by Lori Foster
Because he didn’t want to pressure her, he said, “I didn’t mean to—”
“Yes.”
Nothing else. Just that single word. The urge to pause, to pull her in close and hold her, burned inside him. But that was not what he did. No, he did something far worse. “I understand.”
She glanced his way. “Do you?”
Damn. He didn’t want to talk about his wife and everything he’d lost. Shaking his head, he sidestepped. “You’re in the right place. There’s never a shortage of things to be done here.”
She released a tight breath. “Daron told me about the sign.”
That made him huff a laugh. “I still owe him for that stunt.”
“It’s a good name for such a nice park. And if the sign is vintage—”
“Vintage my ass,” he muttered. Phoenix’s husky laugh unfurled some long-dormant emotion inside him. “You think that’s funny?”
Playfully, she bumped against him. “I think you’re too modest to enjoy having the park named after you.”
“I’m not modest.”
“Yes, you are, otherwise everything here would be named after you. Like the camp store would be...I don’t know, maybe Cooper’s Corner Store.”
He grinned. “What about the scuba shop, the beach and the lodge?”
“Let me think on it.” She nudged her shoulder against his again. “It is pretty awesome, you know, having the place named after you. You should be proud. It’s beautiful and so well run.”
“I hire good people.”
“Yes, you do.”
“That includes you, Phoenix.” He looked at her profile, at the way her dark hair trailed down over her chest. She had a stunning figure, like an old-fashioned pinup. Her large breasts and generously curved ass only emphasized the narrower dip of her waist. She had a body that made it damned hard for him to concentrate. “I haven’t missed what a great job you’re doing.”
“Thank you.” Oblivious to his carnal struggle, she playfully peered at him through the single lens of her broken glasses. “It’s more about you, though. You’re so good with everyone, always helpful and welcoming. I know the visitors appreciate it.”
“I’m not always that involved, but sometimes it’s necessary.”
“Right,” she said in a disbelieving drawl. “From what I’ve seen, you’re far from an absentee boss.”
“Well, I do live here,” he said by way of explanation. “Makes it hard to dodge people when I’m a resident.”
Her mouth twitched. “You can’t tell me you don’t enjoy it. I’ve seen you in action.”
Accurate. When he’d first bought the park, it wasn’t to mingle.
It was more about saving himself.
These days, though, he did enjoy the vacationers more often than not. He definitely loved the area, too, with the scenery, fishing, scuba diving and walks in the woods...
Huh. It occurred to him that while he’d been thinking of himself as the same old angry, aloof man, he’d actually changed.
Bemused by that realization, he said, “You’ve interacted with enough of the guests to know how it is. The majority of them are friendly, which makes the occasional jerk easy to tolerate.”
“True.” To avoid a puddle, she stepped closer to him. He breathed in the scent of her shampoo, and the subtler scent of her skin. “Thank you for convincing me to go to the lodge tonight. I actually had fun.”
She sounded so surprised by that. Apparently, fun hadn’t been on the agenda much lately. “Even though your glasses got broken?”
“Yes, even with that.” They reached the top of the lot. “I’m parked over there. The yellow Ford Focus.”
He started down the row of ten cars. Large sycamore trees continually shook rain off their leaves, sprinkling them with every step they took.
“I’m sure you could tell I had reservations,” Phoenix continued, “but the kids were great.”
“They liked you.”
“And you.” She smiled. “You’re a natural with them.”
He took that like a blow to the heart—and he knew she noticed. Here in the upper lot with the security lighting brighter, how could she not?
Fighting off things he didn’t want to feel, Coop said, “If you ever want to talk about it, I’m a good listener.” Focusing on her, on her needs, was so much easier than dealing with his own.
They reached her car, and she stepped away from him, unhooking a key ring from her belt loop. “My sister says the same thing.”
He’d seen mention of her sister on her Facebook page. “What do you tell her?”
“That I’d rather work through it on my own.”
Since he’d felt the same, he understood that, too. “And are you?” He took the keys from her.
“Working through it? I think so.”
As he unlocked the door, he asked, “By working hard?”
“In part.”
The interior car light showed her tidy tendencies. “Where are the glasses?”
“Center console.” She crossed her arms and leaned against the wet side door. “You have such a...presence about you, like the alpha dog or something.”
That made him straighten, and he smacked his head on the ceiling of her small Ford. Damn. Trying to sound only mildly interested, he asked, “Alpha dog?”
“Leader of the pack. The guy who steps up and takes charge.”
Those sounded like compliments, but after what she’d been through, he couldn’t imagine her being a fan of bossy men. He found the glasses and backed out of the car. “I think you’re imagining things.”
“Adults feel it,” she claimed, “and they react to it. But the kids didn’t seem to notice.”
He opened the glasses and carefully set them on the bridge of her nose, taking the time to move her hair back so he could slide the arms into place on her ears.
For her part, Phoenix didn’t move, not to help—and not to stop him.
His hand lingered, toying with her thick, silky hair. He liked that she didn’t fuss with it much. Usually it was in a ponytail, but sometimes, like now, she left it loose.
Being so much bigger, his body cast her in shadow. He could still see her eyes, big behind the lenses of her glasses. The frames were bigger than her usual pair, a little dated but still cute.
“What about you?” he asked softly.
“I’m no alpha.”
Smiling, he took a step closer. “I mean, do you feel it? Whatever this presence is you’re talking about.”
She nodded slowly. “I do.” Her gaze dropped to his mouth. “Big-time.”
He was a goner, his guilt evaporating as if it had never been. He forgot all the reasons that he shouldn’t come on to her. He forgot that he still missed his wife. All of his attention was on Phoenix.
“Does it bother you?” The last thing he ever wanted to do was intimidate her or make her nervous.
“Maybe it did at first, but I’m getting used to the effect.” The tip of her tongue slipped out over her bottom lip. “Now, I might even like it.”
That was his last clear thought as his instincts took over. Coop tunneled his fingers into her hair close to her scalp and leaned down to take her mouth.
Tentative at first, he kissed her lightly, slowly. If she showed any reserve at all, he’d stop.
Hard as that would be.
With a small gasp, she slipped her hands up his chest to his shoulders.
Heat. Softness. Kissing her was somehow more than he’d imagined, and then she parted her lips, an invitation he couldn’t resist.
As he drew her closer, he tilted his head to the side for a better fit. No longer tentative, he delved into the sweetness of her mouth.
Inching nearer, Phoenix made a quiet sound of surprise and acceptance. Her fingertips slid along his nape, making his skin burn. H
e felt her lush breasts against his chest, and his cock stirred.
Need exploded, red-hot, primitive. He forgot that he should use care, that she might get spooked. Going strictly on instinct, he lifted his hand to her breast—
Like a dousing of ice water, headlights suddenly hit them. Squinting, Coop raised a hand to shield his eyes and moved protectively in front of Phoenix. The sleek BMW didn’t immediately move to a parking space. He waited, his irritation growing as the lights stayed in his face, then finally the car swung into the nearest opening.
“What the hell?” He tried to press Phoenix farther behind him.
She looked slightly dazed...and very ready.
Damn it.
A woman, taller and slimmer than Phoenix, stepped out of the car, bathed in smiles. “Phoenix, you’re cured!” She opened her arms.
He heard a gasp, followed by grumbling. “I’m sorry,” Phoenix huffed as she strode out from behind him. “That’s my sister.”
“Your sister?”
In a louder voice, she accused, “You have rotten timing, Ridley!”
Ridley laughed. “Are you kidding? Seeing you get it on with Big Sexy—that is him, right?”
“Shut up before I kill you.”
“It’s him.” Smug, Ridley sent Coop two thumbs-up. “Seeing that made my day, sweetie. No, week. Hell, maybe my entire month.” She gathered Phoenix in close and squeezed. “I’m glad I didn’t miss it.”
Coop felt like he’d stepped into a comic play without knowing his lines. “Your sister?” he said again. “Here?” Now?
Phoenix turned, her smile tight. “Cooper Cochran, this is my sister, Ridley Rose.”
He remembered the name as one of her Facebook friends, but he didn’t think he’d seen any photos. She looked a lot like Phoenix, just as chesty up top but not as curvy below. Same nose and a similar shape to her chin. Beneath the security lights, he saw that her hair was more of a reddish brown, long but styled.
She didn’t share Phoenix’s fashion sense, which leaned toward casual and comfortable. Instead, Ridley wore a shirt that draped off one shoulder, skintight jeans and open-toed lace-up ankle boots. It was a sexy outfit. She was sexy. He made the casual observation without any personal interest.
Not surprising, since he burned for Phoenix.
Ready to take charge of the bizarre situation, he stepped forward, hand extended. “Ms. Rose, it’s nice to meet you.”
Ridley tsked, stepping past his hand to embrace him in a tight hug. “Any guy who’s had his tongue in my sister’s mouth has to call me Ridley.”
“Ridley,” Phoenix gasped, clearly horrified.
Coop laughed. Hell, he wasn’t sure what else to do. “I agree with Phoenix—you have lousy timing, Ridley.” He patted her back then set her away from him. “Here for a visit?”
“Indeed. Extended.” She headed for her pricey car. “Since you’re here, Big Sexy, maybe you can help me with my bags.”
“Bags?” Phoenix repeated. “Plural?”
Coop was more interested in hearing how he’d gotten such a ridiculous nickname. Had Phoenix helped in choosing it?
If so, he wouldn’t mind it so much.
“You wouldn’t come see me, so I had to come to you.” Ridley shrugged. “Don’t tell me you’re surprised or I’ll think you don’t know me anymore.”
Phoenix stomped over to her.
It was somewhat satisfying, seeing her so put out over being interrupted. Didn’t help blunt the sharp edge of his lust, but at least it showed him another aspect of Phoenix’s personality, namely her temper.
Phoenix jerked around to face him, her demeanor all businesslike. “You can go on, Cooper. I’ll help Ridley with her bags.”
That sounded distinctly like an order...which he ignored.
Hadn’t she just told him he was an alpha?
“Guess you don’t know me either, huh?” He reached past her and accepted the overstuffed case Ridley struggled to hand him. Damn, had she packed for a month?
He watched in surprise as she got out an enormous purse, a smaller overnight case and another, smaller suitcase.
The last she shoved at Phoenix.
After hiking the straps of her purse and the case over her shoulder, Ridley asked, “Where are we staying?”
Phoenix seemed to take evil delight in saying, “I told you my place is tiny. Very tiny. You’ll have to sleep on the couch.”
Vindictive. Another trait he hadn’t seen before. Enjoying himself, Coop stepped back and watched the sisters interact.
Ridley laughed. “You act like I haven’t roughed it before.”
“Sleeping on a short, narrow couch is not roughing it.”
“Then why are you acting like it is?”
“Because for you, it will be pure torture.” Phoenix dropped the small suitcase in an act of defiance. “I told you I would visit, Ridley. You knew I wanted time alone.”
Ridley’s gaze swung to Coop. “Had I known you weren’t really alone, I might have heeded your wishes.”
Throwing her arms wide, Phoenix said, “This is where I work!”
“Get paid much for making out?”
Cooper laughed. God, they were hilarious together. “You two should take that show on the road.”
“Or,” Ridley said, “we could at least take it inside?”
“Do you two always squabble?”
“No,” Ridley said.
Phoenix countered, “Yes.” Then she added, “Because Ridley always thinks she knows what is best for me.”
“I am older,” Ridley pointed out.
“Only by three years.”
“Still older.” She smiled at Coop. “Lead the way, BS.”
“BS?” Had he just been insulted?
“Big Sexy? Never mind. It does lose something when it’s just initials, doesn’t it?” She looked up at the sky and shivered. “Let’s get out of the dreary weather before my hair starts to curl.”
Coop turned to Phoenix. “She’s going to your cabin?” He wouldn’t make any assumptions, even though he assumed her pique was over the timing, and not any real animus toward her sister.
Phoenix opened her mouth, and Ridley cut her off. “Of course I’m going to her cabin. She can’t give me hell if we’re in two different places.”
“Exactly.” Phoenix tried to take the lead, all but marching down the long drive to the resort.
Catching up with her in two long strides, Coop took the smaller case from her. She gave it over with a huff, and then carried on.
He followed, Ridley at his side.
Behind her sister’s back, Ridley kept smiling at him.
“You really are a big one, aren’t you?” she whispered.
“Don’t talk to him,” Phoenix growled without looking back.
With a roll of her eyes, Ridley mimicked her, her mouth moving as she mimed, Don’t talk to him.
Coop grinned at her antics, but at the same time, he wondered if his size was a problem for Phoenix. The men who assaulted her wore masks, so the only clear description was big.
Like him.
He frowned, bothered by the thought, until Ridley spoke again, her voice carrying on the night air.
“She always sulks like that. Been doing it since she was in diapers. I ignore it.”
Phoenix snapped, “You have never ignored it. Instead you egg me on—as you’re doing now.”
Ridley grinned in satisfaction. “And it always works.” Then to Coop, she added, “She’s hiding it well, but she’s happy to see me.”
Phoenix snorted. “So what if I am? Doesn’t change anything.”
Coop asked politely, “How long will you be with us?”
“I haven’t yet decided.” Then louder, obviously to tweak her sister again, she said, “I’m thinking a month or so.”
“We could use the comic relief,” he promised, “but if you do decide to stay, I can set you up in a fifth wheel or a cabin. Just let me know.”
“Give her a tent,” Phoenix said, and she even glanced back with a big grin. “Ridley loves roughing it, remember?”
“Actually,” Ridley said, looking around as they walked down the center lane, “I had no idea an RV could be remarkable. Some of these are huge, and they look really posh.”
Phoenix unbent enough to say, “You should see the insides.”
“Could I?”
“Tomorrow I’ll show you around,” she promised. “Everyone here is friendly, so a few campers might be happy to let you in.”
It amazed Coop that Phoenix could be so annoyed one minute, then let it go the next. Nice that she didn’t hold on to a grudge. He smiled when he thought of his wife’s temper and how she could stay mad for a week when it suited her. Never at him, but over any injustice—
He drew up short, appalled at himself for that observation. I will not draw comparisons. Jesus, he felt disloyal for the brief thought.
Kissing Phoenix was one thing; he was human after all, and she was smokin’ hot with her lush body and shy smiles. He didn’t blame himself for not being able to resist her.
But to draw parallels between her and his wife? That was as taboo as it got, and unfair to both of them.
Ridley bumped her hip into his, much as Phoenix had earlier. “Solving world peace?” she asked in a whisper.
Damn it, Ridley was as perceptive as her sister. He shook his head. “The few campers we have for rent aren’t the nicest, but they’re clean and functional.”
“Hmmm. Is there any place around here to buy one?”
Phoenix whirled on her. “No!”
Ridley sniffed. “I will if I want to.”
“It would be a ridiculous expense.”
“Robbie left me a ridiculous amount of cash. You know that.”
“Robbie?” Coop asked.
Phoenix brushed a hand through the air. “Her scumbag ex.”
“You’re divorced?”
“Very much so. I ditched his name, so I’m back to being Ridley Rose.” She leaned toward him as if in confidence, saying low, “But I saw no reason to ditch his money, you know? The bastard wanted out, his parents wanted him out, and together they paid a small fortune to see it happen.” She shrugged.
