Page 14 (1/2)

Author: Robyn Carr

He leaned toward her "Listen here, you’ve already done enough for me For us"

"But I haven’t done--"

His voice was lowered when he talked, as if this was just for her "I’ve known that old boy in the kitchen for aleonly old coot He hasn’t had an easy life, he doesn’t trust people quickly He’s beenhis heart is I’ot and he makes me work real hard for a feords But since you and your little girl have been around, Rawley’s a whole new ot a twinkle in his eye that I haven’t ever seen before He’s been needing so fa this but it’s pretty plain--you’re not just good for hiood ht try to keep it a secret"

She leaned toward him and in a hushed tone said, "I’m not his cousin"

And Cooper whispered back, "I know"

"He told you?"

Cooper shook his head "I guessed, that’s all It ful sudden, you showing up, but as long as it works out"

"I would never hurt Rawley"

"That’s co across loud and clear"

"I can’t really talk about"

"About why you cut off your pretty hair and won’t talk about where you’ve been? Look, hardly a one of us doesn’t have stuff to get over, so you don’t have to explain I could make you blush with ht come a time you want to talk about whatever it is, but know this--it doesn’t really matter that much What matters is that you find what you need, that Rawley is happy, that your daughter is okay"

"That’s what’s ile purpose Nohat’s your pleasure? Coffee? Soda? Wine?"

She sniffed back soot it," he said, pulling a bottle out of the cooler He popped the top and put it on the bar as she was struggling to open her wallet He put a hand over hers "Devon, I’ your money Don’t be ridiculous The families of folks ork here eat and drink for free Now find a place in the sun to relax--Rawley says you’ve been working day and night for a week"

"I could just kiss you," she whispered

"I’ll take that," he said with a handso her with his cheek

Devon sat on the deck with her beer Down on the beach she saw Spencer throwing the football with Landon Sothe same jeans, but without his shirt or shoes He had apparently been distracted by a little ball practice He had a shoulders and arms, which she wished she hadn’t even noticed--but there was no denying it, he was a beautiful speci around on the paddleboard, very near the shore There were a few people out on the water--a couple in a s around the quiet bay Two people were on paddleboards, taking them farther out into the bay

Her eyes went back to Spencer and Landon They threw long, powerful passes This was the coach and his star player, and they were ihing She just couldn’t believe she was here Feeling for the first ti a nor millions of people would envy--the beauty of the rocky sea, the long peaceful beach It felt as though right up to this very moment, this very second, she had worried and wondered as co tomorrow, that she’d been a little afraid each day that soain behind that fence

Sarah came out to sit beside her Ham was by her side and Sarah sat down beside Devon "What did you think of your duplex?"

"I was speechless," she said "You guys are ic fairies I don’t knohat ca to pay for it by sitting alert for the next two nights, but that’s okay I’m almost done I’ll be on paid vacation by the end of the suive the Coast Guard ten years, accumulate a lot of leave, fall in love with Cooper and marry hi her a glass of white wine Sarah laughed "He promises to serve me and paain and Devon said, "I’d marry him for that"

"Watch it, now, I saw hi to happen?" Devon asked

"It’s beginning to happen right now I’over the RV as his bachelor pad, under the watchful eye of his diligent and suspicious sister--I even have a new pair of binoculars And a week froht here, on the beach Will you co to be very laid-back, just likerid of a couch Interested?"

"Sure," she said, sitting straighter "Are you selling it?"

"No," Sarah said, s it down the street to your house where it will find a good ho roo with two side tables and so truck pulled up in front of Sarah’s house--Spencer wasin He had a dinette set he didn’t need anymore moved into her kitchen Then Sarah offered her two beds "Not like you got theive you the o with theave her a dresser and chest that had been in his last guest room and, just like that, her little house was ready to e yard sale and Devon went, picking up a few extra ites, a set of old dishes that looked fine to her, even a couple of things to hang on the wall