One-Amazing-Night Baby!. Heidi Rice

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СКАЧАТЬ found a parking space within walking distance from Penny’s single-storey brick house. Cooper’s thumb grazed a button on the steering wheel and the CD noise was shut off. Sophie eased out a breath. That particular blues collection was so not her favourite.

      From the console, Cooper claimed the defining piece of his costume. He left the car and a moment later swung open her passenger side door. Before her stood Erik, super-sexy Phantom of the Opera.

      After realigning his simple white mask, which covered only half his face, he swirled and flicked his long black cape. His Transylvanian accent was impressive. ‘How do I look?’

      She grinned. She loved this lighter side of his personality.

      She accepted his leather-gloved hand and eased out into the cool night air. ‘Wrong horror movie. You’re doing vampire central.’

      He glossed a hand over his slicked-back hair. ‘I thought at a pinch Mr Hyde …’

      Cooper was no angel, but Sophie didn’t want to think about him being that brutish.

      She shook her head. ‘Sorry. That voice is not Phantom, not Hyde. Definitely Dracula.’

      Taken by surprise, she squealed when he tipped her back forty-five degrees. His nose rested one side of hers. ‘That could fit in nicely with my new sucking preference.’

      His fresh-mint breath and the rumble in his chest almost undid her, but she wouldn’t let him know her bones had already begun to dissolve and she’d like nothing better than to feel his teeth dance over her skin.

      Light-headed, she managed to push out a rebuke. ‘Put the fangs away, Drac-boy.’

      With a flourish, he swept her back onto her feet. ‘You’re no fun tonight, Christine. That costume is misleading.’

      She smoothed the nineteenth-century replica peignoir which covered her corset and white stockings. Her hairstyle hadn’t changed from Jane’s—long, curly, loose.

      He looped her arm through his and, bathed in the golden glow of the full moon hanging in the Southern Cross sky, meandered up the sidewalk.

      He checked his watch. ‘A couple of hours should wrap this up.’

      She started. ‘We haven’t even said hello yet!’

      Jaw tight, he tampered with his cravat. ‘I’m not much for parties.’

      Or was it that he was eager to get her back home?

      However, Sophie could admit she wasn’t much for party small talk either. Nothing worse than those long awkward pauses with someone you’d only just met. Except when they stole a glance over your shoulder to see who might rescue them.

      However, that wouldn’t be a problem tonight. ‘These are my friends.’

      ‘Hopefully not all as transparent as dear Penny.’

      Sophie cringed. Would Cooper like her friends? Nowadays she more often went out with her teacher friends than anyone here tonight, but irrespective of that … would Cooper be the kind of husband who backed a girls’ night out? Or would he turn into a leave-’em-pregnant-and-barefoot type?

      And what about that? Maybe he wanted a dozen children? She hadn’t thought past one. Not that they were getting married. They were not getting married. It was impossible.

      Wasn’t it?

      Pocahontas—aka Penny—opened the door. On seeing Phantom, her face, between the long black braids, lit up. Her full lips slanted.

      ‘My John Smith couldn’t make it.’ She acknowledged Sophie briefly. ‘Mind if I borrow yours?’

      ‘The name’s Cooper Smith,’ he reminded her politely.

      ‘Cooper. Of course.’ Penny’s white moccasins and endless tanned legs made way as she gestured them through into her party-in-full-swing abode. Somewhere nearby a champagne cork popped and cheers went up. ‘Care for a cup of my special punch, Cooper? It packs quite a—’ She blushed. ‘Well … punch.’

      Cooper’s smile managed to be both dazzling and thin. ‘I’m sure Sophie would enjoy one too.’

      Sophie didn’t have to think this time. Purely for Penny’s sake, she gave Cooper a private smile. ‘We did work up quite a thirst this afternoon—didn’t we, hon?’

      Cooper’s brows lifted. First in surprise, then in approval. He didn’t need more encouragement.

      Fooling with her peignoir’s lacy neckline, he stage-whispered, ‘Darling, you promised not to mention that once we got here.’ Appropriately embarrassed, he turned to their hostess. ‘Thank you, Penny. Punch would be great.’ He touched his throat and rasped, ‘I am rather dry.’

      As they moved off, Penny prattled on about her house renovations. Cooper stopped and held a hand out to Sophie. ‘Coming?’

      The time seemed right for payback for crossing the loincloth line earlier tonight. ‘You’ve so looked forward to catching up with Penny.’ She blew a kiss. ‘I’ll see you both later.’

      Above a knowing half-grin, his unmasked eye shot playful daggers as Penny dragged him and his billowing cape away.

      Left alone, Sophie inhaled the aroma of the hot finger-food doing the rounds, then appraised the milling crowd—Terminator, Dorothy from Oz, Edward Scissorhands and, if she wasn’t mistaken, Pamela Anderson, in a red one-piece that didn’t come close to covering her famous bust.

      Sophie rearranged her peignoir and smiled. Cooper was the kind of man most women dreamed about. Completely and irrevocably masculine. Confident to the point of arrogance. But Sophie didn’t feel the least concerned that she would lose his attention tonight. Not because she considered herself more attractive or entertaining than any woman here, or because they were close to being in love. But rather because she was the mother of Cooper’s unborn child, and right now that was all he could see. She would be a fool to think otherwise.

      From behind, a set of hands swept over her eyes and Sophie jumped. She pulled them off and spun around to see Kate’s razor-cut red hair hidden beneath a thirties-style blonde wig.

      Kate circled her. ‘Oh my God, Sophie—look at you!’

      In a shredded dress and rope bracelets, Sophie was guessing Kate was King Kong’s date, Fay Wray.

      Kate’s brow wrinkled. ‘Have you lost weight?’

      For once in her life Sophie felt wonderful saying, ‘I’ve put a little on.’

      Kate’s gaze sharpened. ‘What happened after Wendy’s wedding? You didn’t return any of my calls.’ She craned a look around the busy, dimly lit room. ‘Are you with that guy tonight?’

      ‘As a matter of fact …’ She buffed her nails.

      Kate pressed a palm to her chest. ‘I lost my breath when he carried you away like that.’

      ‘Knocked me out too,’ Sophie admitted.

      That СКАЧАТЬ