The One Real Thing

“I’m on vacation.”

“Why Hart’s?”

“I didn’t want to stray too far from work. I work in Wilmington.”

Wilmington. It wasn’t too far. A couple hours’ drive at most. “At one of the hospitals?”

“No, actually; at a women’s prison.”

Again, not what he expected. Being a doctor wasn’t exactly easy. Being a doctor in a prison was just adding challenge on top of challenge. Had to take a certain kind of person to want that kind of job. He just wasn’t sure what kind of person that made Jessica. “That’s different.”

She gave a huff of laughter. “I suppose it is.”

“So what makes someone want to work in a women’s prison?”

“What makes someone want to own a bar?” the doc countered.

It was his. It was his vision. His hard work. And the locals were his family. Not many people got to have a business they loved like he did. “This place is home.”

The doc tilted her head to the side, a lively humor in her hazel eyes. “Well, I can’t say the same.”

“So why a women’s prison?” he persisted. It had been a long time since he’d been this curious about someone.

She considered his question for a moment and when she spoke her voice got even softer. “Even people who make mistakes need someone watching over them. When I became a doctor I took the Hippocratic oath. I said I would help people and do no harm. That means helping someone no matter who they are or what they’ve done. I take that oath seriously.”

A flash of sadness, something deeply rooted . . . something personal . . . crossed her eyes and Cooper knew there was more to it than that. “There’s taking that oath seriously and then there’s working in a prison.”

“I believe everyone deserves compassion,” she said. “When I got offered the job I was concerned that if I didn’t take it then some other doctor might take it out of necessity rather than interest. There’s no guarantee such a doctor would have the right bedside manner for these women. I took the job because I can guarantee they feel safe coming to me for treatment.”

Cooper stilled at her words.

Was she for real?

He knew kindness existed. After his dad left, he’d grown up in a house full of it. But unfortunately, he’d also seen a lot of selfishness lately. A complete and total lack of compassion, too.

There was something about that compassion on a woman like Jessica Huntington that more than intrigued him. She was tallying up a list of positives that were hard to ignore.

“Is that a bartending trick?” she said suddenly, her cute little nose all wrinkled up in annoyance. “Getting people to talk to you?”

Cooper grinned, liking the idea that the doc didn’t usually share so much. Maybe she was feeling it, too . . . some kind of connection between them. “I’m just easy to talk to.”

Jessica grinned back and he felt that hard tug of attraction deep in his gut. “Maybe so.”

The door opened and Cooper’s cook, Crosby, strolled in, distracting him from the ever-increasing tightness in his jeans.

Crosby saw Jessica but didn’t acknowledge her. “Morning, boss.”

“Morning,” Cooper said as his cook disappeared into the kitchen. Crosby wasn’t really the social type anymore. “My cook,” he explained when he saw Jess staring after his employee with curiosity in her big, gorgeous eyes.

Those eyes swung back to his and she suddenly stood up. “Well, I better let you get on. Thanks again for the shelter and the hot drink.”

He felt disappointment flood him and if it wasn’t for the fact that he had a bar to open in an hour he would have convinced the doc to stick around.

“Do you know of any bookstores nearby?” she said as she grabbed up her purse.

“Emery’s next door.”

“Great. Thanks.”

He stood up, too. He needed to know he was going to see her again. “You staying at the Paradise?”

She hesitated, as though she wasn’t sure she should tell him. Cooper didn’t like that so much. When she finally answered, “Hart’s Inn,” he smiled. Not only because he liked that she’d chosen Bailey’s homey place over the luxury of Vaughn’s hotel, but because he liked that she’d told him where she was staying.

Cooper hoped that meant she was single and looking to get to know him a bit better while she was visiting. “Nice choice. Bailey’s a good woman.”

“Yes, I’m getting that,” Jess said and walked around the table to him to hold out her hand. “It was nice talking to you.”

It was more than nice talking to her. His grip tightened on hers and he stepped in close, so she knew for sure he wanted to see her again. “You, too, Doc. You staying here long?”

“A few weeks.”

That was plenty of time. “Then I’ll be seeing you.”

Her cheeks flushed a little and her eyes grew round with surprise at the obvious intention behind his words. She tugged on her hand, making him laugh.

So damn cute.

“I guess so,” she said in that soft way of hers.

Cooper watched her leave, hoping that hint of vulnerability he saw behind her confidence didn’t mean he’d have to track her down to spend more time with her.

He wanted her to come to him.

He’d done a lot of chasing around, especially after Dana, and look where that had gotten him. Just as he’d been trying to tell Aydan in as diplomatic a way as possible, there hadn’t been anyone serious or special since Dana. The women he messed around with always came to him. Cooper liked it like that. He wasn’t putting himself out there, chasing another woman around, only to get burned.