The sun was starting to set as the waiter walked over with a plate of coconut shrimp with chicken and sat it down in front of Cooper.
Another waiter followed behind him and put a plate of steak with a side of fettuccini in front of JT. The outdoor restaurant was both romantic and relaxing. A breeze swept across from the ocean making the seasoning and flavor from their food hit their senses. Cooper was starved and immediately dug into her dish.
With all the excitement over Ryan that morning, she hadn’t really eaten much at breakfast and passed on lunch when she learned JT and his mother already had plans. Not wanting to invade on their time together, Cooper opted to take a nap before her date.
“Hungry?”
Cooper laughed and nodded.
“Sorry. I’m not one of those girls who don’t eat on the first date.”
“Good,” JT laughed and dug into his food as well.
“This is really good. Do you want to try some?”
“I’ll try a piece of chicken.”
Cooper cut off a piece of chicken and fed it to JT off her fork.
“That is good. You want to try some steak or fettuccini?”
Cooper agreed to try the pasta. As she took a bite, a creamy piece of fettuccini landed right on her yellow blouse.
“Shit,” she gasped, quickly dabbing her napkin in some water and rubbing the stain. “This always happens to me,” she sighed.
“Well, I’m sure those things get in the way,” JT joked, referring to her breasts.
She looked up at him with a faked annoyance and he just laughed.
“Sorry.”
Cooper rubbed the stain a couple of more times and was left with a large wet spot on her shirt. She frowned at JT.
“I guess you’ll just have to take your shirt off,” he smirked.
Cooper shook her head, “Are you always like this?”
“Like what?”
“Flirtatious and perverted?”
JT laughed, “I guess. I can get way worse than that. “ He raised his eyebrows and Cooper blushed slightly. He enjoyed making her blush.
“I’m also outspoken, spontaneous, and fun, and like long walks on the beach,” he grinned.
She smiled, “Good. I could use all of that right now.”
“Still mad at Ryan, huh?”
“I don’t know. Should I be?”
“Hell yeah,” JT nodded. “I’m sorry if he led you on or anything. I don’t really know what went on between you two—”
“Nothing. It was really nothing,” Cooper sighed. “I just thought…” she trailed off. “I thought there was something.”
She realized she was feeling sorry for herself and didn’t want to make a big deal out of it any longer.
“But now I don’t have to choose anymore.”
“Choose?”
“Well, to be honest, I was having a difficult time deciding who I was attracted to more…you or Ryan,” Cooper smirked.
“That was difficult for you?” JT asked. “Huh,” he sounded offended at first, but flashed a mischievous grin. “Trust me baby, I can rock your world a hell of a lot more.”
“Oh really?” she asked smiling. “Wanna prove it?”
JT raised an eyebrow at her.
“Mind out of the gutter, please,” she rolled her eyes. “I meant on the dance floor.”
“What about your ankle?”
She shrugged, “I’m also supposed to be on bed rest. You’ll just be my crutch.”
“You’re on.”
JT agreed and immediately stood up reaching for her hand. He practically carried Cooper to the dance floor. They were both careful not to put pressure on her ankle.
Cooper realized quickly that asking JT to dance immediately following that particular conversation was a mistake. A mistake of the best kind, though. She found herself highly aroused in his arms, even worse than at the wedding. By the end of the dance, they were full blown making out on the dance floor. The kisses making the anticipation of the evening worth it all. It got to the point where Cooper had to pull away in order to keep it tasteful.
They finished dinner and opted for ice cream and sitting on the boardwalk for dessert. The waves from the ocean served as their music, replacing the band from the restaurant.
“I hope the dancing wasn’t too much strain on your ankle.”
“My feet hardly touched the ground,” Cooper smiled.
JT loved that smile. It was the type of smile you couldn’t figure out. It was sugary sweet, but with a hidden meaning. He knew this girl was a minx. She was sweet with a bad girl inside. That was something he could relate to. He always had a big heart, but made some terrible mistakes in life, especially in relationships. His alcoholism cost him a girlfriend and almost his life, once, when he smashed his car into a tree.
JT returned her smile before leaning in to kiss her. Cooper’s head was filled with all sorts of thoughts, good and bad.
JT’s an amazing kisser. So is Ryan. Where will this lead? I wonder what Ryan will think. Do I want to have a one night stand? Do I want to get serious? Does JT want to get serious? Who cares what Ryan will think? Will a long distance relationship work? A fling wouldn’t be bad. Friends with benefits. Would that make me a slut?
Cooper tuned out the thoughts and put her all into the moment.
Cooper and JT found themselves continuing their make out session on the bed in the guesthouse. Soon his hands crept up her skirt and his lips were prodding under her blouse. Cooper certainly wasn’t thinking anymore as she enjoyed the attention JT was giving her body.
The next morning Cooper woke up from the pain she felt in her ankle. She winced as she sat up and glanced next to her. JT was sound asleep, the blanket resting at his waist. Tattoos covered his back, arms, and chest. Cooper couldn’t believe she had sex with a member from Sound Wave on the first date. It was just all too weird. On top of that, she was staying on JT’s mother’s property. She felt sick with herself.
She didn’t even drink last night, so alcohol couldn’t aid as an excuse.
Cooper bent over the bed, reaching for her purse on the floor. She rummaged through the brown hobo bag and found her medication.
Maybe I can blame my actions on the pills? she thought, but rolled eyes dismissing that ridiculous reason. It was time she admitted to herself that she was left vulnerable and wanted last night to happen.
She hadn’t been with a man in a while, and JT definitely knew how to push the right buttons. Cooper decided to pass the night off as impulsive; it would go down on her record as her first and hopefully only one night stand. JT would be going back home to LA tomorrow and Cooper—she wasn’t sure where she’d be going after her time was up in Florida.
After Cooper took her pain killers, JT let out a groan and rolled over. He draped an arm around Cooper’s waist and slid his hand up her side until he got to her breast. Squeezing softly, he groaned again and slithered his body closer to hers.
“Morning beautiful,” he mumbled looking up at her.
“Morning,” Cooper said, pulling the blanket up over the top of their bodies.
“Don’t be shy,” JT laughed.
Cooper was silent and put her head down on the pillow before turning away from him. JT spooned up behind her and kissed her neck.
Cooper squirmed away and JT definitely knew something wasn’t right.
“What is it?”
Cooper didn’t answer.
“Coop?”
“I don’t know,” she answered quietly.
“You regret last night?” JT asked.
Again, he received no response.
“Coop, look at me.”
He gave her shoulder a tug, but she pulled away from him.
“I’m hungry,” she said softly.
“You’re hungry?” JT asked.
Cooper turned to look at him and flashed a small smile to reassure him she was okay.
“Okay, I’ll go pick something up. McDonald’s okay?”
She nodded.
“Anything specific you want?”
“Surprise me.”
She smiled again. JT nodded and slid out of bed. He saw through
Cooper’s phony smiles, but he figured he’d get it out of her over breakfast. JT woke up the same way he fell asleep, with a smile on his face. He always slept better with a woman lying in his arms. In his lifestyle, it was common to feel alone, especially on the road.
JT often felt like no one truly loved him for the person he is, but for the image he holds. If women weren’t after his money or wanted him to make them famous, they had some fantasy about being with a “bad boy”. JT fears once girls find out he’s really not that wild when it comes down to it, they will dump him. All three scenarios have happened to him before.
He knows he has had some great women in his life, a couple he even wanted to marry, but his own insecurities and hang-ups destroyed those relationships. He wondered where Cooper would land in his life: another one-night stand to add to the list or another girlfriend he screws over. JT already knows Cooper doesn’t want anything from his celebrity. He was happy to rule that category out.
Cooper ate in silence and JT couldn’t believe this was the same girl he took out last night. She had talked almost as much as he did and he was grateful for that. He finished his breakfast quickly while Cooper still picked at her meal.
“So, you eat on first dates, but not on first breakfasts?” JT asked.
Cooper sighed, “Please don’t tell anyone about last night.”
“Who would I tell? We don’t know the same people,” he sighed back at her.
“I just don’t want you telling the rest of the band…or your mom.”
“Why would I tell my mom?” JT laughed.
Cooper shrugged sullenly.
“Are you ashamed of what happened last night?”
“I don’t know. Should I be?”
“No,” JT shrugged.
She looked away and then back at him.
“So what now? I have a nice memory of my night with a Sound
Waver and I go on my way. Is that how it works?”
“Cooper, you’re making me out to be the bad guy. I didn’t force you into anything and I’m not acting like I did you any favors by taking you out last night. Don’t make me out to be the celebrity asshole who takes advantage of fans,” JT said, now a bit offended.
“I’m not a fan, remember?”
Cooper smirked and JT smirked back.
“Yeah, I know, but I’m a fan of yours,” he said and Cooper’s smile spread. “Look, let’s not put all this pressure on ourselves. We had fun last night. I’d like to be friends.”
“Me too,” she agreed. “I just want you to know that I don’t normally…I’m not a slut. I may be impulsive and fly by the seat of my pants, but…”
“I believe you,” JT laughed. “You don’t have to defend yourself to me. I don’t judge.”
“Thanks,” Cooper smiled. “Come here.”
She motioned for him to come closer. JT got out of his seat and hugged her before pecking her lips.
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