by Lori Foster
Sounding glum, Maris said, “Odds are it’ll be a thunderstorm that shuts down everything.”
“I don’t mind storms.” In fact, she usually liked them. For Phoenix, they helped to insulate her in her own little world, away from memories that could still cut deep.
“Storms mean you can’t work,” Maris explained. “But it also means everyone in the park is going to try crowding in here or the rec center for indoor entertainment.”
“If I’m not working, I could come by and help you.”
Maris gave a look to Daron and Baxter. “Notice neither of them made that offer.”
Daron leaned over the counter. “You want me to keep you company, Maris?” His eyebrows bobbed. “Be happy to oblige.”
Baxter shook his head. “She’s turned you down...what? A dozen times? Give it a rest already.”
“When I can sense victory? No way!”
With a slight flush to her skin, Maris rolled her eyes, then concentrated on Phoenix. “I just took some scones out of the oven. Cranberry orange. Want one?”
“Oh, that sounds delicious.”
Baxter scowled past Phoenix at Daron. “I’m blaming you for us not getting scones.”
“Me? What’d I do?”
“What haven’t you done?” Maris asked.
He grinned. “Not much.”
“You brag like a high school boy,” she accused.
“Any high school boy who’s been with you probably had reason to brag.”
Maris fried him with a look. “What the hell does that mean?”
“Yeah...” Sheepish, he rubbed the back of his neck. “That didn’t come out quite right. I didn’t mean bragging rights because they scored.”
Maris’s expression darkened further.
“I meant because you’re a catch. You know, if you gave them any attention, it was reason to brag.”
This time Maris rolled her eyes. “If you have to explain it—”
“Should’ve kept my mouth shut, I know.”
Phoenix couldn’t help but laugh. Serious come-ons, even when not directed at her, could still make her fidgety, but ridiculous teasing only amused her, and Daron was all about the ridiculous.
Maris didn’t appear to have the same reaction as she set the plate on the bar counter. “I suppose there’s enough to go around.”
“You see?” Daron said as he reached for a flaky scone. “Deep down, she adores me.”
Right before his fingers touched the plate, Maris snatched it out of his reach. She put two on a napkin in front of Phoenix, and two in front of Baxter. With her nose in the air, she headed into the kitchen.
Undaunted, Daron turned puppy dog eyes on Phoenix.
Grinning, she took one and scooted the napkin with the other over to him. “You’re shameful.” Using the excuse of following Maris, she slipped out from between the two men.
The phone in her pocket buzzed with a message.
Knowing it would be Ridley, she withdrew it and saw, Good morning, doll across the screen.
Smiling, she texted back, Good morning. Storms here. You?
Sunny skies. As usual, Ridley added, I miss you.
And as usual, Phoenix replied, I miss you, too. I’ll visit soon.
You keep saying that.
Yes, she did, but she wasn’t yet ready. She wanted to be herself when she saw Ridley again. She needed to prove that she was strong enough to reclaim her life.
Soon, she promised herself. Very soon.
Rather than explain all that to Ridley, which would have her big sister sweeping in for a rescue, she quickly texted, I’m at work. Gotta go.
Love you, Phoenix.
Her heart swelled. Love you, too.
Caught by the wind, the door slammed opened again and Cooper stepped in. More powerful than the storm, he commanded attention in his calm, take-charge way.
The rain had darkened his sandy-brown hair, leaving it stuck in thick hanks to his forehead and neck. His wet T-shirt clung to his wide chest and shoulders. None of that seemed to bother him.
She’d thought Baxter was devastating, but now that Cooper joined them, the room felt smaller and far steamier. He had that type of presence about him, whether he intended to or not.
When it came to her reactions, no man could make her more physically aware than Cooper Cochran.
3
Phoenix drank in the sight of him. How a man could look so appealing, even when drenched, she didn’t know. She was a frazzled mess, her damp clothes drooping, and he only looked sexier because of the rain.
She thought of his invitation to swim privately, and the idea teased her. He’d made a point of letting her know that he appreciated her curves, which seemed odd since his wife had appeared to be very slim, yet she didn’t doubt his sincerity. She’d seen the admiration in his eyes and heard it in his deep voice.
She’d never obsessed much about her body. She’d “blossomed” early in life, which meant she’d gotten jibes, and then a ton of interest, from boys and later men. Her weight fluctuated depending on her life, so there were times when she was slimmer, and times when—like now—she’d put on pounds.
Of course, living in a hotel room while binge-eating takeout for an extended time explained her current weight gain. For too many nights she’d shut out the real world, even her family, and soothed her fears with food. She’d always been an outdoorsy person, but after the attack...instead of taking her comfort in sunshine and hard work, she’d consumed milkshakes, pizzas and loaded burgers with fries while watching whatever movie played on the television. Overall, she had amazing physical health with no medical issues, so if the scales fluctuated, she didn’t care.
She also didn’t expect to draw male appreciation. But she had—from Cooper.
His interest hit her on two levels, spiking her own sexual response, which hadn’t happened since before the attack, but it also struck an emotional chord because she knew he’d loved his wife, and yet he’d lost her.
How very difficult that must have been for a man like Cooper. Anyone could see he was a natural leader, and that went hand in hand with being protective.
She’d like to know how he’d lost his wife, but she also didn’t want to overstep.
With him now in the camp store, a heated mix of subdued wariness and unfamiliar exhilaration shimmered together through her blood. He brought with him the scent of the rain and the energy of the storm, making the other two men fade from her awareness.
Under one arm, Cooper carried a rolled, rubber-backed rug. Before fully entering, he spread it out on the floor and then used it to wipe his feet.
When he looked up and saw Phoenix, his entire demeanor changed, or so it seemed to her.
But maybe she was the only one getting flustered.
Maris emerged from the kitchen with a large towel. “Thanks, Coop.” She tossed the towel to him. “We already had two slips, Daron in a full wipeout, and Phoenix in a near miss. Luckily, Baxter caught her.”
For some reason, a blush stung her face. No one seemed to notice—except Cooper.
As he ran the towel over the back of his head and neck, his eyes never left her. “You’re not hurt?”
She shook her head. “No, not at all. But the rug’s a good idea.”
“It’s usually there,” Maris said, “but right before I closed last night a camper brought in his dog—and he peed on it.”
“The camper did?” Daron asked.
“No, his... Oh, hush.” While Daron snickered, Maris filled another cup of coffee and reached over the counter to hand it to Cooper. “The guy was horrified, but luckily he didn’t yell at the poor dog, who he said was still being trained.” As she headed back to the kitchen, she said over her shoulder, “I promised him it wasn’t a problem.”
“We’re pet friendly for most breeds,” Cooper t
old Phoenix, right before he stripped off his shirt and laid it over the back of a booth seat. Using the fluffy towel, he dried his impressive body—at least, impressive to her. No one else seemed to pay any attention.
Yet Phoenix couldn’t look away. Dark hair sprinkled his chest between his brown nipples, thickest in the middle between pronounced pec muscles. His skin was taut, firm over his midsection, more muscular at his abs. The hair teased around his navel, then cut into a thin line that disappeared into his low waistband.
Realizing where she stared, she desperately grabbed her own coffee to give herself a different focus.
Something other than his sleek skin, his firm muscles, his scent—and his overwhelming presence.
Did no one else feel it?
She glanced up again as he raised an arm, still drying off. Why did it feel so intimate to see the lighter skin on the underside of his biceps, the tufts of hair there? Lightning flashed through the windows and only a second later, thunder shook the floor, drawing her from her fascinated scrutiny.
Baxter lifted his coffee in a toast. “Looks like I’m off for the morning, too.”
Cooper moved to a window to look out. “Damn, it’s really coming down. Hopefully it blows over.” The wet waistband of his jeans hung low, and she could just see the top of dark, snug boxers. The tanned skin of his back glistened from the dampness.
Her palms tingled at the thought of touching him...
“More ogling?” Daron whispered, leaning close so no one else heard him.
Phoenix jumped as if goosed.
“I won’t tell,” he said, then grinned hugely.
“Nothing to tell,” Phoenix whispered back, but damn it, she knew her face was red.
“Uh-huh. That was a hungry look I saw, almost as if you were imagining him nekkid.” He tsked, his tone playful. “Does he know you’re—”
“Daron.” Neither of them noticed Cooper’s approach until he spoke. “Get hold of Joy and see if she can get some extra stuff set up in the lodge.”
“Sure thing.” He pulled his cell from his back pocket. As he stepped away, he said, “I’ll see if she needs any help, too.”
Phoenix had only met Joy Lee, the entertainment director, a few times. Her impression was of a tall, elegant woman with light brown hair, vivid green eyes and a cute five-year-old son that she adored. Joy took great pleasure in organizing activities for adults and children alike, and she did it with flair.
Baxter said, “I need to email folks that we’re canceled for this morning and iffy for the afternoon. After that, just let me know what you need.” He withdrew his own phone and headed to the back of the store to the dining tables.
Left alone with Cooper, Phoenix struggled to keep her gaze on his face, but it wasn’t easy. Even after toweling off, his skin looked dewy and his sparse chest hair fascinated her. It looked soft, a little darker than the hair on his head, but then, his brows and lashes were dark, too.
“Phoenix?”
It’d be easier not to stare if she wasn’t eye level with his chest.
Someone turned on music, and suddenly one of Kid Rock’s country songs filled the air. The way Daron grinned, she assumed he was the culprit. Even as he spoke on the phone, he winked at her.
The music ensured she and Cooper wouldn’t be overheard while speaking, and that somehow made his closeness more intimate.
Needing a distraction and fast, she dared a quick look up at Cooper. He stared down at her as if they weren’t in the middle of the camp store with three other people. His wet eyelashes created a compelling frame for his direct, amber eyes. He said nothing, just continued to look down at her.
Almost like he might kiss her.
Whoa. The air got thick enough to choke her.
Obviously, nothing in his lambent gaze would help her heartbeat slow down, so she hastily removed her glasses on the pretext of cleaning the lenses on the hem of her T-shirt.
While she couldn’t see him clearly, she asked, “I was thinking of helping Maris, unless there’s something else you want me to do?”
“Such a loaded question.”
She peered up at him, seeing only a blurred outline of his face. “What?”
“Never mind.” She sensed his smile as he shook his head. “Are you any good on the computer?”
Her tech skills sucked, but she could type, copy or print, so she said, “Depends on what you want done.”
Suddenly his fingertips touched under her chin, freezing her to the spot. “Are you going to put your glasses back on, or clean them until I leave?”
The challenge helped her catch her breath. She slipped on the glasses, then frowned up at him. “Better?”
“Definitely.” His voice deepened as he tipped her face up even more. “At least now I know you can see me.”
Yes, she saw him, and crazy as it seemed, she couldn’t stop thinking about leaning into him.
“Damn,” he whispered. His thumb brushed her jaw, then he withdrew his hand and looked around, almost as if he just realized they weren’t alone.
More thunder boomed. With a disgusted look at the window, he snagged his coffee and took a long drink. “Mmm, I needed that.”
Given the direction of her thoughts, he sounded far too sensual saying that. She cleared her throat. “Maris makes good coffee.” It’s why she often joined her instead of making it in her cabin, or so she told herself. But maybe the truth was that she didn’t want to drink her coffee alone.
Not anymore.
She picked up her own cup and sipped.
After half a minute, Cooper seemed to recollect himself. “If you wouldn’t mind, once Joy has a plan, you could put it on a flier and print out fifty copies. We’ll leave a stack up here on the counter for anyone dropping into the store.”
If he could be business as usual, then by God, she would, too. She forced a bright smile. “Great idea.” She glanced at Daron again, hoping he’d have the details from Joy, but he had a shoulder braced on the wall and was still talking—or, knowing Daron, it was more like flirting. “Soon as he lets me know what to print, I’ll take care of it.”
“Sounds good.” He finished off his coffee. “Will I see you at the lodge?”
The lodge aka rec center aka activity center was the largest building in the park. It was the main site for all activities from weddings and dancing to crafts and yoga. But that involved large groups of people and she preferred the solitude of her little cabin.
Before she could answer, Cooper said, “We could use your help tonight. It’ll probably be busier than usual.”
He’d just put her on the spot, and she had a suspicion he’d done so on purpose. Of course, she did work for the park, so it made sense that he’d want all hands on deck. “What if the weather clears up?”
“You still won’t be able to do more than clean up debris. The ground is saturated.” He crowded closer and lowered his voice. “I know you’re not keen on joining in, but it would be helpful.”
He didn’t leave her much choice. “Then of course I’ll be there.”
Daron joined them. “Joy has it under control.”
“Took you that long to find out?” Cooper asked.
“Nope. But after I hung up with her, I got another call.” His mouth tipped into a crooked grin. “Now that I have a date, I know how I’ll be getting through the storm tonight.”
“Tonight,” Cooper repeated, “but today we’ll need you around.”
“Count on it.”
The first group of people dashed in, five of them together.
“Get those fliers done,” Cooper told her, before turning to talk to the guests.
Daron joined Phoenix in Maris’s small office space, giving her info on evening bingo for the adults and special games and crafts planned for the kids throughout the day. She had to admit, it did sound fun—though she’d nev
er played bingo before and had no real interest in starting now.
In no time, they had the fliers out. Daron headed off to help Joy set up, Baxter stuck around and helped take orders from a big morning crowd, and Phoenix happily ducked away to the kitchen to help with prep.
Cooper seemed to be everywhere, in and out of the rain as often as he was in the store, often helping campers with one problem or another. Each time she saw him, he’d obviously gotten drenched again with his hair plastered to his head, his shirt to his back. A look of deep concentration darkened his face, yet he remained friendly to all the campers.
Still, she couldn’t help but notice that there was something different in how he spoke with others compared to how he spoke with her. She couldn’t pinpoint the distinction, but she sensed it all the same.
Was he as interested as she was?
If so, would she be able to do anything about it? Given her recent history, she didn’t know.
By midafternoon, the rain had finally let up, but the skies stayed dark and the lightning continued as muted flashes behind thick clouds in the distance.
While she could, Phoenix went out to remove fallen branches from the road. That proved to be a bigger job than she’d anticipated, keeping her busy right through dinner. She was just storing the wagon when her phone buzzed.
Knowing it’d be Ridley, she pulled it out and read the screen.
You sent the shitty weather my way.
Sorry, she typed. It’s still drab here, too.
Does big sexy like the rain?
Grinning at the nickname Ridley gave to Cooper, she replied, Probably not, since it brings a lot of unique issues to the park. He’s been running all day.
So no time to woo you, huh? That sucks.
Phoenix bit her lip in indecision, but this was Ridley, the person she was closest to in the whole world, and damn it, she wanted to share. She took a breath and typed, Actually, he touched my chin.
As the seconds went by without a reply, her tension mounted. Finally, her screen blinked with ::Gasp:: Your chin? Seriously? That lecher.
