Page 21 of Riverbend Gap (Riverbend 1)

Cooper felt like a third wheel. He started to say he was taking off, but Gavin’s phone buzzed.

“It’s Barbara Jean from the office.”

“Go ahead,” Kate said. “I’ll run inside and get the marshmallows.”

While Gavin took the call, Cooper watched her stroll toward the camper. She wore cutoffs and a white top that exposed her tanned shoulders and slender arms. He tore his gaze away.

Soon as Gavin got off the phone Cooper would make his excuses and go. He’d continue to cut a wide path around Kate. He was already having trouble keeping his mind off her. If he stopped seeing her, eventually he’d stop thinking about her. Wouldn’t he? He never should’ve come tonight.

Gavin pocketed his phone as Kate emerged from the camper. “I hate to do this, Katie, but the commode in cabin five is stopped up. I need to go take care of it.”

“Of course. Go ahead. I’ll wait for you.”

Cooper stood. “I’ll go with you.”

“No, I got it. Would you mind keeping Katie company though? The guys down the way are a little rowdy, and they’ve been drinking a lot.”

No way out of this now. “Sure.” Cooper sank back into his chair.

“Be back soon.” Gavin kissed Kate on the cheek. “Save me a marshmallow.”

“Will do.” She sat down next to Cooper as Gavin got in his truck and drove away.

The cabins were on the far side of the campground, backing up to the French Broad River. The crackling sound of gravel under Gavin’s tires faded into the night, the rippling of the river and muffled sounds of nearby campers taking its place.

Cooper’s heart ticked off the minutes like a time bomb.

“You want to make s’mores?” She gave him that sweet smile. “It’s not Oreos, but it’s something. I know you don’t have much of a sweet tooth, but you can’t let a girl s’more alone.”

His heartstrings gave a sharp tug at the reference to their conversation on the cliff. He ran a hand over the back of his neck.

He returned her smile. “Uh, sure. Hook me up.”

She grabbed two skewers, handed one to him, then poked two marshmallows into place and passed over the bag.

“I keep thinking about that time up there on the cliff,” she said.

Maybe he wasn’t the only one caught in this sticky web. His stomach tightened at the thought. He stuck two marshmallows on his skewer. “Oh yeah?”

“It was a week ago today. I keep thinking how it can all end in an instant. How I haven’t been thankful for the people I do have in my life. How we never know when our last day will be. I don’t want to have regrets.”

He put the stick over the fire beside hers. “I felt that way when my grandpa died—Jeff’s dad. Technically he was my stepgrandpa,but we were close. Death—or near death—has a way of reminding you of the brevity of life.”

“I told my foster parents about what happened on the cliff. Sent them that note you helped me write.”

“That’s good. I’m sure they were touched by that.”

“I could tell they were moved. And I put something in motion I’ve been wanting to do for a long time.” She turned her blue eyes on him. “But I chickened out. I feel like such a coward.”

He slowly rotated his stick over the fire. “What are you afraid of?”

“I don’t know.” She huffed. “Yes, I do. I’m afraid of getting hurt. Getting rejected.”

“Everybody’s afraid of that. Doesn’t make you a coward.”

“It does when you let it stop you from doing something you need to do. What are you afraid of, Deputy Cooper?”

“Me?” He chuckled. “I don’t know.”