Marlee went back to perusing the menu, trying to decide between a burger or something a little healthier like the grilled fish and veggies. The café might look like a diner, but it had an assortment of food for everyone. Suddenly, her hair rose on the back of her neck again. She stiffened and slowly turned her head to look out the window, but once again, she couldn’t locate anyone.
“Well, hello.”
She recognized Cooper’s voice immediately. Her head snapped around, and she found herself smiling before she knew it, her possible watcher forgotten. “Hi.”
“Not sure if you’ve been here before, but the food is excellent. You can’t go wrong with any of it,” Cooper told her, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “And I can say that honestly because I’ve had everything on the menu.”
Marlee laughed softly. “Have you?”
“It’s my favorite place to eat.”
“Then you must have a favorite meal.”
His grin widened. “The blackened crab nachos. They’re out of this world. Trust me.”
She nodded, spotting the nachos on the menu. “They do look good.”
“Marlee,” he said and cleared his throat as he glanced around to see if anyone was listening. “I’m sorry about earlier. I didn’t mean to freak you out.”
“It’s fine. Really.”
“It isn’t. We don’t get many new visitors in town, and you’re a beautiful woman. I’m sure you get approached all the time.”
She never got approached, but she wasn’t going to tell him that. “Thank you for the compliment.”
“I just want you to know that I’m a good guy. Promise,” he said with a smile.
Marlee held his gaze for a heartbeat. This was her chance. It was now or never. She took a deep breath and said, “Prove it. Have dinner with me. We each pay our own way, and we share some conversation.”
“All right,” he said without hesitation. “I’m game.”
She motioned to the seat opposite her. Cooper removed his coat and tossed it into the booth before he slid in. Marlee got a view of his cute ass in his jeans, but the broad shoulders showcased by the blue and green plaid flannel shirt he wore really got her attention. Near his throat, she glimpsed a black thermal shirt.
He filled the booth and took all of her attention in the process. Her training as a police officer made her aware of everyone and everything. Not so when Cooper was near. He was all she saw.
I can’t do this.
But she had to. Whether she wanted to or not, people were counting on her. No one had ever made her second guess herself before. Or maybe she just didn’t want to cause Cooper any harm because he was genuinely a good guy.
That was it. She’d met so few people in her life that were decent human beings. She wasn’t sure what to do with one, even when he was seated across from her.
Liar. You know exactly what you’d like to do to him. Beginning with stripping him out of those clothes.
Marlee swallowed and pushed up the sleeves of her sweater as heat filled her. Her nipples hardened, making her want to reach up and cover them so they’d stop tingling. But Cooper was there, looking at her with those gorgeous forest green eyes of his.
“You sure about this?” he asked, a worried frown filling his face.
She nodded her head—a little too quickly. “Yep.”
Marlee inwardly winced at how high-pitched her voice was. Given Cooper’s expression, he wasn’t buying her lie.
“I won’t hurt you,” Cooper said. “You don’t have to be afraid of me. I won’t even walk you out to your car when you finish eating if you don’t want.”
He finished with a grin meant to ease her mind. If only that were the issue.
Marlee made herself relax. “I’m sorry.”
“No need to apologize. I’m sure being a woman isn’t easy. My mom used to get asked out all the time. She was afraid for herself at times, so I’m keenly aware of how you might perceive me,” he told her.
“Your mom is fine, though, right?”
Cooper chuckled. “The woman is amazing. My dad died when I was thirteen, and she raised me on her own. She faced any hardship that came her way with her back straight and chin raised. When she feared for her life, she took self-defense classes and honed her shooting skills. But she did teach me how to respect women and know when to back off.”
“She sounds wonderful.”
“She is,” he said with a smile.
Marlee nodded her thanks to the waitress when she delivered Marlee’s beer. Cooper ordered his own. When they were alone again, Marlee asked, “So, the two of you are close? You and your mom.”
“Very. She owns a hair salon on Main Street.”
Of course, Marlee knew that. Just as she knew that Betty Owens had raised Cooper on her own. However, Marlee hadn’t known the Betty that Cooper spoke of so highly. Research only showed you so much about a person.
“What about you?” Cooper asked. “You have family?”
Marlee dreaded this part. She often left talk of Macey out, altogether. Not because she was embarrassed but because people genuinely didn’t know how to react. She was saved from answering when the waitress returned with Cooper’s beer and waited for them to order.
Cooper looked at her, still waiting for her to tell him about herself. How Marlee wished she could gloss over this part.
But it wasn’t to be.
Chapter 7
He could look into Marlee’s soft brown eyes for eternity. She had a wall up, a formidable one at that, but Cooper didn’t begrudge her for that. He had no idea what she’d suffered in her past. All he knew was that he wanted to get to know her. She was the only thing he’d thought about since meeting her at the gas station.
That five-minute meeting had left a lasting impression for sure.
And then to find her at the café? He couldn’t believe his luck. He’d thought to just stop by and say hello, maybe talk to her a little more so she wouldn’t run from him. The next thing he knew, he was sitting with her for dinner.
She observed him when he spoke as if she were interested in every word he said. Yet the minute the conversation switched to her, that wall rose a little higher.
“My parents are still around,” she finally said.
He wanted to probe for more, but he sensed that was all he was going to get out of her. “I’m sure you’ve been asked this a lot, but are you visiting or moving to the area?”
“Just visiting.”
Damn. Getting information out of her was like pulling teeth. However, Cooper wasn’t put off by it. He smiled. “I hope you’ll be in town for a bit. Clearview might not look like much, but it actually has quite a bit of character.”
“It’s quiet. Reminds of me of where I grew up,” she said.
The moment the words were out of her mouth, it appeared as if she regretted them.
Instead of asking her where she was from, Cooper said, “I volunteer at a sanctuary nearby. They take in all kinds of animals, but mainly, it’s for horses. If you have some free time, you should check it out.”
“That sounds nice. I might do that. I think I saw a sign about it a few days ago.”