Page 82 of Riverbend Gap (Riverbend 1)

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 quitefinished 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.”