“Good point. I’ll check in soon.”
“You better,” Stephanie threatened.
Chapter 11
If Marlee was surprised to find Cooper at the hospital with Brice and Naomi, she didn’t show it. Not that Cooper thought she would. She was nothing if not professional. He wanted so badly to ask her about her sister, but that was something only she could share. If she wanted to talk about it, she would.
And why would she discuss it with someone she barely knew? Someone she still deemed working against her? She wouldn’t. He wished he didn’t know about it. He wished Jace hadn’t told him, but he knew why his friend had. It helped him understand Marlee a little better, as well as gave him insight into what drove her.
Because each of them had something that guided them.
“Damn,” Jace whispered as he leaned over to Cooper. “She is stunning.”
Marlee’s bourbon eyes briefly landed on Cooper, and she flashed him a slight smile—the only thing she did to acknowledge him.
“Yikes,” Jace said and flicked his hand as if he’d burned his fingers. There was a smile on his face when he looked at Cooper. “I think I’ve got a shot with her now.”
Cooper was surprised by the fury that rose within him. He bit back his reply to his best friend, the order to stay away from Marlee, but just barely. Instead, he walked away, trying to figure out why he had reacted so violently to a jest.
“Everything all right?”
Cooper turned his head to find Clayton standing beside him. Though fifteen years his senior, Clayton could probably still kick his ass. Clayton had been a Navy SEAL and was damn good at his job. He was an even better rancher.
“Yeah,” Cooper replied and found his gaze redrawn to Marlee, who was now speaking with a doctor, Naomi, and Brice.
Clayton made a sound in the back of his throat. “I’ve known you and Jace for as long as I’ve known Caleb and Brice. And you know I think of all of you as my younger brothers.”
“I know. Jace and I feel the same about all of you.”
“Good. So, hear me when I say that while I’ve seen all of you bicker and fight among yourselves, I’ve never seen anger like you just had on your face toward Jace. I know you aren’t okay.”
Cooper ran a hand down his face and turned to Clayton. “Honestly, I don’t know what the hell is wrong with me.”
“What did Jace say?”
“Just that he had a shot with Marlee.”
Clayton suddenly smiled. “It appears you’ve got a thing for her.”
“I barely know her.”
“It sometimes takes even less.” Clayton turned his head to his wife of eighteen years. “I still remember the first time I saw Abby. When she walked into the interrogation room with Danny at the sheriff’s station, all I could think about was how gorgeous she was. I didn’t want to talk about Brice being arrested for cattle theft. I just wanted to ask her to dinner.”
Cooper watched love fill Clayton’s pale green eyes. “I don’t think you ever told me that.”
Clayton shrugged and returned his gaze to Cooper. “Sometimes, it merely takes a look. Sometimes it takes a meeting, and sometimes it takes longer. But it all ends up the same—with people finding each other.”
“I’m not looking for anything. Hell, I don’t even know what I want to do with my life.”
“Do you have any idea what you do for all of us, Coop? You’re there to help out at my ranch, the Rockin’ H, your mom’s salon, and with Jace without having to be asked. You instinctively know when an extra hand is needed. I won’t even go into the many things you’ve done to help both Danny and Ryan. You might not have a job you clock into every day, but you do have a job. I just wish paying you wasn’t an act of God.”
Cooper chuckled. “I help my friends. Getting paid for it just seems wrong.”
“Have you thought about why you know when you’re needed somewhere?”
He thought about it for a moment then shrugged. “No.”
“It’s because you read people, and you’re damned good at it. You also assess situations and see the weak links. That’s when you fill those holes.”
Cooper crossed his arms over his chest. He appreciated Clayton’s words, but he still felt as though he had yet to find the thing that would put him on the right course for the rest of his life. Though he wasn’t dissatisfied with his current state of affairs.
“Now,” Clayton said, “when it comes to Marlee, you need to think about what’s really bugging you.”
Cooper frowned as he dropped his arms to his sides. “What do you mean?”
“Are you still pissed because she made sure to be at the café last night to accidentally run into you? Are you irritated that she’s looking into your friends and the fact they might have gotten themselves into a sticky situation without meaning to? Or are you so tightly wound because you like her, and you don’t think she’s interested in you?”
“Before I answer that, are you angry at all about this?” Cooper asked and waved his hand around.
Clayton shot him a dry look. “You know I am. But I also realize that if Family First gave Brice and Naomi a kidnapped child, they’re not going to know what hit them. We’re going to come down on the adoption agency like a hammer. In the meantime, we’re going to make sure the child is returned to his rightful family by helping Marlee do her job. This isn’t her fault.”
“I know it isn’t.”
“Do you?” Clayton asked as he quirked a brow.
Cooper nodded his head. “I do. I may not act like it, but I do. As for your earlier questions, I think my ego’s bruised from her using me. And, if I’m completely honest, I don’t think she’s interested.”
“I don’t need to tell you to give her some space. I also talked to Jace earlier. He told me what you and he are doing. Don’t crowd Marlee, but I don’t think it will take her long to realize that you’re helping her. Give her time to trust you. She doesn’t have a reason to yet.”
“That’s what I intended.” Cooper squeezed the bridge of his nose. “Did you talk to Ryan?”
“I spoke with Danny. He told me about Marlee’s past after learning about her from Ryan. I don’t think she’s going to like that we’ve done a background check on her.”
Cooper glanced at Marlee to see her still talking to Naomi. Their body language said the tension was gone, though the worry still shone on Naomi’s face. “Marlee knows. She’s a PI. She’ll realize we’ve checked up on her, especially with us knowing Danny and Ryan.”
Marlee started their way, but she halted before reaching them. Clayton slapped Cooper on the back as he nodded at Marlee and headed off. She made her way to Cooper’s side, her smile hesitant as if she wasn’t sure what to say.
“You were right,” she said. “Naomi and Brice just want to help.”
Cooper grinned. “How long until the hospital is finished with Nate?”
“Another few minutes, and then Brice and Naomi can take him home.”
“You worried they’re going to bolt?”