by Lori Foster
Not likely, she thought. “I won’t repeat it.”
“Thanks.” He looked at the house. “You can trust Coop.That’s the important thing.”
The door opened and Phoenix said to them, “Come on in.”
7
Baxter’s mood lightened and he grinned. “Hey, Phoenix.”
“Baxter.” Her gaze zeroed in on the bag.
“Everything you need.” He held it out to her.
“Thank you.”
“I’m just the mule. Your sister got it all together.”
Phoenix turned to Ridley. “I appreciate it.” She carried it quickly to the kitchen table and emptied the contents, putting out the food and two dishes, then unwrapping the soap.
Baxter saw Ridley staring toward the photo of Coop’s deceased wife. She looked aloof, annoyed and so fucking hot, he hurt.
Phoenix affected him differently, in a nicer, lighter way, so he focused on her. She was more wet than dry, and too much sun left her nose and cheeks pink. Her glasses were a little crooked.
Overall, she looked sweet in a natural, earthy, very approachable way.
Total opposite of Ridley, who was more striking, polished and not all that approachable.
He burned for her.
Getting that thought out of his head, he asked, “Who’s getting the bath, you or the dog?”
Phoenix flashed him a smile. “We were in the creek earlier, but most of this is from the dog.” Heading out of the kitchen, she asked, “Want to meet her?” and gestured for them to follow.
In the laundry room, Coop stood at the tub, picking bugs and burrs off a young beagle and dropping them into a waste can.
Ridley had started forward but at the sight of a tick, she backpedaled and hit the wall.
Coop glanced up. “Thanks for coming by.”
“Ridley wanted to help.” He shifted his gaze to her. “Isn’t that right?”
She carefully leaned forward, looked in the wastebasket at what they’d removed from the dog’s fur and swallowed convulsively. “I don’t like bugs.”
So there was something that could unnerve her? Maybe she wasn’t made of heated steel, after all. He couldn’t resist saying, “Wow, look at that one. It’s huge, and it has all those little legs still wiggling.”
Phoenix swatted at him as she turned to her sister. “Ridley, would you wash and dry the food dishes you picked up? I think she’ll be hungry once her bath is done.”
“Glad to.” Edging out of the laundry room, her gaze averted from the can, she darted out.
Smiling, Baxter watched her go. Even in a rush fleeing already dead bugs, her hips swayed and she kept her head high. The way that woman moved...it was enough to get his pulse tripping again. “I guess I shouldn’t have teased.”
“She’ll get even later,” Phoenix promised. “She always does.”
Intrigued by that notion, Baxter held his hand out to the dog, let it sniff, then lightly touched under her chin. “Either of you want to share what happened?”
Phoenix spoke up, giving him a ridiculously brief rundown of how they’d come to have a dog that mostly centered on Coop as a daring hero.
“He saved the day,” Phoenix claimed. “You should have seen him, he was so impressive.”
Biting back a grin, Baxter said, “Sorry I missed it.”
Coop frowned while keeping his gaze on the dog. He’d lathered her up with the flea soap, something the dog seemed to enjoy as she lifted her nose and half closed her eyes in an expression remarkably like bliss.
“If you saw the three idiot kids, you’d know it wasn’t impressive at all.”
“Three of them,” Phoenix stressed. “And they were men, not boys. Cooper was awesome.”
“However it rolled out,” Baxter said neutrally, “I’m glad you were both there to rescue this poor girl.” He rubbed one knuckle under her throat and her eyes closed the rest of the way.
“She’s cute, isn’t she?” Phoenix crowded in next to him so she, too, could stroke the dog.
That got Coop’s attention. He glanced first at Baxter, then at Phoenix standing so close. “While I finish up here, why don’t you go help your sister?”
She carefully worked loose a mat in the dog’s fur. “I doubt she needs any help washing a food bowl or opening a can.”
His frown darkened. “I could use a cup of coffee, if you don’t mind making it.”
She straightened. “Actually, that sounds good to me, too.”
Coop looked relieved. “Coffee is in the cabinet next to the fridge.”
“Got it.” She bent to the dog again. “Enjoy your bath, sugar.”
Coop waited until she’d gone, then looked up at Baxter. “That’s bullshit about me being a hero.”
Folding his arms, Baxter leaned against a cabinet. “Not from her perspective.” He glanced out the door, but Phoenix was gone. “Ridley told me what happened to her.”
Coop shot him a look. “I don’t think she’ll thank her sister for that. Phoenix is private.”
“Guess Ridley needed to talk, too.” He shrugged. “You know I won’t say anything.”
Gently, Coop rinsed the dog—while telling a very different story about their conflict at the creek.
Baxter had to admit, Coop’s version, complete with rage, sounded more realistic. “Damn. Thank God she wasn’t there alone.”
Though fury burned in his eyes, Coop kept his tone even, calm, when he said, “You have no idea how badly I wanted to take those punks apart.”
“I have a good guess.” Baxter knew he would have felt the same.
“Phoenix is stronger than she realizes, but even when she has good reason for caution, she thinks she’s being weak.” Coop snorted. “Like she would stand a chance against three men.”
“Maybe it’s not that she couldn’t take them on, but that it brought up old memories for her. She probably wants to put that in the past, where it belongs, so when something happens to bring it back—”
“She feels out of control.” Coop paused in thought. “I can understand that.” He rubbed the lather along the dog’s back...and her tail went wild. “Happens to me occasionally, too.”
After a long look, Baxter nodded. “To everyone, I suppose.” That was as close as he’d come to admitting he sometimes still dealt with his own shitty memories. “You think they’ll show up tomorrow?”
“I hope so, but it’s doubtful. For one thing, none of them wanted to take me on.”
“Going up against a guy your size is a little different than kicking around a stray, or scaring a woman.”
“Makes them cowards to do either, and I can’t see a coward facing me man-to-man for any reason.” He met Baxter’s gaze. “Sneaking around, though, that I can imagine.”
Would the creeps dare to slink into the park after hours, maybe to commit acts of vandalism? It seemed possible.
“Let Daron know so we can all keep an eye out.”
“I could go back to the creek.” He’d relish the excuse to burn off some energy. “Maybe cross the trestle, take a look around. They probably live nearby.”
Coop was already shaking his head. “It’ll be dark soon. And when I speak with the cops, I don’t want them to think we were looking for trouble.”
Much as Baxter hated to admit it, he had a point. “You’re calling them tonight?”
“I had to prioritize. The dog was covered in mud and too many ticks and fleas for me to want her in the house without cleaning her up first.”
And no doubt, Phoenix had been shaken. “I’ll call Daron soon as I leave here. I’ll let Maris and Joy know, too.”
“Thanks.” Coop lifted the dog out onto a towel spread over the top of the dryer. When she shook, she sprayed them both—as well as the walls and cabinets—making the men laugh. The dog barked in what sounded like happ
iness.
Baxter smiled at her. “You like being clean, do you, girl?” Clean and safe.
“She has a cut on her ear,” Coop said, drying around the area very carefully, “but I think it’s okay. My guess is she scratched it while running or hiding from those assholes, maybe on a piece of fencing or something.”
While Baxter checked the ear too, the dog’s butt swayed back and forth in bliss. “Yeah, a small cut. Doesn’t seem to bother her.” He saw the gentle way Coop dried her and guessed, “You’re keeping her?”
“Yeah.” He set the dog on her feet. She stared up at him with enormous, adoring brown eyes, still wiggling, waiting for direction. Coop shook his head in amusement, then led her to the kitchen by patting his thigh.
They entered the room, and Baxter stalled.
Phoenix was just opening a pizza box. She smiled at the dog while saying, “Guess what? Maris brought us a pizza, plus cupcakes for dessert. She said it’s her contribution to the dog rescue.” Phoenix set down a food dish and the dog attacked it. “Guess that proves she didn’t eat a chicken!”
Coop didn’t seem to see anything wrong with the impromptu dinner. “Smells good.” He got down plates, handing one to Ridley and shoving one at Baxter.
He automatically took the plate, but said, “I need to get going.”
Ridley shot him a disbelieving look, but he avoided her gaze. He didn’t want this, didn’t want to sit around the table taking part in cozy conversations with friends.
That reeked of something more than hot sex.
More than superficial.
Ignoring his statement, Phoenix dropped a slice of pizza on the plate. “You’ve got a few minutes to eat, right?” Holding his gaze, waiting for an answer, she pulled out a chair and sat.
He felt put on the spot big-time—and damn it, she did it deliberately. He stared back at her. “Maybe one piece.”
Approval curled her lips. “Great.”
Ridley, her back now stiff, gave her sister a dirty look as she took the seat beside her. Mouth tight, eyelids half-closed, she affected a brooding expression. It seemed she didn’t like the situation any more than he did. For reasons he couldn’t understand, that added to his pissed-off mood.
While Baxter stood there arguing with himself, Coop snagged the chair next to Phoenix.
Now he had no choice but to sit by Ridley.
And why the hell was that such a problem?
Because I wanted to fuck her, not engage in social chitchat.
“I can keep her tonight, but let me know if you want a turn.”
Baxter’s gaze shot up, a scowl in place, a protest ready...and he realized Coop was talking to Phoenix about the dog.
Luckily, Coop was watching the antics of the animal, and Ridley had her attention fixed on her plate.
But Phoenix didn’t miss a thing, and she gave him an evil grin.
How had he never noticed her mean streak?
* * *
Bright moonlight spilled through the window, painting soft shadows on the ceiling. The air-conditioning kept the small cabin cool. Phoenix and Ridley were up in the loft, side by side, neither of them sleeping yet.
She felt her gaze the moment Ridley looked at her, and she almost sighed. Truthfully, she was surprised her sister had held back so long.
Phoenix’s body was tired, but her mind wouldn’t settle. What-ifs ran through her thoughts at Mach speed—and in every scenario, she came up lacking.
“You made yourself at home in Coop’s kitchen.”
Well, that was an innocuous enough comment, not at all what Phoenix had expected. “He asked me to make the coffee.”
Ridley turned on her side, propping her head on her hand. “He keeps a photo of his wife on his desk.”
“I’m sure there are photos in other places, too.” His TV room...and his bedroom. When Phoenix thought about the image of his wife, soft was the first description to come to mind. Soft blond hair, soft dark blue eyes, soft smile. Cooper’s wife was a lovely woman—and he’d lost her. It made her heart ache for him.
It made her think about her fiancé, the man she’d pushed away.
She would always feel bad for what she’d done to David, but she knew in her heart that she’d made the right decision when she’d broken the engagement. David deserved someone who would love him as Cooper had loved his wife.
She wasn’t that woman.
Oh, she’d cared for him. A lot. But that she’d wanted away from him after the attack spoke volumes. He couldn’t console her because she hadn’t wanted him to. She hadn’t wanted anything from anyone. Not even her future husband.
Letting him go was the kindest thing to do.
“It didn’t bother you to see the photo?” Ridley asked.
She shook her head. “I think he’s still grieving for her.”
“You,” Ridley said, “are an amazingly wonderful woman.”
Phoenix turned her head to see her sister, not sure what had brought that on. “Thank you. You’re pretty wonderful yourself.”
Ridley was silent a moment, then asked, “Do you know how she died?”
“No.” Phoenix also rolled to her side, but she was too tired to prop herself up and instead just snuggled into her pillow. “Do you?”
“Baxter told me.”
Her sister’s hesitation bothered her. “And?”
“There are...similarities.” She held Phoenix’s hand. “To what you went through, I mean.”
Catching her breath, Phoenix half sat up in denial. “What are you saying?”
Ridley squeezed her hand tighter. “She was shot during a robbery. It was an accident, I think.”
Her heart slammed in her chest. “Shot?”
“Caught in the crossfire is how Baxter put it.”
“How tragic,” she whispered, reclining to her back again. In only minutes, a senseless act of violence had upended Cooper’s life, changing it forever. She couldn’t imagine the heartache he’d suffered.
The sudden urge to go to him, to comfort him, chased away her tiredness. Not that he struck her as a man who would take comfort. No, he was the type of man who would suffer in silence, then push forward through sheer will. A strong man.
A gentle man.
As he’d proved today, a hero.
“Has he ever mentioned her to you?” Ridley asked.
“No.” Phoenix studied the shadows on the ceiling. “Why would he?”
Ridley loomed over her. “Because he’s interested in you, that’s why.”
Maybe he was, but probably not like that. Not for anything beyond a physical relationship. She was okay with that. She couldn’t get involved anyway. A week or two of sex? That sounded about right. Actually, it sounded incredible.
But anything more wasn’t on the agenda.
Right?
That thought was so unsettling, she asked, “What about you and Baxter?”
Ridley sighed dramatically. “We’d been well on our way to getting down and dirty, and I have a feeling it would’ve been sublime.”
Phoenix turned again. “And? What happened?”
“No idea, really, except that Baxter is a dumbass who’s afraid of conversation,” Ridley complained.
Phoenix snorted a laugh. “What does that mean exactly?”
“You didn’t notice how he froze up at dinner?”
“He was a little quiet,” Phoenix admitted.
“Oh, the man was all about getting horizontal, but hanging out together with family and friends? He turned into a silent, withdrawn jackass.”
Dumbass, jackass. The rapid-fire insults led Phoenix to believe that Ridley was hurt, and that fascinated her. “Did the two of you—?”
“No.” Ridley shook her head. “We were headed that way before you called.”
Phoenix could almost hear
the regret in her sister’s voice. Gently, she said, “I’m sorry I interrupted.”
“Don’t be.” Her jaw worked. “I’ve decided he’s not worth the trouble.”
“Sex is trouble now?”
Ridley almost snarled. “With Baxter?” She punched her pillow a few times. “Apparently.”
Phoenix had difficulty sorting out the problem. “So you think the idea of getting to know you better actually scared him off?”
“What else? He woofed down a slice of pizza, ate an entire cupcake in one bite, then ran off as if he thought I might wrestle him down and jam a wedding band on his finger.” She huffed. “So stupid.”
“Clearly, he doesn’t know your history—or does he?”
“Not much of it, and it’s just as clear that he doesn’t want to. He wants sex, period.”
Phoenix studied her sister’s face in the pale glow of the moon. Sudden awareness dawned, bringing her more alert. “And you want more?”
“No,” Ridley said with heat—and a touch of desperation. “Absolutely not.”
Sadly, Phoenix knew that wasn’t true. Her sister had loved being a wife, and had looked forward to being a mother. It still broke her heart to know what Robbie had put her through. In a cautious whisper, she asked, “Then what’s the problem?”
“He got me all primed then just...”
Gently, Phoenix probed, “Just what?”
“He abandoned me!”
The outburst took her by surprise. “Well, we did have a little catastrophe with the dog, so...”
“No, it wasn’t that,” Ridley insisted. “He was fine when we first found out about the dog. I figured we’d hang with you guys a bit, then carry on with our plans. But noooo. That was asking too much.”
“Maybe it wasn’t that,” Phoenix said, trying to find a way to make Ridley feel better. The problem was, she didn’t know Baxter well enough to know what motivated him, how he felt about women.
How he might feel about her sister.
“Didn’t you see how he cut me out?” The sound of Ridley punching her pillow again gave away her frustration. “He was downright cold. I doubt he’ll ever follow up on those sexual promises he made. What type of a jerk gets a woman all hot and bothered and then bails?”
