His shoulder muscles loosened at her reassurance. At her conviction. If only everyone who read tomorrow’s paper would have the same faith in him.

  Cooper sank into the chair at the circular table in campaign headquarters. Avery and Alice, their publicity volunteer, looked like they needed some caffeine. He’d already had three cups and his nerves jangled uncomfortably.

  Avery pulled today’s newspaper closer, reading aloud. “‘This is a personal matter. No comment.’” She gave Cooper a grim look.

  “He completely left out my denial of the rumor!”

  “This isn’t good,” Avery said.

  “Someone please tell me how a false rumor makes page one in a reputable newspaper.” Cooper had been up at four thirty, waiting for the paper to hit his porch. Both the location of the article and the headline—“Local Sheriff Candidate Caught Up in Personal Scandal”—tied his stomach in knots.

  “At least it’s below the fold?” Alice, a former publicity whiz, pushed back her bleach-blonde hair and offered a hopeful smile.

  Cooper was in no mood for her Pollyanna personality this morning. But at least the woman had the ability and connections that would hopefully get this train back on the track.

  Avery frowned. “He didn’t give Megan’s name.”

  “I wish he would’ve. She’s got a lot to answer for.”

  “Well, what’s done is done. It’s getting late. Let’s start to work on a statement.”

  They worked for an hour on a single paragraph. It was a delicate message. Cooper was no writer, but he knew what he wanted to say. Alice helped wrangle the words into concise and confident sentences that seemed genuine and heartfelt.

  After the woman made one last tweak, Cooper read it out loud and nodded. “I think this is it. Nice job, Alice.”

  Avery slid the marked-up paper back to the woman. “All right. Do your thing. Let’s spread it far and wide.”

  As Cooper left the office, the morning was just getting underway. Daylight crept over the mountains, the birds tweeted—and all across the county his private life was destined to become today’s watercooler fodder.

  31

  Katie had mixed feelings about her afternoon plans.

  She strode up the walkway toward her front door, Gavin on her heels. They’d just had a filling breakfast at the Iron Skillet, which was packed this Saturday morning. At the door she turned to him. “Want to come in for a bit? I have a little time before I have to meet Avery and Cooper.”

  “I’d like to, but I’m needed back at the campground.” He settled his hands at her waist. “Let’s go somewhere quiet tomorrow night. Someplace out of town where we won’t be interrupted.”

  “Is everything okay?”

  He gave her a warm smile and kissed her nose. “Everything’s fine. Stop worrying.”

  Katie watched him go, waving as he pulled from her drive. Would he tell her about Jesse tomorrow night? If he did, she’d have to act as if she didn’t already know. Or maybe that wasn’t it at all. Maybe he was planning to tell her he loved her. Instead of feeling excited at the notion, the thought only tied her stomach in knots.

  Forty-five minutes later Katie pulled into a slot in front of the clinic where she was meeting Avery and Cooper. Since the building was already closed for the day, Katie had to unlock the door before she slipped inside. A welcome rush of cool air washed over her skin.

  “Avery?” Since her boss hadn’t gotten around to it yet, she went to turn off the lights.

  Avery came up the hallway. “Hey. I’m afraid I’ve still got a patient in the back—family friend. She’s got the flu. I’ll have to bail on you and Cooper. She’s pretty dehydrated, and I need to set her up with an IV.”

  Katie ditched her purse on the counter. “I can help.”

  “No, I’ve got it covered. Lisa would kill me if both of us had to bow out. She’s been trying to get these flyers hung for weeks.”

  Cooper entered the clinic, stopping short at the sight of Katie. “Oh. Hi. I didn’t think you worked Saturdays.”

  “I don’t.”

  “Lisa roped her into passing out flyers with us. Unfortunately, I’ll have to bail on you two.”

  Cooper scratched his neck. “Oh.”

  Avery’s gaze shifted between the two of them, her brow furrowing. “Or . . . I could go with Cooper, and Katie could stay with the patient.”

  “No, I can tell you’re worried about her. We’ll be fine, won’t we, Cooper?”

  “Of course. We won’t come back until both towns are covered in flyers,” he said, as if that were the real concern here.

  Katie looked back to Avery. “Call me if anything comes up.”

  “I will.”

  “Let’s hit the road,” Cooper said to Katie.

  They said good-bye to Avery and headed outside. In the last week fall had arrived in Riverbend, bringing cooler nighttime temperatures. The trees in the upper mountains were starting to turn beautiful shades of red and gold, which would soon sweep down into the valley. Katie loved the cool, crisp weather of autumn. But today clouds had rolled in, and rain seemed imminent.

  “Okay if we take your car?” Cooper said. “I’ve got a bunch of stuff in mine, and I don’t mind driving since I know my way around.”

  “Sure.” She handed him her keys and glanced up at the dark sky. “I hope the rain holds off.”

  Ever the gentleman, he opened the passenger door, and she brushed past him, smiling her thanks.

  He walked around the front, got in, and started the engine. Awkwardness had crept inside the car with them, the last part of their phone conversation still humming between them.

  So much for avoiding each other. The universe seemed to throw them together at every opportunity. She wished she could cry foul, but who was she kidding? A big part of her was looking forward to an afternoon alone with Cooper. Did he feel the same?

  “I think you have a headlamp out.”

  She could tell from the reflection on the car in front of them that he was right. “I’ll get it replaced soon.”

  He pulled out onto the road.

  “How far is it to Marshall?”

  “About twenty minutes. But we should stop at Walnut on the way.”

  “Sounds like a little bit of nothing.”

  “It is. But there are a few places to hang flyers, and folks tend to gather on Saturdays. It’ll be good for the campaign to show my face, shake a few hands.”

  Was he nervous about facing citizens outside Riverbend Gap after the newspaper article? “I saw the statement you put out Thursday. It was very convincing and well written.”

  “Thanks. I hope people believe it.”

  “It’s the truth. That helps. I’m glad you’re not shying away from this today.”

  “Mom was willing to let me off the hook, but I’m not about to hide away in shame when I didn’t do anything wrong.”

  “That’s the spirit.” She shifted her knees his way, trying to ignore how close they were in the small confines of her car. “Any luck tracking down Megan?”

  “Sadly, no. She seems to have fallen off the face of the earth. No one in her apartment building claims to know anything.”

  “She hasn’t been there long, right?”

  “Yeah. But she’s got to return soon.” He gave her a sidelong look. “Any progress with your mother this week?”

  “I haven’t seen her. She’s still doing her thing online for Trail Days. She’s sent me a couple texts, but that’s about it.”

  A beat of silence ensued as he navigated a sharp turn. “I think Avery was a little reluctant to send us out into the wild alone.”

  At his observation tension thickened in the space. Katie’s pulse kicked into a higher gear. “Yeah, I got that feeling too.”

  His hands tightened on the steering wheel. They were nice, manly hands with long, tapered fingers, squared off at the ends. The memory of that hand holding hers in Lisa’s kitchen surged into her mind. The slight roughness of his palm brushing hers. The magnetic sweep of his thumb across her skin. The thought of never again receiving his touch hollowed her stomach.

  “She has nothing to worry about.” His low voice scraped across the chords of her heart.

  “Of course not.” But if that were true, why did it take every ounce of her resolve not to look his way?

  Three hours later the mood had lightened considerably. They’d hung around Walnut longer than Katie had expected. Though there were few places to hang flyers, those establishments clearly did a robust business.

  Cooper chatted with quite a few people, and he introduced Katie as a friend—not his brother’s girlfriend as she’d expected. It meant nothing, but she couldn’t stop from hoping that it did. Stupid.

  Cooper knew some of the townsfolk, and those he’d just met seemed genuinely pleased to make his acquaintance. A couple people seemed guarded, but she was thankful no one brought up the scandal.

  Having a bit of success in his back pocket seemed to invigorate him. They hit the bigger town of Marshall with renewed energy. There were considerably more stores and offices in this town, and it took hours to hang flyers and canvass the area.

  “That went pretty well,” Cooper said as they exited the last store and started back toward the car.

  “An understatement. You’re very well liked, Mr. Robinson, scandal or no.”

  “That’s got more to do with my last name than anything. Is there any place we missed? We have flyers left over.”

  “I think we got them all. And stop being so humble. You’re a good guy and they know that. No one believes that tabloid gossip the paper put out.”

  “Hope you’re right.” His features warmed as he slid her a grateful look. “Thanks. I have to admit I feel a lot better than I have all week.”

  She’d been wondering about something since their last phone call. She strove for a carefree tone. “So, did you ever square things with Amber?”

  “Not really. And I don’t think I want to be with someone who so easily believes the worst about me.”

  The realization it was over between them shouldn’t have buoyed her spirits so much, but it did. “I don’t blame you. You deserve better.”

  “Campaign aside, I shouldn’t care so much what people think.”

  “You grew up in the shadow of a father who was a constant source of embarrassment. This has childhood trigger written all over it.”

  “How do you know these things?”

  She shrugged. “From paying attention to my own triggers, I guess.”

  They stopped at a crosswalk, and Katie stapled a flyer to a wooden pole while Cooper held it in place. They’d worked as a team all afternoon and it felt good. She liked being with him. Maybe they could find their way to friendship. Maybe they would outgrow the chemistry that sizzled between them.

  When the light turned they crossed the street. She didn’t want to worry about this today. She felt better than she had in weeks, and she wanted to enjoy the afternoon.

  “You know what sounds good?” Cooper said once the car was in sight. “Ice cream.”

  “I didn’t think you liked sweets.”

  “Everybody likes ice cream. Have you been to the Dairy Bar yet?”

  “I’m surprised they haven’t named their chocolate-dipped cone after me yet.”

  “Does that mean you haven’t tried their cookie monster blast?”

  “Can’t say that I have.”

  “You don’t know what you’re missing—it’s got Oreos.”

  She couldn’t believe he’d remembered that. “All right. Let’s do it—but I’m still getting a dipped cone.”

  A moment later, as she watched Cooper round the vehicle, Katie was grinning ear to ear.

  32

  Since it was almost suppertime and dark clouds were rolling in, the Dairy Bar was practically deserted. The drive-up building was just outside town, tucked between Riverbend’s only gas station and a donut shop, which was currently closed.

  At the window Katie ordered her cone and tried to pay her share, but Cooper was having none of it. Giving in, she left him to pay and headed toward a circular yellow table. As she sat down the table wobbled on the cement slab.

  From the service window Cooper flashed a smile at her. Her stomach flopped at the warmth in his eyes. She pulled her gaze away, trying to get her pulse under control.

  Friends. We’re just friends.

  But her gaze quickly returned to him. His biceps bunched as he removed his wallet from his pocket. He sure did nice things to that shirt. She was also a fan of those jeans and the way they hugged his—

  Friends, Katie. Come on. She could do this. She wasn’t quite finished with her pep talk when Cooper approached the table and handed her the cone.

  “Thank you.” She licked the dots of chocolate ice cream that popped through the hardened chocolate shell.

  “No problem.”

  Thunder rolled in the distance as Cooper returned to the window. He came back a minute later with his treat. The vanilla ice cream, filled with chunks of cookies, heaped like a mountain peak over the lip of his large cup.

  “You have to try it.” He settled beside her and held out the cup, even though he had a spoon.

  She leaned in for a bite, but as she closed in he lifted the cup, dabbing her on the nose with the ice cream.

  “Hey!” She wiped the ice cream away as he laughed.

  “Sorry, couldn’t resist.” He held up the ice cream again. “Really, have a taste. You’ll like it.”

  “I’m not falling for that a second time.”

  “I won’t do it again.”

  “I have trust issues now.”

  He chuckled. “Fine. Here.” He handed her the spoon.

  Narrowing her eyes at him, she took the spoon and tried a bite. The cool vanilla melted on her tongue, and the soft cookies mingled with the chocolate and peanut butter flavors. “Mmm. That is good.” She took another spoonful, this one heaping.

  “Hey, save some for me.”

  “I have a sticky nose, mister. You owe me.” She savored the flavors of his treat, detecting an Oreo flavor this time.

  A smug look came over his face. “You like me, Kate Loveland.”

  “Does that arrogant approach work for you?”

  He had the grace to appear sheepish. “Sometimes.”

  “Well, just so you know, it doesn’t do a thing for me.”

  His lips tipped up in a knowing grin.

  That smile, on the other hand . . .

  He gestured toward her cone. “Are you sharing?”

  “Since you paid I guess I should.” She held out her cone.

  He eyed her over the confection. “Should I trust you?”

  “Oh, you definitely shouldn’t trust me.”

  He approached the cone cautiously, then took a slow bite.

  Katie shivered as the look in his eyes shifted from playful suspicion to something else entirely. She barely even noticed the drop of rain that landed on her hand.

  Muscles in his jaw shifted as he worked the ice cream around his mouth. He nodded approvingly. “Rich. Sweet. Smooth. They really should name it after you.”

  Her cheeks warmed as she pulled her cone back and took a bite, breaking eye contact.

  One moment it was quiet, the air humming between them, and the next the sky opened up. A deluge of rain dumped on them. They scrambled from their seats.

  Cooper grabbed her elbow. “Over there.”

  Navigating tables, they dashed toward an overhang on the shop’s side. When they were under the roof, their gazes met. Cooper’s hair lay flat against his head, and water dripped off his chin and nose. His breath came rapidly, and his features held the same stricken expression hers probably did.

  Unable to help herself Katie burst out laughing. “That look on your face.”

  His lips slowly morphed into a smile, then he was laughing too. “Mine? You should see yours.”

  “Your hair’s plastered to your head.”

  He ran his fingers through it, leaving it in messy spikes. “How did that happen so fast?”

  “I guess we should’ve taken that thunder more seriously.” She leaned against the block wall and saluted him with her cone. “At least we still have our ice cream.”

  His head snapped back toward their table. Cooper’s cup still sat on the table in the downpour. His face fell.

  Katie nudged him. “Go get it.”

  “It’s pretty well flooded now, I think.” He gave a little pout.

  Katie’s heart softened. “Aw . . . I’ll share mine.”

  But when he turned back to her, all thoughts of ice cream fled. Instead there was only the two of them, sequestered behind the curtain of rain. His wet lashes were clumped together, making them impossibly dark. In the shadow of the overhang, his eyes were darker too. Not a hint of gold floated in that molten brown pool.

  His breath whispered against her forehead. When had he moved in front of her? When had he gotten so close? She couldn’t have looked away if the mayor’s house went floating by. The air crackled around them. She couldn’t remember how to breathe.

  He leaned closer—or maybe it was her. But suddenly they were only a breath apart. Their gazes held, his smoldering. The long, delicious moment hung between them, a prelude to something that promised to be so much more.

  He set a hand on the wall beside her. His other hand settled in the curve of her waist. He was giving her time to change her mind. But there was no stopping this. She wanted his mouth on hers more than she wanted her next heartbeat.

  He leaned forward, his lips brushing hers, soft and slow. Controlled. Reverent. A breathless pause. Then, mercifully, he tilted his head and came back for seconds. And thirds. Katie responded in kind, her insides melting.

  * * *

  Cooper had only meant to brush Kate’s lips once or twice. But he couldn’t seem to help himself. He cupped the gentle curve of her neck and deepened the kiss. It was impossible to stop. Like taking only one bite of an impossibly delectable dish. She felt like a dream in his arms and tasted of heaven.