Worry had carried Phoenix to the bottom of the trestle. She’d expected kids and had fully intended to reprimand them. Instead, she found a rough-looking man.
Sudden fear turned her blood to ice...but the poor dog. “You’re scaring it,” she accused, meaning a forceful shout and only managing a weak protest. What am I going to do?
He threw another rock, which thankfully missed the poor animal. “He killed one of my chickens.”
She was trying to find her voice, trying to think of a reply, when Cooper stepped up behind her, saying over her head, “Hurt my dog again and you’ll be sorry.”
Until that moment, she’d forgotten he was with her. She looked up, seeing him as the man might: big, solid, pissed off.
A massive deterrent to abusive jerks.
Oh, thank God. She faced the man again, then looked for a path up to the trestle. Cooper’s hand on her arm kept her still. “Stay here.”
Ignoring his bare feet, he climbed the slope, up and around weeds and bramble, then she saw him emerge at the edge of the trestle. Wooden ties were missing in places, leaving gaping holes big enough for a body to fall through. Paying no attention to the seething creep, Cooper maneuvered easily until he reached the dog.
He glanced down at Phoenix. “He’s okay. Just scared.”
It meant a lot that he’d take the time to reassure her, but she badly wanted him and the dog away from the threat. “Can you get him?” she asked. If the dog lunged away, they could both end up falling from the trestle.
“Yeah, I’ll get him.”
The man stood at the other side where the trestle butted into the hill and stopped. “You owe me for the chicken.”
Still Cooper ignored the guy and, stripping off his shirt, carefully bent to the dog. Moving slowly, he bundled up the muddy animal, then stood with it cradled in his arms. The dog tucked its snout against his neck.
Cooper said, “Come by the manager’s office at the RV resort tomorrow and I’ll give you what you’re owed.”
Phoenix heard the menace in the words, but either the creep didn’t notice, or he was too stupid to take heed.
He spit toward the creek. “I want my money now.”
Ignoring him, Cooper turned, making his way carefully back to land.
Finally regaining rational thought, Phoenix turned and hurried back down the creek where they’d left their things. She tucked the phone into her pocket and hastily donned her socks and boots. Leaving them unlaced, she snatched up Cooper’s things, turned, and almost ran into two more men.
Her heart shot into her throat. She couldn’t see past them and had no idea where Cooper had gone. She didn’t mean to, but she backed up.
“You heard him. Harry wants his money now.”
She heard a rushing in her ears and realized it was her own racing pulse. Cooper couldn’t be far away, but how much help would he be against three men while holding a frightened dog?
She carefully inhaled, then asked with admirable calm, “How much?”
“Fifty ought to do it.”
Outrageous, especially since she didn’t believe that small dog had eaten a live chicken—not that it mattered. She’d left her purse in her cabin and only had five dollars in her pocket, put there in case she needed a drink or a sandwich from the camp store.
Unsure what to say, she backed up another step, stumbled over her laces, and barely kept herself from falling. Her glasses slid down her nose and she made a frantic grab to keep them in place.
The man speaking to her grinned.
They were both dirty, boldly looking her over. The talkative one was shirtless, the other wore a too-big, greasy black T-shirt.
This is not like the attack at the store, she promised herself. It’s not night, I’m not alone, and—
“Ah, look. I think you’re making her nervous, Frank.” The second man gave her a malicious smile. “Cat got your tongue, baby?”
Frank stared at her mouth. “Speaking of tongues—”
Suddenly Cooper was there, his big body casually moving between them, forcing the men back as he handed her the dog.
“I don’t think it’ll try to run, but be careful just the same as you head back to the park.”
He wants me to leave him? Rationally, Phoenix knew it made sense. If she left, she could at least send others to help—if it wouldn’t already be too late. She should hurry...yet she couldn’t seem to get her feet to move.
The dog, a smallish beagle mix with a bloody ear and big, frightened brown eyes, immediately stuck his nose over her shoulder, crowding as close as he could. The animal’s need for comfort helped her composure. She automatically crooned to him, backing up again to give Cooper some room while she tried to decide what to do. Stay or go? Try to help or keep out of the way?
She had no idea where the first man had gone and that worried her enough that she gave a quick look behind her, but all she saw was the rushing creek and woods.
They were well away from the resort...with three thugs threatening them.
Trying to be subtle, Phoenix cradled the dog in one arm and bent down to pick up a round, fist-sized rock. It wasn’t easy juggling everything, but the dog helped by curling as close as he could get.
No one paid any attention to her.
Cooper, his posture loose, his attitude unconcerned, faced the men. “I strongly suggest you boys run along now.”
Boys? That had to be a joke, but then, to a mature, responsible man like Cooper, they might seem young. She guessed them to be her age, maybe a little less, which would make them around ten years his junior. Still, men in their early twenties weren’t boys, especially when they reeked of trouble.
“Did you pay Harry?” Frank asked.
“Your chickenshit friend who likes to mistreat animals?” Cooper shifted closer to him. “Is that who you mean?”
Both punks bunched up.
Cooper continued, “I gave him a time to come to the RV resort tomorrow to get what he’s owed. Until then, I’m done talking to any of you.”
Had he and Harry spoken again after she’d run back to get their things? If they were politely conversing, maybe the worst of the threat was over.
Sadly, she realized it wasn’t when Frank, copping an attitude, poked a finger hard against Cooper’s chest.
Sneering, Frank said, “I suggest you—”
Before he could finish, Cooper kicked at his lead leg, sweeping it out from under him, and the shirtless fool went crashing to the bank, half rolling into the creek. He clutched his knee, groaning.
Almost at the same time, Cooper snatched up the other jerk by his shirt, saying close to his face, “You seriously don’t want to do this.”
The explicit warning hung in the air. Somehow, Cooper looked even bigger, bulkier—and all congeniality had disappeared in a poof.
Hands up, the leaner man said, “Okay, dude. Relax.”
Behind them, Harry finally showed up. “Let’s go,” he said, his tone sullen. “I’ll get my money tomorrow.”
Phoenix stared at the abuser. Along the left side of his face, mud caked in his hair and ear and was smeared across his jaw. His eye was slightly swollen and bloodshot. A rip in his T-shirt ran from the neck down to his sternum, causing the material to hang on his frame. He looked defensive and...
Small.
Physically and emotionally.
The realization surprised her, but now, with Cooper in charge of the situation, they all appeared far less threatening, more like the boys he’d accused them of being.
Residual fear kept her legs quaking, but her heart had slowed from its frantic beat.
She watched as the other two helped Frank from the creek. He limped badly. Together, shoulders hunched, grumbling among themselves, they departed.
As soon as they were out of sight, Cooper turned and, as he started to take his shoes from her, noticed the rock. One dark eyebrow shot up. “Were you planning to brain someone?”
Feeling horribly self-conscious now, she dropped the rock into the creek with a splash. “Maybe.”
A smile flashed over his face as he stepped into his shoes, then knelt to tie the laces. “You should have left when I asked you to.”
Anger vibrated in his tone but she didn’t know if it was aimed at her or the men. She’d wanted to go—and he deserved the truth. “I...couldn’t.” Reaction settled in, making her voice tremble.
He shot her a look, and his stern expression softened. After tying her shoes, too, he straightened. “Come on.” Easing the dog back into his own arms, he made sure his shirt stayed tucked around the poor thing. “I don’t want to stick around to see if they find their balls.”
No, she didn’t want that, either. Anyone heartless enough, cruel enough, to torment an animal was, in her opinion, capable of anything.
Cooper adjusted the dog in one arm, keeping it close to his chest, then wrapped a big hand around her wrist and started them on their way.
Phoenix licked her lips, her thoughts flying. “That man—Harry they called him—he was muddy and the side of his face was red.”
“He tried to take the dog from me.”
A simple statement, that said so much. “You hit him?”
Shrugging, he kept them going at a fast clip. “I wasn’t going to let him have the dog.”
No, of course he wouldn’t. She went the rest of the way silently, not sure what to say, anxious to get the dog to safety so she could assess his injuries. Minutes later, they emerged near the golf cart. Kids were close by, shooting baskets. A man was in the process of parking an enormous RV. Two women walked by, involved in friendly conversation.
It all seemed so normal, but Phoenix faced the truth: she wasn’t. Not yet.
Would she ever be?
* * *
Cooper turned the golf cart and instead of heading for the maintenance shed, he drove it to his own home. Phoenix was quiet, too damn quiet, as she idly stroked the dog’s head resting on his shoulder.
It had taken every ounce of control he had not to annihilate the punks who’d mistreated the dog and frightened Phoenix. Rage, familiar in its intensity, shimmered just beneath his calm facade.
“You shouldn’t pay them.”
Hearing her speak, regardless of what she said, relieved him. “They won’t get a dime from me.” The words emerged gruffer, angrier than he’d intended, but he was still so fucking furious...
Phoenix tipped her head. “But you said—”
“I want them to show up tomorrow.” He wanted that bad. “How else can the police talk with them?”
“Oh.” She released her breath on a faint smile. “I like that plan.” Then she frowned. “You’ll keep him?”
“Her, and yeah, I will.”
Her brows rose above the rims of her glasses. “He’s a female?”
Despite his volatile state, Coop laughed. Talking about the dog helped tamp down his turbulent mood. “Yes, she is—and why are you so surprised?”
“I dunno.” She eyed the dog skeptically. “He...she...just looks like a male, don’t you think?”
“Not where it counts, no.”
She choked, then gently stroked the dog’s head. “What if someone claims her?”
Shaking his head, Coop rejected that idea. “She’s a stray.” He glanced at Phoenix again, glad that she was loosening up even if he couldn’t. “Didn’t you see all the bloated ticks on her?”
“Uh, no.” Snatching her hand back and scooting a few inches away, she asked, “Ticks?”
“Likely fleas, too. A bath is on the immediate agenda—and since you had her against you, you should leave those clothes outside until you can wash them.”
Looking a little queasy, she asked, “What about her ear? It’s bleeding.”
“Hard to tell the problem under all that mud, but I don’t think it’s serious. Might’ve just been a tick that broke—”
“Eeww.” Her face scrunched in disgust.
It belatedly occurred to him that she might want some time alone. Her clothes were wet, her hands still trembling in reaction. Just because the dog was a priority for him, didn’t mean she felt the same. “I wasn’t thinking. Did you want me to take you home first?”
“No.” She firmed her mouth, and probably her resolve. “I’d like to help, if that’s okay.”
More than okay; he wanted to keep an eye on her, at least for an hour or so. After that...well, he’d have to see. “If you’re sure?”
“Positive.” With one finger, she tentatively touched the dog’s head, and said softly, “It’s the least I can do.”
Coop didn’t like the sound of that. Keeping his voice even, blanking out all frustration, he asked, “What does that mean, Phoenix?”
She whispered, “At the creek, with those men...” Her breath shuddered in, back out. “I was no help at all.”
“You held the dog when I asked you to.”
She shook her head. “I went deaf, dumb and blind, just like...” Her gaze shifted away, but she turned back to him seconds later as if facing her demons. “Just like before.”
New anger surged through his blood, further tensing his muscles until he thought he might break.
What the hell was a woman supposed to do against three men?
What could she have done against armed robbers?
Not a damn thing...just as his wife couldn’t.
The fury churned, bubbling up, harder and harder to suppress. Staring straight ahead, he clenched his hand on the steering wheel. A dozen retorts came to mind, none of them appropriate.
“I thought I was doing better—until that happened.”
“You had a rock,” he reminded her.
“That I’m not sure I could have used.”
“Well, thank God you didn’t. I had it under control.”
She teased, “It’s those alpha tendencies of yours.”
Cooper snorted.
She was quiet a moment, then softly admitted, “I was so scared.”
His jaw clenched. “Sometimes fear is commonsense.”
“Not if it paralyzes you.” She leaned her head against his shoulder in a brief show of affection, then straightened again. “I don’t know what would have happened to the dog if you hadn’t been there.”
The dog? It bothered him even more wondering what might have happened to her.
“You were really impressive, by the way.”
One more compliment and he’d lose his tenuous hold on control. “I was fucking furious.” Still was—not that she noticed. “I almost wish they hadn’t left so easily.”
“You wanted to fight?”
He gave a sharp nod. God, how he’d wanted to demolish them. Only his concern for Phoenix and the poor dog had stopped him.
“You’re confident you’d have handled them okay?”
He was, but... “Not confident enough to risk you.”
Her gaze moved over his face, and she smiled a little. “So if I hadn’t been there?”
He stopped the golf cart in front of his drive and stared down at her. “If you weren’t there, what would have happened to the dog?”
“You saved her.”
“I can’t fight and hold the dog, too. She’d have run off, and we might never have found her again. Imagine what a life that would have been for her.”
“But we did find her, and now we’ll make sure she’s happy.”
Coop stared at her, stunned by the idea of “we.”
As if she didn’t understand the significance of what she’d just said, Phoenix dug out her phone. “I saw some pet supplies in the camp store. I’ll ask Ridley to see if they have flea shampoo, okay?”
Knowing she wanted to help, he banked the rage and managed another curt nod.
She didn’t notice his struggle. Was she that comfortable with him? Or was she just that drawn into her own recriminations?
Dog first, Coop decided.
And once he had the animal settled, then he’d deal with Phoenix.
* * *
Ridley glanced at the lake, thinking how nice a dip would be in the cool water. She’d been working all day and, seriously, it sucked. Her shoulders ached, her hair was a mess and her hands were chapped.
Tomorrow, for sure, she’d find gloves.
Tomorrow? Did she really plan to do this all again?
Maybe.
Tired as she might be, she also felt a sense of satisfaction. Daron had come into one cabin to repair a leak in the sink just as she’d finished cleaning. He’d whistled low and said, “Spick-and-span. I don’t think I’ve ever seen it this shiny.”
Pleasure had almost made her blush. When was the last time she’d scrubbed a floor? Eons, it seemed. But she’d done it, challenged by Phoenix’s skepticism, as well as a need to keep busy.
She’d glanced around too, and realized she had done a nice job. Score one for her. “Thanks. I don’t believe in half-assing anything, you know?”
A true comedian, Daron had replied, “I’m all about the full ass.”
They’d laughed together and she’d felt an odd sort of companionship—wrought from shared work?
For sure, what she felt with the fun-loving Daron wasn’t nearly as intense as the punch of sensation from Baxter.
So here she was, multiple areas now cleaned, a bucket full of supplies in her hand, and she wondered where Baxter might be.
Shielding her eyes, she searched the beach around the lake, finally spotting him in a wet suit, the top rolled down around his lean hips leaving his upper body bare. She soaked in the sight of him, blond hair slicked back, tanned chest glistening in the sun, white teeth showing in a big grin as he talked...to two attractive women in bikinis.
She scowled. What a dick.
Would he go off with one—or both—of them? He could, she supposed, judging by their body language. One even stroked a finger down his chest, through a sprinkling of chest hair, down almost to his navel.
Never mind that other people crowded the beach, Baxter didn’t stop her. Hedonist. Exhibitionist.
Show-off.
She sighed. Confident men are so damned sexy.
As if he felt her dark scrutiny, his gaze suddenly shifted to hers and locked there. He slowly turned to face her.
Busted. Ridley told herself to put her nose in the air and walk away, but instead she cocked out a hip and smirked at him.
It wasn’t easy, showing attitude while holding a scrub bucket, but she hoped she managed it.
Without looking away, he said something to the women. Seeing their disappointment, she wasn’t surprised when he started her way.
Well, hell.
When facing off with superstuds, she preferred to look her best, not her worst. Using a wrist, she pushed a hank of hair from her face, loosened her sweaty tank from her boobs, and curled her lips into a big fat smile, determined to exude her own share of confidence.
His stride was long enough that, even though he didn’t appear to hurry, Baxter reached her in no time. Sunshine lightened the green of his eyes, making them look like emeralds as he studied her from her messy hair down to her feet and slowly back up again.
It felt like he’d just stroked her, and damn the man, she liked it enough that her nipples tightened.
A small, satisfied smile quirked one side of his mouth before he finally, reluctantly, lifted his attention to her face. “You made it through the whole day.”
Umbrage unfurled. “You thought I wouldn’t?”
“Many people don’t.”
Oh. So maybe that wasn’t a specific insult aimed at her, but rather the expected norm. Ridley shrugged. “The Rose sisters always rise to a challenge.” And Phoenix had definitely challenged her. Had she done it on purpose, just to egg her into leaving sooner? She couldn’t wait to talk to her sister, to let her know that she’d not only stuck it out, but somewhat, sort of, maybe just a little, enjoyed exerting herself for a change.
Baxter said, “Good to know...in case I ever want to challenge you.”
The two women he’d left behind walked past them, and along the way they cast frowning stares of disbelief at Ridley. She almost laughed. “It seems your adoring audience is confused.”
He didn’t look at them. “They’re interested in classes.”
“Uh-huh.” Shut up, Ridley. “They’re interested in you.”
Lowering his head in assent, he murmured, “That, too.” He rubbed a hand over his opposite shoulder and glanced up at the sun broiling down on his bare back. “Thing is, I don’t fool around with customers.”
“Well, shoot,” she heard herself say. “There go my lessons.”
His gaze locked on hers, and holy moly, some powerful tension arced between them.
He took a step closer. “It’s hot as hell out here.”
Hotter by the second. Nodding at his hips, she said, “’Specially in that suit, I bet.”
“I have a place just outside the park.” His gaze dropped to her mouth. “I’m heading there to shower if you want to join me.”
Yes, she most definitely did. “Is your shower big enough for two?”
“Long as we stay real close.”
Heat gathered at her core, making her breathless. “Works for me.”
He took the bucket from her with one hand and with the other at the small of her back, turned her toward the scuba shop. “I have to change, then we can take my car.”
Excitement, hot and heady, coursed through her. Ridley didn’t even care about retrieving her purse or, as per her usual insistence, her own car.
She followed him to the scuba shop building. After setting the cleaning bucket on a bench, he used a key from a coiled band around his wrist and unlocked the door. Standing aside, he gestured for her to enter.
The interior was cool, dim and cramped with equipment.
“Give me two minutes to change.” He disappeared past a curtain into a back room.
With anticipation riding her hard, Ridley busied herself by looking around. Rows of tanks filled the bottom shelf of a tall square table. How long has it been since I had sex? She couldn’t remember, and that said something about the quality, right?
Snorkeling sets hung from standing racks. How long since I wanted the sex this much? Pretty sure the answer was never.
Regulators, goggles and fins filled various pegboards. Wet suits hung in the back. Hurry up, Baxter. If he didn’t get a move on, she just might join him back there...
A stack of T-shirts caught her eye and she read the slogan on the front.
DIVERS GO DEEPER AND STAY DOWN LONGER.
“Oh, I hope so,” she whispered, clenching her thighs in reaction.
She heard the swish of the curtain and looked up to see Baxter coming toward her. He wore a snowy-white V-neck T-shirt that stuck to wet spots on his chest and shoulders—proof that he hadn’t taken the time to really dry off. Loose cargo shorts hung low on his lean hips and he wore unlaced sneakers.
All in all, he looked impossibly casual, sexy and in a hurry.
He got close and said, “I shouldn’t have waited to do this.”
“What—?” His mouth settled on hers before she could finish the question, answering with a demonstration that made her heart thunder.
His hot tongue teased along her lips, and she gladly opened, welcoming him in, curling her own tongue around him and giving up a soft moan of pleasure. His big hands framed her face, gently angling her one way while he tilted the other so that their mouths aligned perfectly for a hot, deep, wet kiss that curled her toes and tightened her womb.
He pulled back, drank in two deep breaths, then gripped her hand. “Come on.”
They stepped back into the humid air. He locked the door behind them, took her hand again and headed for his car. They’d gone only a couple of feet when her cell phone buzzed in her back pocket. While keeping pace with him, she withdrew it and glanced at the screen—then stopped. “It’s Phoenix,” she said by way of explanation. Never, ever would she ignore her sister’s call.
He paused with her, waiting, his expression hungry.
Ridley cleared her throat to remove the husky need from her voice, then said, “What’s up, Phoenix?”
“We found a dog.”
“We?” she asked.
Phoenix rushed out, “Cooper and me. We were down by the creek—”
“There’s a creek?”
“Ridley. The dog might be hurt.”
Something about this felt very off. She heard that odd note in her sister’s voice—a note that meant she was the one hurt, scared or upset. No, no, no. Phoenix had already been through too much. “What can I do?”
“Some a-holes were picking on it, so we brought it back and it needs a bath. Will you see if there’s any flea soap in the camp store, and maybe some dog food?”
“I’m on it, honey. Everything will be fine.” Or at least, she prayed it would. The idea of Phoenix encountering people who’d mistreat an animal made Ridley want to put on her whoop-ass attitude and annihilate some jerks. “Where are you now?”
“Cooper’s house. You know where it is?”
She looked at Baxter. “Cooper’s house?”
A new alertness had entered his expression, as if he recognized a problem, and knew it would lead to his frustration.
To his credit, he picked up on her angst and didn’t complain. “It’s there.” He pointed at the stone house on the rise. Putting his hand on her shoulder, his thumb caressing the joint, he asked, “What’s wrong?”
Ridley shook her head and said to Phoenix, “I’ll take care of it and be there in just a few, okay?” She’d rush because she needed to see for herself that Phoenix was okay. She’d just gotten her sister back. No way in hell would she let her go again. “Don’t worry.”
“Thanks, Ridley.”
Blowing a kiss into the phone, she disconnected and, with a ton of regret, looked at Baxter. He stood there, tall, tense, and oh-so-ready. “I’m really sorry.”
His eyes closed. “Well, damn.”
Briefly, she explained what she knew while heading for the camp store. “I could have asked someone else to do it, but—”
“She’s your sister.”
How awesome was it that he understood? Pretty damn awesome. “Right.”
He kept stride with her, saying, “If Maris doesn’t have it here, I can run into town to grab what’s needed.”
She flashed him a smile over her shoulder. Not only did he not complain about their thwarted plans, but he offered to help. “A knight in shining armor.”
“Let’s not get carried away.”
She paused just outside the store door so that he almost bumped into her, then whispered, “Not yet, anyway. Later, I plan to get very carried away.”
Clasping her hips, he aligned his groin with her bottom. “I’ll hold you to that.”
Ridley drew in a shuddering breath. “That?” she asked, pressing back against him and the erection she felt. “Or my comment?”
“Both.”
Before she expired of need, Ridley hurried on inside.
Fortunately, Maris had everything she needed, and to Ridley’s surprise, Baxter didn’t leave her once she had it all in a bag. He took the bag from her and started with her toward the hill.
Slanting him a look, she asked, “You’re coming, too?”
“Might as well.” He stared straight ahead. “I’m in need of a distraction.”
Despite her worry, it pleased her that she wasn’t the only one deeply affected. “Can I ask you something?”
If Ridley hadn’t been watching him, she might have missed the very slight way he tensed.
“Something personal?”
“Relax. I’m not going to ask if you have dreams of marriage.” God knew, she didn’t. “Actually, it’s about Cooper.”
His shoulders loosened. “What about him?”
“Does he often take employees to his house?”
He shrugged. “For a grill-out every now and then, or to discuss a problem, sure.” He put his hand on her back as the hill got steeper, giving her a little boost. “But if you’re trying to find a roundabout way of asking if he gets involved with the women he employs, no, he doesn’t. This thing with Phoenix is a first.”
“So everyone has noticed that he’s interested?”
Baxter snorted. “It’d be hard to miss. Surprising, too. Not only does Coop not date employees, far as I know he doesn’t date. Anything he does with women he keeps strictly private.” He nodded at the house. “So private, that I’ve never known him to bring anyone here except, like I said, as a group thing.”
“Wow.”
“Don’t look so worried. Coop’s a good guy.”
“It’s not that.” She chewed her bottom lip, but she hadn’t had anyone to talk to, and for some ridiculous reason Baxter suddenly felt like a good confidant. She glanced at him. “Do you know anything about my sister?”
He shrugged again.
“What does that mean?”
“It means I can guess.” His brows pulled together. “I’m not exactly obtuse when it comes to women.”
Oh, hell no. He wasn’t...he wouldn’t... “You were interested in my sister?” If she was second choice, she’d—
“What? No.” He shook his head. “I mean, of course I noticed her. Any straight guy with a heartbeat would notice her. But from the start, she looked at Coop differently.”
Mildly appeased, Ridley said, “So let’s hear it. What do you think you know about her?”
Without hesitation, he said, “She’s not shy, though she comes off that way because she’s so reserved. Seems to me that’s something new for her, like she probably used to be more outgoing.”
“Very true.” It killed Ridley to know how much damage those bastards had done.
Baxter continued, saying, “She’s a little... I don’t know. Wounded. Divorce maybe?”
“No,” Ridley said without thinking. “Getting dumped is my shtick.” The second the words left her mouth, Baxter paused to stare at her. She didn’t want to go into those details, so she coasted past it real quick. “Phoenix was assaulted. Robbed, threatened.” Her throat tightened. “Hurt.”
“Jesus,” he breathed. “Tell me the fuckers are locked up.”
She wished she could. “They got away.” Shaking off the worst of the memories, she added, “Phoenix is one of the strongest people I know. You could tell that girl to move a mountain and somehow she’d make it happen, but since the attack, she’s had a hard time finding her inner Amazon. She’s still in there, I know it. Phoenix knows it, too, and she’s impatient to get back to one hundred percent. I think coming here is a great first step for her. But if things go wrong between her and Coop—”
“Give your sister some credit. Would an Amazon, even one in hiding, let a guy get the best of her?”
She frowned. “No, probably not. I can’t help feeling protective, though.”
“My guess is Coop is feeling the same.” They’d almost reached the yard when Baxter said, “You know his wife was murdered, right?”
Ridley stopped so suddenly, she almost tripped herself.
Baxter turned to face her. “From what I heard, she was in a convenience store picking up bread and milk. There was an attempted robbery, a fight broke out, guns were involved, and Coop’s wife got caught in the crossfire before the police arrived and killed both men.”
Ridley stared at him, horrified as possibilities flew through her thoughts. “You think he sees a parallel with Phoenix?”
“I didn’t say that. If anything, he’s drawn to Phoenix because she’s hot and sweet, and she looks at him like she wants to devour him. But knowing Coop, he’s aware of her background and feeling some protectiveness, as well. Hell, I felt that way even before you shared. There’s just something about her.”
That made Ridley scowl. For someone who professed not to be interested, Baxter had already given more meaningful compliments to her sister than he ever had to her. Ridley knew he wanted her, but he sure seemed to like and respect Phoenix more.
And damn it, I will not be jealous of Phoenix. More than anyone else, Ridley knew what an amazing person her sister was. Of course everyone who met her would like her, too.
However, no one could like or respect her more than Ridley did.
“It seems odd,” she grumbled, “that the first woman he gets involved with is someone who has a similar background to his wife. How genuine could that be?”
His widened eyes mocked her. “Are you trying to marry her off?”
“Of course not.”
“Then what’s the problem with two adults having some fun? You didn’t strike me as a prude.”
She made a rude sound. “Far from it.”
“Same here. So let it go.”
She countered that, asking, “Why did you tell me if you didn’t think it was important?”
He opened his mouth, then closed it in a grim line. “Believe me, I wish I hadn’t.”
“But why did you?”
His hand fell away from her back. “You asked about other women. One thing led to another. But I fucking detest gossip so I hope you’ll forget what I said.”
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.”