the scandal ever comes out. Since I already know the truth, she thought it would be the least problematic path for Bartell Corp to be part of the solution. And it helps that Elena already likes what Living Ruff stands for.”
“Poor Harvey. He loved our charity.” Cooper slumped. “And fuck Charles for that. I hope he rots in prison.”
“He’s not going to prison.”
Cooper’s eyes flashed. “Tell me he’s not getting away with this!”
