She didn’t like being weak, and she didn’t like allowing others to impact her life, yet both had happened. This was her chance to get back to being a strong, capable woman.
If all went well, today would be a start toward reaching that goal.
Taking her time, Phoenix strode through the grounds, familiarizing herself on her way to the lake. She really wanted to explore the woods, and the small, quaint cabins where she would live.
More than that, though, she wanted to be at the lake when Cooper Cochran arrived. She wouldn’t be late, wouldn’t be nervous, and wouldn’t screw up her fresh start.
Unfortunately, just as she rounded a play area filled with swings and slides, she saw the lone figure standing along the sandy shore, a fishing rod in hand.
Was that Cochran?
Good Lord, he was big, and impressively built, too, with wide, hard shoulders and muscular thighs. She hated to admit it, but that could be a problem for her.
After all, she’d learned the hard way, on a very basic level, that big men were also powerful men.
Pausing to stare, she pressed a hand to her stomach to quell the nervous butterflies taking flight at the sight of him.
The sunrise gilded his messy, sandy brown hair. As he reeled in his line, then cast it out again, muscles flexed beneath a dark pullover with the sleeves pushed up to his elbows, showing taut forearms and thick wrists dusted with hair. Worn denim hugged his long legs.
He seemed to stand nearly a half-foot taller than her 5’4”. God, how she’d prayed he’d be a smaller, less…imposing man.
Finding information on the resort had been easy. Finding information on Cooper Cochran…not so much.
She stood frozen on the spot, trying to convince her feet to move, doing her best to conquer her irrational reservations, but she was suddenly, painfully aware that they were all alone on the shore. Logically, she knew it wasn’t a problem. Plenty of people were around, though in their RVs or cabins, so there was no reason to be afraid.
Not here, not now.
Lately though, fear had been a fickle thing, often re-emerging out of nowhere. She’d always been able to hide that fear from her parents, but Ridley was a different matter. Her sister would take one look at her and understand.
But Ridley wasn’t here now, and this job was important…
As if he’d known she was there all along, he glanced over his shoulder at her. Reflective sunglasses hid his eyes, and yet she felt his scrutiny and a touch of surprise. She knew his gaze was burning over her and it caused her to shift with nervous awareness.
She guessed him to be in his mid-thirties, maybe nine or ten years older than her. No one would call him a classically handsome man. His features were as bold as his body, including a strong jaw, masculine nose and harshly carved cheekbones.
Not typical good looks, but he certainly wouldn’t be ignored.
She could see that he hadn’t yet shaved this morning, and she wasn’t sure if he’d combed his hair. The breeze and fog off the lake might have played with it, leaving it a little wavier than usual.
She couldn’t look away, couldn’t even blink.
His scrutiny kept her pinned in place with a strange stirring of her senses, unpleasant only in its unfamiliarity.
Releasing her by turning back to the lake, he said, “Ms. Rose?”
The words seemed to carry on the quiet, cool air.
Phoenix swallowed. “Yes.” She watched as he cast out yet again. It almost seemed that he gave her time to get herself together. Of course, he couldn’t know why she was so reserved. Still, his patience, his apparent lack of interest, finally helped her to move forward.
She watched the way his large hands deftly, slowly, reeled in the line.
Her feet sank in the soft, damp sand. “Mr. Cochran?”
“You can call me Coop.”
He had a deep, mellow voice that should have put her at ease but instead sharpened her awareness of him as a large man.
“I like to fish in the morning before everyone crowds the lake. Are you an early bird, Ms. Rose?”
“Actually, yes.” A white gull swooped down, skimmed the water, and took flight again. Ripples fanned out across the surface. By the minute, the mist evaporated, giving way to the warmth of the sun. “You know I had my own landscaping business.” She’d told him that much in their email correspondence concerning her application. “In the summer especially, it was more comfortable to start as early as possible. I’ve gotten in the habit of being up and about by six.”
“You won’t need to be that early here.”
“Okay.” She wasn’t sure what else to say. “The lake is beautiful.”
“And peaceful.” This time when he reeled in the line, he had a small bass attached. “Do you fish?”
He hadn’t faced her again and that made it easier to converse. “When I was younger, my sister and I would visit our grandparents for the weekend and we’d fish in their pond. That was years ago, though.” This was the strangest interview she’d ever had. It was also less stressful than she’d anticipated.
Had Cooper Cochran planned it that way-or did he just love to fish?
“You don’t fish with them anymore?”
“They passed away just before I turned twenty. Granddad first, and my Grandma not long after.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. Sounds like you made good memories with them, though.”
“Yes.” Fascinated, she watched as he worked the hook easily from the fish’s mouth, then he bent and placed it gently back in the water before rinsing his hands. “Too small to keep?”
“I rarely keep what I catch.” He gestured toward a picnic table. “Let’s talk.”
Until then, she hadn’t noticed the tackle box and towel on the summer-bleached wooden table.
She followed Cochran, then out of habit waited until he’d chosen a spot so she could take the side opposite him-a habit she’d gotten into with men. These days she preferred as much distance as she could manage.
He stepped over the bench, dropped the towel, pushed up his sunglasses, and seated himself.
Golden brown eyes took her by surprise. They were a stark contrast to his heavy brows and the blunt angles of his face.
She realized she was staring, that he merely stared back with one brow lifted, and she quickly looked away. Thankfully, she still wore the clip-on sunglasses, giving her a hint of concealment.
She retreated behind idle chitchat. “I studied the map online and feel like I know my way around. The lake is more impressive than I’d realized. The photos don’t do it justice.”
“I’ve been meaning to update the website,” he said. “It’s been busy though. We lost our grounds keeper and housekeeper at the same time.”
“Someone had both positions?”
He smiled with some private amusement. “No. Either position is a fulltime job. But without any of us noticing, the two of them fell in love, married, and then headed to Florida to retire.”
“Oh.” She expected to find many things at the resort, but love wasn’t on the list. Love wasn’t even in her universe.
Not anymore.
“You said you checked out the map online?”
“Actually, I researched everything I could about the place, including the surrounding grounds, and I’m sure I’d be a good fit for the job.”
When he looked past her, she quickly turned her head to find a woman approaching with a metal coffee pot in one hand, the handles of two mugs hooked through the fingers of the other.
Cooper stood. “Perfect timing, Maris.”
The woman’s smile was easy and friendly. “I was watching.” Long dark blonde hair, caught in a high ponytail, swung behind her with every step. Soft brown eyes glanced at Phoenix. “Good morning.”
“Morning.”
“Coffee?” She set one mug in front of Cooper and filled it.
Phoenix nodded. “Yes, please.”
Maris filled the second mug, then dug creamer cups and sugar packe
ts from a sturdy apron pocket, along with a spoon wrapped in a napkin. “Coop drinks his black, but I wasn’t sure about you.”
Anyone who presented her with coffee on a cool morning instantly earned her admiration. “I’ll take it any way I can get it, but I prefer a little cream and sugar, so thank you.”
Cooper reseated himself. “Maris Kennedy, meet Phoenix Rose. Maris runs the camp store. Phoenix is here about the position for grounds keeper.”
Slim brows went up. “Really? I was assuming housekeeper.”
Cooper’s smile did amazing things to his rugged face, and disastrous things to her concentration.
He explained to Phoenix, “We’ve never had a woman tend the grounds.” Then to Maris, he said, “Ms. Rose used to run her own landscaping company. She’s more than qualified and we’d be lucky to get her.”
Phoenix perked up. Did that mean he’d already made up his mind to hire her?
“Especially now.” Maris leaned a hip against the end of the table. “I don’t know if Coop told you, but we’re starting this season short-handed. We were all taking turns with the grounds and the housekeeping, so everyone will be thrilled to take one thing off their list.”
Still unsure if she had the job or not, Phoenix said, “It’d be my pleasure to make things easier. If I’m hired, I can start right away.” She glanced at Cooper and added, “Today even.”
Maris straightened. “Seriously?”
Already feeling a sense of purpose that had been missing for too long from her life, Phoenix nodded. “I’m anxious to get to work.”
Cooper put his elbows on the table and leaned forward. “Then consider yourself hired.”
Behind the glasses, her eyes widened. “Just like that?”
“You expected a different outcome?”
“Well, no, but—” She could barely contain her excitement. If she didn’t have an audience, she would have danced across the sandy shoreline.
“I bet you already packed, didn’t you?”
Heat rushed into her cheeks for being so presumptuous, but she admitted the truth with a grin. “My car is full.”
“Glad to hear it.” He took a drink of his coffee, then said, “You had a great résumé, so meeting was just a formality.”
More than a little dazed, Phoenix said, “Thank you.”
“So you accept?” Maris asked.
“Of course!”
“Fantastic. So where are we putting her?”
With his gaze on his coffee, Cooper said, “I was thinking cabin 18.”
Maris paused, subdued a smile, and nodded. “Okay then. Give me thirty minutes and I’ll get it set up.”
“I can do it,” Phoenix quickly offered. “I don’t want to put you out.”
“It’s not a problem. I’m just glad you’re hired. Now hopefully Coop will find a housekeeper, too—hint, hint.” She looked up at the sky and pretended to pray.
Cooper shook his head. “You’re the queen of subtlety, Maris. As it happens, I’ll be interviewing a woman next week.”
In an aside to Phoenix, she said, “He interviews someone every week. Trust me, most don’t get hired so easily.” Then to Cooper, she added, “If she’s not a serial-killer, hire her.”
He snorted. “You’re going to make Ms. Rose think I’m a harsh boss. She’ll run off before she ever gets started.”
Maris rushed to say, “Coop is the best of bosses. Working for him is a dream.”
Phoenix laughed. “You don’t need to sell me. I’m excited for the opportunity.”
“Just because you’re a positive person, meaning you’ll be fun to have around, I’ll make sure you get some extra towels and one of our better coffee makers.” With a wink, she headed off.
As Maris disappeared into her store, her words hung with Phoenix. If most people weren’t so easily hired, why was she? She knew she had good credentials, and she knew she could do the work. Was he so desperate to fill the position that a formal interview wasn’t necessary?
She wasn’t used to things going smoothly these days, but she wanted the job enough not to question it.
Silence dragged on. She was aware of Cooper intently watching her while he drank his coffee. It made her twitchy.
Determined, she turned to him. “I’m really looking forward to the job.” Damn it, she’d already said that—or something like it. She didn’t want to babble.
“Maris hasn’t given you second thoughts?”
Phoenix shook her head. “Actually, she seems really nice.”
“She is. I’m fortunate that everyone who works here gets along really well.”
Perfect. The last thing she wanted was drama in her life. She’d had enough of that. The plan now was to work hard enough to keep the demons at bay, and otherwise live peacefully. “They all live on-site?”
“Yep.” He stood. “Come on. I’ll show you around while Maris opens your cabin and gets fresh linen inside.” He paused. “You’re aware that the cabin is small, right?”
“Yes. It’s just me so I don’t need a lot of room.” In fact, it’d be nice to have less to take care of. Recent events had proven to her that material things were far less important than she’d thought.
“We have some premium cabins, and a few available rental campers, but I try to leave those open to guests.” He carried his tackle box, towel and rod as they walked. “Over there is the cabin you’ll be using. There aren’t any units around it, but it’s close to the lodge, so there’ll be a lot of foot traffic going by. We have quiet time from 11pm to 8am, so no one should disturb you during that span.”
She gazed at the small wood cabin that would be her home for the foreseeable future. Screens enclosed a front porch just big enough for a rocker. A lattice skirt circled the base of the cabin. She envisioned some colorful pots filled with flowers to brighten the all-wood exterior, maybe a wind chime or two and a floral wreath for the door.
Decorating it, making it her own, would be fun.
“You’re welcome to get your breakfast from the camp store, but you do have a full refrigerator and a small stove. Each cabin can sleep four, but since you’re alone, I assume you’ll use the loft bed without unfolding the couch. There’s only a small TV, but you have WiFi.”
She already knew all that from the brochures, so she only nodded.
Cooper paused, his light brown eyes staring down at her. “I know it’s not much—”
“I love it. It’s perfect.”
His gaze lingered. “I think you mean that.”
Every word. With a confidence she didn’t always feel, she said, “I intend to be very happy here.”
“Glad to hear it.”
She cleared her throat. “There is one thing…”
“What’s that?”
“I’m not very tech-savvy.” At her age, it was a terrible thing to admit. “Is there anyone to help me set up the WiFi?”
Looking somehow relieved, he smiled. “We’ll make sure you get set up. No problem.” He continued on, his pace easy. “My house is up there.”
Phoenix glanced in the direction he indicated, shading her eyes as he continued to speak.
“I have two high school boys who come on Mondays to cut the grass. If it’s raining, they bump it back to the next day. It’s your job to keep track of their hours and to supervise them when necessary. Overall they do a good job, but sometimes need to be prompted to stay off their phones and to clean up afterward.”
“I’ll take care of it.” She looked back at his house again. Situated diagonally from her cabin, it sat atop a rise and overlooked the rest of the park.
“You can see that we’ve had some recent storms. A lot of cleanup needs to be done. Also, this is the time of year we check trees for dead branches. We don’t want any falling on a camper’s awning and doing damage.”
“I’ll go through the park and assess them all.” Though she walked alongside him, her attention kept returning to his home. Like the little chapel they passed, it was made mostly of stone with arche
d entryways and it had a wooden addition on the left side. A path led down to the deepest section of the lake, with posted signs indicating that part was private to him.
“I cut my own grass,” he said, as if he thought she was wondering.
“Really? It’d be a simple thing to add that area to the rest.” With a riding mower, it wouldn’t take much longer to keep the manicured lawn looking great.
“Not necessary.” He gestured ahead. “The supply building is this way, and the maintenance building is at the end of the lane.”
When Cooper took her arm, she automatically jerked back and would have fallen if he’d let go. Startled, she stared up at him and tried not to look so rattled.
Expression enigmatic, he slowly released her and indicated the limb in her path. “You would have tripped over it.”
Because she hadn’t been paying attention. Way to make a good impression. She forced a smile. “I’m sorry. I was admiring your house.”
He looked back at the house as if he’d forgotten it was there—and didn’t like remembering. When he returned his scrutiny to her, he looked different, more distant. “Did you catch anything I said?”
“I think so.” Not really, but she dutifully pointed, “Supply building, lodge, showers—”
Consideration brought his brows together. “Ms. Rose, you told me you researched the park to get familiar with it, right?”
“Yes.” Even without the tour, she probably could have told him where everything was located.
“I did the same.”
Not understanding, she asked, “You researched the park?”
“No.” He looked away as a woman opened her camper door and carried a bag of garbage to the curb for pick up. “I researched all my employees prior to meeting them.”
He’d researched…her?
Well, of course he had. That was the responsible thing to do. But how detailed had he gotten?
He watched her as if he could hear her breathing, which had the effect of making her hold her breath.
With too much gentleness, he explained, “Social media being what it is, it’s not difficult to do.”
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