She told him about her life-long desire to be a doctor, and of growing up the only girl in her family.
They skimmed over the especially hard pieces of their past to focus on who they were today. And, snuggled together on the couch, movie all but forgotten, they discovered the past wasn’t important at all. The here and now mattered most.
As the final credits began to roll, she heard Coop’s light snores and debated waking him. Since she liked cuddling, she opted to indulge herself a little longer.
Sunlight streaming through the front window coupled with the smell of bacon frying and coffee, woke her the next morning.
She jerked upright, startling Coop, who struggled to sit up, reaching for something on the end table, nearly dumping her to the floor.
He pulled her on top of him as Jason walked in.
“Morning, sleepy-heads.” He sauntered into the room, a cup of coffee in each hand.
“We fell asleep watching a movie.” Sam stammered like a teenager caught necking by her parents. She glanced at the darkened screen, then back to Coop.
“I didn’t turn it off,” he said around a prolonged yawn.
“I did.” Jason passed steaming mugs to them. “Y’all were out like a light. Never even budged when I threw the afghan over you.” His eyes sparkled with humor. “Though I doubt either of you were very cold.”
He headed back toward the kitchen. “Breakfast in ten minutes.”
Sam ducked her head. “Oh, my God. What on earth must he think of me? Pawing you on the front porch, and now this.”
Coop took a cautious sip from the cup. “He likes you.”
“I was spread over you like a blanket!”
“I didn’t properly thank you for it, either.”
“This isn’t funny. He’s your son, and he saw us…like that.”
“We were fully clothed and sound asleep.” He took another sip from his cup. “It’s not like we were having wild monkey-sex or anything.”
Her mouth opened and closed but nothing came out.
“I’m sorry if it embarrassed you, Sam, but the fact is, we’re adults. Adults cuddle on the couch, and fall asleep together, and, hopefully, eventually, have wild monkey-sex.”
She blinked several times in rapid succession, the images those words provoked robbing her of speech.
The gentle pressure of his hand on her knee brought reality back.
“We have a connection, Sam. Something special.” He regarded her carefully. “Or am I the only one who feels it?” His whispered voice was cloaked in uncertainty.
She reached out and covered his hand with her own. “No. You’re not.”
He visibly relaxed, and set his cup on the end table. “Jason likes you, and he’s glad we’re together.” His mouth curled up in a sexy grin. “And he knows about the birds and the bees.” He pushed himself from the couch, and pulled her up. “Come on, I’m starved.”
“Eva!” Heat scorched her cheeks as she thought about her hostess. “I don’t want her…them to think I’m some kind of…of scarlet woman.”
“Scarlet woman?” Grey eyes crinkled at the corners. “You do know this is the twenty-first century, don’t you?”
“I really care what they think of me, Coop.”
He rubbed her arms. “I honestly think you’re making too much of this. We fell asleep together on the couch. Big deal. I won’t lie and say I didn’t enjoy it because I did.” He lightly fingered a loose tendril of hair on her cheek. “I haven’t slept so sound in weeks. And I look forward to a time when we do more than sleep. But not on that lumpy couch.”
Her breath hitched and she gave his chest a playful tap. “You have a one-track mind.”
“Guilty as charged where you’re concerned.”
He led her toward the door.
“What do I say to them?”
“You say good morning and eat your breakfast.”
Sam followed behind, dreading the encounter.
“Good morning,” chirped Eva as they walked in, “breakfast is almost ready.”
Cheeks burning, Sam moved to her chair and sat down.
“Your cake brought fifty dollars at the auction,” said Eva. “Thank you so much for donating it.”
“Fifty dollars?” echoed Sam. “Really?”
“Yep. Highest one in fact.”
“Who on earth bought it?”
