Wilde Riders (Old Town Country Romance) (5 page)

But when I look up at Cooper, he looks like someone’s just slapped him. Then he says, “Well, I don’t think you have to worry about a guy like that being in an old country bar in New Jersey, do you now?”

I guess he’s right but I feel like something is off. I wonder if I insulted him somehow without realizing it.

When I look at Cooper again, his eyes
have now filled with something else. Desire? I can feel my heartbeat quicken as I wonder what it would be like to kiss him. And when I think about his warm hands caressing my body, a wave of heat rushes through me.

Maybe I shouldn’t have gone without sex for so long. But it’s not as if there ha
s been a surplus of viable candidates beating down my door. Just a revolving door of Wall Street wannabes, all of whom are only interested in a quick lay, no strings attached.

I grab what’s left of my second drink and quickly down the contents.

I’m starting to feel lightheaded and I realize I haven’t eaten anything today. Probably not the best idea to drink hard liquor on an empty stomach.

Two more drinks appear on our table and when I look up I see it’s Tucker who has brought them over to us. But he looks a little fuzzy.

I think I’m getting drunk.

“Can I get something to eat?” I mutter.

“Sure,” Tucker says. “What do you want?” He sounds upset. Or maybe anxious. It’s hard to tell because he’s a little odd and I’m half pickled.

“Anything with meat,” I state and then laugh. I’m not really sure why I’m laughing. It seemed funny when I said it.

“Get her a cheeseburger with curly fries,” Cooper states taking charge of the situation. “Mustard and ketchup on the side. I’ll take a grilled cheese with just mustard.”

When Tucker takes off, I smile at Cooper. “How did you know what I like to eat?”

“Good guess,” he replies.

When I reach for my new drink, he takes it from my hand before it reaches my mouth.

“Maybe we’d better slow down a bit on the drinks,” he says as he sets my glass down next to his. “At least until we get some food inside of us.”

“You’re right,” I state a little too loudly then laugh again.

When I look back over at Cooper, he’s got that hint of a smile on his face that I’m starting to love so much.

“Why don’t you ever really smile?” I ask him.

He furrows his brow and looks confused. “I was smiling.”

I shake my head. “I mean a real smile.”

“You mean like Jake,” he snaps.

I continue to shake my head but it’s kind of making me dizzy, so I stop. “I mean like a
big  genuine Cooper smile.”

He looks at me even more seriously than I’ve seen him look before. It sends a shiver right through me. “I’ll give you a real smile when you give me something to smile about.”

My mind goes into overdrive thinking about all the things I could do that might bring a real smile to his face. All of them involve Cooper naked. In my intoxicated state, I take it as a challenge.  

“Now I have to know what you’re thinking,” he says quietly. “You’ve got a devilish little look in your eyes.”

“Maybe you’ll find out later,” I tempt.

He raises an eyebrow. “Do I need to cut you off of the booze?”

“I’m only just getting started,” I counter. “Just wait until I have that burger in my stomach.”

“Speaking of your burger,” he says as Harley practically throws the plate in front of me.

When she sets Cooper’s grilled cheese in front of him, I notice that she practically shoves her breasts in his face again. “I made the grilled cheese myself, just the way you like it, Coop.”

“Thanks,” he mutters. He seems to finally notice that she’s blatantly flirting with him.

As soon as she leaves, I can’t help but mimic her. “I made it just the way you like it, Coop,” I repeat in her high pitched voice.

He glares at me before he takes a bite of his sandwich.

“So, does everyone call you Coop, or just Blondie?”

“Her name is Harley,” he reminds me.

“Yeah, I know. It’s not every day you meet a girl named after a motorcycle manufacturer.”

He shrugs. “Her dad owns a motorcycle dealership.”

“So does she have a sister named Kawasaki?” I joke.

“Ha, ha. She’s an only child.”

“Wow, she and I actually have something in common. You never answered my question, by the way.”

“Almost everyone in town calls me Coop,” he admits but he doesn’t look happy about it. Maybe be doesn’t like the nickname.

“Since I’m not from around here, I’ll stick with Cooper.”

“Good,” he says. Then he looks at my untouched burger and fries. “Aren’t you going to eat?”

I lean over to Cooper and say, “I’m afraid your girlfriend might have spit on my burger.”

“She’s not my girlfriend,” he hisses.

As Cooper’s eyes bore into mine, another shiver rips through me. I think I may have gone a little too far.

“Sorry,” I say as I pick at a fry on my plate. I’m afraid to look at Cooper again. Afraid of how my body will respond to him. 

“Look at me,” he insists.

I swallow then slowly glace up at him.

“I’m not interested in Harley. Is that clear?”

“Yes,” I mutter.

“Good. Now eat your food before it gets cold.”

I do as I’m told because I don’t want to face the Wrath of Cooper again.

Five

Cooper

“You need to stop sending drinks to Riley,” I say to Tucker as I approach the bar.

Riley just left for the restroom. I’m surprised it took her so long before she needed to go. She just finished her fourth drink and it’s just after 4 o’clock. Most girls would have already gone to the restroom two or three times by now.

“No,” Tucker states to my surprise.

“No?” I shoot back.

“That’s what I said.” He stares at me with that stone cold killer expression he adopted after serving in Iraq.  

“I think she’s had enough to drink,” I say. I realize I may be crossing a line but I’m starting to feel the overwhelming desire to take care of her. Whether she needs to be taken care of or not seems to be irrelevant to how I feel.

“I like when she smiles. She smiles a lot when she drinks.”

He has a point. She’s seems to be a very happy drunk despite the awful circumstance of the day.

“Maybe you could ease off a bit?” I suggest.

“I’ll think about it.” He doesn’t look like he’s going to think about it at all.

I’ve never been that close to Tucker even though we’re less than two years apart in age. We have very little in common other than genetics.

I’m not sure whether I should mention what else is on my mind but I’ve had a few drinks myself and my inhibitions are down so I go for it.

“I think you need help.”

Tucker gives me his death stare again. “So? Are you going to give it to me?”

“I’ll do what I can,” I offer.

He laughs. “Like you even know what it’s like to have a pro
blem. You’re Mr. Perfect. The biggest problem you’ve ever faced was whether to get a soft or hard top for your convertible.”

“I’m not Mr. Perfect,” I state. “Why would you even say that?”

“You’ve always gotten everything you’ve ever wanted. Everything comes easy for you. You’re smart. You’re good looking. Everyone loves you. Real tough life, Coop.”

I frown. “I think you have me confused with Jake.”

“Jake’s got a lot going for him but he’s not smart like you are. You’ve got it all. I don’t even think you realize how lucky you were in the genetic lottery.”

I’ve never considered myself lucky. I always felt like Jake was the one who had it all—like he’s the one who won the genetic lottery. And I’ve lived in his shadow for years. Does Tucker feel that way about
me? It takes a few moments for that to sink in.

Before I have a chance to say anything more, Riley flounces over and joins us at the bar.

She places her hand on my shoulder and my arm heats where she has her palm. I don’t want to admit that this woman is having an effect on me. Too bad she doesn’t actually want someone like me. She already made that pretty damn clear.

But what if I wasn’t Cooper Wilde, a Wall Street wannabe, as she calls it? What if I was the old Cooper Wilde? The Cooper Wilde who lived in Old Town and played guitar with the Wilde Riders. Maybe that’s a guy she’d want to be with—at least for the night. And at this point, I’ll take what I can get.

“Do you want another drink?” Tucker asks Riley then glares at me.

I glare right back.

“Wow, it’s getting a little tense in here boys,” Riley observes as she looks between me and Tucker. “What exactly were the two of you talking about when I went to the bathroom? Not me, I hope.”

She laughs but Tucker and I continue glaring at each other. I don’t want to be the one to give in first but I don’t think I can defeat Tucker’s death stare.

“You guys are really starting to freak me out a little,” she says, and I take that as my cue to give in.

For now.

I hope Tucker realizes we’ve still got some issues to deal with. I’m not letting him off the hook that easily.

“Come on,” I say. “We should probably check on your car. We can come back later.”

“Right,” she says. “My car. You almost made me forget about that catastrophe. And based on what Shane Parker has to say, I may have to find a place to stay the night.”

I shake my head. “You’re staying with me. At my parents’ place. There’s plenty of room.”

“I’m not sure that’s such a good idea.” She furrows her brow and bites her lip like she’s really giving the situation some serious thought. “I’m still technically investigating Haymakers. I wouldn’t want there to be any perception of impropriety.”

I can’t help but smile. “Perception of impropriety, huh? I’m surprised you were able to say that after downing four Jack and Cokes, especially the way Jake makes them.”

She puts her hands on her hips and looks up at me with her gorgeous brown eyes. “I’ll have you know that I can handle my liquor.”

“I’m sure you can.” She looks so sexy when she gets ruffled. It’s taking every ounce of restraint I have not to pull her into my arms and kiss her.

“Care to make a wager on that?” she challenges.

“I’m not sure you want to do that,” I challenge right back.

“I think it’s a great idea,” Tucker interjects.

“See, he’s on my side.”

Why do I feel like I’m being ganged up on?

“And I know exactly what you can bet,” Tucker adds. “If R
iley wins, Coop has to play with the Wilde Riders tomorrow night.”

I’m already shaking my head before he gets
Riders
out of his mouth. Then it occurs to me this may be exactly what I want. I want Riley to see me as a Wilde Rider not as a Wall Street wannabe. It’s perfect.

“And what if I win?” I ask.

“What do you want?” Riley asks a little more seductively than I’m expecting.

I want you. “If I win, you’ll stay in Old Town all weekend and you’ll stay with me at my parents’ place.”

I see a little crease form in Riley’s brow. She’s thinking about it. I’m just glad she hasn’t dismissed the idea outright.

“Okay,” she says finally. “But how many do I have to drink and how will you know that I’m holding my liquor?”

I don’t want her to get too drunk, since it’s just a little game we’re playing and in either scenario I’ll get something I want.

“Two drinks in one hour and then I’ll give you a mini field sobriety test. Like walking a straight line or saying the alphabet backwards.”

“Deal,” she says as she holds out her hand for me to shake.

When I take her hand in mine, it feels warm. I want to feel the warmth of her touch everywhere. I can’t believe how badly I want to be with this girl. I fight the urge to pull her into my arms and hold her small body against mine. They’ll be plenty of time for that later…if I play my cards right.

“We’ll engage in our little wager when we get back from Shane Parker’s shop.”

***

“It’ll take at least two weeks to fix,” Shane says as the three of us look down at Riley’s smashed car. “And that’s the minimum. Depending on how long it takes to get a few of the parts, it could be a month.”

Riley heaves a long, hard sigh. “My baby is broken.”

“We’ll get her fixed up for you,” Shane assures her.

“I’ll need someone to give me a ride back into the city. I can take tomorrow off but I have to be back to work on Monday.”

“I can give you a ride back on Monday. I have a feeling you’ll be spending the weekend at my parents’ place.”

She puts her hands on her hips again and gives me a defiant look. A very sexy defiant look. “You’re that sure you’re going to win the bet?”

I nod.

“Do I want to know what the two of you bet?” Shane asks.

Riley turns to Shane and asks, “Do you like the Wilde Riders?”

Shane raises an eyebrow and glances in my direction. “The band hasn’t been the same since Coop left.”

“Well, don’t be surprised if Cooper makes an appearance with the band tomorrow night.”

“And how did you manage to get Cooper to agree to that?” Shane asks.

I want to signal Shane somehow to make sure he doesn’t say anything more. I don’t want Riley to know I’m anything but a country boy from Old Town. That seems to be the only chance I have with her. Shane cannot blow it.

“
It’s part of the bet,” I say quickly and then add, “And speaking of bet, we should probably get back to the bar.”

Shane’s shop is within walking distance of Haymakers, so we didn’t have to take my car. I think about the countless times I wanted girls to know I drive a luxury vehicle and now I find myself trying to hide it from Riley.

She grabs my hand as we make our way back to the bar. The sky is turning dark and the wind has kicked up even more. I have little doubt that we’ll be getting a storm tonight.

I like the way our hands fit together. I can’t help but wonder if our bodies will fit together just as well. I’ve never wanted someone as much as I want Riley. I want to touch every inch of
her. I want to feel her mouth on mine. I want to feel her body pressed against me. I want to be inside her. I want to make her mine.

But what then? I don’t want to think that far ahead.

“Look,” Riley says as she pulls away from me.

I swallow hard because she pointing at my car, which is still parked outside of Haymakers where I left it.

“What a fantastic car!”

I want so badly to tell her the car’s mine. I worked hard for it and I love showing it off. But she’s made it very clear that she doesn’t want a Wall Street wannabe. Telling her I own the car would be a like a death knell. She obviously wants the Cooper she thinks I am, the country guy, and that’s the Cooper I’m going to give her.

“Your car is a lot nicer,” I state, as I pull her into Haymakers.

As if he could sense that we were on our way back, Tucker already has drinks waiting for us when we walk back into Ha
ymakers.

It’s after five, so the place is picking up. It’s already a lot more crowded than I expect for a Thursday night.

Riley and I take our drinks and make our way to one of the few empty tables close to the stage area.

“You’ll be up there tomorrow night,” Riley insists.

The way her eyes twinkle when she says it makes me want to lose the bet just so she can see me play.

“You have until six o’clock to drink the two drinks in front of you. Then we’ll see who wins the bet.”

Jake put on some music for the evening crowd. He’s playing some of Keith Urban’s new album. When the Wilde Riders play tomorrow night the bar will be standing room only. I have to wonder if Riley knows what she’s in for.

“The Wilde Riders are pretty popular around here,” I say.

She smiles. “Does that mean you’ve had your share of girls when you were with the band?”

“Jake got most of the action,” I reply. “But I wasn’t ignored completely.” In this town, being in a country band is definitely magnetic. Kind of in the same way driving a BMW 6-Series convertible is kind of magnetic to girls in the city.

“I’ll bet you’ve had your share of women.” The way Riley looks at me makes me believe that she wants to be the next in line.

I look around the bar but I don’t see any signs of Jake or Harley. The place is really getting packed and Tucker is trying to man the bar on his own. He looks swamped. Just as I’m about to get up to help him, I see Harley hurry out from the back room. She looks a little disheveled and she’s trying her best to piece herself back together as she makes her way behind the bar.

A few seconds later, Jake emerges from the back and he’s trying to tuck his shirt in and straighten his messy hair as he ducks behind the bar.

“Oh, hell no!” I’m practically screaming as I jump up from my table. I make it to the bar in what seems like only a few huge strides.

“What’s going on?” I hiss as I grab my brother’s shirt collar.

“Let go of me, Coop,” he demands as he wriggles out of my grasp. 

“Do you mind explaining what’s going on with you and Harley?” I’m so angry I can feel myself shaking.

Jake grins and I want to punch the smirk right off his smug face. “There’s nothing to explain.”

“She’s like our sister, Jake.” I’m disgusted by the thought of the two of them together.

“She’s not a little girl anymore,” he says. “Obviously.”

“You’re a real piece of work, you know that,” I spit through clenched teeth.

The only reason I haven’t punched Jake in the face is because I can see Riley watching us.

“Why don’t you ask Harley if she minds? It was her idea.”

When I look over at Harley, she’s flirting with a group of guys who just walked in. I don’t know why I find it so hard to believe that she seduced Jake.

“You’re a lot older than her Jake. I guess I just expected more from you.”

He raises an eyebrow. “You expected more from me? That was your first mistake. You’re the one who always calls me a dog.
Woof. Woof.”

“But it’s Harley.” I still can’t believe Jake and Harley are hooking up.

“Harley’s a wild girl, Coop. She does want she wants. And if she wants to do me every once in a while, I’m not going to stop her.”