He took off his boots inside the front door. He let Ham out the back door and, using the wood and pinecone starters, he built a fire. Then he put the covered dish holding the turkey dinner beside the microwave on the counter and the wine in the refrigerator.

When she walked in the back door, she looked stunned. “What are you doing here?”

He stood from the sofa. “I brought you some leftovers and made you a fire. Landon gave me a key—I left it on the table. Listen, I don’t have to stay. You must be worn-out. Long day?”

She shrugged out of her coat and tossed it over the back of a kitchen chair. “Fourteen hours, the last two just mopping up the paperwork. Three rescues in one day—unprecedented. I was going to stop off for a bottle of wine, but since it’s Thanksgiving evening, not much is open.”

“Got you covered, Commander,” he said. “Aunt Lou wouldn’t let me leave without one. I’ll open it for you.”

“You’re a good man to have around,” she said, going to the sofa. She pulled off her boots. He must have found the corkscrew right away; she heard only one drawer slide open. When he started opening kitchen cupboards, she said, “Over the toaster oven, next to the refrigerator.” A minute later he brought her a glass of wine.

“Maybe I should get going.”

“Only if you want to,” she said. “I’m up to a little quiet company. I’m sorry I missed the dinner.”

“We played charades,” he said, then surprised himself with a laugh. He sat beside her. “Landon had a father-son talk with me. This time I was the son. He’s pretty worried, Sarah. Afraid that getting mixed up with me is going to leave you brokenhearted and broken-down.”

“Ah, poor Landon. You can’t blame him. It was so hard on him, seeing me fall apart the way I did over the divorce. This doesn’t have anything to do with you, Cooper. In fact, it’s very nice to have a friend like you. And I’ve gotten closer to Gina and let me tell you, it’s been a while since I had a girlfriend. I needed that, too.”

With a finger, he ran her short hair around her ear. He smiled. “Will you think I’m a complete pig if I tell you that sleeping with you really winds my watch?”

She grinned. “We’ve never slept.”

“Because you drive me out of my mind. I’ve needed a friend like you, too.”

She chuckled. “Needed to get laid, huh?”

“That, too. Listen, I made a slight change in plans. While the bait shop is being worked on, while Rawley is around to keep an eye on the reconstruction, I’m going to head to Albuquerque to visit my family.”

“Now?” she asked.

“In a week.”

“I thought you planned to go for Christmas?” she asked, sipping her wine.

“I was considering it. But I decided I wanted to be around here. Do you have plans?”

“I only work Christmas Eve until four, unless it turns into another day like today. And I have Landon, when he’s not with Eve.” She curled up against Cooper’s side. “This is his first girlfriend, unless you count Cindy Freeman when he was seven.”

“He’s a goner,” Cooper said, putting his arms around her. “Have you talked to him about, you know...”

“Talked to him and armed him. But God, I hope he doesn’t have sex.” She lifted her head. “Is there any way we can keep them from having sex?”

Cooper just shook his head. “Has he talked about you having sex with a nomad who lives in a tin can?”

She shook her head. “He must be leaving that up to me.”

“Good. You turned out to have very good judgment about that.”

“You mean the way I jumped your bones on the second date?”

“My favorite part. Want me to warm your dinner?”

“No. Can you put it in the refrigerator when you’re up getting me another glass of wine?”

“Yes, ma’am,” he said, reluctantly pulling away from her. And then he was back, handing her the wine and pulling her against him. In lieu of hot, crazy sex, just holding her was very satisfying. He told her what he’d heard at the McCains’ about Christmas, about the decorating of the town, about parties, about a legendary open house at Gina and Carrie’s house, catered by the only caterer in town. “And we’re included, if interested.”

“Lovely,” she said, sipping. She tilted her head to look up at him. “But I don’t want you to worry—if your plans change and you have to be with family, it’s not going to be a problem.”

Ah, she was holding him at arm’s length. Even though he didn’t have the details, it was enough to know she’d had a real bad experience. It was hard for her to trust. A year ago, five years ago, even ten years ago—this was him. He was always afraid to get too close. “Barring some family emergency, I’ll be here,” he said. “Tell me about the rescues.”

So while she cuddled up to him and sipped her wine, she told him about one possible coronary, a boat taking on water forty miles offshore, a hiker who’d spent Thanksgiving day in the woods at about five thousand feet, lost and with hypothermia. And then her glass was nearly empty. “Will you put this on the coffee table, please?”

He laughed at her. “Is it good having your very own valet?”

“It is good,” she said, resting her head against his chest. “And you double as a pillow very nicely, too.”

He pulled a throw off the end of the sofa and covered her and some of himself, as well. “Wanna make out?” he asked her.

“Hmm. Can’t. Landon could be coming in anytime now. Plus I don’t know how to make out with you without taking my clothes off and making crazy, insane, insatiable love to you.”

He laughed and it ended in a low growl and a kiss on her forehead. “Don’t seek help for that, all right?”

“All right,” she said. “If I walk Ham tomorrow, maybe you can get a nooner.”

“I’ll take it,” he whispered. And then he let his eyes close while he held her before he thought about it much longer—that she was the best thing he’d ever come across. And she was afraid to let him in.

Her soft snore put him to sleep. He had no idea what time it was when he heard the back door and Ham’s excitement. His feet were propped on the coffee table, and she was curled in a small ball against him with one leg thrown over his. He had both arms around her. He opened one eye to see Landon standing in front of them, his hands on his hips, a smile on his face.

“Oh, you kids,” Landon said with a smile. “I’m going to bed.”

Cooper gave a small nod and just pulled Sarah closer. His contentment was too rich for him to get up and leave.

* * *

The diner had been closed on Thanksgiving Day. It opened bright and early the next morning, though the crowd was sparse. Quite a few people took a long weekend and many left town to be with family in other towns or states. Gina had the diner’s laptop open on the counter, paying a few bills for Stu, when Scott Grant came in. This time, no small children—he was alone.

“Good morning,” she said, closing her laptop.

He sat up at the counter right in front of her in Mac’s seat. “Do you live here, Gina?” he asked with a smile.

“You’d think so, right? I work a lot when I’m not in school. When I have classes, Stu adjusts my schedule as much as possible. I work the day shift, from early morning to midafternoon. I have three busy periods in here—early-early morning, early-late morning and lunch. I only work nights if someone’s sick or needs time off. I hate nights. I’m a morning person.”

He smiled. “I must be, too. I’ve never seen anyone but you behind the counter.”

“It’s a small diner. Usually only one person at a time is needed, except on Friday and Saturday nights. Then Stu’s wife, Belinda, and one of our teenagers work together, and it’s like open warfare. I stay as far away as possible. How was your Thanksgiving?”

“Surprisingly bearable. My mother and mother-in-law are in town. Which is why I’m here.”

“Oh, really?” she asked, lifting a brow.

“Gabriella is in Vancouver with her family for a few days, and the grandmothers are here with me. The house is small and getting a little close. If you get my drift.”

“If you don’t mind me asking, why don’t you live closer to your family?” she asked, while automatically pouring him a cup of coffee.

“I could lie and say it was all about work, but that wouldn’t be entirely true. I did medical school and residency in California—Serena and I were happy there. Our mothers are widows, overbearing, controlling and in competition with each other. I’ve been fantasizing a way back to California ever since. When the Vancouver hospital where I’d been working since before I lost Serena started downsizing, I started looking. I really need a fresh start. And space from the grandmothers. It’s hard to get on with your life with your mother and mother-in-law breathing down your neck.”

“I see,” she said. “So, that’s your only family?”

“Oh, no,” he said with a laugh. “I have a sister, two years older, who said, ‘Thanks a whole hell of a lot,’ when I told her we were moving. I guess I left her with our mother, who needs a lot of attention. Unfortunately for me, my mother is pretty focused on her poor widowed son and motherless grandchildren. But when she’s not focused on me, she’s very busy trying to get my sister married.” He sipped his coffee. “They’re leaving Monday. Can I stay with you until then?”

She laughed at him.

“So, I don’t know your schedule, but is there a good time to, you know, go out? Because I’ve been on one date since my wife died. That was in Vancouver and she saw two little kids—Jenny wasn’t potty trained yet—and she ran for her life.”

Gina was stunned. Her mouth fell open. “Me?” she asked.

“Something wrong with you? You in a relationship or something?”

“Um...no. Did you know I am the single, never-married mother of a sixteen-year-old and I live with my mother?”

“I didn’t know that, as a matter of fact. Level with me, Gina—is she like my mother? Demanding, oversensitive and generally controlling? Because really...been there, done that.”

“No,” she said with a laugh. “My mother is awesome. She’s Carrie of Carrie’s Deli and Catering. She’s an angel come to earth, with an edge. She’s real good people, but she doesn’t suffer fools gladly.”

“Oh, that’s a relief. So...that means what? I have to get you home early?”

“Oh, my gosh, do you have any idea how long it’s been since I’ve been on a date?”

“Well, don’t panic—I met my wife in high school. I know, ridiculous, right? So I’ve had one date, and I think I wasn’t very good at it. And before you start to worry, I’m not looking for a mother for my poor motherless children or anything like that. I’d just like to go out with someone instead of with a bunch of hospital staff or two little kids or alone. I think I’m about due for some fun. And I want to learn more about your town and the people around here. I bet you can tell me a lot.”

“Oh, yes, that I can do. I’m not working Sunday morning.”

“Great. I have grandmothers to keep busy with babysitting and going crazy wondering who I might be going out with! It’s childish, but it serves them right. Pick you up at six?”

“Fantastic. Now, you want some eggs or something?”

“Sounds good. Eggs, over easy—”

“No, don’t go there,” she said. “Omelet or scrambled or over hard. Stu is a sweet man, but not a gentle hand in the kitchen.”