Stilettos & Scoundrels Read online

  Chapter 24

  Wow, what a week, I thought, sitting next to Cooper, his arms around me, on my favorite rock in the woods behind my parents’ home. I had finally put the finishing touches on my article and sent it to Trevor, who was thrilled and promised it would be a feature article in the next issue. Sometimes taking chances paid off. I had thought long and hard and finally took the angle of how good people can get involved in bad things. Because I’d learned that many good people make poor choices and that doesn’t make them bad people. This angle also made me comfortable because no one would be overly upset or outraged by anything I wrote.

  I had called the vice president of McLaughlin back and politely declined his offer. Once I had heard the money they were willing to pay me, it wasn’t easy, but I was proud of myself that I did it. I wanted to try and follow my dreams.

  And about me and Cooper? When I thought for that split second that he might be hurt, I realized that I liked him a whole lot more than I thought. We hadn’t had much of a chance to talk with everything else going on, but I hoped that we would now. I was going to stay at my parents’ a little while longer so I could spend more time with Cooper and see what happened.

  “What are you thinking?” he asked.

  “Um, nothing really. Frankly, I’m tired of thinking.”

  “Want some help?” Cooper asked mischievously.

  “What were you thinking?” I answered playfully. Cooper leaned over and started kissing me with those wonderful soft, yet strong, kisses of his. Yes, this would clear my mind. At least of any thoughts except him.