“I’d rather not talk about that,” I reminded him, even though part of me rejoiced, because I wasn’t the only one who remembered her. He’d loved her, too, from the first minute I’d told him I was pregnant. Whatever was going on in his head, it wasn’t stealing away his love for his family, and I needed that. He was all I had left. “But don’t worry—it’s definitely over between me and Brandon. And you’re right about the way he talks to me, too. I’ll never fall for his shit again, I promise.”
• • •
We found Randi inside the convenience store, staring up at a TV mounted in the corner behind the counter. Aerial shots of massive trees engulfed in flame filled the screen. There weren’t a lot of people inside, just one other customer and the clerk, but all eyes were glued to the news.
“As you can see, the fires are growing rapidly,” a reporter said, her voice incongruously perky. “Although at this point, officials tell us that it hasn’t spread outside the national forest and no buildings are threatened. Even so, they’re urging residents and those traveling through the region to be careful. Air quality is extremely low in some areas due to smoke, which poses a serious risk to anyone with asthma or other pulmonary conditions. Additionally, the Washington State Department of Transportation is reporting multiple road closures due to poor visibility.”
The screen changed, flashing to a map showing several roads highlighted.
“As you can see, I-90 is closed from Vantage to Ritzville. We’re also getting word that while Highway 97 near Chelan remains open, visibility is growing worse and officials are considering a closure there in the near future.”
“Isn’t that where we’re going?” Randi asked, eyes wide. I nodded, frowning.
“Yeah,” I said. “We’d better get going—I don’t want to get stuck driving all the way around. Creepy, isn’t it?”
“Very.”
• • •
Despite the reporter’s warnings, we made it back to Hallies Falls just fine.
I dropped Randi off at her mom’s house, and then Dad and I headed for the apartment building. As we pulled up, I saw Cooper’s semi was parked out back again—guess he’d finished his job.
Whatever.
I parked on the street in front of the house instead of the parking lot, so it’d be easier to unload the car. Even though I was dead tired, I couldn’t help but notice how spectacular the sunset was—guess all that smoke was good for something. Raising my phone, I snapped a picture of the brilliant pinks and reds filling the sky across the valley. That’s when I heard the sound of footsteps behind me.
“Fires suck, but the smoke sure as hell paints a pretty picture, doesn’t it?” Cooper said, his voice low and rough. It sent a thrill racing through me, one that I pushed down ruthlessly, because nothing had changed. He was still attached to his crazy bitch of a girlfriend.
“It’s beautiful,” I admitted, refusing to look at him. He stepped closer, and I felt the warmth of his body behind me. Lean back into him. You know you want to. I moved forward instead, putting distance between us before turning to look at him.
Mistake.
I’d sort of convinced myself that I’d imagined how sexy he was. I mean, theoretically Brandon was sexy, too, but I had no trouble controlling myself around him. (I’d gotten over the whole smooth, metrosexual thing right around the time he was too busy to show up at the hospital when I needed him most.)
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.