Page 22 of Riverbend Gap (Riverbend 1)

“You’re not afraid of dying. You would’ve gone down with my car if it had come to that. You’re probably not afraid of anything. You carry a gun and protect people even when your life is on the line.”

“There are scarier things than death.”

“Like getting hurt and being rejected?”

He studied her for a long moment. Hated that she’d experienced those things and at such a young age.

“Maybe Gavin already told you, but our dad was a drunk. He and Mom divorced when we were little, but he still lived here for years. He was the screwup always getting locked up in the tank. The sloppy drunk our neighbors would find passed out in the alley on their way to church. If his mouth was moving he was lying. He was pitied and judged and scorned. I’d rather die than have people look at me the way they looked at my dad. So I guess I’m afraid of being like my dad.”

Her face softened. “He doesn’t sound anything like you. But that must’ve been hard in a small town like this.”

“Everybody has stuff they have to deal with.”

“And so you dealt with it by becoming a deputy—soon-to-be sheriff. After your father embarrassed you so badly, it makes sense you’d seek a position that offers esteem.”

She was insightful, this one. It wasn’t like this thought had never occurred to him. But no one had ever stated it out loud to him. Or made him realize that this was the primary driving factor in his run for sheriff.

“You’ve got me all figured out.”

“You’re pretty open.” She slid him a fond look. “And you’re easy to talk to, Cooper.”

Their eyes connected for a long moment. Something passed between them. Something warm that grew hotter with each second. No woman had ever said that about him. But hehadbeen open with Kate. Maybe because she’d been so vulnerable with him.

She forced herself to look away. A second later she jerked her stick from the fire. She blew on the flaming marshmallows, but it was too late. “Shoot.”

He pulled his golden-brown marshmallows from the fire. “You can have mine. I like them burnt.”

“You sure?”

“Positive.” He switched sticks with her, then ate the marshmallows right off the stick. They were gooey and sweet with an ashen crust.

“Don’t you want graham crackers and chocolate?”

“No, this is good.”

She worked on her own creation like Hershey’s was using it for a photo shoot. She made sounds of delight as she ate it, sucking the sticky bits off her fingers between bites.

Cooper scanned the campground, trying to block out the sight and sound of her. Where was his idiot brother?

When Kate finally finished the s’more, she pulled the second marshmallow off the stick and ate it plain. “Yum.”

Cooper took her stick and set it in the fire beside his own to burn off the mess.

“That’s an interesting place to live,” she said.

He followed her gaze to Gavin’s camper. “Yeah, it’s got to be cramped. He won’t be here forever though. He had a great place back in Asheville. A modern monstrosity, all glass and angles. And white. Felt like I should shower before I sat on the sofa.”

“I know the kind of place you mean. I guess his wife got the house in the divorce.”

“Yep.”

“At first I had second thoughts about getting involved with a divorced guy. But we all have baggage, right? He hasn’t said much about his ex-wife, but he doesn’t seem to harbor any resentment. I’m kind of surprised he moved back here though.”

“With Laurel’s folks living here, you mean?” That hadn’t been easy for any of them. Made for some awkward run-ins.

“No, I just meant there’s not much in the way of career opportunities for him here. Besides, Asheville’s a big enough place to coexist with your ex-spouse.”

“It’s the memories mainly, I think—Jesse.”