by Lori Foster
Soon as he was gone, she fanned her face and fell boneless into her seat. Oh, it was definitely going to be a long day—that’d be worth it in the end.
She hoped.
* * *
Later that morning, Baxter was in the shop before classes, doing an equipment check, trying—and failing—to think about something, anything, other than Ridley, when Coop stopped in. Knowing what he wanted, Baxter went to the door, flipped over a sign to read CLOSED, and turned the lock.
Since Gibb had been unable to catch the goons at any wrongdoing, Baxter had taken it upon himself to see what he could find out—after he’d gotten Coop’s reluctant agreement first.
Unfortunately, he didn’t have much to report.
“Phoenix is working?” he asked as he petted the little dog that now shadowed Coop almost everywhere he went.
“Yeah. She’ll be busy until five or later.” He unleashed the pup so it could explore. Hands on his hips, expression grim, Coop asked, “Anything?”
“Not much.” Baxter propped a hip against the checkout counter. “I found the guys, even talked with them some, at a local bar.”
“You didn’t find out anything?”
He shrugged. “Nothing you didn’t already know. They consider themselves badasses—which has to be the mystery of the year, because I doubt they have a complete spine between the three of them.”
“Or a brain,” Coop muttered.
He nodded in agreement. “After they left the bar, I chatted up a few other people. They claim Harry has been lying low, that some ‘big dude’ beat his ass.”
Coop snorted. “I tapped him once.”
“Apparently, it was enough of a tap to intimidate.” Baxter hated to disappoint Coop, but he needed to know. “One guy, commiserating with Harry, said a cop tried to blame him for some ‘shit he didn’t even do.’”
“The night Phoenix’s porch light was broken and she saw someone running?”
“I assume. Harry appears to be well-known in the bar, as an irritant to some and a buddy to others. But they all agreed that he’s been sticking close to home lately.”
“Fuck.”
“Yeah, my thoughts exactly.” Baxter would have loved to confirm Harry as the culprit, which would have given Coop leave to revisit the punk. But it wasn’t to be.
“Did it cost you anything to get that info?”
With a grin, Baxter said, “Not really. A few drinks in a dive, a near brawl of my own, and some fast excuses to dissuade a couple of interested women. Overall, not a bad night.”
“I can repay you for the drinks.”
“The hell you will,” he said, still grinning. “I enjoyed it.” Except for the part about the women coming on to him. That had been awkward, and the cause for the near brawl.
Apparently, the locals didn’t like seeing their ladies rejected, no matter how nicely.
Rejecting them hadn’t made Baxter happy, either. Used to be that a one-night stand with a stranger would have suited him just fine. No strings. No familiarity. Satisfying sex, nothing more.
Unfortunately, he didn’t want anyone but Ridley.
Coop reluctantly nodded. “Thanks.”
“Anyway,” Baxter said, shaking off his odd preoccupation with a woman who insulted him as often as she turned him on, “it sounds like maybe it was all happenstance, just as Phoenix claims.”
“Maybe.” Coop headed for the door. “Or there’s another threat...one that could be more serious.”
Damn. Baxter didn’t like that idea at all.
If Phoenix was at risk, could Ridley be also?
11
Phoenix hummed as she raked, her mind on many things—like her sister and Baxter. Were they working out their differences? Jumping into bed right now?
Still playing cat and mouse with each other?
Or had Baxter walked away?
She wanted to see Ridley happy, but wasn’t sure which outcome would make that happen. There were times when Ridley could be very self-destructive. What she wanted wasn’t always what she needed.
But then, Phoenix was the same.
Every night she joined Cooper in his home. She’d play with Sugar while Cooper grilled dinner. She’d help him with the dishes, and then they’d walk the dog around the resort, or play with her in Cooper’s yard. Sometimes they watched TV, sometimes they just talked.
No matter how their evening went, they always ended up in bed and it was the most amazing thing she’d ever experienced, almost as if they were meant to complement each other. Every time felt new, hotter, better than the time before it.
And afterward, difficult as it might be, Phoenix insisted on returning to her cabin.
Her small home felt lonelier each time she did.
Yes, she wanted to stay with Cooper, to sleep curled at his side and wake with him in the morning. Share coffee. Share a shower.
Maybe share a life...
She wanted that a lot.
The sensible side of her brain, though, reminded her that she had important, personal goals, and they didn’t include relying on others. Not yet, anyway.
She didn’t need to prove anything to others...but she wanted to prove something to herself.
Needing a distraction, she pulled out her phone and texted Ridley.
How did it go?
While waiting for a reply, she put away the rake and tidied up the maintenance building, making sure every tool was in its designated spot. Organization was important to her because it made her job easier. She’d already lectured the high school boys who often helped with cutting the grass. Too many times, they’d left things out of place, always in a hurry to be on their way. They’d caught on quickly and now, almost by rote, they returned things to where they belonged.
Less than a minute later, her phone dinged. 8:00 tonight. Whoo hoo.
A smile twitched on her mouth. 8:00 you two are getting together?
Yup & I may just wear him out, so if he’s not at the job tomorrow, you’ll know he died happy.
Phoenix laughed aloud. What about you? Do you expect to expire with pleasure?
You betcha.
Still grinning, Phoenix shook her head. She’d always envied her sister’s daring and exuberance. LOL. Have fun!
Gotta go. I need to hustle so I can finish early. Need time to make myself ravishing.
With her innate sense of style and slimmer figure, Ridley always looked great. Phoenix rapidly thumbed in: Love ya!
You too.
She slid the phone into her pocket, warm with happiness for her sister.
“Let me guess—that was Ridley?”
Shock brought her around so fast, Phoenix lost her footing and fell back against a wooden support post. The world seemed to spin around her; her heart went into her throat then dropped into her stomach.
Her ex stood there in the open double doors of the building, sunlight haloing his body and making his face difficult to see. But she recognized him all the same.
It took her three tries to find her voice, and then she whispered, “David.”
He stepped farther inside, a smile fading off his face. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”
Startle her? Her reaction was so much worse than that. She swallowed heavily, forming the words carefully. “What are you doing here?”
Appearing wounded, he shoved his hands into the pockets of his pants and exhaled a slow breath. “I wanted to see you, to see how you’re doing.”
He looked the same, his brown hair neatly trimmed, his face freshly shaved. She thought she even detected his cologne...or maybe that was just a memory powering through her surprise.
“But...how?” She hadn’t told him where she was.
Some odd emotion had him lowering his eyelids. He turned his head a little, giving her a sideways glance. “You’re not h
appy to see me.”
She didn’t know how she felt. “It’s a...surprise.” It was cowardly, but if given a choice, she’d have never seen him again. She didn’t want to face all the things stolen from her, the things she’d given up—and what she’d forced away.
The pole at her back became a welcome support as she slowly straightened, trying to hide her turmoil.
He spared a fleeting smile. “I still follow you on Facebook. You’ve posted enough photos of the place, finding it was easy.” He came forward a single step. “You seemed happy in your posts.”
Though he said it as a statement, she saw the question in his searching gray eyes. “I am.” Why was he here?
“Still jumpy, though?” He nodded, drawing his own conclusions. “I really am sorry for showing up unannounced. I just thought...”
Her heart hammered wildly. Did he think she was ready to get back together? That they could now move on as a couple? She waited, not sure what to say, not sure what to do.
Cautiously, he approached, his eyes now watchful, until he stood right in front of her.
“Phoenix.” When he reached for her hand, she resisted the urge to step away. She wasn’t afraid of David. Not ever that.
But she dreaded what he might say, what he might want.
She feared the reason for his visit, and the fresh hurt she might cause.
He wore his serious face, the one he usually saved for talks about their future. The one he’d worn while they’d chosen their house and made wedding plans.
David was a good man, and she’d hurt him so badly. The least she could do now was to greet him properly.
Something icy inside her seemed to crack. “David,” she whispered, reaching for him, drawing him into a tight hug. “It’s so good to see you.”
Relief visibly rushed through him, and he crushed her close, his face in her neck, the cool brush of his hair against her cheek.
He was solid and familiar, and affection tugged at her heart. She squeezed tighter, saying, “I am so, so sorry for everything.”
His arms loosened and, putting his hands on her shoulders, he pressed her back. “You don’t need to apologize, Phoenix. Not to me. I’m just glad to see you looking more like yourself.”
She smiled now, genuinely happy to see him—but still guarded. “How have you been?”
“Fine.” A smile cracked, this one more authentic, somehow more real. “Actually, I’m better than fine.” He took her hand. “Come here. I want to talk to you.”
“O-kay,” she said, putting wariness in the word.
“Relax, honey.” He led her to the riding mower and indicated she should sit. “I’m not here to pressure you.”
Unsure what he considered pressure, she didn’t yet relax.
“You’re happy?” he asked. “Because you really do seem happy in your posts.”
Knowing she couldn’t lie to him, Phoenix nodded. “I’m very happy.”
He released a breath, followed by a wide grin. “See, I can still read you—even in a Facebook post.”
“David—”
“I’ve moved on, too,” he said quickly.
Hope bloomed. “Really?” And because she could still read him as well, she suddenly knew. Her voice took on a teasing note when she asked, “Who is she?”
“I hope you don’t mind, but your friend, Angie...”
Her jaw loosened. “Angie Perkins?”
“I know she was a friend of yours, but you were gone and she said she hadn’t heard from you in forever. We were talking, and one thing led to another—”
Laughing, Phoenix launched against him. “I think that’s wonderful!” She and Angie had been casual friends, but Phoenix hadn’t spoken with her since the attack.
“So you don’t mind?”
“Of course not.” It amused her because Angie’s opinion of David had been lackluster at best—unless... Phoenix grinned, wondering if Angie had pretended to be less than impressed to cover up her attraction. Interesting. She pressed him back. “You two are serious?”
“It’s still new, but yeah, we’re getting there. I just felt like I should check up on you before taking things any further.”
“David, that is so sweet—but totally unnecessary.”
He nodded. “Angie said if you were still interested, you would have been in touch. She’s the one who pushed me to...” His voice faded into nothingness.
“To forget about me?” Phoenix asked gently. “She’s right, and I’m so glad you have.”
“No, I haven’t. I never could.” He held both her hands. “I’ll always love you, Phoenix. We had a long history together and, at least on my part, a special closeness.”
Such a good, good man. No, she’d never deserved him, but she was happy to count him as a friend, as only a friend, so she lied. “Yes, it was very special.”
He lifted her hand, kissing her knuckles. “Now that I’m happy, I wanted you to be happy, too.”
She was about to answer, to assure him that she was, but she didn’t get the chance.
“Am I interrupting?”
She glanced over David’s shoulder and met Cooper’s gaze. Oh, his eyes weren’t mellow now. Far from it. Despite his calm facade and the gentle way he held Sugar, she could read all the ways he’d misconstrued the situation.
“Cooper.” She disengaged from David and went to him, taking his arm.
Realization dawned on David’s face.
Doing the introductions, she said, “David, this is Cooper Cochran. He owns the resort. Cooper, this is my friend, David.” She hadn’t accurately introduced either man but she saw no point in clarifying that Cooper was more to her than just a boss, and David had been closer than any friend. Enough tension already choked the air.
Cooper shifted Sugar into one arm and stepped forward, eyes narrowed, hand extended. “David.”
“Nice to meet you,” David said, drumming up his usual congenial smile. “Beautiful place you have.”
“Thank you.” He reached back, looping his arm around her shoulders and bringing her alongside him. “Phoenix keeps it looking that way.”
“She was always talented with anything that grew.” David shifted his gaze from her to Cooper and back again. “I had hoped to visit for a bit, but I see that you’re working.”
“Cooper won’t mind if I take off for an hour.”
After a heavy stillness, Cooper looked down at her, his amber eyes direct, holding hers. “Of course not.” He shared a strained smile. “Take off the entire afternoon if you’d like.”
“I can’t,” she countered quickly. She didn’t want to rudely send David packing, but neither did she want to take hours to reminisce. “Too much to get done today, but I would like to show David around.”
Cooper nodded. “All right.”
It seemed prudent, at least to Phoenix’s mind, to make a few things clear to both men, so she put a hand to the side of Cooper’s face, went on tiptoe and kissed his mouth. “Thank you.”
* * *
Cooper damn well didn’t want to leave them alone, but he wasn’t the jealous type—not usually, anyway—and he wanted Phoenix to know that he trusted her.
The ex wasn’t what he’d expected. He looked like a nice enough guy, clean-cut, athletic. It might be ridiculous, but he’d sort of imagined him as a creep, maybe a dude with a big head or a beer gut. He’d expected something about him to be offensive—which was stupid, because Phoenix wouldn’t have been engaged to him if he wasn’t a nice, responsible, handsome man.
Coop barely suppressed a growl. Knowing she’d been engaged and seeing her with the guy were two very different things.
It helped that, in subtle ways, she’d made it clear that David was only a friend now, and that Coop was...more.
How much more, that was what he’d like to know. He didn’t like that she
refused to stay the night at his house. Respecting her meant accepting her decision without argument—but it wasn’t easy. He wanted her close, where he could watch over her.
No matter the logical conclusions and evidence to the contrary, he couldn’t shake the idea that she was in danger. Gut instinct told him that someone had deliberately broken her porch light. And earlier there’d been those mud tracks all over her deck. He wasn’t ready to let Harry off the hook.
And now her ex was here—meaning he’d known where to find her. Coincidence?
Cooper wasn’t willing to chance it.
For that reason, he found several reasons to be in the same area as Phoenix and David. Not right next to them, but close enough.
He made a pretense of paying them no attention. Sugar helped with that by yapping happily at people they passed, chasing leaves and begging for pets. The little dog drew attention everywhere she went. Kids adored her, and she adored them. Women fawned over her, loving the expressiveness of her big brown eyes. Even men paused to scratch her behind her floppy ears.
He was paused near the private docks at the pond, two young women cooing over Sugar, when out of his peripheral vision he saw Phoenix approaching.
Her pale blue eyes were wide and watchful behind her glasses, her fingers tangled together, and David was no longer with her.
Sugar spotted her, too. With a bark, she abandoned the new admirers and ran—ears flopping wildly—to Phoenix, who knelt to accept the greeting.
Coop would have gone to her, as well—Sugar had her leash stretched as far as it would go—but the women had questions about the paddleboats for rent. As he politely answered them, he was aware of Phoenix sitting on the ground and Sugar crawling into her lap.
The pup was shameful in her demands for loving.
Coop wouldn’t mind a little of that attention himself.
Finally, after another five minutes of what amounted mostly to chitchat, Phoenix said, “Cooper?”
Excusing himself from the women, he turned to her. “All done with your visit?”
She stared up at him, Sugar hugged close. “David just left.”
