For Keeps (14 page)
Authors: Karen Booth
Allie smoothed her hand across his chest, snuggling next to him, inhaling his heady smell. “My apartment seems like the logical choice.”
“Why is that?”
Careful. No more hurt feelings.
“It’s just a little, um, more put together.”
“I have new furniture. That has to count for something.”
Compromise. Find a compromise.
She popped up onto her elbow. “How about this? My place, your furniture.”
“Sounds like a deal.”
“Except for your bed. Your bed isn’t as nice as mine.”
Cooper rolled his eyes. “Okay. We ditch my bed.”
“And your sheets. What are these? Two hundred thread count?”
“Enough.” He kissed her deeply. “I don’t care if we sleep on grocery bags as long as I get to wake up next to you every morning.”
Every morning.
She drew in a deep breath. Permanence wasn’t so scary after all. The possibilities of their future stretched out as far as could be imagined, ready to be molded into whatever she and Cooper decided was best for them. Allie settled her chin on his chest and smiled.
He traced his fingers along the contours of her shoulder blade. “What made you come back, Al?”
She toyed with his chest hair, drawing lazy circles on his skin. “It was Ian, actually.”
“What?” He clutched her arm and drew back his head to see her.
She grinned. “He dropped the lawsuit.”
His eyes grew wide at the announcement, certain happiness flickering. “Wow. That’s fantastic.” He pressed his soft lips against her forehead. “And that’s why you came up here to make up with me? Because you were so happy?”
“No, because I was so unhappy.”
“But that’s what you wanted, more than anything.” He cupped her cheek and chin, his face clouded with confusion.
“Or so I thought. Turns out what I wanted more than anything is you.”
Cooper’s expression softened and her pulse skipped. “Then we’re even,” he muttered. “All I want is you.” He smiled in a way that made her breath catch, her insides melt, her heart feel as though it could take flight. “For the long haul, Al. I’m not kidding.”
“Absolutely for the long haul.” She sank against him, exactly where she wanted to be. “For keeps.”
About Karen Booth
Karen Booth is a Midwestern girl transplanted in the South, raised on 80s music, Judy Blume, and the films of John Hughes. Her lifelong preoccupation with rock ‘n’ roll led her to spend her twenties working her way from intern to executive in the music industry. Much of her writing revolves around the world of backstage passes and band dynamics. When she isn't creating fictional musicians, she's listening to music with her kids, honing her Southern cooking skills or sweet-talking her astoundingly supportive husband into whipping up a batch of cocktails.
Karen welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and email addresses on her
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Ellora’s Cave Publishing
For Keeps
ISBN 9781419940477
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
For Keeps Copyright © 2012 Karen Booth
Edited by Jillian Bell
Cover design by Kendra Egert
Photos: Rudy Bvalasko and Conrado/Shutterstock.com
Electronic book publication September 2012
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