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But he had a hard road ahead They both did And I was sorry for them

A pall hanging over me, I decided to head back into the bar to tell Cooper I’d sent Archie ho

I was not a back into the pub to find a wo up on the bar counter, her red stilettos settled on a stool She had her fingers curled in Cooper’s shirt and was looking at him with sex in her eyes

Cooper had been trying to gently loosen her grip on him

When Ollie clapped hiestured to me, Cooper scowled and yanked the woman’s hand off him

She pouted and tried to grab a hold of hiain

I could feel the regulars’ eyes on me, obviously excited for a show, as I hurried over to Cooper Of course I wasn’t going to give theer out of my man’s bar

“Co so tense?” I heard her say, and I bristled at her familiarity with him

“May I help you?” I said, stopping at the bar

Cooper sighed “Doc, it’s not what you think”

I raised an eyebrow “I think this woo away”

“Then, yes, it is what you think”

The wo round “Oh You’re the doctor”

“That’s me”

“So” She gestured between me and Cooper “You two are serious?”

“Who are you?” I said

She grinned at me “I’m Sadie Thomas”

I cut Cooper a dark look and he winced and scrubbed a hand over his face

I ranhair

She was attractive in a very obvious way

And my total opposite

Yet he’d had sex with her

Jealousy bubbled up and I hated it

“Sadie”—I stepped closer, hoping to reduce the number of people who’d overhear , and if you don’t get off his bar and keep those well-et that I’m a lady”

I heard Cooper snort and shot hi look

“Oh, honey” Sadie shook her head, sorace I did not expect “You don’t need to threaten me I didn’t realize you tere serious, that’s all Cooper and I flirt No big deal But if you two are together, then I respect that”

Surprised but gratified, I nodded “I appreciate that”

“Sure thing I’ernails at me and sashayed over to the pool table to flirt with one of the regulars, Hug

I shot Cooper a look

He stood, bracing himself, it seemed

And so he should “Archie’s gone ho back to the inn”

“Jess” He darted his arm across the bar and stopped ry”

I narrowedand that she needed to get her hands off you?” I hissed

“I was trying,” he said through gritted teeth “You walked in just as she was starting that shit”

With a harrumph of annoyance, mostly at o We’ll talk later”

“Jess,” he called, but I was already halfway across the bar

I was lying in bed, reading—or trying to read—whenit up, I felt a flip in ht outside

This flip was different from the usual

It was a sensation caused by worry

Thisht I’d found it unsettling

I’d been angry with Sadie for touching Cooper because I thought of hiht of anyone as mine To feel that way meant that person was in my blood

There was no way to get people out of your blood once they were in

Even if you lost them

But I wasn’t going to avoid Cooper because I was scared of how he made me feel The scariness was accompanied by an addictive thrill and a sense of connection I didn’t want to shake

Hurrying to pull on a pair of yoga pants, I h the inn to reception, to open the door for Cooper He crowded me im up for me

Without saying a word, he led me by the hand to my room He closed the door softly behind us and then pulled

That was all I’d wanted earlier

Cooper hugs were all-enco and warm and safe, and I felt utterly cared for and protected when he hugged me

My arhtened around him and I mumbled into his shoulder, “Not that Ihere? You know I’ht?”

Cooper th He curledmy jaas utterly disarmed by the warmth in his expression “I wanted to sort out our earlierAlso I needed to see you, nosis I know she has cancer”

“Oh,” I whispered

“One of her friends caht to tell us” e had a hard road ahead They both did And I was sorry for them