Boss Me (Private Listing #3)

“Noah and Sara went to get the car.”

Elizabeth rounds the corner and stops when she sees us. My breath catches in my throat. Her eyes widen and then grow calculating. “If it isn’t the happy couple.”

“If it isn’t the cold-hearted bitch.” Coop slides his hand possessively over my hip.

Elizabeth tsks Coop. “Is that any way to talk to a client?”

Her gaze slides to me dismissively. She smooths a hand over her skirt.

“When you’re the client, yes.” Coop moves to walk past her.

“You should remember your place, Cooper.” She turns to look at him with her cold eyes.

“And what place is that exactly, Elizabeth?” Coop bites out. His fingers dig into my skin a little. The level of his hatred for her has always been obvious. He doesn’t hide it, and right now, I’m glad for it because it means I don’t have to pretend to be nice to her.

“You don’t run Morrigan Technology. Seth does. And when Seth and I are together, I’ll make sure you’re the first person we let go unless you decide to play ball.” She pauses and looks at me with a disparaging smile. “Well, the second person I let go.”

My hackles rise, and I’ve never wanted to slap anyone as much as I want to slap her.

Coop laughs. “Oh, fuck, and I thought you had an actual threat of some sort. Yeah, good luck with that, lady. I’m sure it will go just as well as crawling into my bed at night and begging me to fuck you.”

“I did not beg.” She straightens like she’s mortified, but a little pink tinges her cheeks.

Coop leans into her space and says in a feminine tone, “Please, Coop. I need it. I want it. Only you can give me what I really want. Please fuck me.” He straightens and his voice returns to normal. “As I recall, I said you could go fuck yourself. How’s that going for you? Or are you too much of a cold-hearted bitch to get yourself off?”

Her eyes narrow into a glare, but Coop doesn’t wait for her to say more. He leads me around her and out to the car. Helping me in next to Noah before sliding in beside me. Both guys’ thighs press tight against mine.

Sara leans forward to take my hands. “Coop told me you got sick. Are you doing okay? Do you need anything? I feel terrible about having to cut the evening short, but I’m sure these guys will take good care of you.”

I squeeze her hands, grateful for the guys’ quick thinking. “Yeah, I’m sure I’ll be better soon.”

The car takes off. Sara and Noah talk about a book they both read. Coop holds my hand in his, keeping me warm.

I suddenly remember the purpose of our evening. “Did the guy notice you?”

Sara blows her hair out of her face. “When he and his date left, they stopped by our table to say hello. You were in the bathroom, so it was just me and Coop at the table.”

“He was pretty stiff.” Coop turns the ring on my finger. His ring. “Like it was an obligation to stop and say something.”

Sara sighs. “That’s pretty much all I get from him. I wish I could just forget about him, but he seems to be everywhere in my life. Tom brings him and the others to everything. Like he’s adopted them.”

“Maybe it’s part of his bro code? Leave the sister alone? That’s a thing with siblings, right?” I offer. Did no one else notice his heated gaze on Sara? It wasn’t just that one time either.

Her green eyes widen. “Do you think?”

“I don’t know. Maybe.” What did I know about men? I have four of them and I’m still trying to figure out where I stand. I lean my head against Coop’s shoulder, and his words from earlier still swirl in my head.

She gets to be with two men who love her.

What if he meant that? Should I confront him or just be happy he said it in passing?

What if they all loved me? Where would we go from here?

Nowhere? They’ve made it clear that a relationship with all of us would be detrimental to their business and to my future.

Would love be enough?

If I remained their dirty little secret?