No Turning Back (Breaking the Rules #4) - A.M. Madden Page 0,3
a laid-back way. Ricky, equally good looking with his thick blond hair and ice-blue eyes, had more of a California vibe going. And when together, once it was obvious that they were a couple, the disappointed faces on females in their wake spoke volumes. “How was Hawaii?”
“Eh, you’ve seen one tropical paradise in a private helicopter tour, you’ve seen them all,” Cooper quipped. Cooper wasn’t being facetious in any way. Between the two, Cooper would be happy with a book, a beer, and a beach. Ricky was the driving force behind their adventures.
“So ungrateful,” Ricky predictably countered with an eye roll.
“Stop. You know your fortune is the real reason I married you.” I giggled when Cooper grinned. It was true that Ricky was very rich, but that was most definitely a bone of contention for Cooper. Ricky had inherited it all from his father and has since done amazing things with his money. Ricky, along with his best friends Marco and Rebecca, all started a luxury cruising business that was very successful. Marco’s wife, Rebecca, was also Cooper’s sister.
It had taken some time for Cooper to accept Ricky’s wealth. As a college professor, Cooper enjoyed a salary that afforded him a comfortable lifestyle. But being with Ricky forced Cooper to accept all the spoils that came along with him.
After they’d gotten married last June, the newlyweds had traveled whenever Cooper had been on break from the university. They always made it a point to send a postcard or a gift from some exotic location—or simply to check in with me. After a few months in which I hadn’t seen them, they had made the trip up from Florida to spend the holidays in Jersey with Cooper’s family.
As they always had, the Stantons invited me to join them on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Being one of five, Cooper came from a large brood, and when Cooper and I had dated, they had welcomed me into their clan with open arms. Even now, they continued to consider me part of their family.
Cooper’s mother had taken our breakup very hard. We got along so well, and after things ended between us, Cooper had let it slip she’d hoped I’d be her daughter-in-law someday. That was well before Cooper had come out to his family. Once he had, they’d all accepted his new reality without question, but they still cared about me.
I’d been blessed with exes. My first serious boyfriend came from the same caring, considerate, generally good people kind of stock as Cooper. Although I loved Cooper, the man before him was the love of my life. I had no doubt if he hadn’t been relocated to California, we would’ve still been together to this day. But life had gotten in the way, and after three years had gone by, I knew we weren’t meant to be. Last I heard, he was engaged to be married, and I was so happy he had found his person.
“All kidding aside, Hawaii was spectacular,” Cooper went on to say. “You would love it, Ree.”
“Someday,” I said wistfully.
It was Cooper’s turn to study my face. “You okay, sweetie?”
Schooling my features to hide my nervousness, I nodded eagerly. “I am, and I have a lot to tell you guys. But first, anything new on your end with the”—I waved my hand—“you know.”
The jovial expressions slipped a bit off their handsome faces. “Unfortunately, no. It’s been exhausting,” Cooper said with dismay.
“I’m sorry. I can only assume how stressful it’s been.”
“It’ll happen,” Ricky chimed in. “I may be sixty by then, but it’ll happen.”
“Well, I have some information that may be of interest to you.” On cue, both their eyes lit up, giving me the boost I needed to reveal my plan.
“You know someone who would be interested, Ree?”
“Yes, I do.”
Cooper sliced his gaze to Ricky before coming back to stare into my eyes. “We’re listening.”
“Good… but I want you to hear me out and not say a word. Okay?” Once they both nodded, I took a deep breath and crossed my fingers.
Chapter Two
Riana
“Well, for starters… Angels on Earth had to let me go. My last day is in two weeks.”
“Oh no,” they said in unison.
“It’s fine. I’ll find something else. There are plenty of nonprofit organizations needing help. I kind of see it as a door opening and not closing.” And the timing was perfect for what I had planned.
“That’s a great attitude, Ree,” Cooper said. “Whatever you need, we’re here for you. No matter what.” He gave me that