“You’re okay, sweetheart,” Coop promised her.
Lexie drew in a deep breath, believing it because Coop’s strong arms reassured her. He’d faced the guy with the knife for her, too.
“Are you sure you’re not aiming for your cop brother’s job?” she said, forcing a laugh.
“Been there, tried that,” he said.
Surprised, Lexie lifted her head and met his gaze, at the same moment Charlotte threw herself over Lexie.
“I almost lost you and that is not okay!” the other woman wailed, her thin arms feeling especially frail.
“I’m fine. I swear. But I think you’re squishing Coop to death.” Lexie tried to make light of the situation but they all knew the man could have slit her throat.
Lexie almost gagged at the realization.
She, Coop and her grandmother stood up.
Coop kept one arm around Lexie, the other around Charlotte. Sylvia stood beside them wringing her hands despite Lexie’s continued reassurance that she was fine.
“Well, you certainly know how to liven up a party, young lady!” Jack Cooper said, walking over.
Lexie hadn’t realized his father was here.
“I’m okay, Mr. Cooper.”
The other man frowned. “It’s Jack. And this is my…lady friend, Felicia,” he said, gesturing to the woman who stood by his side.
Lexie smiled at the other woman, and since there was no way around it, decided more introductions were in order. “Grandma, this is Coop’s father, Jack, and his friend, Felicia. Mr.—Jack, this is my grandmother, Charlotte Davis, and her friend, Sylvia.”
“Nice to meet you,” Charlotte said.
“Me, too,” Sylvia added.
“The pleasure’s all mine, ladies.”
The duo remained silent.
Lexie narrowed her gaze. The two women must be shook up for them not to fawn all over Coop’s father.
“Dad, have you heard any news about Sara?” Coop asked his father.
He shook his head. “She’s a trained professional. She’ll be fine,” Jack said. But he held Coop’s gaze too long, and Lexie realized the situation was still serious.
Before she could ask questions, the police burst through the doors. While the cops herded people into groups for questioning, paramedics arrived and insisted on checking Lexie over.
For the first time, she put her hand to her neck and realized there was blood there. She blinked, suddenly dizzy.
“I’ll stay with you,” Coop said.
“We’re just going where it’s quiet,” the man with an emergency kit said, gesturing across the room.
Lexie smiled at Coop. “I’m okay. You find out what’s going on and where Sara is. Gran, you and Sylvia come keep me company.” Lexie figured the other women wouldn’t want to let Lexie out of their sight.
Coop reluctantly stepped back and headed toward the commotion across the room.
She let the paramedics lead her to a quiet corner and a short time later, the man had bandaged Lexie’s neck and checked out her ankle.
Coop joined her just as she was pronounced fit, to a hovering Charlotte’s relief.
“Did they get the guy?” Lexie asked Coop.
“Not yet,” Jack said, joining them, real worry in his voice. “The waiter must have been expecting someone to follow him because he ambushed Sara on the rooftop. Rafe was a split second too late and the guy’s holding her hostage.”
Lexie gasped.
“Rafe’s trained SWAT and they called in the full team,” Jack said to reassure her.
It didn’t work and Lexie shook her head, frightened for Coop’s best friend.
“I’m not sure I can handle much more,” Charlotte said, drawing Lexie’s attention to her grandmother.
As much as Lexie wanted to stay with Coop until this ended, she knew she had to get Charlotte and Sylvia away from the excitement and stress.
“Come, Grandma. Let me take you and Sylvia home,” Lexie said, wrapping a reassuring arm around her grandmother’s shoulders.
“You’re a good girl. Let me go talk to Sylvia,” her grandmother said.
Coop met Lexie’s gaze. “I’d take you all home, but I have to cover this for the paper.”
“I know. And Sara is your best friend. I understand. I’d stay, too, but…” She tilted her head toward the older women.
“You need to get them out of here. And you need to rest. I’ll come by as soon as I can,” he promised.
“Okay,” she said, not wanting to further upset her grandmother with the real question on her mind.
To what end? What was the point of Coop coming over when he’d already made it clear he wasn’t interested in the lifestyle she had to offer?
Sara’s question rang in Lexie’s ear. Where do you see yourself five or even ten years from now? she’d asked.
Maybe it was time Lexie figured that out.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
LEXIE DIDN’T SLEEP MUCH. When the image of the crazy waiter grabbing her with a knife didn’t keep her awake, the memory of sex in the closet with Coop did. Along with his accurately spoken words.
Had she really expected him to leave his life behind for her wandering lifestyle?
And wasn’t that the crux of it? For as much as she loved to travel, it was time she faced facts. She was twenty-nine years old with a successful career, a substantial bank account, an aging grandmother and not much else to call her own.
When Charlotte was gone, what would be left? And when Lexie looked down the road, is that all that she wanted for her future?
She shook her head, realizing that Sara, a woman she’d just met, had nailed her dead-on. She had been running. Not facing the fact that her grandmother was growing older and so was she. She didn’t have to give up her love of travel, but it was time to grow up.
Lexie showered, dressed and headed for the kitchen. Her grandmother was already sitting at the table, still in her robe.
“Are you okay?” Lexie asked.
Her grandmother nodded. She didn’t jump up to greet Lexie as she usually did. “But I should be asking you that question.”
“I’m fine.” She placed a hand on her neck. She’d replaced the too-big bandage with a small Band-Aid. It was just a nick and would heal in no time. “That was too much excitement last night.” Lexie poured herself a cup of coffee and added more into her grandmother’s cup before joining her at the table.
“I could have lived without the man and the knife,” her grandmother admitted.