Cooper's Charm

by Lori Foster

  “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.”