Coop struggled with himself every step of the way. The air was dark and thick around them, sounds muted by the night. The beams from the security lights didn’t travel far in the fog. It was only ten, but felt more like midnight. Though he’d worked all day, he wasn’t tired.
Far from it.
Beside him, Phoenix remained quiet, concentrating on where she stepped. The loss of her glasses gave him the perfect excuse to touch her, but with every heartbeat he was mindful of what she’d been through. Slow, he reminded himself. Considerate, cautious and slow.
Beneath the loose, long-sleeved shirt she wore, he felt the warmth of her arm against his palm.
He wanted to kiss her.
And he felt guilty because of it.
“Watch it.” He steered her a little to the right. “Daron was right. The park is a mess.”
“I cleared up what I could earlier, but with the wind still blowing, more branches are going to come down.”
“I know. Just as everyone helped out today, we can all pitch in tomorrow to get things back in order.”
“I imagine you’ll have your hands full with other things. Besides, I don’t mind the work. I like to stay busy.”
Without meaning to, Coop caressed her arm with his thumb. “It helps you to forget?”
Though she kept walking, a kind of stillness settled around her. When the seconds ticked by, he thought she might not reply.
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. He 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.”
Phoenix stiffened, but didn’t respond.
“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.
“I take it he was wealthy?”
“Disgustingly rich, yeah.”
Phoenix moved closer to Ridley, as if in support. “What Robbie Rhodes had in financial riches he completely lacked in character.”
Coop wondered what had happened, but he didn’t ask. “I see. Then it sounds like you came out ahead in the deal.”
“Absolutely,” she said with conviction.
But he heard the hurt.
Frowning in worry, Phoenix hooked her arm through Ridley’s, saying, “Maybe a nice long visit is a good idea after all.”
Rolling her eyes, Ridley turned to Coop. “See, now that she thinks I’m the one who needs to unload, it’s all fine and dandy for me to be here.” Sotto voce, she added, “Phoenix doesn’t like to look needy.”
“She mentioned that once.”
Eyebrows raised, Ridley pulled back. “She did?”
He nodded.
“Well, well, well.” She slanted a look at a silent Phoenix. “Looks like you’ll be riding that bike in no time.”
Phoenix tried to frown, but ended up laughing, and that got Ridley laughing, too.
Coop smiled. He didn’t understand the joke, but he liked the sound of their mingled amusement. “Here’s Phoenix’s cabin.” He gestured at the small wood structure just ahead.
“Oh, uh...” Ridley stared in horror.
Phoenix hauled her on. “There’s no backing out now.”
To ensure they got inside safely—or so he told himself—Coop followed. When they got to the front door, he frowned at an excess of mud on the deck boards. “What happened here?”
Phoenix slanted him a look. “What do you mean?”
“It looks like you entered a mud wrestling competition.”
Ridley looked back and forth between them.
After clearing her throat, Phoenix said, “I assumed you stopped by—”
“And cleaned my shoes on your deck?” Not a good impression to give her sister. “I wouldn’t do that.”
Now she frowned, too. “Well, I didn’t do it. It was like that when I stopped by here earlier to grab a shower.”
Suspicion brought his brows together. “Stay put a second.” He stepped off the small deck and cautiously walked around the building. Where there used to be a dirt border circling the lattice skirt, Phoenix had planted flowers.
Beneath one window, those flowers were trampled.
More quickly now, Coop finished the inspection. Though most vacationers left the windows open for the fresh air, Phoenix had them secured. If that was because of the rainy weather or her past, he wasn’t sure.
He returned to the women and saw by the porch light that Phoenix’s expression had tightened with some unnamed emotion. As casually as he could, he asked, “Mind if I take a look around inside, just to be sure...?”
“That no muddy-footed goons broke in?” She handed him the keys with a grand gesture. “Be my guest.”
Ridley, no longer teasing, put her arm around Phoenix, and together they stepped back to wait.
There weren’t many hiding places in a cabin so small, so Coop unlocked the door, flipped on an inside light, and glanced around. Tidy, just as he’d suspected it would be.
She’d brought the outdoors in by placing plants on all available surfaces, including the mantel over the small fireplace, the shelf at the bar-type eating nook and the counter between the sink and the microwave.
In the bathroom, she’d exchanged the utilitarian shower curtain with a puffy one the shade of butter that matched the towels and floor mat. In the corner, another plant hung from the ceiling.
He went two steps up the ladder to the loft and saw she’d also exchanged the bare bedding with a soft quilt and matching shams on fat pillows. Other changes were obvious in the loft, like the hanging light and lap desk with a book still on it, the low storage trunk she used as a nightstand and the wicker laundry hamper.
Phoenix Rose had taken a small vacation cabin and turned it into a cozy and functional home.
“Do you see something?”
He glanced down and found Phoenix standing very close by, her face turned up to his, her eyes worried behind the lenses of her glasses. “Only a decorator’s touch.” As he climbed down, she moved back—and almost fell over one of Ridley’s suitcases.
The cases alone crowded the small space. With a muttered complaint, Phoenix moved them to flank the fireplace, clearing them from the center of the floor.
She’d have her hands full tonight getting her sister settled—and that on top of a busy day.
Plus a brief foray into lust.
If he thought about that much, he’d get primed again. Not good with two women standing there watching him in such close quarters.
“Everything looks secure. Maybe it was Daron looking for you...” Although he couldn’t imagine any of his employees leaving mud tracks behind. It was almost as if whoever had come up on her deck had first tromped through the woods during the storm.
He didn’t like that notion at all.
“Well.” Phoenix laced her fingers together and smiled up at him. “Thanks for checking.”
“Seriously,” Ridley said. “It’s always nice to have a big stud around for the dangerous stuff.”
Phoenix looked horrified, but Coop found her hilarious.
“Been a long time since anyone called me a stud.”
“Bull.” Ridley had been peering into the bathroom, but now she turned his way. “You’re too confident to be unfamiliar with outrageous flattery.”
“And you, Ridley? You’re rather confident yourself. Does that mean you get outrageous flattery heaped at your feet?”
She gave him a shark’s smile, all teeth, attitude, and yes, confidence. “Absolutely.”
Before the banter could go any farther, Phoenix dove in. “I guess we should call it a night.”
Coop hesitated, but with Ridley now inside the bathroom, complaining about the minuscule proportions of the shower, he scooped a hand around Phoenix’s nape and drew her up on her tiptoes to brush his mouth over hers.
The sensation was electric, especially now that he knew how good she tasted and how quickly she could ignite. He stepped back slowly, resenting the distance that had to be between them, even while knowing it was for the best.
He had a hell of a lot to think about, and she needed time to decide just how far she wanted the physical attraction to go.
To keep Ridley from knowing, neither of them said a thing until he reached the door and opened it. “Will I see you tomorrow at the store for coffee?”
She drew a slow breath and smiled. “I’ll be there.”
Hopefully, her sister wasn’t an early riser. Coop would enjoy the chance to talk to Phoenix alone...and if things went right, maybe taste her again, too.