by Lori Foster
Laughing, Phoenix replied, Shut it.
Does he need me to give him pointers on better places to touch? Your big sis is here for you so just let me know.
Telling the truth, Phoenix replied, It was... She had to stop to think of the right word.
Yes?
Intimate. After sending the text, she waited in an agony of suspense.
Like a prelude to a kiss?
Yes. Thrilled that Ridley had understood, her fingers flew as she texted, But we weren’t alone.
So no kiss? Ridley included a sad face.
No kiss, Phoenix confirmed. And I’m not sure I’m ready for that anyway.
Ten speed, Ridley shot back. Lots of pedaling. You’ve got this!
In the off chance a kiss became an option, Phoenix hoped her sister was right. She didn’t relish the idea of freezing up and making a fool of herself in front of Cooper.
While locking up the maintenance shed, she replied, Thank you for always being my cheerleader, but now I have to get back to work.
If a kiss happens, I want to be the first to know. Promise me.
Laughing again, more than she had in months, Phoenix typed in, I promise! Now I really do have to go. Love you, byeeee...
Still grinning, she returned the phone to her pocket and stuck her head out the door to peer up at the thick clouds in the sky. It was getting darker by the minute, but the rain continued to hold off. Deciding she had enough time to grab a quick sandwich and a five-minute shower before heading to the lodge, she hurried to her cabin.
On her way in, she noticed the smeared clumps of muddy footprints on the small porch and frowned. She checked the bottoms of her own shoes, and while she had a few leaves stuck to the soles, she’d avoided the mud.
Cooper, maybe? Had he looked for her? The thought added to her aberrant bubbly mood, sticking with her while she ate and rushed through a shower and a fresh change of clothes.
The outside lights flickered on as she made her way to the lodge. Long shadows followed her. Very few people were around the usually busy lanes, but those who were outside waved at her and offered greetings, undaunted by the miserable weather.
Only one man, probably in his early thirties, continually gave her sly glances, making her uneasy with his furtive interest. She tried a friendly smile but he quickly looked away rather than speak to her. For a moment that stymied her, but he went into his camper, so she dismissed him from her mind and continued on her way.
Hugging her arms around herself, Phoenix looked over the park. Many people had set out lights to counter the gray day, or they had small blazes going in their fire rings. Music carried on the humid air, not intrusive but rather soothing. She could see the lake in the distance, turbulent from the storm. Lights from the shore danced over the surface. Two men hidden inside rain slickers fished off a dock. The buoys bobbed wildly in the water.
On impulse, Phoenix captured the scene with a photo and loaded it to her Facebook page, tagging her sister in it. She captioned it with: Even on rainy days, Cooper’s Charm is beautiful. It was the first post she’d made in a while, and it felt good to do something so mundane.
As she continued on to the lodge, the wind buffeted her face and shook rain droplets from the wet leaves overhead. A couple of kids ran past her, followed closely by more sedate adults. She watched them go into the lodge and a few seconds later, she did the same.
Without realizing it, as soon as she stepped inside she looked for Cooper—and didn’t see him in the crowd. A little deflated, ridiculous as that seemed, she edged around the perimeter of the room to avoid the most congested area.
She was in a good mood and didn’t want to risk the usual tension-coiling effect she got from crowds. She should have been over it by now, but large groups still brought back memories of that eventful day on the lot, with so many people coming and going as they purchased holiday supplies and Christmas trees. After closing, she’d been rejoicing over the profitable day, happy at her success, oblivious to everything else...until the door to her small shop had crashed open and the armed men had rushed inside.
She assumed they’d been there earlier in the evening, when one of them rasped, “You did a lot of business today, didn’t you, honey? Should have a full cash drawer, so hand it over.”
Of course, terror-stricken at the sight of the weapons and masked faces, she’d done so immediately. She hadn’t given a thought to the money she’d lose. They’d also taken the engagement ring off her finger and the beautiful, delicate necklace that her sister had given her, and still she hadn’t protested.
Unfortunately, they weren’t satisfied with those things.
One of the men had stood in front of her, lingering, leering, until finally he’d said, “Take off the sweater.”
With his face hidden, all she’d seen was the icy anticipation in his eyes. His cohort’s laugh sent terror up her spine. She’d tried to run, but—
“Hey, Phoenix.”
Snapped back to the here and now, Phoenix realized that she’d been standing near the wall, staring blankly as she rehashed events she’d dearly love to bury.
“I didn’t mean to startle you.” Joy stood before her, compassion and concern reflected in her gaze. “Are you okay? You look a little...dazed.”
Mortification sent a rush of burning heat into Phoenix’s face. Happy commotion churned around her as people jostled for seats to play bingo; they were enjoying the night, talking with neighbors, making new friends...and she’d been reliving a nightmare.
Pushing the memories aside, she tried to smile, reminding herself that she was a strong woman forging a future here. “Yes, I’m fine.” Other than being horribly embarrassed. “I just—”
“It’s okay.” With a gentle touch to her arm, Joy said, “I’ve been there a few times myself.”
Phoenix sincerely hoped Joy had never gone through anything remotely like what she’d suffered, but then again, there were a variety of troubles to go around, some less in severity, some far, far worse.
Despite the craziness of the night and the raging storm, Joy looked as cool and elegant as ever. Her long hair was undisturbed by the humidity, and her chic sleeveless dress was soft and fresh.
Next to her, Phoenix felt like a sack of dirty laundry.
“Can I get you anything?” Joy asked. “Maybe a drink?”
Phoenix rushed to say, “I came over to help you, not take up more of your time. I should probably warn you, though, I’d be better with the kids than with adults.”
Joy watched her a second more before smiling. “That would be wonderful, thank you. Follow me.” She turned and led the way to a slightly separate area where more than twenty kids sat at very low tables with paper plates, glue sticks, uncooked pasta and washable markers.
Joy paused next to her son, a cutie with pale blond hair and big brown eyes. “Jack, this is wonderful.” She lifted the plate with colorful macaroni glued haphazardly around the edge of the plate and a burst of spaghetti in the middle. “I love it.”
Jack gave it some thought. “It needs more blue.”
Joy’s brows went up. “I believe you’re right.” She set the plate back in front of him, stroked a hand over his fair hair, then answered a little girl calling her name. Before she was done with that, another girl had a question, and then a little boy needed the bathroom.
Laughing, Joy clapped her hands to get their attention. “Kids, this is Ms. Rose and she’s going to help out while I get some other things done.”
The boys and girls, in a variety of ages, reacted with smiles, questions or total disregard.
Joy said, “Ms. Rose, Amanda has been a big helper. Amanda, you won’t mind helping Ms. Rose?”
Amanda looked around nine or ten, was tall for her age, and she beamed with the responsibility.
The little boy who needed the restroom left with Joy, but she return
ed him a few minutes later. He immediately ran back to his craft. Luckily, the kids wore stick-on name tags and that made it easier for Phoenix.
She had so much fun that she barely took note of shouts and laughter from the nearby adults. Ninety minutes later, she sat cross-legged on the floor at the kid-height table, absorbed in a new craft with the kids while also snacking on juice boxes and cheese crackers, when she became aware of the shadow cast over the table.
Her heartbeat went a little chaotic, but it wasn’t fear doing that to her; instincts caused the reaction because she knew right away it was Cooper behind her. Tipping her head back, she found him smiling down at her.
Phoenix didn’t know what it was about him, but he stole her breath away.
“Beautiful artwork, Ms. Rose.” He glanced at her elephant made from a foam cup and construction paper.
“Hi.” She set aside her craft and, flattening her hands on the table, started to stand.
“Let me.” Cooper caught her under the arms and lifted her upright. Once on her feet, she quickly turned to face him.
He wore a dry T-shirt and jeans, but his hair was still damp. Though he’d finger-combed it back, already thick locks fell forward again.
Before the attack—and prior to her engagement—Phoenix had been like any other woman. When faced with a man as compelling as Cooper Cochran, she could have flirted and teased as easily as anyone else. Now she adjusted her glasses and tried to think of something to say.
As if she weren’t awkward, he asked, “Did I interrupt?”
Reluctantly replacing her glasses, she glanced at the kids. Their small bodies crowded over the table as they alternately ate handfuls of crackers and worked on their creations. “There’s no interrupting snack time.”
“Or creative genius?” he asked, taking in all the various pieces of artwork drying on tables, shelves and along the wall heater.
“Exactly.” Why did he always smell so good? “You finally caught a break?”
“It’s been busy,” he agreed. “I’ve seen you running a lot, too. Did you eat?”
“I—”
A flash of lightning illuminated every window, followed by a great boom of thunder—and the lights went out. Night had rolled around without her realizing it, and it was very dark inside the building.
Pandemonium ensued.
She heard a crash, someone shouted, one of the kids cried out and landed against her legs. Since she’d been facing Cooper, she stumbled into his rock-solid body.
Hard, warm, and that intoxicating scent... His hands clasped her shoulders.
“I’m sorry,” she started to say, her palms against his chest to balance herself, but she got jostled again and almost fell.
Her glasses slipped off her face. She made a wild grab for them but it was already too late. Where they went, she didn’t know, but the child squeezing the back of her knees drew her attention. “Oh, honey, it’s okay.” Blindly, she reached back and found the top of his head. “I’m right here.” Then louder, for all the children, she said, “Everything is okay. Just stay still a moment until—” She felt the crunch beneath her foot and froze.
Another child shrieked.
“It’s like a game,” Cooper said, his voice strong and soothing, naturally calming the children. He kept one hand on her shoulder while addressing them. “Count to ten and we’ll have light again, I promise.”
As he started to count, so did the kids.
“I’m on it,” Joy called out, just as emergency lights flickered on. A second later, she lifted a bright lantern.
Phoenix realized she was standing very close to Cooper although she couldn’t see him clearly. “My glasses...”
“Damn.” He knelt down and said with regret, “Found them.”
Having Cooper Cochran at her feet was a little disarming, especially with his large hand now burning against her waist. Trying for a note of levity, she said, “Please tell me I’m not standing on them.”
“Wish I could.”
She groaned theatrically, but inside she was cringing. Just her luck.
He urged her back a step, then stood again. “Can you see without them?”
“Big blurry shapes, but not details.”
He took her hand and placed the glasses in it. “I don’t know if it helps, but you only stepped on one side.”
They felt mangled, one plastic arm completely missing and the lens on that side cracked.
“I guess one lens is better than none.” She lifted the broken glasses to her face and, closing her right eye, peered through the remaining lens. Now that they weren’t in darkness, most of the kids merely seemed concerned. The child holding her legs, however, squeezed tighter, making her stumble.
Slipping an arm around him, Phoenix maneuvered him to her side, then went with him back to the table. The other kids huddled closer to her. Making a joke of it, she looked at them comically out of the broken glasses, earning a few giggles.
“Help me out, kids. If you’re still here, call out your name, okay? Right now I can’t see so great.”
Jack was the first to shout his name, followed by the rest of them, each trying to be louder than the other. Behind her, she heard Cooper laugh.
She liked that he was patient with kids. Had he wanted children of his own before his wife passed? She had a feeling he’d have been a terrific father.
Just as suddenly as the lights had gone out, they came back on. Now that they could safely navigate, parents came to collect their children. Apparently, it was late enough to call it a night, because everyone began dispersing.
Cooper hung around with her as she spoke to the different parents. When they were finally alone, he asked, “Do you have another pair of glasses anywhere?”
“In my car.” At the top of the lot. She sighed. Getting there without her glasses would be tricky, especially in the dark.
Cooper curled a finger under her chin and tipped up her face. “Let me pick up real quick, then I’ll get them for you. I’ll only be a minute.”
She saw him move away and knew he was gathering up the supplies left behind from the rushed mass exodus. “I can do that,” she said, using the glasses like a monocle.
He laughed at her. “I think it’ll get done quicker if I just take care of it.”
True enough, he was just about finished already. Joy had supplied bins for the crafts, so most everything just went back into those, sorted by paper, scissors, then markers, paint and crayons.
After he wiped off the table, Cooper took her arm. “Let’s go. I’ll take you to your cabin and get your keys, then I’ll get the glasses.”
“I can do it.” She didn’t want to impose on him, especially after he’d had such a busy day. “I still have one lens to see.”
He hesitated. “I’d feel better about it if I walked with you.”
There was that protectiveness again. “If you’re sure you wouldn’t mind, then I’d appreciate it. But we don’t need to go to the cabin. I have my keys on me.” Since she kept her cabin locked, her keys hung from a clip on a belt loop.
“Great.” His fingers wrapped gently around her arm just above her elbow. “Come on.” He led her through the building, pausing to talk with Daron and Joy to explain where they were going.
Daron laughed at her, but Joy was apologetic.
“It’s not your fault that I was clumsy.”
With Jack leaning against her hip, Joy said, “But you were helping me.”
“I had fun. The kids were great.”
Daron hoisted Jack up to his shoulders. “I’ll help her close up,” he said. “Go get Phoenix’s glasses before she runs into a wall. I want her hale and hardy tomorrow to help with all the cleanup we’re going to have to do.”
“I’ll start early,” Phoenix promised.
Daron groaned in feigned dread. “Give me until nine, at
least.”
“Oh yeah, you have a hot date, don’t you?”
He nodded. “And I’ll probably need to sleep in.”
Joy rolled her eyes. “Go on, you two. We won’t be much longer, especially with Romeo here anxious to be on his way.”
Outside, they ran into Baxter, who’d stopped by to see if they needed anything else before he left for his home away from the park.
If he noticed Cooper’s hand on her arm, he didn’t mention it.
“Maris is doing okay?” she asked.
“Already closed up shop, and I saw her to her RV. She’s in for the night.”
Cooper thanked him, and then they started the long walk up the drive to the top parking area.
4
Coop struggled with himself every step of the way. The air was dark and thick around them, sounds muted by the night. The beams from the security lights didn’t travel far in the fog. It was only ten, but felt more like midnight. Though he’d worked all day, he wasn’t tired.
Far from it.
Beside him, Phoenix remained quiet, concentrating on where she stepped. The loss of her glasses gave him the perfect excuse to touch her, but with every heartbeat he was mindful of what she’d been through. Slow, he reminded himself. Considerate, cautious and slow.
Beneath the loose, long-sleeved shirt she wore, he felt the warmth of her arm against his palm.
He wanted to kiss her.
And he felt guilty because of it.
“Watch it.” He steered her a little to the right. “Daron was right. The park is a mess.”
“I cleared up what I could earlier, but with the wind still blowing, more branches are going to come down.”
“I know. Just as everyone helped out today, we can all pitch in tomorrow to get things back in order.”
“I imagine you’ll have your hands full with other things. Besides, I don’t mind the work. I like to stay busy.”
Without meaning to, Coop caressed her arm with his thumb. “It helps you to forget?”
Though she kept walking, a kind of stillness settled around her. When the seconds ticked by, he thought she might not reply.
