In a blink, the massage was over. Marlee actually groaned when Chris said that the time was up. She needed another few hours at least. After Chris left, she dressed and then met him in the hall where he handed her a cup of water.
“You weren’t kidding,” he told her. “I’m surprised you can move at all. Your muscles are locked.”
She twisted her lips. “It’s something I deal with daily.”
“You shouldn’t let that happen. I suggest you return in two weeks.”
“Thanks. I’ll see,” she said with a smile before he led her out to pay.
As she stood in the same spot that Abby East had, Marlee’s mind went right back to the case. She got the attention of the worker who had checked Abby out. “This might seem rude, but I overheard the conversation you were having with the lady before I went back for my massage. She’s Abby East, right?”
The woman looked suddenly leery. “Yes.”
Marlee grinned. “I thought so. I’ve not met her yet, but I knew about Naomi and Brice bringing home their new baby. I was supposed to go to the party, but I had to work, and I didn’t want to just walk up to her.”
“Oh, you should have,” the worker said, now relaxed after seemingly coming to believe Marlee’s lie. “Abby is the sweetest woman I know. And her husband?” The woman fanned herself. “He’s to die for.”
Marlee had seen a photo of Clayton East. He certainly was handsome. “I know.”
“Y’all can have Clayton,” another woman said, this one younger as she came around the corner. “Personally, I’d take Cooper.”
Since Marlee knew everyone associated with Brice and Naomi, she immediately knew that the woman was speaking about Cooper Owens. Who, if Marlee were looking to hook up with anyone, would be who she chose. There was something about his eyes and that heart-stopping smile.
“Do you know Cooper?” the younger woman asked.
Marlee just smiled. “Doesn’t everyone?”
She finished paying and walked out of the building to find that the rain had stopped for the moment, and the temperatures had dropped even more. This time, nothing made her think that someone was watching her, so she chalked it up to being hyper-sensitive before. She shivered and jumped into her car to start the engine. On the way back to the motel, she pulled into a nearby gas station to fill up. She wasn’t on empty, but she never knew if she would need to drive a long distance at a moment’s notice, so she always kept the tank filled.
Before opening the door, Marlee tugged on her coat and reached for her wallet. She shoved the hair that the wind kept blowing into her eyes out of her face and got the gas going. Most people ignored others filling up near them, but not Marlee. She always listened in because you never knew what kind of gossip you could pick up.
“You’re new.”
The male voice took her by surprise. She turned to find herself staring into faded blue eyes and a face weathered by age and the sun. White hair poked out from beneath the cowboy hat situated atop the man’s head. He looked her up and down.
Marlee gave him a nod. “I am.”
“It’s your hair.”
She quirked a brow. “I’m sorry?”
“There ain’t too many natural redheads in this town.”
Marlee smiled and turned back to the pump, but it was obvious the man wasn’t going anywhere. She sighed and turned back to him. “You know everyone in the area?”
“Of course,” he stated as if she had asked if the sky were blue. “I’ve lived here my entire life. The young’uns always move away, but eventually, they make their way back. It’s rare for someone like you to come here. What are you after?”
No one had ever put it quite so plainly before. Marlee leaned her hip against the car. “Why do you think I’m after something?”
“Like I said, we don’t get those like you here.”
“I feel as if I should be offended.”
“Mac doesn’t mean anything by it,” said a deep voice from behind her. The sound made her stomach do somersaults as if butterflies had taken up residence there. She didn’t move because she couldn’t.
The old man, Mac, ran a hand over his whiskered jaw and looked over her shoulder. “Wondered how long it’d take you to get over here.”
“I think just in time,” the man behind her said with a chuckle.
Mac tipped his hat to her and walked away. Marlee wasn’t sure what was wrong with her. She was used to dealing with all sorts of people. It began when she was still a cop, and that training had come in handy more times than she wanted to admit, both then and since.
But no one had ever affected her in such a way.
“Ma’am? You okay?”
She nodded and pushed away from her car. The pump had finished, which gave her something to do. She pulled out the nozzle and replaced it on the hook. As she turned to put the cap back on her gas tank, she saw that a large hand was already doing it.
Her gaze traveled up the arm encased in a dark brown coat. Slowly, her eyes moved to his neck and then landed on his face. She knew him instantly. How many times had she stared at his deep green eyes in the photographs she had? His black Stetson hat was pulled low, but she still caught sight of the dark brown locks that were a tad long—though she preferred it that way.
He had a shadow of a beard on his handsome face, as though he hadn’t shaved that morning. It accentuated his amazing jaw. She found it sexy as hell, which only irritated her more. Then she made the mistake of looking at his lips. They were wide and on the fuller side. And as she stared, they curved into a grin.
“I’m Cooper Owens,” he said and stuck out his hand.
Marlee glanced down at the hand and blinked. It took her a second to reach for the proffered palm. The moment his long, lean fingers wrapped around hers, something warm and electric rushed through her. Her eyes snapped to his, and by the small frown on his brow, it seemed he’d felt it, as well. Marlee wanted to yank her hand from his hold, but she couldn’t seem to make her body obey.
Cooper tilted his head to the side, concern in his eyes. “Did Mac say something rude?”
“No,” Marlee croaked. She shook her head while clearing her throat. “No, no. Everything is fine.”
“You had me concerned for a bit.” He smiled again.
Damn him. Didn’t he know what that did to her?
“I don’t suppose I could get your name, could I?”
The last time Marlee had acted so stupidly was in junior high when she tried to talk to a boy she liked. It had been a disaster. One she had worked hard to never repeat. And yet, here she was, doing it again.
“Marlee Frampton,” she told him.
“Nice to meet you, Marlee.”
She was drowning in his green eyes as his thumb rubbed gently across her hand. Marlee knew she should get away from him immediately. Whatever was going on with her spelled trouble. She knew it, but it did no good.
“It’s nice to meet you, too.”
Chapter 5
My God, she was stunning.
That thought kept going through Cooper’s head as he held her hand. Her auburn curls danced in the wind while her eyes, the color of bourbon, watched him. She had a delicate face that made a man think she needed saving. But one look in her eyes and a person immediately saw the steel within her.