Page 22 of Cooper’s Promise

Chapter Six

Brenna looked up and saw a beautiful woman with dark hair standing in her apartment. She was still shaken from how Cooper had been behaving. He’d been acting so somber since she had admitted to Josiah having been at the parking garage in the past. Now that her fear had subsided, she realized that what was going on, was that Cooper was feeling betrayed. She had to do something to fix this.

“Brenna, I want you to meet somebody. This is Athena Madero. She and her husband Grey Holden run the agency that I work for. She’s going to stay with you while I go out and do a little reconnaissance.”

“I don’t need a babysitter.”

He lifted an eyebrow. “Josiah is upping his game. I’d feel better if somebody was with you. Humor me.”

“And if I said no?” Brenna knew the answer, but wanted to force him to say it out loud.

“Brenna, Cooper has been raving about your lasagna recipe. I was hoping you could show me how to make it,” Athena interrupted smoothly.

“You’re not going to let him shoot himself in the foot, are you?” Brenna asked Athena.

“He’s an alpha male. Of course he’s going to shoot himself in the foot. But I think he deserves a pass on this one. What’s more, he’s a good guy.”

“Thanks, Athena.” Cooper grinned at the woman.

Brenna was surprised at the little surge of jealousy that hit her when Cooper gave Athena a thank you hug. Down, girl, it’s just a little show of affection between friends. But did she have to look like a Greek goddess?

Athena must have noticed, because she raised her eyebrow at her, and then stepped away from Cooper. Great, even Athena was taking pity on her.

“I’ll be back soon. You two have fun.” Cooper left the two of them standing there.

“How long have you been in love with Cooper?”

“Years. Not that it did me any good. I’m leaving for Australia for a job in five and a half weeks. Let’s get started on your lasagna lesson.”

Athena sighed. “I guess we should. But you do realize that Cooper isn’t going to let you go, don’t you?”

“I’ve got him figured out now. He has a deep need to protect me, and he only wants what he can’t have.” Brenna moved towards the kitchen, and Athena followed her. She opened the freezer and pulled out a frozen pan of homemade lasagna.

“Do you really want to learn how to make lasagna? Or would you like to drink some wine, watch Netflix and eat some lasagna that I warm up?”

“Do you have something chocolate for dessert?” Athena asked.

“Chocolate mousse.”

“I choose option number two,” Athena grinned. She took the wine bottle and bottle opener that Brenna handed her, while Brenna got the glasses out of the cupboard.

* * *

Cooper was feeling pretty good about the last stop on his list. He had a lead on someone Josiah might have still had a strong relationship with in St. Petersburg. He’d research him tomorrow. Right now he wanted to go and pick up Brenna and take her to his house. He’d have a sit down talk with her tomorrow and explain everything he had found out, but the most important thing was to get her planted safely in his house. She wouldn’t be staying at her apartment any longer. Enough was enough.

He knocked on the door and was concerned when it wasn’t immediately answered. He rang the doorbell. Still nothing. But then he heard giggling. Finally the door was opened, and there was Brenna, she was flushed and grinning. Definitely not the same girl that he had left. Athena was curled up on the couch in the living room.

“Hiya, Cooper,” she said, saluting him with a fork. What the hell was going on? He smelled food. His stomach growled.

“Did you learn how to make lasagna?”

“Nope.” Brenna giggled. “I introduced her to Scandal.”

“Huh?”

“We watched back-to-back episodes. Kerry Washington rocks.” Brenna said, referring to the star of the television series. She giggled as she walked over to the kitchen. She turned on the oven, then picked up the bottle of wine.

“How much has she had to drink?” he asked Athena.