Author: Robyn Carr

She cleared her throat. “And yet you find yourself completely dependable?” she asked.

“I do. Hey, I’m here trying to sort out the wishes of some dead guy because he was my friend. I could load up the camper and go, right? It’s not like Ben would put a curse on me. And I didn’t even agree to this job.”

“They why are you doing it?”

“Because no one else will. And it’s the right thing to do—he was a decent guy. Besides,” he said, “it’s not like I can’t spare a few months.”

“Well, I can’t take a few months off,” she said. “Are you rich?”

“Far from it. But there’s just the fifth wheel, paid for, and no kids. I have three sisters who make sure our parents are fine. I can afford to do this for Ben.”

“You must have been real close,” she said. “Best friends.”

Cooper put his elbows on the table and laced his fingers together, looking down for a moment. Then he met her eyes. “I guess. Guys are different, you know....”

“Oh, yes, I know.”

“I liked Ben. He was my lead mechanic. He made me laugh. I got a kick out of him and tossing back a few with him was always a good time. We stayed in touch. He visited a few times in ten years, but I’d never come up here before. Our whole friendship was mostly emails and phone calls. We had things in common—I had the Gulf of Mexico and he had the Pacific. When I was flying for oil companies, there were a couple of spills, and he called to ask if there was a local wildlife rescue organization I’d like him to make a donation to. He’s always cared about the wildlife, although I didn’t realize how much until I got here. I trusted him. But the truth is, besides my family, I don’t have a lot of friends. Just a few. Good ones, but not that many.”

After a long moment of silence she said, “Me, either.”

“I see you as having lots of girlfriends to drink wine with, shop with.”

She shook her head. “I work in a man’s world. There’s one other female pilot at the station, married. We get along fine, but...our lives are different. And sometimes the wives of the guys I work with don’t...” They were wary of her, like they didn’t trust her. It wasn’t easy being one of the few women in a unit and being single besides. The last time she had a close girlfriend, she found out she’d been sharing her with her fiancé. “No, I don’t have a lot of girlfriends. Just a few women I’m friendly with, that’s all.”

“Sometimes that’s all you need,” he said.

And then Cooper told her about his buddy, Luke, and Luke’s brothers. Sarah had a couple of guys at the station she’d bonded with, and she was getting to know Gina, whom she liked.

Cliff was standing beside their table and they both looked up at him. The leather folder containing the check sat on the table and their coffees had been refilled but neither of them seemed to be aware of it.

“Tell you what, folks,” Cliff said. “How about I leave the keys here and you lock up when you’re ready?”

It took a second to sink in, then they laughed. The restaurant was empty and Cooper had no memory of seeing people leave. He reached for his wallet.

“No, you don’t,” Sarah said, grabbing the check. She held it in her custody until she could wrangle her credit card out of her purse. “This one is mine. You kept me from being convicted of murder.”

“Two seconds,” Cliff said, running off with the check.

Cooper stood and pulled on his jacket. He picked up her long, black coat and held it for her. “Thank you, Commander. I’ll get the next one.”

“You do that, Cooper. Just keep an eye on my brother for me, that’s thanks enough.” Then Cliff was back with a receipt for her to sign. “Sorry we kept you up, Cliff,” she said.

“Have a nice night, folks,” he said, following them to the door and locking it.

“Is it late?” she asked Cooper.

“Apparently it’s late for Cliff. My watch says ten-twenty.”

They drove back to the high school for his truck, talking and laughing. There were still cars in the well-lit lot, still music coming from the gymnasium, but not a soul around the parking lot. Undoubtedly, some kids had managed to escape from under the chaperones’ gazes, but there was still action in there. They got out of the car and gravitated to the front, leaning against the hood and gazing at the school. Sarah sighed. “Another thing to say thank you for. Even though things got a little whacko at Cliff’s, I could have been trapped behind a decorated pillar in there until midnight.”

Cooper crossed his arms over his chest. “That was a nasty business at Cliff’s, but worth seeing. Now there’s no question about what you’re dealing with.” Then he shifted toward her. “In spite of that, I have to say, Sarah, I enjoyed dinner.”

She turned so they faced each other and smiled. “Maybe I’ll take you out again sometime.”

He pulled on her arm and brought her closer, against him. “You’re a good date,” he said.

“You thought of it as a date?”

He nodded. “From the beginning.”

“Well, I have some bad news, Cooper. I’ve given up dating.”

He couldn’t help but grin. “Going to go old maid?”

She smirked. “I could change my mind in ten or twenty years. For now, no dating. No men.”

“Probably a very smart decision.” Then he leaned toward her and got his face close enough so he could feel her breath on his face. “Kind of a waste, though.” And then he touched her lips with his.

“Mmm,” she said, closing those large eyes.

He pulled her closer, tilting his head to kiss her. He cradled her head in one hand and held her firmly but gently against his mouth. After the briefest moment, she parted her lips slightly so that their tongues could touch. When that happened he inhaled sharply, damned pleased at the response. One arm around her waist pulled her tight against him, and he moved over her opened mouth hungrily. He kissed her long and hard, even though he thought he shouldn’t. When he finally pulled back just an inch, he said, “News flash. I’m a man.”

“Friend,” she said. “Just a friend with some common interests.”

“And one of them is kissing.”

She laughed. “I’m human, after all.”

“Give me five minutes. I could wear you down.”

“In your dreams.”

“What are you doing tomorrow?” he asked.

“Laundry,” she said. “Sunday catch up. Monday is work.”

“Hmm. Want me to help with laundry? I’ve been doing my own for years. I’m probably really good with the dainties.”

She chuckled a little. “No, thanks.”

He kissed her again, a little harder. Deeper. He let his tongue loose to play. Her arms slid up to his shoulders and she held on, joining a little tongue dancing. Everything he tasted said yes. He pulled back. “Probably smart not to get involved with someone like me,” he said.

“Not to worry, champ. I’m not going to get involved with anyone.”

“Good. I tend to piss women off.”

And then she pulled him back to her mouth and went after him with steam and power of her own and almost brought him to his knees. How’d she manage to taste like honey and smell like flowers after dinner at Cliff’s? He pulled her hard against him and devoured her, unsure whether he was relieved or disappointed that she wouldn’t feel his erection through that long, heavy coat she wore. And then her hands were against his chest, gently pushing him away. Not shoving, just a little push so he’d back off. She smiled into his eyes.

“So far, the way you don’t get involved is made to order,” he told her.

“I’m going home now, Cooper. Thanks for helping out. And everything.”

“Sure,” he said, taking a step back. “Want me to follow you home?”

She shook her head. “I’m good.” She gently slugged his chest. “Drive careful.”

“Yeah,” he said, breathless.

When she turned to get back into her car, he followed. He held the door and then closed it for her. He waved her off. And then he stood by his truck for a little while as she drove off.

“Holy shit,” he whispered. “Damn.”

* * *

Landon and Eve left the homecoming dance with Downy and Ashley at about nine-thirty. They got a pizza in town and took it to Landon’s house because no one was home, thanks to Cooper. What a pal.

They snarfed down pizza and Cokes, laughing over stories everyone had to share. The second the pizza was gone, Downy grabbed his girl, lifted her up and said, “Come here, my girlfriend, and drive me out of my mind some more.” He carried her to the living room, where he chose the sofa for some rock-star-quality making out. After five minutes, he pulled her down the hall of the little house.

Landon was stunned, his mouth hanging open. “Is he doing what it looks like he’s doing?”

Eve smiled. “I prefer not to think about that too much. And of course, anything my best friend said to me is confidential.”

“Of course, yeah,” he said.

She grinned at him. “You have to wonder, though, right?”

“But he wouldn’t do the nasty here, in my bedroom, when my sister could be walking in anytime?”

“Probably not,” she said.

He smiled at her, knowing it was crooked. “Eve, I’m sorry you got stuck going to a big dance with a guy whose face is mashed in.”

She pushed back her kitchen chair and went to him, sitting on his lap. “You’re still handsome, even with your face mashed in. You got altogether too much attention from the girls, too.”

“That’s because of you,” he said. “They couldn’t believe I was with you.”

“Does your mouth hurt?” she asked.

He tilted his head and then slowly touched the place where his lip was split. “Just a little, right here.”

“Hmm,” she said, leaning forward and kissing him gently right beside it. Then she pressed her lips against his cheek. Then the goose egg on his forehead. Then his lips again. Then she smiled.

“I could heal up and be less interesting,” he said. “Think you’d go out with me again?”

“I could. But you’re going to have to ask me next time.”

“It’s kinda cool having the prettiest girl at school ask me for a date,” he said. “I’d really like to take you out tomorrow, but maybe by next Saturday night my face won’t look like I’ve been in a wreck.” He put his arms around her waist. “I want my lip healed, that’s for sure.”

“Oh?” she teased. “And why is that?”

“You’re not the only one who’s a good kisser, you know. I’m not bad—when it doesn’t make me bleed.”

She laughed at him. “When’s your birthday? Maybe for your birthday.”

“What a coincidence,” Landon said. “Next Saturday night is my birthday!”

She pulled away a bit, but put her arms around his neck. “I think you’re lying. You wouldn’t lie to me, would you, Landon?”

“And the Saturday night after that is my birthday, too,” he said, leaning toward her, his lips ready. “Go easy now,” he whispered.

And she gave him a light kiss on the side of his mouth.

“More,” he whispered, and she was happy to comply, treating him to sweet, soft kisses for a few minutes.

“When you first moved here,” Landon asked, “was it easy? Did you fit right in?”

“I fit right in with Ash, but we had some issues—like the girlfriends she already had had for a long time were jealous of me because Ash liked me. It took a while before that passed. When my dad took this job and bought the house, I didn’t want to come. I was in seventh grade and I gave him a hard time. He was more patient than he should’ve been, but Lou just about lost it. You don’t want to mess with Aunt Lou. You moved a lot, right?”