Chapter 13
Chapter
Thirteen
COOPER
Isat at my kitchen table the next day, sipping on a late-morning cup of coffee and watching the ducks swim across the lake.
I enjoyed my lake house. It was a small bungalow, only two bedrooms and one bathroom, but I didn’t need any more than that. It was just me, and it had only been me for over a year.
I used to spend the majority of my summer days out on the lake with my boat, but work had eaten into most of my free time.
Abby’s case had swallowed me up, drained me dry, and I was content with that; in fact, I wouldn’t want it any other way.
As long as The Withered Man was out there, Abby wasn’t safe.
And as long as Abby wasn’t safe, I would dedicate my every waking hour to protecting her.
That was partly why I’d invited her out on the lake today—so I could enjoy some boat time while simultaneously watching over her. But, mostly, I supposed it was for purely selfish reasons. The truth was, I enjoyed her company. Maybe too much.
Maybe more than I should.
Definitely more than I should.
A knock at my front door pulled me from my musings. I’d texted Abby to stop by around eleven a.m. and it was still early. Setting down my coffee mug, I headed toward the door, discovering my father standing on my porch step.
I groaned internally.
I felt guilty for the reaction, but I knew my father needed something from me, as he wasn’t one for social visits. “Hey, Dad.”
Dad nodded a greeting and handed me the morning paper. “I brought you the newspaper.”
“I’ve got social media for that, but thanks.” I accepted the paper and stepped aside so my father could enter. “Is that why you came by?”
He glanced around the small, meagerly decorated house. His perusal always felt judgmental, like he was picking everything apart in his mind and spinning it into something more preferable. That’s just how he was, how he’d always been. “I need another favor, Son.”
There it is.
The bar. It was always about the damn bar.
“You know I’m up to my ears in this case. I can’t, Dad. I need an actual night off every now and then.”
“Cooper, you know I’d never ask unless I really needed you. I booked another live band tomorrow and it’s going to draw a big crowd. It would mean a lot to me.”
Dad stood in the middle of my living room, his arms folded, stance rigid.
He had a receding hairline that was graying and thinning more and more as each year passed.
More significantly, his amber eyes were practically begging me to agree.
I sighed. “I’m only promising a few hours.
I can’t close. I need to catch up on sleep. ”
“I’ll take it.”
Another night at The Crow Bar, slinging beers and brandy.
Fantastic.
I grumbled, my mood souring at the impending commitment. “Is that all? I have someone coming over.”
Dad’s eyes slanted in my direction. “A new lady in your life?”
I wasn’t sure how to respond to the question. Sure, Abby was a new woman in my life. She was an unexpected arrow to my heart. She’d spiraled into my orbit and tumbled right through my iron walls like a beautiful wrecking ball. “Just a friend,” I replied.
It was better if my father didn’t know too much—I wasn’t in the mood to answer questions, or try to justify myself. And I certainly wasn’t in the mood for the cautionary looks and discretionary words of warning.
But, as fate would have it, Dad would receive firsthand knowledge of Abigail Stone.
Abby approached my screen door a moment later.
She was early.
I sent her a smile, happy to see her, but slightly rattled at the notion that she’d be meeting my father. I prayed he wasn’t too much of a curmudgeon. “Abby. Hey.”
“You didn’t confirm if there would be snacks, so I took it upon myself to bring some,” she teased. Peeking through the screen, she held up a box of miniature donut holes. “Sorry I’m a little early. Did you have company?”
“It’s just my dad. Come in.” I opened the door to let her inside.
She entered with hesitant steps, clinging to the handle of the box.
A yellow sundress floated around her knee, and her smile beamed just as bright.
She was sunny and warm, a contrast to the demons that hid in the shadows behind her eyes.
Dad stepped forward and extended a hand. “You must be the friend,” he stated, shooting me a knowing glance.
Abby’s smile brightened. “I’m Abby—Abigail Stone. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. McAllister.”
“The girl from the abduction?”
I cringed.
Abby winced.
Awesome.
Scrubbing a hand over my face, I approached my father. “Was there anything else you needed, Dad? If not, I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Dad’s eyes skated over Abby, reeking of disapproval. “It’s nice to meet you, young lady.” Then he turned to me, as if to say, ‘we’ll discuss this later.’ “Have a good time.”
Abby’s focus dipped to the floor as my father stormed past us and the door slammed shut.
She cleared her throat, laughing lightly. “So…this ‘Not A Date’ already includes me meeting one of the parents. I’m eagerly awaiting the candlelit dinner and passionate lovemaking later.”
I choked on nothing.
My head snapped in her direction, a burst of laughter escaping me. For all that this woman had endured, her sense of humor hadn’t seemed to wane. It was admirable.
And incredibly sexy.
I sorted through the dozens of replies filtering through my mind, but none of them were appropriate, and all of them were different variations of, “let’s skip to that last part now.”
Which, that could never happen, and goddammit, it wasn’t even noon and I was already having bad thoughts.
Platonic.
This was a casual, innocent, platonic engagement.
I finally reeled in the meddlesome thoughts. “Candles are a fire hazard,” I said, stuffing my hands in my pockets. “And here I thought you knew me.”
Abby giggled, then held out the box of donuts. “I already ate the chocolate ones. Sorry.”
“Shameful.”
I grinned, letting my eyes skim over her, drinking in her sunshine.
Her blonde hair was in a loose braid, hanging over one shoulder, and her ivory skin looked like it had never seen a day of sun.
She had a wide-brimmed straw hat on top of her head and a radiant glimmer in her eyes that made me want to kiss her.
I shook the thoughts away.
A recurring theme lately.
“Ready to go?”
She bobbed her head, and we made our way out the sliding back door toward the dock. Abby glanced at me as we traipsed through my backyard. “Will you think less of me if I tell you I’ve never been on a boat before?”
“What? You’re lying.”
“Nope. I’m boring and sheltered.” She sighed. “You’ll jump in and save me if I fall overboard, right?”
“I think I’ve more than proven my devotion to you.” Sending her a wink, I grabbed her by the wrist, and we picked up the pace. “Come on. I’m dying for you to meet Izzy.”
“Izzy?” Her nose crinkled.
“My boat.” Abby followed me onto the dock, and my heart rate kicked up speed when I saw her eyes light up. “Not bad, huh? I spent my entire college years saving up for her.”
She held on to her hat as a breeze swept through and gazed at the pontoon with wonderment. “Impressive.” Stepping inside, she tried to maintain her balance as it wobbled under her feet.
I made a valiant effort to keep my eyes from averting to her backside and rushed forward to take her hand, steadying her.
“I stocked the cooler with those girly lemonade things. And snacks.” Abby turned to face me once she was fully inside, our hands still clasped together.
A look washed over her features, one I wasn’t sure I’d seen before.
Something raw, affectionate, and much too fleeting. “What?” I smiled.
She shook her head, still glowing, and pulled her hand away as I climbed inside. “Nothing.”
I knew it wasn’t nothing.
I wasn’t sure what had swept through her, or why that particular moment was significant.
All I knew was that it absolutely, without a doubt, was not nothing.
Abby
I was buzzed.
Partly from the hard lemonade tucked inside my hand, but that wasn’t the only reason.
It was also from the sound of the water lapping against the side of the pontoon.
The smell of the lake. The image of two bumble bees floating by the cooler, making me giggle, which prompted Cooper to question how many lemonades I’d had.
I’d only had one. Bumble bees just made me laugh.
Then, of course, there was him.
There was something wildly organic and real about him today. Cooper wasn’t bogged down with the investigation, or too many hours on the clock. Today he was just a regular guy, enjoying a summer afternoon on his boat with a girl.
With me.
I peered up at him from below the rim of my sunhat.
He was sitting across from me, sipping a soda and gazing out at the rippling water, dressed casually in an olive-green T-shirt and khaki shorts.
Dark sunglasses and an unshaven jaw gave him an edge that made me grip the spout of my beverage with a little extra gusto.
Cooper turned and caught my gaze, a charismatic smile pulling at his lips.
I ducked my head, blushing. “Thanks for inviting me today.”
Lame.
He sipped his drink and draped an arm over the side of the boat. “It was either you, or Kate with her endless harassment,” he teased.
I laughed. “At least you have a sibling you can do stuff with. I’ve missed out on that.” I hadn’t meant to dampen the mood, but I immediately felt the familiar pang of loss at the mention of Ryan.
“What happened with your brother?”
Oh, boy.