wouldn’t this feeling of being a slime go away?
Chapter Six
Z oe stiffened when Cooperwalked into the kitchen the following morning. Still fuming over his attempted seduction, she had spent the past hour tiptoeing around him while he had done exactly as he’d pleased, as if he didn’t have a worry in the world.
She frowned. Damn it, he’d done that on purpose! He hadn’t wanted to sleep with her the night before. He’d made the blatant pass at her to make a hundred percent sure she mistrusted him, as she had in the beginning, before his caring for Daphne had proved he wasn’t such a bad guy. And before he’d kissed her in a way that made her toes curl.
He wanted her to remember he wasn’t the kind of guy she could put any kind of faith in, so he’d simply reverted to the plan he’d been using all along to get her to keep her distance. After he’d behaved like an inconsiderate lout all day, he’d reminded her that the only thing he really wanted from her was a little physical fun.
And just ashe’d expected, she’d run.
It made her so mad she longed to pop him. But she wouldn’t. She was a nice girl.
And he counted on that, too.
He walked to the cabinet beside the sink, and Zoe fought the urge to inhale the fresh scent of his aftershave, then cursed herself for being attracted to such a hardheaded, argumentative pain in the butt. She couldn’t understand why her hormones weren’t getting the message that she shouldn’t be interested in him, but they weren’t. Anytime he got close to her, as he was now, a yearning billowed through her. Still, he was so gosh darn good looking, any woman would be attracted to him. Plus, he was experienced, funny and sexy. Physically perfect.
Listing his good qualities actually brought Zoe back to planet Earth and she shifted away from him. Dressed as she was, she felt like a dirt ball. Though she’d washed her clothes the day before, yesterday afternoon Daphne had spit baby food all over her. She was rumpled and grimy. He was clean, organized, in control. Even if she decided to break her rule not to get involved with another overly good-looking man, this particular hottie was way out of her league.
Of course, they weren’t really on a level playing field. She had exactly two outfits she was rotating. As a trucker, he was accustomed to living out of a duffel bag. She wasn’t even sure he had a house. On the other hand, she had a house, but it was partially empty because of her parents’ scavenging when they’d moved. Worse, her house was on the verge of being taken away. Her parents hadn’t paid the taxes for years, and neither had thought to tell her that a few years ago when the amount was small enough she might have managed to squeeze it out of her own budget. But several years worth was too much for her to pay. This time next year she could be living out of a duffel bag.
Maybe she and Cooperweren’t so different after all?
Without a word, Cooper grabbed a mug and poured himself a cup of coffee. Surreptitiously, Zoe watched him spoon in nondairy creamer. He wouldn’t say good morning. He probably didn’t feel he had to. He had made his wishes clear the night before. They were two ships passing in the night. If he wanted anything from her it was sex. If she wanted anything from him the price was sex. His life boiled down to basic needs, as if he intended to walk through without making a footprint. The way he lived allowed him to be in control and relatively content. And she couldn’t help wondering if his philosophy wasn’t right. After all, wanting more than just the basics only seemed to leave her wanting.
He made a sandwich with bread she’d taken from the freezer—the second loaf they were using—and bacon she had fried. The cost of this little retreat was mounting and that was beginning to trouble Zoe, too. At first, the money she’d intended to leave for the supplies they used was cash she had earmarked for that weekend anyway. A few dollars
Chapter Six
Z oe stiffened when Cooperwalked into the kitchen the following morning. Still fuming over his attempted seduction, she had spent the past hour tiptoeing around him while he had done exactly as he’d pleased, as if he didn’t have a worry in the world.
She frowned. Damn it, he’d done that on purpose! He hadn’t wanted to sleep with her the night before. He’d made the blatant pass at her to make a hundred percent sure she mistrusted him, as she had in the beginning, before his caring for Daphne had proved he wasn’t such a bad guy. And before he’d kissed her in a way that made her toes curl.
He wanted her to remember he wasn’t the kind of guy she could put any kind of faith in, so he’d simply reverted to the plan he’d been using all along to get her to keep her distance. After he’d behaved like an inconsiderate lout all day, he’d reminded her that the only thing he really wanted from her was a little physical fun.
And just ashe’d expected, she’d run.
It made her so mad she longed to pop him. But she wouldn’t. She was a nice girl.
And he counted on that, too.
He walked to the cabinet beside the sink, and Zoe fought the urge to inhale the fresh scent of his aftershave, then cursed herself for being attracted to such a hardheaded, argumentative pain in the butt. She couldn’t understand why her hormones weren’t getting the message that she shouldn’t be interested in him, but they weren’t. Anytime he got close to her, as he was now, a yearning billowed through her. Still, he was so gosh darn good looking, any woman would be attracted to him. Plus, he was experienced, funny and sexy. Physically perfect.
Listing his good qualities actually brought Zoe back to planet Earth and she shifted away from him. Dressed as she was, she felt like a dirt ball. Though she’d washed her clothes the day before, yesterday afternoon Daphne had spit baby food all over her. She was rumpled and grimy. He was clean, organized, in control. Even if she decided to break her rule not to get involved with another overly good-looking man, this particular hottie was way out of her league.
Of course, they weren’t really on a level playing field. She had exactly two outfits she was rotating. As a trucker, he was accustomed to living out of a duffel bag. She wasn’t even sure he had a house. On the other hand, she had a house, but it was partially empty because of her parents’ scavenging when they’d moved. Worse, her house was on the verge of being taken away. Her parents hadn’t paid the taxes for years, and neither had thought to tell her that a few years ago when the amount was small enough she might have managed to squeeze it out of her own budget. But several years worth was too much for her to pay. This time next year she could be living out of a duffel bag.
Maybe she and Cooperweren’t so different after all?
Without a word, Cooper grabbed a mug and poured himself a cup of coffee. Surreptitiously, Zoe watched him spoon in nondairy creamer. He wouldn’t say good morning. He probably didn’t feel he had to. He had made his wishes clear the night before. They were two ships passing in the night. If he wanted anything from her it was sex. If she wanted anything from him the price was sex. His life boiled down to basic needs, as if he intended to walk through without making a footprint. The way he lived allowed him to be in control and relatively content. And she couldn’t help wondering if his philosophy wasn’t right. After all, wanting more than just the basics only seemed to leave her wanting.
He made a sandwich with bread she’d taken from the freezer—the second loaf they were using—and bacon she had fried. The cost of this little retreat was mounting and that was beginning to trouble Zoe, too. At first, the money she’d intended to leave for the supplies they used was cash she had earmarked for that weekend anyway. A few dollars
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