Read The Rebel (The Millionaire Malones Book 3) for Free Online

the first time in your goddamn life, will youlisten to me and do what I say?’
    Cooper’s looked at her, his expression serious. ‘I’ll be fine here. I can order food in. I’ve got beer. And you’ve got too much to do without having me hanging around.’
    ‘Cooper Malone, you big idiot. Don’t you know what goes around comes around? Do you want me to count how many times you have been there for Evan and me over the years?’ Maggie stopped. She didn’tneed to say more. The softening look in his eyes told her he knew what she meant. He’d been wonderful to her son. He’d been there for her more times than she could count. As a friend. She knew he felt some kind of twisted responsibility for Evan, seeing it was his friend who ran out on them. Cooper had never let Evan down. Ever. When he’d promised something to her little man, he’d delivered.
    ‘For fuck’s sake, Maggie …’
    She lifted her hands to stop the discussion, like she did with Evan when he wanted to debate the finer points of watching extra cartoons on a Sunday morning. ‘No discussion. And I’m not doing this for you, in case you’re asking. Evan will be miserable until you’re better.’
    ‘I’m not going with you, Maggie,’ Cooper said through gritted teeth. ‘I don’t need looking after.’

    ‘Oh yeah?’ she said and then turned towards his bedroom door. ‘Now I’m calling in my backup. Evan!’
    At the sound of his name, Evan bolted into Cooper’s bedroom. ‘Yeah, Mommy?’
    She stretched an arm out and her son came into it for a hug. ‘Guess what? Cooper’s coming to stay with us for a while. Until his knee gets better.’
    Evan’s mouth fell wide open in shock and joy and he began to bounce upand down like an Energiser bunny. ‘You mean like a sleepover?’
    Cooper snorted and Maggie ignored it. ‘Kind of. We’ve got a big job to do, you and me. We have to look after him until he’s all better.’
    ‘Cool.’ Evan held his hand out to Cooper for a high five.
    The smile returned to the big man’s face. ‘Thanks, mate.’
    When Cooper realised he’d been played, he looked up at Maggie and muttered underhis breath. ‘You’ll pay for this.’
    She narrowed her eyes at him. ‘I fully expect to.’

Chapter Four
    ‡
    A n hour later, after they’d packed some things for Cooper and arrived back at Maggie’s house, Cooper was standing in the doorway of Maggie’s bedroom, his arms up high on the frame. She was behind him, her flat palms planted in the small of his back, just abovethe curve of his butt, nudging him forward. He was trying not to think about the warmth of her hands on his back. He was finding it a little distracting, especially since he’d caught her checking out his package earlier. To say that had thrown him off his game was the understatement of the year.
    ‘C’mon, Cooper, you’re being ridiculous.’
    ‘Am not.’
    ‘Are too,’ Maggie answered.
    ‘Am not,’ he replied.

    ‘Are too.’
    He twisted his neck to look back and down at her, trying not to smirk. ‘What are you, ten years old?’
    ‘Shut up and get in there,’ Maggie said as she gave him an extra push. Why she thought her strength could match his—even with his injury—he had no idea.
    ‘Maggie Mac? This is a first. I never thought I’d be saying this while standing in the doorway of a woman’s bedroom, but I’m notgoing in there.’
    What the hell was this woman thinking? He was here in her little house against his will, thanks to her conniving—yet genius—tactic of getting Evan involved. And now? She wanted to give up her own bed for him?
    ‘Oh, yes, you most definitely are. There is no way on God’s little green earth that you will fit on the sofa bed in my office. Especially having to keep that leg straight.I’m a short ass so it works fine for me.’
    Maggie snuck under his raised arm and stood in the middle of her bedroom. He glanced around it. It was girly. Not pink-and lacy-girly—Maggie wasn’t that kind