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ELEVEN

Cooper

All was going according to plan

Although Cooper hadn’t intended to walk out on the beach the other night and take the kiss he’d been itching for since he’d lad he’d done it That kiss lived up to all his expectations and not even this fuck-buddy situation she had going on with so to know her

And while he was getting to know her, he was cru her defenses

Cooper planned to seduce Jessica right out of friendship and into his bed Permanently

She was smart; she was sassy; she was fun and cute and sexy all wrapped up in one irresistible package And, Jesus, she could kiss If the kiss was anything to go by, sex between them would be explosive More than that, Cooper liked her He liked how he’d shared a problem with her about work and not only had she listened, she’d even given him advice

He liked that, despite how strong she appeared, he no there was so really vulnerable about her He didn’t knohat it was, except he’d caught a glimpse of it when he’d realized she wasn’t happy It made her less perfect, more human

He liked how protective he’d felt in that e the subject to take the sadness out of her eyes

The strange thing was Jessica had seemed startled to consider whether or not her life made her happy

“I don’t know,” she had said in answer to his question “I don’t know”

Well, Cooper knew The doc was not happy He could see so for her Every titon she was factual, disconnected, and she quickly changed the subject But when she spoke about Hartwell she was animated and happy

Cooper was suspicious that Jessica Huntington was falling in love with his toind ro about it yet

He found himself at Bailey’s place a few blocks fro dinner for Jess since it was one of her last few days in Hartwell Ira and Iris had joined Tom, Jess, Bailey, and him

“When you said ere having salad I nearly died,” Ira cracked at Bailey “But this is daood”

Bailey bealad you like it, Ira”

Ira was right The crab and apple salad with the crab cake fritters Bailey had put together for the main course was a hit

“You have to give me the recipe for this,” Jessica said

She’d moaned at the first bite and put heat in his blood, but Cooper was getting used to that feeling around her That last walk they’d taken on the boardwalk had been so thick with sexual tension it had taken everything within him not to throw her over his shoulder and carry her back to his place

“Sure,” Bailey agreed

“I meannot to use,” Jessica said “Just to pin it to e and pretend that it’s a possibility I could ever ood”

“You can’t cook?” Iris said, frowning at the thought

The doc flushed a little “Not really”

“You can save lives, but you can’t cook?”

“You can cook, but you can’t save lives?” Jess countered

Iris’s frowned turned to a grin as her husband chuckled at her side “I like you You remind me of my Ivy”

“That is a cohest order,” Bailey assured the doc

Jessica smiled that pretty smile of hers “Thank you” But when her eyes met Cooper’s across the table, that pretty smile wilted a little

Cooper didn’t take it negatively

He knew by the jealousy she couldn’t hide on the beach when she thought he was going to take Leanne up on her offer, and by the way she’d rushed to get into the inn and away fro exactly what he was feeling She was scared shitless about it

He thought maybe he should be, too

But she had fired sonore it

“So, Jessica,” To to our little town anytime soon? I know Bailey would love that”

She gave Bailey a wistful s hours I couldn’t say when I do know that h”

Bailey gave her a sad s at my inn every day I feel like you’ve been there forever”

“Me, too”

Cooper watched the friends share a long look

It was the way of it sometimes Like it had been for him and Jack as kids They were friends from the moment they met

He iht away

“Coop, I went into Dr Duggan’s office the other day to see if they were looking for anyone after his daughter left They are,” Bailey said, her eyes round to playact a Help me! look “And he said he’d be happy to talk to Jess about it”

The doc groaned across from Cooper “We talked about this all day yesterday”

Cooper frowned at her downcast expression and looked sternly at Bailey He didn’t want Jess to feel coerced into staying so for three weeks He wanted her to stay longer in Hartwell because—even if a little crazy—it felt right “Don’t”

Bailey opened her mouth to protest, but Iris cut her off “I want the recipe for this, too We could add it to the menu” N