Hoping the evening wouldn’t end yet, Phoenix listened in as Cooper called Daron to see if he needed to come get Sugar. To her relief, Daron assured him they were fine. In fact, he and the dog were with Maris at her shop. They’d just taken the dog for a walk and were now settling in for a snack.
Cooper played it cool, but he grinned at Phoenix while thanking Daron.
After he disconnected, he said, “That’s an interesting turn of events.”
She shook her head. “Maris pretends to dislike Daron, but I think that’s just a front.”
“Meaning?”
“She’s super committed to her business and future, and Daron is...” The right word eluded her.
“A knucklehead?”
She laughed. “You know he’s not, not really, but most of the time he’s the opposite of serious.”
“True enough.” Cooper stepped closer. “Since we have some time left, you want to watch a movie?”
Teasing, she said, “Depends on the movie.”
“We’ll find something.” His gaze moved over her, lingering on her boobs. Typical man. “I have some ice cream if you’re ready for dessert.”
Leaning forward, Phoenix took a soft love bite of his chest. “Mmm, dessert.”
“Keep that up, and we won’t make it out of the room.” He snatched up his T-shirt and dropped it over her head, then stepped into his boxers. “I don’t want to cover you up, but I’m not into torture, either.”
Loving his playful mood and all the compliments, she laughed. “Ice cream sounds great.” By silent agreement, they moved to the living room. While he fetched the ice cream, she explored the space.
A big couch and two chairs faced a large television. Sports magazines littered an end table. A bookcase filled with biographies, mysteries and crime novels drew her.
On the first shelf, between a stack of books on the left and a row on the right, was another photo of Cooper’s wife, this one of her in jeans and a T-shirt, her hair windblown, her feet bare.
She’d just moved away to peruse his magazines when he returned.
“Sorry it’s a little messy,” he said, bowls of ice cream in hand.
“Actually, it’s really nice. You’ve set it up for your comfort, and that makes others comfortable, too.”
“Good.” He sat on the couch, patting the cushion beside him. “Come here.”
She settled beside him, half lounged against him, her feet up beside her. Cooper kept one arm around her, his feet crossed on the coffee table.
She accepted the bowl from him, agog at the massive scoop of chocolate ice cream.
“Did you ever want a house?”
The question caused a pang of remorse. To give herself a minute to think, she shoveled in a bite, waiting while the ice cream melted on her tongue. Should she be brutally honest with him?
What would he think of her once he knew?
“Phoenix?”
There was that perception again. She put the spoon in the bowl, but didn’t look up. “I had a house. Or rather, my fiancé bought a house for us. I helped to pick it, but after the...” Most people called it a robbery, but it had been so much more than that. If the men had only wanted money, only wanted her jewelry, would her world still have fallen apart?
Would she, right now, be in that house with David, happily married with her planned future ahead?
For the first time since it had happened, she didn’t regret the loss of that future—because it hadn’t included Cooper.
Quietly, determined to be as upfront with him as she could be, Phoenix said, “After the attack, I withdrew. You know that much. I couldn’t seem to face anyone and that included David. He didn’t understand. How could he? At first he postponed the wedding, thinking I just needed time.”
Cooper said not a word, and though he barely moved, somehow both their bowls ended up on the coffee table and his arms were around her.
She burrowed closer, glad for a way to hide her face.
To hide her shame.
“I hurt him so badly,” she admitted, her throat suddenly tight. “I know that, just as I know he deserved better.”
With his chin on top of her head, Cooper said, “I think you did what you had to do to cope. There’s no disgrace in that, honey.”
Oh, how she wished that were true, but facts were facts. “Strangers destroyed my world...and then I destroyed his.”
Though she tried to refuse, his hand lifted her chin, relentlessly insistent until she met his gaze.
“That’s nonsense. You and I are both proof that people are resilient. If he hasn’t recovered by now, he will soon. Life goes on, you know, sometimes even when you wish it wouldn’t.”
The stark words made her heart skip a beat. Had Cooper wanted to die after he lost his wife? She hated that thought.
“And,” he said, his mouth touching gently to hers, “if it wasn’t meant to be, it’s better that you ended it before marriage.”
She’d often told herself the same, but it was small solace when she thought of David’s face, of all the ways he’d tried to convince her to stay with him. She groaned at the image. “I hope he’s found someone else. Someone better.”
“Shh. Don’t say that.”
“It’s true.” She’d face reality even if he wouldn’t.
“Some people belong together and some don’t. It’s not about being better, it’s about finding the right one.”
That was a sober reminder that Cooper had found the right one—and she’d been taken from him. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to have a pity party.” God knew he’d lost so much more.
“Hey.” He drew her face up again, this time so he could kiss her until she softened. “I’m glad you shared with me. I want you to. Anytime, okay?”
It had felt good to talk, to get some of the regret off her chest. She’d never be free of the shame, but sharing it had somehow shaved off the ragged edges. “All right, thank you.” That sounded ridiculous, so she added with a mock frown, “Now let’s eat this ice cream before it melts.”
“Sounds like a plan.” He used a remote to scroll through the channels until he came across Alien with Sigourney Weaver.
“Oh, this is one of my favorites,” Phoenix said.
Surprised, Cooper paused. “You like horror?”
She grinned at him. “My whole family loves scary movies. My grandma always claimed that my mom teased her with Ridley’s name because it’s so close to Sigourney’s character, Ellen Ripley, but without being quite there.”
One brow lifted. “Because your grandmother liked horror, too?”
“Of course. When Ridley and I would visit, we’d play outside all day, fish in the pond and stuff, then settle down with popcorn and homemade milkshakes in front of the TV. We got to take turns picking movies. Grandma’s only rule was there couldn’t be a lot of sex or nudity.”
“That rules out most horror.”
“I know.” She leaned closer, as if sharing a confidence. “Ridley and I used to sneak and watch the forbidden movies whenever we got a chance.”
Cooper laughed. “Hell of an education for a kid.”
She grinned, feeling incredibly lighthearted as he settled in with her to watch.
They were engrossed in the movie, the ice cream gone, the room dark, when on the screen, a face-grabbing alien dropped on Ripley’s shoulder. Phoenix didn’t mean to, but she jerked so sharply, she almost cracked Cooper in the nose.
Mortification erupted in a strangled laugh. Good grief, she’d seen the movie a dozen times and knew that scene was coming...and still it got her. “I’m so sorry!” She cupped his face. “Did I hurt you?”
“Actually, you startled me more than the alien did.”
Heat burned in her cheeks. “That scene gets me every time.”
Now looking concerned, he asked, “Are you sure the movie won’t bother you later?”
Phoenix batted her lashes at him, and said in her most innocent voice, “You mean because I’m a frail little woman who has to sleep alone?”
“You don’t have to. You’re more than welcome to—”
Knowing she’d accidentally put him on the spot, she interjected with, “Will it scare you?”
He grinned. “As long as no one is flailing next to me, I think I’ll hold up okay.”
Playfully, she punched his shoulder. “I didn’t flail.”
“What would you call it?”
“Mildly startled?” At his grunt, she couldn’t help laughing. “If a scary movie doesn’t leave you trembling, why do you think it would bother me? It’s not like an actual alien will creep into my cabin tonight.”
He gave her a firm kiss. “Point taken. Sorry if I offended.”
Her heart swelled. “I don’t offend that easily.” Actually, it was nice to have someone who cared.
Someone other than her bossy and outrageous older sister.
They got comfortable again, staying quiet until the next commercial. Then he picked up as if there’d been no interruption at all. “Even though a horror veteran and a cheesy movie won’t spook you, you’re welcome to stay here.”
Had he been stewing on that for the last ten minutes? Seemed so. And oh, how the idea tempted her.
But she knew she couldn’t stay.
Not for much longer.
Soon, she promised herself.
Hoping for a casual air, she smiled up at him. “Thanks, but I’d rather not risk gossip. It’s better if I come from my cabin tomorrow morning, same as I always do.”
“Better for who?”
For you, she wanted to say, but didn’t. “I’m sure everyone already knows we’re seeing each other, but I’d rather they not know how fast we’re moving.”
“Fast? Seems to me it’s been excruciatingly slow—but I won’t pressure you tonight.”
Tonight. Did that mean he planned to pressure her tomorrow? If so, she’d decide then what to do. She’d had such a wonderful time, she didn’t want to chance spoiling the rest of the evening.
During commercials, they talked—and kissed a lot. Then when the movie returned, she sat in his embrace. He touched her hair, stroked her hip and occasionally palmed her breasts. She breathed in his scent, soaked up his warmth, while his chest repeatedly drew her curious fingers...and her lips.
In so many ways, the entire evening felt perfect.
She was so cozy, so content that by the time the movie ended, she was almost asleep. When Cooper caught her yawning, she saw in his eyes that he wanted to try to convince her to stay over.
It was a good thing he didn’t, because with all her defenses down, she might have caved. She forced her feet to the floor and her butt off the couch. “Time for me to get dressed.”
“Now, that is a crime.” He eyed her legs. “Will you believe me when I say you’d look amazing in a bikini?”
Phoenix snorted a laugh. “Thank you, but I’ll stick with my old reliable one-piece.” After a deep stretch, she headed down the hall. Already, she felt familiar with his home. He kept it clean, but not necessarily tidy. He liked things a certain way, set up for functionality rather than presentation.
She, on the other hand, was all about how things looked. If she lived here, she’d—
Good Lord. Though Cooper was behind her, her face went hot. He’d offered her one night to stay over, but he wasn’t asking for a roommate. She’d do well to remember that.
Sex, she reiterated to her tired brain as she stepped into the bedroom. Great sex. Phenomenal sex.
Sex...that felt like so much more?
No. No, no, no—
“What’s wrong?”
In the middle of her silent denials, she spun to face him, mortified to think he might know her thoughts. “What do you mean?”
“Phoenix.” He cupped her face. “Give me a little credit, okay? I can tell when something is bothering you.”
Did he really know her so well? An unsettling thought—that also warmed her heart.
She forced a smile. “It’s nothing. I was just worrying about Ridley.”
Skeptical, he asked, “You’ll miss her tonight?”
“She’s bossy and she snores, so not likely.”
Humor eased away his worry. “Is that so? Maybe I should warn Baxter.”
She laughed, but ruined it with another yawn. “It’s getting late. I need to go.” Before I give in to the desire to stay.
He didn’t argue, but she could tell he didn’t like it, either.
They dressed together in near silence. When she was ready to leave, Cooper pocketed his keys and phone and walked with her.
Shoulder to shoulder with her, Cooper asked, “Want me to drive you?”
“Mmm.” She looked up at the clear sky, velvet black with a million glittering stars and a fat, glowing moon, all reflecting off the surface of the lake. A light breeze teased over her face, stirring the balmy air. She spread her arms wide. “It’s such a nice night I’d prefer to walk, if that’s okay.” She could extend their time together just a little longer.
“Sure.” They were almost down the hill, the grass alternately slick with dew, then dry and prickly, when he asked, “Want to walk with me to get Sugar from Daron before I take you home? You could tell her good-night.”
Aha, so Cooper also wanted to steal every minute he could. “I’d love to.” She leaned closer, saying sotto voce, “Besides, I’m dying to see how things are going with Maris and Daron.”
“Voices carry out here,” Daron said from somewhere down the hill. “And I had no idea you were a voyeur.”
Phoenix slapped a hand over her mouth. Busted.
There was a muted complaint from Maris.
Daron grunted and said, “Ow, damn.”
Then Maris called loudly, “There’s absolutely nothing to see...well, except for the dog piddling.”
Daron objected to that, while Maris shushed him.
She shot a look at Cooper, and caught his suppressed smile. Sharing the moment, she leaned against him. He gave her a brief hug just before they stumbled upon Maris and Daron, standing a discreet distance apart.
Sugar was in the middle of peeing when she spotted them and she ran—in a half squat—yapping happily.
It was another twenty minutes before Cooper and Sugar finished walking her home. Unfortunately, her porch light was off.
“That’s odd.”
“What?” Cooper asked.
“I added a sensor to the porch light so it would automatically come on at dusk, but it’s not on.”
Just that quick, his good mood fled and dark suspicion brought his brows together. He handed her the leash for Sugar, saying, “Wait here,” and went up to the dark porch, using his phone as a flashlight.
Heart pounding in dread, she watched as he checked the door first and found it still locked. After glancing back and seeing that she hadn’t budged, he again circled her cabin.
This was starting to become a habit, but she was extremely glad for his help. It was late enough—into the park’s quiet time—that no one else was about. Many campers had lights on the outside of their RVs and fifth wheels, and some of the people using tents had small fires out front.
And yet, it felt eerily still and quiet, when minutes before it had felt magical.
She stared hard into the heavy shadows, watching for Cooper to reemerge—and finally he did, stepping up to the deck from the other side, apparently finding nothing amiss.
His back to her, he checked the porch light...and his head turned slightly. “The bulb is broken.”
“Broken?” She inched closer. “How?”
“I don’t know.” He met her before she could get one foot on the deck step. “Let me take a look around inside.”
“This is starting to feel like déjà vu.” She hoped the casual words belied her nervousness, because already her palms felt damp and her heart raced. It’s only a broken light bulb. Logically, she knew it happened, but fear was seldom logical. Would she always immediately equate a simple problem with possible danger?
God, she hoped not.
She got the keys from her purse and handed them over. Because she was jumpy, she scooped up Sugar and held her close, taking comfort from the dog as she watched Cooper unlock the door and disappear inside, flipping on lights as he did so.
It wouldn’t take him more than a minute to go through the entire place—
In a move far more startling than an alien dropping on Ridley’s shoulder, Sugar launched into a furious tirade of barking and snarling. It was all Phoenix could do to hold on to her—and then she saw the vague figure racing away into the darkness, feet skidding on gravel.
Cooper rushed out—but it was already too late. Whoever had been there had raced for the woods so she caught his arm while trying to hold on to the dog at the same time.
Her heart thumped so violently, she could barely draw breath, but she choked out, “He’s gone.”
Eyes narrowed, Cooper stared at where the man had disappeared, then ushered Phoenix and Sugar into the cabin. Calmer than she, he said, “Good dog, Sugar. Good dog.”
He said nothing to Phoenix, but drew out his phone and placed a call. When he spoke, she realized he’d dialed Officer Clark.
“Gibb? The fucker was just here.”
Odd, Phoenix thought, that his voice sounded so calm in contrast to what he said.
“No, I didn’t see him—just the back of a man running away.” His voice lowered. “He was at Ms. Rose’s cabin. Someone broke the porch light. No, no real damage other than a bulb, but if I hadn’t been with her, she’d have been walking...” He cast a glance at Phoenix. “Right.”
She looked back, trying to mimic his composed mood. But damn it, this time her instincts had been right, even though she’d tried to ignore them. Given her past, it now seemed impossible to discern when she should and shouldn’t be alarmed.
“Yeah,” Cooper muttered, “I’ll wait. Thanks.”
That sounded like he might be hanging around for a bit. Phoenix sat on her sofa and folded her hands together. “Wait for what?” There, that sounded reasonable and calm...
As long as he didn’t notice how her fingers were shaking.
“Waiting here with you until Gibb calls me back.” Cooper paced, and the dog tracked his every step. “He’s already out so he’ll go by where the pricks live and see what’s up.”
“Oh.” She cleared her throat. “How long will that take, do you think?”
“Not long.” He looked again at Sugar, then picked her up. “You make a hell of a guard dog, baby.” He kissed her on the top of her furry little head, making her whole body jiggle with joy. When he looked at Phoenix, his gaze assessing, she tried to look brave.
She must have failed.
He sat beside her, cupping a hand around the back of her neck. “You okay?”
Oh, that gentle voice just might do her in. She made her lips curl in the semblance of a smile and said with false confidence, “Of course. Why wouldn’t I be?”
When he only continued to watch her, those beautiful eyes seeing too much, she began to babble.
“There could be a lot of reasons why someone was running around the park. We shouldn’t automatically think something nefarious is going on. Maybe the bulb just blew. Bulbs do that, you know. It’s not like the guy was actually at my cabin, just—” she waved a hand “—somewhere close behind it.”
“Phoenix.”
She rounded on him. “Are you upset? Nervous?”
“Actually, yeah.”
Her eyes widened. “You are?” Well, damn it, that only made her more jumpy, giving her reason to think there was good cause to worry. To be sure, she asked, “Why?”
He started to speak, but then his cell phone rang. He set the dog on the floor and stood, pacing again as he answered.
“Gibb? Find out anything?” Cooper listened, his scowl growing darker by the second. “Bullshit.” And then with even more heat, “How can you be sure?”
Phoenix watched as he rubbed the back of his neck.
“No,” Cooper said. “There’s nothing here to see. Yeah, I’m sure. It’s okay, thanks.”
When he disconnected, Phoenix waited.
After several seconds, he turned to face her, his expression still grim. “Harry and his two cohorts were in when Gibb got there. In fact, they were in the middle of a video game with about ten other guys.”
“Meaning—”
“Lots of alibis. Gibb said it didn’t look to him like they’d been anywhere. They were kicked back, shoes off, cans of beer everywhere and Harry was plenty pissed to have his game interrupted.”
“Well then...” She stalled, unsure what to think. “I guess I was right. Not a big deal.”
Cooper stood very tall, his broad shoulders looking even wider with his tension. “Come home with me for the night.”
God, it would be so easy to give in, to lean on him. But she was an independent woman. She was strong.
She had this.
Smiling, a genuine smile this time because, damn it, she was proud of herself, she stood. “I can’t.” She hugged him tight, despite his stiff posture. “But if you wouldn’t mind staying until I change that light, I’d really appreciate it.”
* * *
A week later, Ridley sat across from Phoenix at the little wrought-iron table she’d purchased to go outside under her RV’s canopy, a steaming cup of coffee in her hands. It was a beautiful June morning, the sky blue, the birds happily singing, children playing nearby, and she could even hear the quiet rush of water in the creek.
Bleh.
She needed to start work in another twenty minutes, and all she really wanted to do was crawl back into her surprisingly comfortable bed. But she wouldn’t.
Coop had been thrilled to sign her on as a permanent employee, just as Daron had promised. He took every opportunity to tell her what a great job she was doing. Though she wouldn’t admit it to him or Phoenix, she liked his praise, so she worked hard to always be on time.
“You look exhausted,” Phoenix noted.
Ridley made a face at her. “I lie awake every night worrying about you.”
With an eye roll, Phoenix warned, “Ridley—”
She was just irascible enough to grumble, “I get it that you wouldn’t stay with Big Sexy...” She paused, plunking down her cup. “Actually, I don’t get it, but fine, I’ll respect your decision. Sort of.”
“Gee, thanks.”
She ignored that dry tone to continue on her tirade. “But to turn away your own sister?” Ridley concentrated on her ire, more than her hurt, over Phoenix’s absurd insistence on independence. “What’s up with that?”
The hot coffee left steam on Phoenix’s glasses as she sipped. She removed them, using the edge of her shirt as a polishing cloth. “I think the fact that nothing else has happened proves there’s no reason for everyone to keep fussing.”
“I’ll damn well fuss if I want to,” Ridley snapped, though if she was being totally honest, her worry for Phoenix only accounted for part of her recent insomnia. “I should’ve never bought this stupid RV, should’ve never moved out of your cabin, never...” Made plans for Baxter. Damn the man, how dare he keep her twisted up like this?
“I thought you loved the RV.”
Yeah, she did. “It was a waste of money.”
Phoenix gave a noncommittal “Hmm.”
“Hmm? What do you mean hmm?”
Her sister laughed. “You really are touchy today, aren’t you?”
Ridley slumped back in her chair. The beautiful floral cushions made it a very comfortable seat—for a stylish RV that she actually loved. Everything inside the camper was well planned for functionality, not a single inch of space wasted.
She’d mostly bought it as a place to get busy with Baxter, and that dick was avoiding her. She hadn’t seen him at all in the past week.
She eyed Phoenix, then sighed. It wasn’t fair to take out her bad mood on her sis. “I need to get laid.”
Phoenix choked on her coffee.
“Prude,” Ridley accused, but she’d lost the heat of her anger. “You can afford to laugh since you’re doing the nasty with Coop every damn night.” Was she jealous? Hell, yes.
Quickly sobering, Phoenix asked, “Have you actually, ah...invited Baxter to your bed?”
“Of course not. The bum has to ask me, not the other way around.”
A rich, male voice interjected, “Well, maybe someone should have told me that.”
Both women swung around to find Baxter himself—still a dick—standing there looking good enough to eat. Phoenix went wide-eyed...and then grinned. Ridley scowled.
Morning sunshine stroked Baxter’s fair hair. He wore only black board shorts with unlaced sneakers and God Almighty, his body was better than the coffee.
She looked at her own reflection in his mirrored sunglasses, saying succinctly, “Go away.”
“Nope.”
He couldn’t take a seat—there were only two—so Ridley turned back to her coffee, intent on ignoring him.
Phoenix, the rat, had other plans. She hastily stood. “I should be on my way.”
Ridley was really too tired to come up with an adequate insult for the deserter, so she said only, “Paybacks are hell, sis.”
Smiling, Phoenix came around the table, bent for a hug and said quietly in her ear, “The cure is right here. All you gotta do is grab it.”
“Oh, I’ll grab it all right—”
“Shush.” She gave Ridley a loud kiss on the cheek and stepped away. As she passed Baxter, she muttered, “Play nice. I’m partly to blame for her grumpy mood.”
“I will if she will.”
Shaking her head, Phoenix walked away.
An odd mix of expectation, dread and annoyance kept Ridley bitter. She gave all her attention to her coffee cup and did her best to ignore the stud-vibes coming off Baxter.
Of course, he refused to be ignored.
“The silent treatment is interesting.” He spun the vacated chair around, straddled the seat and braced his bare arms over the back. Softer now, he added, “But I heard what you said, and there’s no taking it back.”
Temptation, that’s what he was. Pure, hot temptation.
Ridley sniffed in disdain. “I may not be interested anymore,” she lied, and went back to sipping her coffee.
Keeping her eyes off him took all her concentration. The struggle is real. When he said nothing else, she sighed dramatically. “Run along, Baxter.”
Instead, he took off his sunglasses and placed them on the table.
Oh, unfair! Those stunning green eyes drew her like a damned magnet.
“I was away from the park the last few days.”
Away? Well, damn, no wonder she hadn’t seen him. She pretended only mild interest.
As if he knew her ploy, his eyes glittered. “I sometimes teach private classes in different locations. Coop has no problem with me adjusting the schedule here when I need to be somewhere else, especially since Kelly can fill in for me then.”
“Kelly?”
“She’s an assistant.”
Only an assistant? Ridley wondered.
Again, he seemed to know her thoughts. “I have a scuba shop in town, too. Kelly’s usually there—except for when I need her here.”
She’d need to meet Kelly to decide how she felt about that. With any luck the woman would be sixty, leathered by the sun, and with an ugly temperament. Until then... She shoved to her feet. “Well?”
His brows shot up. “Well, what?”
“Ask already—and you damn well better make it pretty.”
A slow, cocky smile sharpened his appeal. Slowly, he stood too, flattening both hands on the tabletop, and leaned toward her, his gaze on her mouth. With his voice whiskey-rough, he whispered, “Let me fuck you, Ridley. Pretty please.”
Oh, yeah... She swallowed. That’d work. She folded her arms under her breasts. “Eight o’clock, here. Tonight.”
His attention dipped to her cleavage, enhanced by her stance. “It’s going to be a very long day.”
Yeah, tell me about it. She lifted her chin. “Not for me. I’ll be too busy to watch the clock.” For a little payback, she added, “Daron is going to do some repairs to a cabin while I’m cleaning it—”
He came around the table so quickly, she almost squeaked.
Before she knew it, he had her chin caught gently between long fingers, his other hand pressing at the small of her back.
Somehow she was flush against his lean body and her senses rioted with pleasure. Nice.
“I’m all for keeping this casual.”
Double dick. “You have no choice in that.”
“But,” he added with emphasis, “you’re going to have to limit yourself to one man at a time.”
Her eyes flared. Wow, he had a hell of an opinion on her stamina. Leaning into him more, ensuring that her boobs squashed against his naked chest, she purred, “One man is fine—long as he makes it worth my while.”
His mouth landed on hers and before she had time to assess the impact, he had her lips open, his tongue dancing against her. The man knows how to kiss. Along with that thought she heard a laugh.
Baxter released her mouth, his expression dark as he looked off to the side.
Keeping her face hidden against him, not sure she had the strength yet to move, she asked, “People?”
“They’ve moved on, but the park’s getting busy.” He eased away from her. “I need to get down to the shop anyway. I have classes this morning.”
“Lots of little hotties waiting for you?”
“Right now I’m only concerned with one hottie,” he said.
Basically avoiding an answer.
She knew anyway. Baxter was always surrounded by admirers.
He stood there, breathing deepened, gaze intense. “Eight o’clock, Ridley.” He pressed one more quick kiss to her mouth, and strode away.
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?