by Bonnie Vanak
Two years later, Cooper had enlisted in the Navy.
It said something about Cooper and his own quiet dedication to serve his country. Meg felt newfound respect for him. Prescott hadn’t wanted to serve anyone but himself. And his mistress. Good riddance to both of them.
“I’m sorry about the loss of your sister,” she told him. “Was she younger than you or older?”
Cooper fell silent for a moment, and Meg sensed this was a difficult subject. He jammed his hands into the pockets of his jacket. “Younger. Brie was always tagging along after Derek and me. She was a real tomboy. Loved to ride horses, too.” He looked distant. “Brie was a good woman. I’ve known too many good people who died.”
Sympathy filled her. His loss wasn’t only his sister, but soldiers he’d known and fought with overseas. From working with veterans at a volunteer group after Caldwell died, Meg knew many returned home harboring their own quiet grief.
“Losing someone you love hurts. Sometimes it takes everything you’ve got to get through the day.”
Cooper’s gaze grew distant. “Yeah.”
He seemed uncomfortable with this conversation, so she changed the subject.
“When are you returning to base?” she asked.
He studied the sweep of horse pasture. “Four more weeks. I asked for a month of leave, but my new CO told me to take six weeks.”
“That was nice of him.”
He gave a short laugh. “Nice? No, he wanted to get rid of me for a while. He thinks I take too many risks.”
“Cooper! Can I ride Adela later?”
At the shout, they turned to see a young girl in a navy blue jacket, jeans and boots running toward them from the direction of the farmhouse. The little girl wore a red cap with a bear’s head in the front. Two red braids dangled from the hat. The effect was so comic, it made Meg smile.
“Hi!” She ran through the gate, closed it and rushed up to them, hugging Cooper tight. He embraced her, his expression fierce.
Then he set her back and tugged at one of the red braids. “When did you get back, Peanut? Thought you weren’t arriving until later today.”
“Last night around ten. Mrs. O’Malley dropped me off. Patty got sick and threw up all over the room so her mom came to pick her up early, and I asked to go, too. I missed you too much.”
“Missed you, too,” he told her.
“Every time I turned on the TV when you were gone, I was so worried something would happen to you, Super Cooper. Don’t leave us again for a long time. Please?” The little girl’s voice grew thick. “I don’t want to lose you like we lost Brie.”
Meg stepped back, not wanting to intrude and sensing this was a delicate matter between siblings. But Cooper straightened. “Peanut, meet Meg. Meg, this is my sister Aimee.”
She stared at Meg with obvious curiosity. “Are you one of Cooper’s late-night lady friends?”
“Aimee,” he said in a low voice.
Amused at the sudden ruddiness on Cooper’s cheeks, she saved him by answering, “No. I’m a guest here until my car is fixed.”
The girl beamed. “You’re prettier than the lady who was here last year. She was taller than you and had legs that wouldn’t quit.”
“Aimee!”
“Well, that’s what Uncle Jack said!”
Cooper tugged again at one of the red braids tumbling from the girl’s winter cap. “Never mind what Uncle Jack said. Isn’t it a little early to be wearing this?”
Aimee rolled her eyes. “I like Buster Bear. And it snowed this week, so it’s officially cold. Jenny, our new housekeeper, said she’s freezing in this weather. She’s never been this cold. Wait ’til February—she’s gonna freeze her tuchus off!”
Meg laughed as Cooper scowled. “Don’t say tuchus. It’s a bad word.”
“Uncle Jack says it all the time.”
“He says a lot of things he shouldn’t. It’s okay for adults, but not for little girls who wear Buster Bear hats.”
The girl looked at her with interest. “Jenny says it’s a pretty hat. I heard her tell Mom she was down on her luck and needed a job to get her through winter. I think Hank likes her and hopes she’ll stay longer.”
“Don’t eavesdrop, Aimee. It’s bad manners.”
Aimee looked at him with wide eyes as blue as his own. “Can I help it if everyone talks loudly?”
Meg laughed again.
Cooper’s sister stared at her with the inquisitive look of a typical eleven-year-old. “I like your laugh. You should stay here for a while. They have the Christmas hayride at the fair next month and I’m going to help sell popcorn to raise money for the local animal shelter. Cooper’s gonna give rides. He’s real good at that.”
Now it was her turn to blush as she imagined the kind of ride she’d enjoy with Cooper. Definitely not at a local fair.
“My brother is a real animal lover.”
Cooper looked embarrassed.
“He’s great with dogs. He once carried Max over the hot sand when he was deployed in Iraq so Max’s paws wouldn’t get hurt. Max was our Belgian. Well, not ours, he was a SEAL. His trainer died in the fighting, so Cooper took him in and worked with him. Poor Max died last year in the fighting. I miss him.” Aimee bent down to let Sophie sniff her hand, and then petted her behind the ears. “You’re sweet. I wish you were mine.”
Cooper’s sister looked up at her with the same bright, inquisitive look Fiona had given Meg. “Where are you from? Do you have a boyfriend or are you hitched?”
“Aimee, watch it,” Cooper warned.
“Mom says Cooper should settle down. Interested? He’s a real catch. He even knows how to load the dishwasher!”
Cooper sputtered as Meg shot him a teasing look. “Definitely qualifications for a life partner.”
“Peanut, go up to the house and get ready for school.”
“So, can I ride Adela later? You said I could,” Aimee told her brother.
“Not for a while. Adela’s still getting used to us. Give her time. You can ride Pepper after school and chores.”
Making a face, Aimee rolled her eyes. “Pepper is boring.”
“Well, boring can be good.” He tickled her ribs and Aimee laughed, and then rushed off in direction of the inn.
Halfway there, she stopped turned and waved. “Hey, Meg, stop by later and I’ll show you my collection of Star Wars bobbleheads!”
“Okay,” she called, waving back.
“You made quite an impression,” Cooper murmured. “Usually Aimee doesn’t show those to anyone except friends and close family. If she takes out the Chewbacca mask, you’re gold.”
Meg laughed again. “I’ll remember that. I like Star Wars, too.”
He sobered. “Aimee has attachment issues right now. I was stunned she even wanted to go on that field trip. After Brie died, she cried for days and had nightmares. And they didn’t stop until I got home on leave.”
“It must have been very difficult for you to return to active duty after that.”
Cooper’s big shoulders tensed. “I thought about resigning because my family needed me, but I’m going to stick it out until it’s time to re-up. Love being a SEAL and never thought I’d quit the teams before turning forty, but then again, never thought I’d have to bury my kid sister, either.”
She touched his arm, her heart twisting at the shadows on his face, and the grief in his eyes. “I’m sure your family wants what’s best for you.”
He shook his head. “I know what’s best for me. Staying here with them. Family comes first.”
Such dedication, sacrificing career for his loved ones. Meg had never known such devotion and envied it. Oh, her grandmother loved her, and was good to her, but the business always came first. Always. Had it not, Gran never would have hired Prescott t
o run Taylor Sporting Goods and eventually take the company public, where they could become a billion-dollar corporation instead of a million-dollar one.
“Aimee’s sweet,” she said, wishing she had a kid sister.
“Never boring. Though boring with Aimee would be good, because she is always getting into one scrape or another.”
Boring could be good, she agreed. Boring would be excellent right now. Meg felt a chill, thinking of wearing an orange jumpsuit. No Jimmy Choos with that outfit. Would she get bored in prison? What kind of sentence would they give her when she turned over the evidence?
Maybe they would send her to a white-collar prison where she could serve a useful purpose, other than learning to make shanks from toothbrushes and avoid dark corners...
He studied the barn. “I have work. Feel free to walk your dog on the cottage grounds. Or if you like, there are books in our private living room. Mom usually doesn’t allow guests in there, but you’re special.”
She forced a smile. “Thanks. I think I’ll use the Wi-Fi for a while.”
“Signal’s more powerful at the inn. I have a booster I’ll install, but can’t get around to it until tomorrow.”
“I was planning on working at the inn, anyway. The coffee is better there.”
Cooper sputtered. “My coffee isn’t that bad.”
“If you like coffee that could serve as road tar.”
“Woman, you mock me.” He heaved an exaggerated sigh and put his hand over his heart.
Meg gave him a sweet smile. “The truth hurts, doesn’t it?”
Cooper leaned forward and touched her cheek, his gaze growing dark and filled with sensual heat. “You’re a dangerous woman, Meg August.”
Then he turned on his heel and walked off, hands stuffed into his pockets.
Trembling, she touched her face where his fingers had burned into her skin. Never had a man’s simple caress made her so alive, so aware.
You don’t need Cooper Johnson in your life. Stop this.
She needed to figure out what those numbers meant. The sooner she found the evidence, the better.
And then what? Prison for her, most likely. But what would happen to Sophie? She’d have to find her a very good, loving home.
A lump clogged her throat as Cooper headed for the barn. He liked dogs. Maybe his family would be willing to adopt Sophie.
When she entered the inn, laptop in hand, a man sat in the living room, reading a travel magazine. Richard Kimball, the nature photographer. He was an odd man, on the opposite end of the attraction spectrum from Coop. With his squashed face, slicked-back salt-and-pepper hair and tall, thickset body, he didn’t look like someone who made a living climbing mountains and photographing eagles. A 35-millimeter camera rested on the table beside him.
Looking up, he stared at her with cold, beady eyes.
“Hi,” she said. “You’re new. I’m Meg, another guest here.”
Saying nothing, he returned to his magazine. She felt a chill rush down her spine. Not a friendly person.
Meg looked down at his shoes and felt another chill. Big feet. Perhaps size 14. Was this the man who had knocked over the clay flowerpot outside the cottage last night?
She tried again. “It’s nice outside now, but that snowstorm was terrible! I hope you didn’t get caught up in that mess.”
“No,” he grunted.
“Did you have any trouble finding the place? I’ve been told guests sometimes get lost by the cottage.”
Were you spying on me last night? You’re wearing the same kind of shoes that made a print outside the window. Who are you?
Is it really safe to be here?
“You ask a lot of questions,” he muttered, never lifting his gaze from the magazine.
Meg headed for the second-floor common room where guests could use the Wi-Fi. On the landing, Aimee greeted her. “I’m off to school. Hey, someone left you a card on the hall table. It has your name on it.”
Aimee handed her the cream envelope. “Maybe later I can walk Sophie for you. I love dogs. See ya!”
Meg waved goodbye as Aimee raced down the carpeted staircase.
In the common room, Meg removed her coat and placed her laptop on the desk. She sat there, studying the envelope.
Someone had written her name on it with an elegant black pen. Curious, she tore open the envelope and smiled. Hearts and flowers emblazoned the outer card, along with a message: “Someone loves you!”
The inside was blank, but the scrawled, ugly words in black iced her blood. “But it’s not me, you stupid bitch.”
Voices sounded in the hallway. Quickly she folded the card and stuffed it into her jeans pocket. Cooper and his family must not know about this incident. She was on her own and couldn’t rely on anyone else.
Fiona came into the room. “I don’t serve lunch to guests, but Cooper likes to eat at noon. Why don’t you stop in the kitchen? He’ll need some help. My son is wonderful, but he’s not a very good cook. Not even for lunch.”
Her brows drew together in a puzzled frown. “Not even sandwiches?”
“You should see, dear.” Fiona sighed.
“All right. If you are going to...”
“Oh, I’ll try, but I can’t promise anything, dear. I have to start decorating the grounds for the fall. I’m very far behind. But I’m certain Cooper would love to have lunch with you.”
If that wasn’t a clear setup... Meg almost laughed. “All right.”
Closing the door after Fiona, she returned to the desk. The hateful card felt like it burned a hole in her jeans pocket. Perhaps it was someone who was jealous of the attention Cooper paid to her. Doubtful that Prescott had found her this quickly.
But she knew the sooner she was on the road, the better.
* * *
Around noon, Meg went searching for Cooper. She went downstairs and saw Fiona in the dining room, setting out fresh flowers on the table.
“Try the basement. He mentioned working out. Cooper set up a home gym down there. First door on your left as you go into the hall.”
The basement was large and had pine-paneled walls. In one corner was a set of weight equipment, along with a bench. Shirtless, Cooper sat on the bench, his calves lifting a bar saddled with weights. Sweat streamed down his temples and he stared straight ahead. Droplets glistened in the silky hairs on his chest. Meg’s mouth watered as she watched his biceps move as he lifted a set of hand weights, timing the motion to the leg lifts.
So handsome. And strong. And yet there was a gentleness that contrasted with his male strength. She sensed he would never deliberately hurt her.
He seemed unaware of her presence, so she contented herself to watch as muscle and sinew flexed on his legs. Cooper had the wiry strength of tempered steel.
Finally he lowered the bar with a loud bang and set down the weights. Cooper reached for a white towel, wiped his face.
He glanced at her. “Enjoy the show?”
So he had been aware of her. Meg pointed her two thumbs into the air. “Very good. Two thumbs up. I’d ask for an encore, but your mother said you like to eat at noon and it’s nearly noon now. Lunch?”
“My treat this time. I’ll make it for both of us,” he told her.
He wiped his chest and legs and flung the towel aside. Cooper picked up a bottle of water and chugged. Fascinated, she watched his throat muscles work. He wiped his mouth with the back of one hand and set the bottle down.
“I need a shower first.”
Meg licked her lips, unable to drag her gaze away from his rippling abs. It had been a long time since she’d had sex. Good sex.
How about you and I skip lunch and engage in another activity?
And then she remembered the hateful card and all thoughts of pleasure flew away. Someone want
ed to hurt her.
Just like Prescott had.
She managed to find her voice. “Sounds good.”
His gaze turned watchful. “What’s wrong?”
“How do you know something’s wrong?”
“Your face,” he said gently. “You had that same wary look when you walked into the barn after you heard the crash.”
Reluctant to tell him about the letter, she decided to focus on her main concern. “Is there a place where I can leave Sophie for the day where she won’t get into trouble if I’m out? A place other than the cottage?”
“What happened?”
Astute. The man was quite perceptive. Meg rubbed her hands against her jeans. “I don’t want her locked up all day. She’s a people dog, around women, anyway.”
“Mom loves dogs. She was great with Max when he came home with me. Why don’t you get Sophie and leave her with my mom? Even if she has errands to run, Sophie can stay in her room.”
Much better than leaving her alone, where someone might sneak into the cottage and hurt her. “Sounds good. Thanks.”
As she turned to leave, he caught her wrist. The pressure of his hand was steady, but not punishing. “Meg, if there’s something troubling you...tell me.”
The raw command in his voice almost made her capitulate. Almost. Meg offered a bright smile. “I’m expecting a terrific lunch, Farm Boy. And I’m hungry, so hurry up.”
* * *
Lunch turned out to be burned toast and half-cooked bacon on BLT sandwiches. Cooper had covered up his magnificent chest and abs with a gray-and-white baseball shirt. The sleeves hugged the smooth contours of his biceps, and she enjoyed watching him slice and dice tomatoes.
True to Cooper’s word, Fiona was happy to watch Sophie. She took the dog and left them alone in the kitchen. Meg ate the sandwich, trying not to make a face as Cooper chuckled.
“Usually I’m used to eating MREs, meals ready to eat. And with my mom around, I never learned to really cook much for myself. Except in the field when I had to eat bugs and leaves.”
