The Risks We Take Duet Box Set

10. Cooper

COOPER

“ H ey, man. Isn’t that Carys?” Trick points toward two people standing close together, just beyond the reach of the lapping ocean, as he and I finish up our run. The warm rays of the sun shine down, blanketing Carys in a golden glow. Tiny pale-blue cut-off shorts showcase her shapely legs, with a loose blue-and-white-striped V-neck t-shirt tucked in only at the front. Oversized white sunglasses are shoved up on top of her head, holding back chocolate-brown hair that’s falling in waves over her shoulders.

She’s the most effortlessly beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.

I’m not supposed to notice, and I hate that I do.

Almost as much as I hate knowing the dude she’s with notices it too. How could he not? The difference is, he’s allowed to notice her beauty and her playfulness. He’s allowed to look at her in a way I shouldn’t.

He’s the drummer from the other night, and he looks awfully comfortable with her, which inexplicably pisses me off more.

Trick and I come to a stop fifty feet away, and I run my hand down the dog’s dark fur. “Hey, Wanda,” I say, then point down the beach. “Go save Carys.”

Wanda takes off like the missile she is, and Trick groans. “Using a military weapon to interrupt her date? Doesn’t seem fair.”

“Fuck fair.” I watch Wanda step between Carys and the dude as I jog over to them.

I’ve never been this guy.

The one who wants what he can’t have.

If I want it, I earn it.

Then I claim what’s mine.

Carys’s wide green eyes meet mine, clearly surprised to see us.

“Hey, guys.” She watches me scratch behind Wanda’s ears before those fiery eyes trace every inch of my exposed skin.

Maybe I’m not the only one fighting this.

Whatever this is.

“Hey, Carys.” I reach over without thought and kiss the top of her head, which is not how I’d typically greet her, then offer my hand to her friend. “I don’t think we were introduced the other night. I’m Cooper.”

Carys’s cheeks flush. “Sorry.” She turns to the guy, who’s currently being cock-blocked by a sixty-pound military weapon still dutifully sitting between my girl and him. “Theo, this is Cooper and Trick. I don’t think I got the chance to introduce you guys at the Rat last week.”

Theo takes my hand, less than thrilled. “You’re the stepbrother, right? Nice to meet ya.”

I eye little drummer boy and force myself to remember he’s right.

She’s my stepsister. “What are you guys doing here?”

“We were just looking at our new place.” Theo points behind me at the house covered in windows. “We’re moving in this weekend.”

What the hell? “You didn’t mention that the other night.”

When Carys Murphy gets pissed, she has this tiny tick in her left eye. It twitches. Just a bit, but I’ve always noticed it. And it’s twitching now. Question is, is she pissed at me for asking or him for sharing?

“That’s because I didn’t know until today.” The look she gives Theo is glacial. Good to know he’s the cause of her twitch. “Emerson’s dad just bought the place. So, everything sort of came together quickly.” She stuffs her hands in the back pockets of her shorts, drawing my eyes momentarily toward her ass. “I’m not sure if it’s this weekend or not. But the sooner, the better, I guess. Then I won’t have to live on campus for the summer session. Do me a favor and don’t mention it to anyone back home yet. I’ve got to let Mom know before Aiden finds out and tells her before me. I’m not sure how she’ll take me moving in with two guys.”

“Two?” I don’t like the idea of her living with other guys, regardless of what her mom might say. And when did any guy who isn’t me become other? When in the fucking hell did I start thinking of her as mine?

She glances at Theo, then back at me. “Yeah, Em’s brother, Jack, and Theo.”

Trick laughs like an asshole. “How many bedrooms?”

“Don’t be a dick. There are four bedrooms. And a fully finished basement with a recording studio.” She shakes her head toward Trick, and I kinda like that she called him out. It’s nice seeing her hold her own. She never puts up much of a fight in Kroydon Hills, but I’m beginning to notice she’s different here. More confident maybe?

“I’m hurt. You don’t know me well enough to call me a dick yet. Give it time, and you’d probably come to that conclusion, eventually. But still, it’s early for you to figure that out.” Trick whistles, and Wanda moves eagerly to his side. “I’m heading back to the house. It was good seeing you again, Carys. Let us know if you need help moving.”

“I’ll catch up in a few minutes, man,” I tell him before bringing my attention back to the woman who’s taken up what feels like a permanent place in my mind since I saw her on stage last week. “Show me your house.”

“Was that supposed to be a question, Cooper?” Her voice is sharp, but her smile is soft.

“No.” I slide my hand to her lower back. “Lead the way.”

She silently laughs. “You gonna tell me I’m a good girl too?”

I lean in close. “You’ve got to earn it first, baby.”

A small gasp escapes her pouty pink lips that I force myself to ignore while I think of all the ways she can earn it.

Theo doesn’t say anything but follows us up the beach.

As we get closer to the house, I scan the facade and frown. The rear wall is made entirely of windows. You can see into the whole back of the house.

That’s a problem.

“You guys are going to have to be careful. Those windows are a security nightmare. Anyone on the beach at night will be able to see right inside.”

Carys ignores me and tugs me into the house, where her roommate and bandmate are talking to Stone Fucking Madden. Holy shit.

“Hey, Coop.” Emerson pops up from the bar stool. “Is Linc with you?”

I look around at everyone in the room in shock.

Do they realize Stone Madden is standing in the kitchen?

He’s been on the cover of Rolling Stone .

Twice.

Carys elbows me. “No. Linc’s not with Coop. He and Trick were running on the beach and stopped to say hi.”

Emerson’s face falls. “Aww. Too bad. I could have introduced him to my dad.”

“So introduce me to this guy, Emmie.” Stone walks over to me and extends his hand, but I just stand there in shock like a complete asshole.

Carys stage whispers, “This is when you shake his hand, Cooper.” She’s making fun of me, but seriously... this is Stone Madden. “I’m sorry, Stone. I think Coop’s had too much sun today.”

I manage to get it together and take his hand. “Sorry. I’m a huge fan.”

“Always nice to hear.” He lets go of my hand and throws an arm possessively around a woman who looks a few years older than Carys and Emerson. “Well, guys. We’re getting out of here for now. The keys are on the counter. Don’t fuck the place up, okay?”

“Love you, Dad.” Emerson kisses her father’s cheek, then Jack thanks him too before Stone and his woman leave.

“Holy shit. Your dad’s Stone Madden?”

Everyone in the room cracks up, but Carys takes pity on me and links her arm through mine. “Come on, Coop. Let me show you my room.”

“Ooh,” Emerson calls out.

Carys pushes me in front of her, shaking me out of my shock. “Shut up, Em.”

The first floor is a mostly open concept with an eat-in kitchen and a family room. At the top of the stairs, there’s an open loft looking over the first floor, then a long hall with bedrooms on either side. She opens the farthest door to a white bedroom with white curtains and white furniture.

“That’s a lot of white.”

“Yeah. But it all comes with the place, so I’ll just add some color in. This way I don’t have to buy furniture. Nothing in the dorm is mine except my papasan chair.”

I can’t help but open her curtains and check the locks on the sliding glass doors that lead to the balcony. “How did you get one of the rooms with a balcony?”

“Stone said ladies got the first choice, so Em and I picked the rooms next to each other. Theo and Jack are the two across the hall.” She moves to the other side of the room and opens a door. “Look. I even have my own bathroom, so I figure Mom can’t be too pissed about me sharing the house with guys. It won’t be that different from the dorms.”

I step outside onto the balcony. “Sure, it won’t. I wouldn’t go with that rationale, but I doubt your mom will have a big problem with it. Let her know how close I am and that I’ll keep an eye on you.” Even those words burn like a bitter pill as I say them, because I’m promising her mom I’ll protect her, when in reality, I want to corrupt her.

“I don’t need a babysitter, Cooper.” She joins me outside and leans against the wrought-iron railing behind her, and I have to fight the urge to drag her closer to me.

“I know that, Carys. Trust me.” Babysitters don’t have these kinds of thoughts about their stepsisters.

Stepsister. Maybe if I keep reminding myself of that little fact, it’ll make this easier.

“And you’re leaving.” Disappointment lingers in her tone. Can she possibly be feeling the same way I am?

Instead of dragging her to me, I move in front of her and run my hands up the warm skin of her arms, needing to touch her.

“I am, but not yet, and Trick and Linc are just a few houses down once I’m gone. If you need anything, call them.”

Her eyes close, and her chest rises on a deep inhale. “When are you leaving?”

“Two weeks.” I slide her hair away from her face and wrap my hand possessively around the back of her neck. My thumb rests at the pulse point on her throat. Her heart is racing in sync with mine.

And I don’t know that I’ve ever wanted any woman more than I do now.

It’s wrong in so many ways, yet something about it feels completely right.

Like it’s the most important thing I’ll ever do.

All my goals over the past five years have been structured to get me here. The Navy. The SEALs. Being a part of DEVGRU and being a Tier 1 operator is what I’ve got my sights on. This sniper training is my next step.

And I feel like I’m being torn in two right now. I need to be here. Need the time to figure out what this is—this current stretching between us. The attraction, which I’ve so easily pushed down for more years than I’m willing to admit, has exploded into so much more, and I’m not sure how it happened or why. But there’s no denying it’s there. And judging by how Carys’s pulse is pounding out of control, she feels it too.

Her hands dance over my shoulders before they skate down my arms, and my instincts are telling me she’s right here with me.

“Carys... where are you?” Emerson’s voice drifts through the open doors onto the balcony, and Carys pushes me away abruptly.

“We’re out here, Em.” She stumbles around me on unsure footing but slips away when I reach out to steady her. She goes back into the bedroom, leaving me to watch her go.

What the fuck am I thinking?

Maybe the timing for this training couldn’t be better.

Maybe time away is the best thing I could get now, to clear my head and figure out what the hell I’m doing.

Carys pops her head back outside, smiling nervously. “Hey, we’re going to lunch. Wanna come?”

“Sorry. I’ve got to get back. We’re training soon.” That’s a lie. We’ve got this week and the next off before the team starts training again. But she doesn’t need to know that. I need space before I do something I can’t take back. “I’ll call you later. Make sure you lock that door behind me.” Without thinking about it, I kiss the top of her head and walk away, but not before I catch the look of disappointment on her face.

This is not how today was supposed to go.