Which no doubt explained why Paul and Jack never liked each other. Or maybe Jack was a better judge of character than her.
She sped down the road, wheel gripped in her left hand, her right waving around as she poured out her thoughts. “What did he expect anyway waltzing in there half-dressed?” She inhaled deeply and rested both hands on the wheel. “I shouldn’t be surprised, though. Males in general are self-centered jerks who should be lined up and shot at sunrise.” She reached over and patted Jack’s head. “Well, except you, of course.”
A soft whine and a thump of his tail drew her gaze.
“Again? You just went.”
Another whine.
“Okay, okay.” She searched ahead for an appropriate exit. Seeing what appeared to be a lane off to the right, she slowed and signaled a turn. It was little more than a well-traveled dirt lane leading to a briskly moving stream surrounded by willows, pines and an assortment of East Texas foliage. The nearest bank held a collage of mementos from past visitors, classifying the area as a primo make-out spot. Her mind’s eye marked the location of beer cans, towels and discarded condoms even as she pulled under a towering pine. She rummaged in the glove box for tissues and finding them, opened the door and stepped out.
“Come on you big whiney-butt.”
Jack jumped out and headed for the pine tree.
Sam headed in the opposite direction and gave a sharp, “Stay,” when he turned to follow. Rounding the lone holly bush, thumbs tugging on the waistband of her pants, she saw the body.
Coop shaved with a shaky hand, mulling over what happened in the kitchen and the newcomer’s perplexing effect on him. At least I maintained some control over myself and didn’t let her see what she did to me.
He couldn’t remember the last time he felt such an immediate attraction to a woman. Granted, she was stunningly beautiful, even in baggy sweats and a tee shirt, but it went beyond the physical. Eyes blue as a summer sky, ringed by ebony lashes, pulled at him like a powerful magnet. High, exotic cheekbones, inky black hair pulled into a lop-sided ponytail, and a perfect bow-shaped mouth that begged to be kissed. By him. Desire rushed through him in waves unlike anything he had ever experienced.
He was in for an agonizing two weeks.
Short term flings and one-night-stands were not his style. But, given his body’s reaction to their brief encounter, he knew it imperative to stay far away from her.
In the space of the next few seconds, his over-charged, sleep deprived mind conjured countless ways this newest guest could make his life miserable for the duration of her stay.
I’m not myself today, that’s all. Probably just my lack of sleep and crazy dreams. Even as the thought popped in, he dismissed it. This was real. Too real, and not something he wanted to study too closely.
Fifteen minutes later, he entered the kitchen where Miss Eva prepared breakfast. At sixty-five, Eva Benton was still an attractive woman with an infectious smile, and an endless capacity for caring. Her short gray hair rested in soft curls around her head, and the ever-present apron circled a slim waist.
“Morning, Coop,” she said over her shoulder, “almost ready.”
He shuffled to where she stood scrambling eggs and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. “Morning, Beautiful. I’m starved.”
He re-filled his mug, and reached for the paper lying beside his place at the table. He watched as she moved about the kitchen, humming softly to herself. His mother’s best friend, she’d always been a part of his life. After his parents were killed by a drunk driver when he was twenty, she took him in without a second thought, sharing every triumph and failure in his life.
Her most recent, self-appointed role, was matchmaker. For him.
“You’ll be happy to know, Coop,” she said as she worked, “I’ve one guest for the next couple of weeks and she’s not the least bit interested in finding a husband.”
Coop sucked in a breath as the memory of captivating azure eyes and lush lips swamped him.
“I misjudged the last one so badly, I thought I’d give you a break.”
He tipped his head back and glared at the ceiling. “For the last time…I am perfectly happy with my life. I don’t need, or want, a wife.”
If she heard him, she simply ignored it and continued. “Dr. Fowler—Samantha, but she goes by Sam—will be here a couple of weeks. She’s a friend of Doc Harper’s niece, Barbara Jean Reynolds. Well, she’s Barbara Jean Walker now. You remember her, don’t you? I think she was a year or two behind you in school. She’s a social worker in Dallas at the same hospital with Sam.” She paused, shaking her head. “Bless her heart, just went through a pretty nasty divorce. Sam, not Barbara Jean. I got the impression men were on the top of her things-to-avoid-at-all-costs list.”
Coop groaned, caught between wishing it was true, and hoping it wasn’t.
“Oh, stop groaning. You’re safe.” She set a plate of scrambled eggs and bacon in front of him. “For now. Sam is just the sweetest thing, too. The prettiest eyes you ever saw. BJ told Doc Harper it was such a shame someone as wonderful as her got taken in by that scoundrel. Why he just sucked the very life right out of her.”
“And you believe all that?” Coop didn’t bother to hide the sarcasm in his voice, “Without even knowing her?”
“I believe in first impressions,” she replied neatly, “As do you. She has a kind and caring heart. I’m certain of it. You can judge for yourself when you meet at dinner tonight.”
The sharp ring of the phone saved him from further discussion of Sam’s attributes.
“Delaney. What? Calm down, Alice, calm down. Now, start over. Where? Get JD and Johnson and tell them to meet me there. Call the judge, too. Tell her to stay put till I get there. And Alice…don’t you dare say anything to anyone else. Understand?” He hung up and hurried back to the table, knowing full well the gossipy secretary, who happened to be the mayor’s pampered daughter, would likely not heed his instructions.
“What’s wrong, Coop?”
He consumed his coffee in one scalding gulp and headed for the back door, grabbing his hat from the rack as he passed. “Someone found a body down by Simmons Creek.”
“Oh, Lord, no!”
Coop rushed out the back door, the condemning voice trailing after him.
You should have stopped him.
