through Nathan’s closet until she found dark, acid-washed jeans and a black sports coat. “Add a black T-shirt and your loafers and you’re set.”
“Those shoes pinch my feet.” Nathan sighed and began to unbutton his shirt.
Cooper placed her hands over his. “Leave that to me,” she whispered. She kissed him as she pushed each button gently through its hole and then slowly lowered the shirt off his shoulders. “I’m so glad you’ll be with me tonight.”
“As if I’d let you be alone with Edward. I’m done sharing you,” he murmured into her hair and slipped his hands beneath her sweater. “Your turn.”
Nathan’s arms tightened around Cooper’s bare back and their kisses grew in hunger. It took an intense effort for Cooper to detach herself from the embrace. “We don’t have that much time.” She smiled and turned away to finish dressing. Groaning, Nathan followed suit and then sat on the edge of the bed and watched as Cooper zipped up her knee-high black leather boots.
“You’re beautiful. No, you’re downright sexy. And those boots?” He ran his hand up her leg. “Do I get to take them off later?”
Cooper swatted him. “Stop it! I still have to put gobs of makeup on and tease my hair until I look like the frontman for an eighties rock band.”
Holding his hands up in surrender, Nathan laughed. “That’s a surefire way to stop me from trying to seduce you. Now I’m thinking about Jon Bon Jovi.”
“Good. Keep him in mind until we’re alone again.”
The roads were slick and treacherous, and Nathan maneuvered Sweet Pea through the nearly deserted downtown streets with care. Club Satin wasn’t far from his Fan District house, but the prevalence of black ice forced him to drive with extreme caution. By the time they arrived in the public parking lot where Cooper had planned to meet Edward, they were fifteen minutes late.
Nathan parked alongside Edward’s cab, which was idling beneath one of the lot’s few streetlights.
“I see you brought back-up,” was Edward’s only comment as he opened the passenger door and held out a hand for Cooper. Before she could answer, he pointed at the black carrying case on her lap. “Is that your own cue?”
“I told you I used to play,” she answered cryptically.
Edward studied her for a moment. “We’ll keep an eye on Albion and his crew as we shoot. If things go well and we kick ass on the pool tables, we’ll end up talking to our big fish.”
“Anything I can do to help?” Nathan inquired. “I admit to being out of my league here, but an extra pair of eyes might be useful.”
“Our friend Jake’s coming, too,” Cooper added. “He’s probably inside already.”
If Edward was surprised or displeased by this revelation, he didn’t show it. “You go in separate from us and hang out with Jake,” he told Nathan. “Buy some drinks, get some food, and pay attention to the girls. Pick one to spend some money on and tell her you were a friend of Miguel’s and that he always talked about the club. See what she’s got to say.” Edward unzipped his leather coat, revealing a tight shirt emblazoned with a smoking pool cue and the text, “Shut Up and Shoot.”
“What if she gets suspicious?” Nathan asked.
“Then she’ll squeal to Albion and we’ll know for sure Miguel was one of his runners. It’d be a lead, but not a good one, so you should try to play it cool and leave the tricky stuff to me. We don’t want Albion paying attention to any of us until the time is right,” Edward explained. “If the girls blow you off, we’ll find a way to send Cooper into the viper’s pit. Albion likes blondes. You get what I’m saying?”
Nathan nodded and Edward seemed satisfied. “If I need to tell you something, I’ll approach you. Just be regular Joes in there. Watch the women and drink your beer.”
“Be careful,” Nathan told Cooper and then kissed her on the mouth as though Edward wasn’t watching. “Listen to your gut. If something feels wrong, then leave. Finding Miguel’s killer is important, but don’t risk your own safety tracking him down.”
“I’m not backing down now,” Cooper insisted firmly. “But I promise not to do anything stupid. You’ll have to settle for that.” She softened the strength of her words by squeezing his arm reassuringly.
Once Nathan was out of sight, Cooper was forced to face Edward’s dark, questioning gaze. “He’s my boyfriend, okay? He wasn’t going to sit at home