The Off Limits Rule (It Happened in Nashville, #1)

by Sarah Adams

I look left and right for an escape and then up, directly into Cooper’s smirking eyes.

She’s stiff as a board and absolutely will not make eye contact with me. I’m guessing it has something to do with that paragraph-long text she sent me—the one I’ve literally read thirty times because it’s so freaking cute I can’t stand it.

Lucy grabs a spray bottle and starts dousing me. Less on the hair, more on the face. I feel like a troublemaking cat that’s just been reprimanded.

“It’s dry, Lucy.” She keeps patting, so I finally reach up and grab the towel, tossing it onto the workstation.

“Okay. But now can we just forget I ever sent it?” “No,” I say, daring to run my thumb across the side of her wrist. “Why?” I smile. “Because I liked it.” She swallows and looks skeptical. “You did?” “Yeah…I did.”

“What do I have to do to get you to stop chanting that?” We’re at the pool gate now; I unlatch the small fence and step inside, holding it open for her. “Buckle me back into your truck and take me home safely.”

“Lucy, I think you need this. Tomorrow morning, you’ll wake up, and go get your son, and have breakfast, and be a mom with all the bells and whistles—” “I don’t wear bells and whistles on Thursdays.”

I take a mental picture so later, when I can’t sleep, I’ll push all those sheep aside and count each of his muscles instead.

I wipe an imaginary laughter tear. “Nothing. It’s just a funny thought. Me, wearing one of your friend’s shirts. How would I have even gotten it? Broken into his house and stolen it without him knowing so I could wear it and smell it forever?” He sighs. “Tell me right now—did you do that, Lucy?”

“Unfortunately, yes…I’m positive he’s not interested.” “I’m interested in your sister,” I say to Drew after he takes the last sip of his second beer.

“What have I done! I’m a disgrace to single women everywhere! I have to fix this.”

Cooper: That’s too bad. I liked it better when I thought you were pining for me.

Somehow, seeing him standing there in jeans, no shirt, and a backwards baseball cap, it felt downright dirty.

Lucy: What type of lawyer? Plastic surgery malpractice? I can see her boobs from all the way over here, so I know she must get a good discount. Cooper: I can see your boobs from all the way over here, but you don’t see me judging.

kissing her directly on those lips I’ve been dreaming about since I met her. So much for not crossing that boundary. I can practically hear the ground beneath me cracking.

She snaps her mouth shut, swallows, and then proclaims, “I’m wearing hideous underwear.” And this, ladies and gentlemen, is one of the reasons I’m falling for Lucy. “Not going to help, but I applaud your efforts. Let’s do this, Marshall.”

“Children calling me Daddy and bear-hugging my leg? This is a first. How’d you get him to call me that?”

But no, I meant how often do women try to pick you up in the bread aisle?” I shrug like a player. “Not my fault I’m a snack,”

I think maybe Levi forgot Cooper is still watching until I tuck him in and he says, “Can Coop come say goodnight?” I chuckle. “Did you just call him Coop?” Levi nods, and Cooper is already rounding the bed. “Yeah, of course he did. All my best friends call me Coop.”

“Then why do I call you Cooper?” I ask with a hand on my hip. He tilts his head to look at me with a sideways grin. “'Cause I’ve never thought of you as just my friend.”

“Leave your window open tonight.” “What? Why?” I ask Cooper’s fantastic retreating back. He looks too good in navy t-shirts. He shrugs those big shoulders. “Going to be a nice night.”

“Say it again.” “No.” “Why?” I grimace. “Because it’s embarrassing to say it first.” “Say it.” His voice is dark and passionate, and it matches the look in his exotic blue eyes.

“Cooper! Cooper! Stop. This is not going to go over like you’re hoping. GAHHHH, please go slower. Come back to bed. LET’S MAKE LOVE!” Not the slightest pause. I guess this is really happening.

“You slept with my sister?” Thankfully, he turns and sets down the mug and coffee pot—except now his hands are free to strangle me. “Not in the way you’re suggesting, but I will sleep with your sister in the way you’re suggesting at some point.”

“Cooper James, I love you, and nothing my big dummy of a brother says will change that. I know you better than he does, and I want nothing more than for you to stay and eat pancakes with me and Levi this morning. Please don’t go.”

Somewhere in the middle of him kissing me, the door to the hospital room opens and in steps Drew holding an obscene number of balloons.

“My darling Coop, please accept my sincerest apologies for doubting your character. I will never do it again. But also…if you leave my sister, I will beat you into dust.” “Fair. I accept.”

“I love you, Cooper. Let’s get married.”

“This is serious. You’re my wife, but that cute, bossy, little guy keeps me from touching you all day. I have to make up for lost time.”