That he would vanish.
Cooper joined me after a minute and grabbed me around the waist as he liked to do. “Trying to evade me?”
No, I just happen to love you.
So, I ran away. Typical.
I turned in his arms and pulled down his sunglasses. “I might buy a lot in here, but there’s storage. Unless you think you can carry out a piano on your back?”
“Definitely wouldn’t fit in my Charger.”
I laughed. “We should buy you something for a change. What do you want?”
His arms tightened around me, and his expression morphed into pure desire. “I have everything I want already.”
This was why I loved the guy. And why it scared me to death in the very best way.
“Me too. But I still like shiny things with keys.”
He shifted me around and hooked his hand at my hip as we walked through the guitar area in the front of the store. There were ones in every color and style, along with yet more hung high on the walls. I trailed my fingertips over a dark purple bass guitar on a stand and eagerly followed him to the drum section, leaning against the wall like a dreamy-eyed fangirl when he climbed behind a demonstration kit.
With a couple testing flips of the drumsticks, he launched into Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” quickly drawing a crowd among the store’s shoppers. I couldn’t hold back my grin watching him do his thing. He wasn’t showy like some drummers, but he played with an excellence that couldn’t be matched. Here and there, he’d add a few extra flourishes, impressing the audience with his stick tricks and his effortless rhythm. The song was so flawless I half-expected Kurt Cobain to step out from behind the curtain in back and launch into the lyrics.
He played the whole song, ending it to the sound of rolling applause. The owner of the store came up to him and slapped his back, obviously excited to have someone so skilled in his shop.
“You need to meet Teagan Daly. She plays piano in the band. She’s the best there is.” He motioned to me and I joined them, shaking the man’s hand and smiling as Cooper pulled me into his side and kissed my temple.
“Nice to meet you. It’s an honor having you both here today. Is there something specific you’re looking for?”
“Yes, she wants to see your pianos. The room in back?”
The man nodded. “Yes, we have a large selection available. We have some on-site, as well as our catalog for special orders. Do you have a price range?”
“Sky’s the limit. Whatever she wants.” Cooper rubbed his hand up and down my arm.
I could practically see dollar signs dancing in the owner’s eyes. “Well, then, let’s go take a look.”
“I’m just window shopping,” I whispered to Cooper as we followed the man into the piano room. “I do not need any others. Remember that big deposit I placed on mine?”
“Sure, but why stop there? If you see one that speaks to you, let’s get it.”
Excitement bubbled in my belly as much as I tried to stuff it down. “You remember that other scene in Pretty Woman?”
His grin turned dangerously sexy. “You bet your fine behind I do.” His hand dropped to my ass. “We need to get you a red dress. Or that little teddy we got today should do nicely.”
If the shopkeeper heard our naughty conversation, he did not let on. Probably if we paid enough, he’d let us test out the pianos for sexual purposes right in the store.
That idea had some merit.
I wandered between the upright pianos on the floor, touching each one in turn. I was so tactile. A few of them I had to sit down and try out. The songs I played varied. From “Wild is The Wind” by Bon Jovi to “Flowers on a Grave” by Bush to “This Feeling” by The Chainsmokers, I played whatever caught my fancy as I evaluated the sound of each. I tested probably a third of the ones on display.
Every time I glanced up at Cooper, he was watching me with an appreciative smile, the same way I’d watched him play the drums. I would never have to worry he didn’t want me to shine. If anything, he was constantly looking for chances to give me the spotlight.
Then I saw the Grand piano on a revolving raised dais in the back. Rope lights chased around the base, highlighting the top of the line pink Steinway.
I raced off the bench I’d been sitting on so fast I nearly tripped.
Cooper steadied me with his hand on my arm, but I was moving too quickly to be contained. “This one.” My voice wasn’t steady as I asked the question. “How much is it?”
“It’s newly restored, and this pink finish is rare. It’s a special one-of-a-kind piece.”
He named a price that made my eyes cross. Damn.
I sank on the plush bench and let out a little moan. “It’s stunning.” My fingers cascaded over the keys as I shut my eyes.
This was my piano. I knew it in my bones. But that didn’t mean I had any intention of buying it right now.
Maybe once I talked to the insurance people about my townhouse and figured out how much I would receive from the fire, perhaps I would come back then.
When I finally dragged myself away from the piano, Cooper was standing near the door with his hand in his pocket. A hand he didn’t withdraw even when I tried to pry it out.
“Ready?”
“What’s in there?”
“Can’t a man have some secrets?”
“No.”
The corner of his mouth rose as I pulled on his pinky and dove into his pocket. I came out with a slightly mushy Hershey’s kiss. “This is what you were hiding from me?”
“I would never.”
To spite him, I unwrapped it and popped it into my mouth. “Serves you right. I hope you learned a valuable lesson
