Cooper was the total opposite.
He hadn’t shaved since I’d last seen him, and his five-o’clock shadow was moving past stubble into beard territory. Combine that with the dark, slightly curly hair pulled back into a short ponytail, the broad shoulders barely contained by his faded T-shirt, and his black leather boots? Yum. The man was delicious.
Too delicious.
“Heard they closed a few roads because of smoke,” he said, eyes studying my face intently. “You have any trouble getting back?”
“No, it was okay,” I said, wishing he’d leave me alone. “But I’m tired. Been a long week.”
“She won’t fuck with you again,” he said bluntly. “I’m really sorry about what happened—it wasn’t okay, and I made that clear. She won’t be around here, and if she gives you any more trouble let me know. I’ll take care of it.”
Something hardened in his face as he said it, something scary. I shivered, rubbing up and down my arms. Cooper frowned.
“You should go inside,” he said.
“I need to finish unloading the car.”
“Let me help.”
Behind him, I saw Sadie step out of her apartment. Our gazes met, and then she reached for her cell. Fuck’s sake, like I needed more drama.
“No,” I said firmly. “I think it’s best to keep our distance, all things considered.”
“I work for you. That’ll get complicated if we can’t even talk to each other.”
He was right. He was also standing way too close to me, especially with Sadie watching every move. End it. You’re a grown-up, so say it like it needs to be said.
“What happened in your apartment . . . that wasn’t okay,” I said, catching and holding his gaze. He stared back, and for a minute I thought he might deny it. “Neither was what happened with your girlfriend afterward. I have enough drama in my life—I don’t need any more.”
“I know,” he acknowledged, eyes darkening. My breath caught, and I felt a tendril of heat start to wind up from my stomach. “But it’s more complicated than you think.”
“You still seeing Talia?” I asked. Cooper looked away, rubbing at his chin as he frowned.
“Doesn’t sound complicated at all,” I said, my voice growing hard. “And you might do maintenance around here, but that doesn’t include unloading my car for me. It also doesn’t include socializing. If there’s an issue with the building I can text you. If we need to take care of something in person, my dad can come with us. I lost a week’s worth of work because I ate dinner with a man who’s a dead end. My life is stressful enough already.”
Cooper’s eyes flared, and he opened his mouth like he wanted to say something. Tell me you broke up with her. Instead, he shut it again, scowling as he looked away.
“You’re right. I’ll leave you alone.”
“Thank you,” I said, wondering why it hurt so much. Wasn’t like I even really knew the guy. Probably never would, and that was for the best. He hung out with the wrong people. Our lives were totally different. There wouldn’t be anything between us even if he were free.
You thought you and Brandon were the same kind of people, my heart whispered. How’d that work out for you?
Not well.
Turning away from him, I looked across the valley at the sunset again, wishing I’d never met him. He stood behind me for long moments, then I heard the crunch of his footsteps as he walked away.
• • •
The next week was tense.
I decided not to reopen Mom’s store, because there wasn’t any point in it. I never sold anything there anyway and I didn’t like the idea of someone like Talia being able to walk in on me. This might’ve been bad news for my shop assistant, Randi, but she’d done such a great job with my dad while we were in Seattle that I asked if she’d be his caregiver while we tried to figure things out.
“I’d love it,” she’d answered, seeming genuinely enthusiastic about the idea. I must’ve looked surprised, because she’d smiled at me shyly and then said, “I like hanging out with Mr. Garrett. I never met my grandpa and Dad took off when I was still a kid. He treats me like his granddaughter, you know? It feels good.”
The words had cut me like a knife to the heart, but I understood. Dad had always wanted to be a grandpa. I’d never forget when I called to tell him and Mom I was pregnant—they were ecstatic. Losing little Tricia devastated all of us, and if having Randi around made him feel good, I couldn’t have a problem with that.
As for Cooper, he kept his distance.
It’s what I’d wanted, and I appreciated it . . . that didn’t mean I wasn’t thinking about him at night, or that I didn’t watch him while he worked. His eyes burned whenever he saw me, but Talia still came around his apartment regularly. Other times I’d see him on his bike in town with the Nighthawks. They were loud, rude, and expected everyone to stay the hell out of their way.
When I was a kid, I remembered them as being intimidating, but not truly terrifying. They’d had the respect of the community. When I’d come back after my mom had died, I’d noticed that dynamic had changed, but hadn’t paid much attention. Now I was really looking, and what I saw was a town full of people who were afraid.
TWO WEEKS LATER
MARGARITA: Im coming home this weekend to see the old people. Moms birthday. We need to go out Friday night or I’ll lose my mind.
CARRIE: Works for me!!! You know how much I hate going out ;) Tinker you on board?
ME: hell yes. It’s been too long! I can tell you all the latest shit with brandon
CARRIE: OMG he’s such a cocktwat! You won’t believe what he did Margee!
MARGARITA: What?!?
ME: Ugh. Not only is he ducking around on the financial stuff he’s being super weird. I think he’s obsessed with my new handyman.
MARGARITA: Huh?
CARRIE: Tinker has a hot new guy to take care of the building and Brandon’s all jealous. He thinks they’re sleeping together
MARGARITA: Oooo . . . And are you?
ME: NO
CARRIE: NO NO NO. Hes hot but he’s got a batshit crazy girlfriend. We can talk this weekend. So glad ur coming home!!!!!
MARGARITA: See you soon! Xx
“This is my song!” Carrie shouted, grabbing my hand and pulling me onto the dance floor. Margarita was right behind us. Jack’s Roadhouse wasn’t exactly a happening nightclub or anything, but it was the closest we had to nightlife in Hallies Falls. The beer was cheap, the music was loud, and nobody checked ID too closely. Not that I wouldn’t mind being mistaken for underage. On the weekends they pushed the tables to the side, creating a dance floor. Usually there was a DJ, but tonight they’d actually brought in a live band.