Changing the Rules (Richter Book 1)(11)

He was in the surveillance room keeping a selective eye on one of their Hollywood celebrity’s cameras since the movie star was having a party. One of their team was at the party on the off chance something happened, and Cooper was the second set of eyes from miles away.

The door to the room opened behind him as he was running the license plates of the cars rolling through the valet.

The click of high heels suggested Sasha had walked in the room.

“You would think you’d get tired of wearing those pencil shoes,” he said without looking over his shoulder.

“You’re just jealous you can’t.”

With the sound of Claire’s voice, his head swiveled, and his brain short-circuited. He blew out a breath as if someone had punched him in the gut. She wore a black, curve-hugging dress that stopped midthigh. Long legs stretched toward the ground where a pair of stiletto boots took over the entire look. Walking his gaze back up her frame, blonde hair draped over her shoulders and a dusting of makeup highlighted her girl-next-door features.

“Whoa.”

Claire turned in a full circle, as if he needed more ammunition. “Do you think this is overdoing it?”

It was the kind of question meant for a girlfriend.

“Depends on what you’re doing?”

“It’s a first date,” she said as she tossed a clutch purse in the seat beside his.

He swallowed and beat down the tinge of jealousy that sprouted from her words. Forcing his eyes off of her, he looked back at the camera footage. “Depends on how you want your date to end.”

She sighed, almost like she was whining. “It’s too much, isn’t it?”

No, it was exactly right. And the lucky bastard that was taking her out . . . “Wait, who’s the guy?” He turned back her way.

“From my school.”

“A frat boy?” That just made him nauseated.

Claire narrowed her gaze. “You say that like it’s a problem.”

It was a huge problem. “I always took you for someone with better skills than beer pong.”

She slid him a slight smile. “I’m sure there’s more to him than drinking games.”

“How long have you known him?” While Cooper quizzed her, he clicked the camera to focus on another license plate as the party on camera started to fill up.

“I don’t really know him at all.”

“Yet you’re dressed like that for a first date.”

“He said a nice dinner.”

“Which is what? In-N-Out versus McDonald’s?” She was dressed to rival the women in his field of vision from the party he was watching.

Cooper felt, more than heard, the silence stretched between them. When he looked over his shoulder at Claire, she was staring at him.

“What?” he asked.

“You . . . you sound jealous.”

He immediately rolled his eyes and huffed. “Don’t be ridiculous.” He didn’t sound like anything, he was feeling everything. “I’m just . . . concerned. You’re still new here. You live alone, and even though I know you can kick serious ass, you don’t have a wingman to fall on if this frat boy looks at that dress as an invitation.”

Claire stepped between him and the vacant chair, leaned her hip on the desk. “Jax will be here in two months, so I won’t be living alone for long. I might be new here, but I’m not some naive midwestern girl who doesn’t know better than to not leave her drink alone with a first date. And yeah, I can ditch the heels and kick all kinds of ass if I need to. So your concern is almost insulting and something I’d expect from Neil, not you.”

Cooper secretly wished his boss were there. He’d demand she change into jeans and a sweater. The man had taken Claire under his protection when he hired her on to the team. While she talked like Miss Independent, Claire thrived under the rules Neil had set out. Go to college, get good grades, report to work, and she had a home to live in with all her expenses taken care of. Neil treated her like a younger sister one day, and a daughter the next. And right now Cooper would give his next paycheck for Neil to walk in the door and tell Claire to go home and do her schoolwork.

“What? Nothing to say?” Claire crossed her arms over her chest.

“If you didn’t want my opinion about the dress, or the guy, why did you come in here and ask me?”

The smugness of her chin slowly faded.

Her folded arms slid to her sides, and Cooper knew she was concentrating on her answer. “Because my wingman isn’t here yet, and even though I can take care of myself, I’m smart enough to let someone know I’m going on a date.”

“Why not tell Sasha?”

“She and AJ are in Colorado.”

“Neil?”

It was Claire’s turn to roll her eyes. “He’d try and stop me.”

So that left Cooper.

Shoved into the friend zone.

And as much as he hated that position, he’d despise it more if Claire was left without anyone watching over her.

She pushed off the desk. “You know what, never mind. I can take care of myself.”

He shot out his hand and grasped her forearm before she could storm away. It would have taken so little for her to get out of his hold, but instead she looked at his hand and then his face.

Cooper wanted to stand up next to her, have those blue eyes looking up at him. But that would be torture. She’s eighteen, his head screamed.