But that didn’t mean he was making Sophie the centre of his attention. She might be gorgeous and fun, and pregnant with his child, but she wasn’t the love of his life. Would never be. No one would. He enjoyed, preferred, being single and he wasn’t prepared to give that up. Not even for Sophie and his child? Especially for them. They had the power to hold him down. Every decision he made would be tempered with what was best for them. While that wasn’t so bad, his unreliability as a father and partner was.
He had a lot to be grateful to Sophie for. Turning him down had shocked him but she was right. They wouldn’t be able to sustain an enjoyable relationship, platonic or otherwise, under the same roof for ever. It would certainly be unfair on their daughter.
His mother had opted to desert him by taking her own life, and while that was different it had set him to becoming independent, and he’d started closing his heart to loving with abandon. He and Dad had been lost without his mother, and he wasn’t prepared to go through that again with anyone else, or inflict a similar loss on someone.
So thank you, Sophie, for being strong and turning me down.
The woman putting him through the wringer these days flicked him a tired smile. ‘You sure there’ll be hot water? Your dad won’t have forgotten to leave it on?’
‘If he has we’ll pay him a visit.’ Cooper dropped an arm over her shoulders and tucked her close. ‘Everything will be just fine. You’ll see.’
‘I’m looking forward to it.’
He wasn’t sure what she was looking forward to, but he was happy to be taking her to his place for the night. It felt kind of right. She belonged in his life now, she and the baby. Just how much had yet to be debated. But he didn’t want them there as the complete family he’d never had.
Or did he? Cooper shivered. It wouldn’t work, went against everything he’d believed about himself.
* * *
Sophie stretched and rubbed her aching back as she waited for the kettle to boil in Cooper’s kitchen. Yesterday’s flight, sitting in that seat that had done nothing to hold her properly, had taken its toll. As for sleeping through the night in cooler temperatures? Forget it. She’d tossed and turned for hours, sleeping fitfully when her eyes had finally closed.
Kick.
‘Hey, little one. You didn’t get much sleep either, did you?’ She rubbed her belly. At least they were home. Her daughter would be born a Kiwi.
‘I like it when you do that.’
She turned to find Cooper leaning against the door jamb, his hair a ruffled mess and stubble darkening his jaw. Now her stomach tightened for reasons other than her baby pushing on it. She still hadn’t been able to get past the fact she found Cooper sexy and desirable. If only she wasn’t so enormous she might contemplate leaping on him and having wild sex again.
Whoa. What was she thinking? Gripping the bench, she held on and waited for that dumb idea to disappear.
‘You all right?’ Cooper was right there, his hand on her upper arm, his eyes full of concern.
No, not at all. What would he think if he knew what had been going through her mind? Not once over the past few days had she seen desire or lust for her in his face. Which told her exactly what she needed to know, and must hold onto—he wasn’t interested in her except as the concerned father of the baby she was carrying. ‘Couldn’t be better,’ she lied, pulling away.
Cooper’s pewter eyes locked on her. ‘Really?’ When she said nothing, he added, ‘I don’t think so.’
‘I’m not going into labour if that’s what you’re thinking.’
‘I wasn’t. There was something in your eyes that makes me wonder what’s going on in that sharp mind of yours.’
Wonder all you like.
But her cheeks were heating, giving her away. ‘I’ll have a shower.’
‘What time’s your first viewing appointment?’ Cooper was still watching her closely.
All her skin was hot, not only on her face. There was an ache deep down, sending her blood racing and her heart thudding too loudly. He must be able to hear that. Aiming for the door, she threw over her shoulder, ‘Ten o’clock in Newmarket.’ Just up the road, but as it was bucketing down outside she wouldn’t be walking.
‘I’ll be ready.’
That stopped her in her tracks. ‘No need for you to come. I’ve ordered a taxi.’
Irritation tightened his usually tempting mouth. ‘Cancel it.’
‘I’m not in the army now.’
At least not where you can order me around.
‘I’ll drive you to all your appointments.’ When she scowled at him he added, ‘I’ve got nothing else on this morning.’
‘Thought you were going to see your father and then check in with the hospital.’
He shrugged. ‘Nothing that can’t wait.’
Slapping her hands on her waist, or where her waist used to be, she growled, ‘This is why I couldn’t live here. You’re so bossy and think you should have the upper hand all the time. Is this how you act when your charm doesn’t work?’
He didn’t say a word.
Which goaded her into saying, ‘You think I can’t cope? That I’m not up to looking out for myself? Next you’ll be saying I can’t raise my daughter on my own.’
Cooper was in front of her, in her face, instantly. ‘Our daughter.’
True. But, ‘Nothing’s changed, Cooper. I am looking for an apartment to move into the moment it’s available. I will not live with you for any longer than necessary.’
‘So you’re not moving in with your parents at the end of the day?’
She’d walked into that one. Losing her temper had been a mistake. ‘Excuse me.’ She stepped around him, careful not to let her stomach brush against him. She didn’t trust her body not to get in a lather even when she was angry at him.
‘Don’t forget to cancel that taxi.’
Plenty of words spilled into her mind, but somehow she managed to hold onto them. Silence was best. Sometimes.
* * *
Sophie turned to the letting agent. ‘How soon can I move in?’ Judging by the stacks of packed cartons the current tenants were already on the move.
‘A week from tomorrow.’
Her heart sank. A week living with Cooper. Or having to front up and ask her parents if she could stay with them. They’d say yes. That wasn’t the issue. Being told over and over what a fool she’d turned out to be was. She hadn’t learned anything from them, they’d say. Well, yes, she had. She wasn’t getting married for the sake of it. A loveless marriage was never in her plans. But, then, neither had been having a baby. ‘I’ll take it.’
‘You can’t,’ Cooper snapped from across the dog-kennel-sized lounge.
‘Of course I can.’ But she understood the shock on his face. The apartment was tiny, dark and in a less-than-desirable suburb. She was tired, and fed up with looking at places. ‘It’s available weeks sooner than the others I’ve looked at.’ And it was affordable. She found a smile for the agent. ‘Shall we do the paperwork?’
‘I need a bond and a deposit on the first fortnight to hold it for you.’ The woman dug through her bag for a key. ‘I’ll get the forms from my car.’
‘Not a problem.’ Tick. One job on her long list sorted. Tomorrow she’d start looking