Torrid Little Affair (Forbidden Desires #3)

Cooper

In spite of everything that had happened last night and how it had ended, I couldn’t bring myself not to message Corinne. From the second she’d hurried out my door early that morning, my mind had focused on nothing else.

Of course, I thought of her with her roommate-her so-called platonic friend. But it was more than that. In fact, whatever jealousy I felt was practically infinitesimal compared to my own curiosity.

What was Corinne like when she was out, partying with friends? What had her night been like? And most of all, why had I been the person she called-not another coworker or a friend, but me?

She was running scared, for sure. But I’d been the person she’d wanted when her guard was down. That had to matter. And there was no question that I couldn’t give up so easily.

There was something about this girl that made me wonder about her in ways I’d never thought of anyone else. And so, when it finally became too much, I picked up the phone and tapped out a quick text.

What are you doing tonight?

The reply came back a few minutes later.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

Not sure.

I considered the reply, and while it definitely wasn’t super encouraging, she could have just said she had plans.

The museum downtown is having a zombie exhibit. They’re doing a movie marathon there too. Want to go?

I stared at the phone waiting for her reply. After the way she’d stormed out of my place like her ass was on fire this morning, I was afraid some part of me already knew the answer and just didn’t want to accept it-that it was all over before it had even begun. But to my surprise, she messaged me back.

It’s not a date, right?

I smiled before typing out my reply.

Of course not. Do you really think I’d take a woman to a zombie display on a first date?

Her reply came almost instantly

Good point. Okay, meet you there.

I blinked and shoved the phone in my pocket, trying not to grin like an idiot, even though nobody was around to judge. Still, this felt like the start of something, the chance to make up for pushing too hard a couple of nights ago. To take it slower and chip away at the carefully constructed walls around the true Corinne.

The more I thought about her, the more I realized I only knew her in fragments-like shattered glass around a faded picture. There were sharp edges to her that would need to be navigated carefully, but if I could put it all together? I couldn’t even begin to describe how satisfying that would feel.

I frittered away the rest of the afternoon, but when the time to leave finally came, I left full of anticipation as I made my way to the gallery. And even though I arrived ten minutes early just in case, I found Corinne standing outside, looking at the black-and-white posters of zombie movies from the 1960s.

Her purple skirt fluttered around her knees as she turned to face me, her hair swept along with the strong pull of the breeze. For a second, I wondered if it would be awkward after this morning. But then she smiled, and it was all I could do not to close the space between us and kiss her hello.

Fisting my hands in my pockets instead, I said, “Hey there. You look beautiful.”

And she did. In her full skirt and short-sleeved white shirt and matching flats, she was adorably sweet and pure.

And don’t forget it, Coop.

“Thanks.” Her cheeks flushed a pretty pink. “You know, I was actually a little surprised you messaged me. Because of, well, the way I was this morning.”

“It’s in the past,” I said to reassure her. “Really.”

She nodded, though there was still a slight air of hesitation in her glance. “I’m really sorry for bugging you last night. I’m not usually a huge drinker like that, and it got out of hand. Thanks for picking me up.”

“Anytime. Really,” I said, my tone solemn, making sure she knew I meant it.

Her lips tipped into a relieved smile. “I appreciate it, Cooper. Let’s head in, okay?”

She stuffed her hands in the pockets of her skirt and I followed, opening the wide glass museum doors for her to step inside. As we walked in, I stopped at the ticket counter and purchased our tickets.

“Thank you, but it’s still not a date.” Corinne said.

“Definitely not a date.” I nodded in agreement. “Have you been here before?”

She smiled and nodded.

It wasn’t an exotic or strange place to go, but I was desperate to get her talking about something-anything that might tell me more about her.

“I came on a school trip once,” she said. “When I was young. One of my first placements.”

“Placements?” I asked, the back of my neck tensing. “Like what? A foster family?”

Her lips thinned, but she nodded again. “The family lived in this school district, and I came with my class.”

I wanted to wipe the pain in her expression away, hold her and tell her that I understood that kind of pain. Had lived through it. But instead, I focused on listening. I’d wanted her to talk to me. To open up. Now that she was, I wasn’t about to fuck it up.

“Did you like it there?”